This week we’re off to Bristol and then Devon for our final gigs of the summer.
Friday 29th August 2025
Thekla is a converted German cargo ship moored in Bristol’s harbour, that is now home to an award winning nationally renowned live music venue.
9.30 start for us as we have to be in Bristol for around 2pm…
We were determined to have a stop-off this week so we set the controls for the heart of Gloucestershire…
It’s the Silver bus this week so not much legroom…
Off we go…
We were glad that the video player was working so we watched a violent thriller…
We’re liking it up to now…
Although Keith and I had to watch it as a mirror image using Roy’s laptop camera due to the rear screen not working…
We motored on…
After a while we arrived in the village of Forthampton…
Forthampton is a village in Gloucestershire, England. The village is located three miles from the market town of Tewkesbury and features “a great number of interesting buildings”, fine views, several duck ponds, a church, a collection of thatched cottages and farmsteads, a village hall and a village club.
It was of course the location of our pub of choice, ‘The Lower Lode Inn’…
A Traditional Public House dating back to the 15th Century, the Lower Lode is set in a picturesque location on the banks of the River Severn, not far from the historic medieval town of Tewkesbury.
Excitedly we parked up…
You could sense the anticipation😆
Inside we all ordered something different…
Roy went for the dark ale…
Ledbury Dark Ale is a dark-colored real ale known for its balanced notes of chocolate and coffee with hints of marmalade and honey. Brewed with a blend of five different grains and local hops like Goldings, First Gold, and Pilgrim, this cask-conditioned beer is a local favourite.
Carl went for the Piffle Snonker…
A straw coloured pale ale. Aroma is sweet and almost jammy with honey and a little malt and hop. Taste is well balanced with a slightly hoppier aftertaste.
Could be a band from the 70’s, I went for the Pure Ubu…
Pure UBU is a distinctive, full flavoured beer with a sweeter finish and dark fruit notes. Brewed with Pale, Crystal, Black and Wheat malts, with Pilgrim, Jester, UK Chinook and Godiva hops.
Taking the drinks outside, Peter can be seen here holding the limited edition Fuggles & Goldings…
A Hook-Norton custom brew with a light flavour but dry hopped bitterness to it. Cracking spot to drink by the riverside.
And what a view of the river we had…
The mighty river Severn, famous for its tidal bore, is Britain’s longest river. It flows for 220 miles from its source in the Welsh Cambrian mountains before finally emptying into the sea in the Bristol Channel. The estuary forms a physical boundary between England and Wales and the river meanders in and out of the English counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
We’d ordered food earlier and our table was back inside the pub…
The pub is only about one mile to the west of Tewkesbury but involves a five mile journey to get there by road. The Severn was once fordable at this point (‘Lode’ is an old English name for Ford) and it is said that the river was crossed by troops fleeing the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. A ferry was established between Lower and Upper Lode in the late 19th century but the service was eventually withdrawn.
Keith was hungry…
Ploughman’s…
Pies…
Fish and chips…
After those delicious main courses, we fancied some dessert…
Time to leaf…(sorry)
…as we’re running a bit late!
Looks like we’re not going to get to the venue before 4pm…
Off we pop…
Eventually we arrived at Bristol Harbourside…
Once a busy dock where sailors and merchants would trade goods and set sail for voyages of discovery, Bristol’s Harbourside is now a vibrant area filled with restaurants, bars, shops and hotels.
Our boutique dressing room…
We had a quick look around the boat…
Decent set up…
Time for a sound check…
Then off to find our hotel…
As it happened it had a pub in the grounds…
We took the advantage…
Butcombe…
Our most highly awarded beer! Butcombe Original is created from Maris Otter malt and a secret blend of English hops. Meticulously crafted before ‘craft’ was even a thing. Its distinctive bitter, clean and refreshing flavour has been Bristol’s go-to for good times since the 1970’s. From the first sip to the last drop, you’ll never taste a beer quite like it.
We had a quick half in the hotel bar then headed off to The Hole in The Wall pub which was opposite the venue…
We’d arranged to meet up with our mate Andy and friends to try out the Timothy Taylor beers they sell here…
The drinkers’ favourite, a 4.3% classic pale ale with a complex citrus and hoppy aroma. A recent survey revealed that Landlord has the highest proportion of drinkers who call it their favourite ale. And it has won more awards than any other beer, winning both CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry Challenge Cup four times. The ABV in bottle is 4.1%.
