The Barking Dog - Barking

Visited 13th October 2013.

Our last pub of the day before we collected our daughter from her ExCel visit turned out to be a difficult one to find anywhere to park. Eventually we managed to park in a side road but it wasn't easy finding a space, even on a Sunday. It was a dark, narrow and busy pub but I was served my Orange and Passionfruit J2O fairly quickly and Mrs S. had found us a table. As it turned out we didn't need our table for very long as we were now rushing a bit as it was already passed the time we had arranged with our daughter to collect her. Mrs S. had again forgone a drink, knowing that she cannot drink quickly. A total of seven pubs visited today, so not bad, even though the last few had been a bit of a rush. Twenty minutes later we were at ExCel picking up Ms S. and her friend and about two minutes after that we were on our way home, which took way more than it should have done due to several road closures in central London. How can it be so busy on a Sunday?

© John Sinner. None of the material contained in this post, or this blog as a whole, may be reproduced without the express and written permission of John Sinner. All rights reserved

The Great Spoon of Ilford - Ilford

Visited 13th October 2013.

As it tuned out the dilemma we had been presented with in the previous pub turned out to be a none issue. The remaining two pubs on my list were in the general direction of ExCel (well, sort of) so Ms S. was going to have to wait a while. Parking turned out to be a bit of a problem but eventually we found somewhere where we parked up and paid for twenty minutes and headed to the pub. We knew it was going to be a rush so I had an Apple and Raspberry J2O with Mrs S. declining all my offers of a drink. It was a long, narrow pub, fairly busy and with the usual booths and books. Another call from Ms S. and the twenty minutes parking ensured that we were not able to stay very long. One more to go!

© John Sinner. None of the material contained in this post, or this blog as a whole, may be reproduced without the express and written permission of John Sinner. All rights reserved

The William Shenstone - Halesowen, Birmingham

Visited 17th October 2012.

After a few miles on the road I arrive in Halesowen where I start looking for 'The William Shenstone'. I end up driving past it and then have to find somewhere to park as all the (very) short stay places outside are taken, so I end up parking at Adsa's which is only a short walk away. This 'spoons is in a more traditional style and was pretty busy but I didn't have to wait to long to be served my Apple and Raspberry J20. The toilets were much nicer and after taking care of business it was back to the Asda car park and back on the road. Busy, busy, busy. 

© John Sinner. None of the material contained in this post, or this blog as a whole, may be reproduced without the express and written permission of John Sinner. All rights reserved.

The Hatter's Inn - Bognor Regis

Visited 6th February 2012.
 
It is nearly thirty years since I last visited Bognor Regis and it didn't seem to have changed a bit. We parked up and walked around the corner to the 'Hatter's Inn'. By now it was lunch time so we ordered a Pepsi for Mrs S. and an Apple and Raspberry J2O for myself and as we were feeling only a little peckish a plate of Nachos to share. The pub itself was scruffy and run down but the staff were friendly and efficient and obviously popular as it was pretty busy. We finished our Nachos and drinks and left intending to have a bit of a look round the town. As it happened we ended up on the beach where I was totally unable to persuade Mrs S. to dip a toe in the water. As we were walking back to the car we saw a bookshop selling second hand books, something we are always unable to resist and ended up making several purchases. We drove back home to the snow, which was still hanging around. Not a bad weekend and if I had to choose I would pick 'The William Webb Ellis' as our favourite pub of the last three days. I wonder where we'll end up next...

© John Sinner. None of the material contained in this post, or this blog as a whole, may be reproduced without the express and written permission of John Sinner. All rights reserved.