http://www.planetbods.org/blog/build/images/me.jpg 2008-03-12T19:33:11Z Pubs are good, pubs are great. Well some are bad, but I like the good ones meself. tag:www.planetbods.org,2008:/blog/Pubs/2 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2008, Andrew Bowden 2008-03-12T19:33:11Z 2008-03-12T19:12:33Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2008:/blog//2.778

I'm not one for political posts normally, but sometimes you just have to ask what the hell our politicians are playing at? I'm talking about you, Alistair "Pub Killer" Darling and your insane 4p rise in excise duty on beer. That is, ladies and gentlemen, a rise of 13% in tax. At a time when the cost of a pint is increasing anyway due to higher prices in materials.

Andrew Bowden 2006-02-14T23:17:41Z 2006-02-14T23:02:11Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2006:/blog//2.576

Well, I have to say I'm not exactly disappointed to hear that smoking is to be banned in pubs, clubs and restaurants. Whilst I know many people will be worried about their business, if we follow Ireland and New York, things will work out all right.

Andrew Bowden 2007-01-03T21:00:30Z 2005-11-27T16:12:00Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2005:/blog//2.547

So there I was, sat in a pub having a few pints. We left about 12:30, despite the pub opening for another 30 minutes and with me having drunk a whopping pint more than I normally would. And we managed to get home without causing one fight, and without throwing up on any pavement. Or anywhere for that matter.

Andrew Bowden 2005-11-17T23:14:42Z 2005-11-17T22:56:29Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2005:/blog//2.540

Nine times out of ten, the pubs that are currently causing the problems have late licenses already. Stopping the licensing reforms won't cause a single change to the hassles that the police have to contend with because the problem is there now and won't change.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:49:50Z 2005-10-22T08:31:36Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2005:/blog//2.510

I don't know what it's like anywhere else in the country, but Merton has officially gone Trafalgar Mad. Little did we know when we arranged to meet in the Colliers Tup that we'd be there during a Trafalgar Day Party (late license to 1am, live music, and bar staff dressed in naval uniforms).

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:52:27Z 2005-05-29T15:57:48Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2005:/blog//2.414

I'd rather been hoping some knight in shining armour would turn up and change the King's Head from being a boarded up mess, to being a really nice pub again. Stranger things have happened. But it was not to be.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:36:51Z 2005-05-16T20:52:30Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2005:/blog//2.403

In the never ending quest to review pubs that sell Mild, Sunday saw Catherine and myself in The Spice of Life in Soho.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:52:24Z 2004-10-17T10:12:25Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.303

It was back in July that the Kings Head in Colliers Wood closed down - just days after change of use planning permission was given. It's now boarded up and wire fences surround the place

Andrew Bowden 2005-10-24T21:26:01Z 2004-09-02T20:10:50Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.283

Now it's a rare person who doesn't go on holiday and have a pint or two. And I am not one of those people. So naturally we went to the pub.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:40:48Z 2004-08-01T21:53:14Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.272

The Red Lion wins another award, I lament about the lack of London Pride round here and Young's beer gives me headaches. Still that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:54:25Z 2004-07-06T20:44:03Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.263

Colliers Wood's historic Kings Head pub closed on Saturday - its mostly preserved and unique 1930s interior to suffer the indignity of becoming offices for the bus company.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:50:55Z 2004-06-20T21:52:16Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.258

When you move into a new area, it's natural to try out the local pubs, and pretty much as soon as you stand outside you form views about the various pubs and as to whether you'd like to go in again.. So if you walked into The Sultan and just looked at it, you'd be forgiven for standing there in wonder, and instantly forgetting it. But looks can be deceptive and The Sultan doesn't do what you might think.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:51:13Z 2004-06-20T21:06:31Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.257

Remember the 1990s. Ale pubs were the fashion - JD Wetherspoons were rising high, the Firkin pubs gave a microbrewery to many a high street and Hogshead were dispensing ale from the cask behind the bar.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:51:36Z 2004-06-12T19:04:57Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.248

Nestling in the historic buildings of Merton Abbey Mills, this is a pub with much potential, but sadly fails to deliver as much as it could.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:53:43Z 2004-05-29T08:24:11Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.239

But then maybe it's the fact that the place looks like it hasn't been refurbished since the 1970s doesn't help. It's the only Young's pub I've seen that still has the company logo that was abandoned some point in the 1980s.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:54:47Z 2004-05-17T22:09:46Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.234

I'm really late with this one but last weekend, landlord of the Red Lion, Jonathan, told me they've won CAMRA West Middlesex Branch Pub of the Year again! Just like they did in 2003 and 2002.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T08:41:32Z 2004-03-24T21:24:54Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.197

Every now and then you discover a pub you've never been to. And for this one, I'm indebted to Ealing Online whose relentless task of reviewing pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants in Ealing, led me to the Foresters door on Sunday.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T11:07:23Z 2004-03-24T21:23:26Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.199

I'm not going to look back on The New Inn with rose tinted glasses. It wasn't that great before, and now it's been done up, it's still not. It always was a pub that had potential but I doubt the new look will do anything to solve its problems other than burn a hole in someones pocket.

Andrew Bowden 2008-03-24T11:07:20Z 2004-03-15T20:46:23Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.193

An Irish pub with no fake fiddles on the wall, real ale, no shamrocks in sight but with a great atmosphere? That must be T.J. Duffy's!

Andrew Bowden 2005-11-05T16:14:07Z 2004-02-25T21:49:43Z tag:www.planetbods.org,2004:/blog//2.184

About the 'Mild In London' section.

Andrew Bowden