An enjoyable time was had but it was time to head off to the venue…
Inside we found more interesting beers…
A session IPA for all, supercharged with new-wave hop energy. Taking you from the New Mexico mountains with Sabro’s iconic tangarine & orange to Cryo Pop’s tropical blend hop glory.
Research over, it’s time to get on stage…
What a great audience!
After the show we headed over to the Fleece club to watch a friend performing a DJ set…
Then back to the hotel for a nightcap before bed…
What a brilliant day in Bristol we had!
Saturday 30th August 2025
Today we’re off to Devon for Sheb Fest 2025. Established by the Skinner family in 2015, Sheb Fest is North Devon’s very own family-friendly, independent music festival. Two days of live music across two stages, as well as local food and drink, makes for the perfect way to end the summer. Having started in 2015 with just 500 visitors, Sheb Fest has grown dramatically over the last nine years and now has over 3,000 visitors each year.
We left Bristol after breakfast at about 11 am as we were due in Devon at 3.30 pm…
Peter had planned a stop-off in Topsham…
The quaint historic estuary port of Topsham has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with an eclectic cluster of specialist shops and fine restaurants, plus wonderful sunsets above the estuary. Once a thriving port and shipbuilding centre, Topsham still retains a strong maritime flavour.
We decided we’d finish watching yesterday’s film (or rather a mirror image)…
Didn’t seem that long a journey…
Our pub of choice is The Bridge Inn…
This historic cosy 16th century inn is beautifully positioned overlooking the River Clyst and has been run by five generations of the same family since 1897. It was visited by the late Queen in 1998. This pub is a delight for cask ale fans with a continually varying range of beers dispensed by gravity direct from the cellar. There are two rooms in the unspoilt interior plus the malthouse which is used at busy times and for functions. There is regular live music in the malthouse ranging from folk, blues and classical concerts. Traditional lunches such as ploughman’s and sandwiches are served.
Barrels everywhere…
The bar had no hand pumps, beer was poured straight from the barrel in a shed…
Great pint though…
Powderkeg Brewery Gold coloured session pale ale, zesty citrus fruits and malts, well balanced ale. ABV: 4.3% Hopped With: Azacca, Chinook, Citra Ingredients: Water, Barley, Wheat, Hops, Yeast
We all agreed…
We had a pasty and another pint…
What a brilliant pub!
Then jumped back in the van…
Still a way to go…
Eventually we arrived at the festival…
We were made very welcome by the owners and they showed us around the festival…
And got us each a pint of ‘Otter Ale’ from the bar…
4.5% ABV. A premium ale with full flavour and a fair strength. Mahogany in colour with malty aroma and hints of fruit.
As it was now raining hard, we took the beer into the tent stage where a Police tribute band were on…
They were very good
Time for us to head back as we were on soon…
Miraculously the rain stopped and the sun came out!
The crowd were brilliant…
What a great festival…
We’ve had a brilliant couple of days, now for the long trip home!
Today we’re off to County Durham to play the ‘80’s Calling’ festival (part of the Touchdown Festival) which launches its bank holiday weekend celebration at Darlington Mowden Park Stadium.
80s Calling! is a new-wave and synth-pop all-dayer held in varying locations across the UK. First taking place in 2024, the events have previously hosted performances from The Human League, Bananarama, Level 42, The Farm, Hue & Cry, The Christians, Bananarama, Holly Johnson, Toyah & Robert, T’Pau and more.
Ten o’clock start today as we have to be in Darlington for 1pm…
New driver Brad out on manoeuvres…
We’ll struggle to get to Darlington for 1pm especially as we’ve not allowed any time for a lunch stop off…
Not much chance of watching a film today😝…
We drove past the former Art Deco ‘Littlewoods Pools’ building…
A work in progress
In its day it was a prominent landmark…
Meanwhile, Peter found us a decent pub to have lunch…
The Three Coopers in Bedale…
Hopefully we’ll have enough time to stop off…
We were soon near Huddersfield…
Unfortunately approaching Bradford we hit traffic!
We hadn’t taken into account that it was a bank holiday…
It took us an hour to get to Wetherby…
We started to imagine what the pub may be like…
Warm and welcoming with excellent customer service is always our intention at The Three Coopers – a traditional style pub in a 17th century building with a glorious sun trap of a garden at the rear. We are located just off the high street but we are very easy to find. At the Market Cross look down the hill called Emgate and you will see us on the right with large original coaching lanterns on our façade. Bedale is a little gem of a place and being located just off the A1 we are at the ‘Beginning of the Dales’ which gives rise to the name Bedale (not Bed and Ale as suggested by some!). Bedale is packed with fantastic little independent shops selling just about everything you can imagine as well as a Tourist information Centre, Bedale Museum, Bedale Golf Club, Bedale Leisure Centre, and Bedale Park with a children’s play area and Car Boot Sales every Saturday during the summer.
And which beers they may be serving…
Pouring a rich golden amber with a decent white foamy lid, which continues to lace the glass as you drink. Delivering a mellow fruity aroma that plays with the nose. Below the surf, the taste buds experience a mild bitterness that is crisp and light. Paired with a modest but refreshing carbonation a fruit background creeps in for a rewarding finish.
And where we might sit to eat…
But…disaster – we were running out of time!
We’d already gone past Bedale and were approaching Richmond…
Nearly at the festival now…
We arrive bang on 1pm…
The arena was opened in the summer of 2003, as the new home ground of Darlington F.C. With a seating capacity of 25,000, the arena rarely attracted large crowds, with the usual attendance being around 2,000. The cost of the arena caused the club to go into administration and they decided to leave. In 2012, after rumours that the arena could be closed down, rugby union team Darlington Mowden Park RFC purchased the arena for £2 million.
Time to get our wristbands…
Our dressing room was the Rugby changing rooms…
Standard, drinkable Euro Lager. Malt and noble hops in the aroma. Malty taste with notes of bread. Minimal bitterness. Clean and kind of boring, but not bad.
From the corridor we could hear T’pau on stage…
We had a quick look at the lineup…
First, the bar…
The Stonewall Inn IPA is a Citra-hopped session IPA. It features a hint of grapefruit and citrus peel on the nose, with a crisp yet mellow finish. We partnered with The Stonewall Inn to brew this beer to celebrate their history and to support the continuing work of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative.
Altered Images were up next…
We’d arranged to meet a fellow blogger Jackie in the VIP area, she came to see us when we played in Newcastle City Hall last year and she reviewed our gig.
She messaged me to say she was coming today with her friend Angela who took this photo…
Photo of Angela with the Festival Fever Blanket made by JackiePhoto’s by Gillian
Great crowd…
It was a brilliant gig…
Back stage we were so pleased to meet up with the Christian’s drummer Lionel Duke who only two months ago had suffered a cardiac arrest on stage at the Liverpool On The Waterfront gig…
This week we’re off to Ireland for the Forest Fest Music & Arts weekend in Emo, Laois…
Forest Fest began as a passion project fueled by a love for live music and community spirit. With a unique blend of big-name performers and intimate surroundings, it quickly garnered attention and acclaim. Over just a few short years, Forest Fest has grown in popularity, being voted the 4th best festival in Ireland.
Thursday July 24th 2025
We left Liverpool in the afternoon to catch the Dublin ferry from Holyhead…
Arriving in Holyhead we thought we’d have a quick bite to eat and a pint but we couldn’t find a pub…
We found a shop but nobody fancied anything…
Despondent, we trudged back to the bus to sit in a queue…
There was a rumour that one of these containers might sell beer…
It remained a rumour
Eventually we started to move…
On board, we headed off to find a bar…
Plastic glasses but the Guinness was fine…
Unmistakeably GUINNESS, from the first velvet sip to the last, lingering drop. And every deep-dark satisfying mouthful in between.
Sea was fairly calm…
Several pints later it was time to disembark…
Our hotel was in Tallaght…
Decent…
We dumped our bags and met downstairs in reception…
Go Alex!
The plan was to head to the village of Clondalkin…
A focal point for Clondalkin is the eighth-century round tower, one of the four remaining towers in the historic County Dublin. Acknowledged as one of the oldest in the country, the Clondalkin Round Tower is 25.6 metres high and has its original conical cap.
It was about a 15 minute drive away in a cab…
We tried the Black Lion first as we were all starving…
Disaster! No food after 9pm…
Alex, driver Dom & Karl
The Guinness will have to do…
Guinness is a stout beer with a rich history – the yeast that’s used to brew it can be traced back to the original strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, first employed in 1903. Made from five main ingredients – roasted barley, malted barley, hops, yeast and water – Guinness is famed for its rich dark, ruby red colour and distinctive creamy head. Unlike most beers which are carbonated, Guinness is pressurised in the keg with a nitrogen and carbon dioxide mix. It is the nitrogen that creates the famous creamy head, and is why Guinness pours differently and takes longer to settle in the glass.
Great pub…
The next pub was just up the road…
This was the Crème de la crème…
The gang…
Still no food yet but we were content eating our way through the foam…
After an eventful night, we stumbled upon a pizza takeaway…
I remember ordering the kebab and Roy ordered everything on the menu!
What a fantastic start to our Irish adventure!
Friday July 25th 2025
Keith was up early today and in the hotel gym before anyone else was up…
He put us all to shame so after breakfast we set off on a walk to have a look round Tallaght as we weren’t needed at the venue till around 6pm…
We only got as far as the local precinct…
Serendipity!
Just what I needed…
We couldn’t find much else to do so we planned a scenic route back to the hotel…
The river Dodder…
Eventually we arrived back in the vicinity of the hotel where we discovered the Tallaght Stadium…
Home to Shamrock Rovers FC…
Opened in 2009, it has a current capacity of over 10,000 seats and has undergone several developments to become a state-of-the-art facility, becoming a significant community and sporting asset for the area.
We wandered over to the reception area and a member of staff showed us around the stadium…
The new manager😄
Back at the hotel, the plan was to head to the festival via the village of Sallins…
It’s a beautiful place…
Sallins is a town in County Kildare, Ireland, situated 3.5 km north of the town centre of Naas, from which it is separated by the M7 motorway. Sallins is the anglicised name of Na Solláin which means “the willows”.
We parked the bus as we had a couple of hours to spare…
Pub maybe…
Great pint. Lovely staff. Great atmosphere. TV’s for sports and can order food from one of the local takeaways.
More Guinness…
We still couldn’t find any cask beer for Carl, here he’s drinking Moretti but most of the time he was drinking Smithwick’s Red Ale…
Smithwick’s is not a great beer, but it’s not terrible either. And tasting it makes you see that if someone wanted to, the beer could easily be great. That’s not necessarily for Smithwick’s to do. I’m sure they couldn’t care less. Rather, it should serve as inspiration for other skilled brewers out there. And that’s what many have done.
Meanwhile Keith was planning on more exercise…
Soon enough we were all heading next door for our dinner…
Nestled along the banks of the Grand Canal in Sallins, Lock 13 Brewpub is more than just a place to eat and drink – it’s a story of family, flavour, and craft. For over two decades, we’ve been welcoming locals, travellers, and food lovers through our doors with one promise: great beer, great food, and great company.
Great food indeed…
and great beer…
Soldier’s Island Pale Ale is a refreshing 4.5% brew with the perfect balance of zest and smoothness. Unfiltered and unpasteurised, it delivers brewery-fresh flavour in every sip.
Alex tried the unfiltered lager…
Kildare brewery lager is crisp, clean, and refreshing, with a light, smooth finish. Perfectly crafted for any occasion, it’s your go-to for ultimate refreshment.
The brewery was next door…
Time to go…
But first we’re off to find a famous grave…
Wolfe Tone was a founder of the United Irishmen and a leading figure in the fight for Irish independence from British rule. In 1798, Tone led the United Irishmen in a major uprising, hoping to begin a nationalist and republican revolution in Ireland with the support of French troops.
I suppose we’d better head off to the festival…
On the way there, we received a directive from our management to delay our arrival by at least one hour as the dressing rooms weren’t available yet…
Cue: screech of brakes…
Treacy’s Pub & Restaurant, established in 1780, is one of Ireland’s oldest family-run establishments, renowned for its traditional thatched roof and warm hospitality. Located in The Heath, Co. Laois, it offers a cozy atmosphere with a bar adorned with historical memorabilia.
Great little pub just off the main road…
More Guinness…
More exercise…
Eventually we arrived at the festival…
Great lineup…
We were introduced to ‘The Magic Mod’…
He was very good👏👏👏
Brighton’s Got Talent😃
We were on stage soon…
Groovy Train
All Together Now
The Fields of Athenry
All Together Now – finale
What a crowd👏
What a brilliant end to the second day of our Irish adventure.
Today we are playing the Doncaster Music Festival known locally as ‘Donny Fest’. It has grown from a small affair on the outskirts of Doncaster featuring mostly local bands to a stadium-filling multi-stage event that now includes several world-renowned bands and solo stars.
Since its opening in 2007, the Eco-Power Stadium (formerly known as Keepmoat Stadium) has become one of Doncaster’s most iconic venues. As the home of several prestigious sporting teams, including Doncaster Rovers, Doncaster Rugby League FC, and Doncaster Rovers Belles, the stadium is a vibrant hub for sport, entertainment, and community events.
It was a 10.30 start from our rehearsal rooms in Liverpool as we were due in Doncaster at 1.30pm…
Lower Sprotbrough was our lunchtime destination…
The weather forecast wasn’t great…
Roy was driving in his car as he had tickets to see ‘The Boss’ at Anfield that evening…
Meanwhile on the bus, Carl brightened my day with a surprise birthday gift…
Dario Argento has directed a wide range of films, including horror, thriller, and crime genres. Some of his most notable films include ‘Susperia’, ‘Profondo Rosso’, ‘Inferno’ and ‘Tenebrae’. He is known for his distinctive style, often featuring vibrant colours and suspenseful soundtracks.
No vibrant colours here!
or suspenseful soundtracks…
Still an hour to go before lunch…
Carl’s friend Frank – the current Children’s Laureate – had a brilliant new book out…
Head to Tinseltown in this hilarious and heart-warming adventure by the bestselling, award-winner Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
Also we have a brilliant new album out and recently we spent the entire morning signing copies of the CD version…
The Farm’s “Let the Music Take Control” is a vibrant and euphoric return, blending electronic sounds with dynamic guitar riffs, and is described as a “bonafide banger”.
Eventually we spotted a sign…
Then a boat…
Then the pub!
The Boat Inn is a 17th Century pub on the grassy banks of the River Don, next to Sprotbrough Lock. We offer character, history, distinctive surroundings and some lovely riverside walks from the doorstep.
Inside, we weren’t disappointed…
An easy drinking pale ale. Brewed using Slovenian Bobek hops; this session beer is light and hoppy with delicate floral aromas and a well balanced finish.
We took a beer over for Roy who was about to join us…
We all agreed that Yorkshire makes the best beer!
Bang on time…
We chose from the tapas menu – 3 dishes for £12…
We enjoyed the food and as we were leaving the landlord came over with a free drink…
A solid gold legend. The combination of four hop varieties infused with malted barley and a touch of wheat gives this easy-drinking golden beer tropical aromas of citrus and passion fruit.
As we didn’t have time to drink the pint, the barmaid poured it into two takeaway cups…
These aren’t coffee’s
We bade farewell to the bus as we drove to the venue with Roy…
Ben, Alex & Quinnie
Just up the road really…
Roy of the Rovers…(well it’s actually Pete)
We got our passes then went inside to look around…
A quick look at the line up showed us that Afflecks Palace were about to go on stage…
They were great…
Sun-dappled Manchester indie quartet taking influence from late-’80s/early-’90s indie-dance, ’60s West Coast psychedelia, and ’80s jangle pop.
Also watching were two of our biggest fans…
Those ‘coffees’ came in handy
The bar area was at the other end of the ground…
Sadly we had no time to advise
Time for us to wander back stage…
And to our dressing room…
The rider was fully stocked👏
The French lager contains Strisselspalt hops, unique to Alsace, which are used in its brewing process and give the beer its bitter and fragrant citrus taste.
Some crisps…
Ok we’re on!!!
(Fantastic photos by @crosfieldcontent)
“We love your Yungblud, but we hate your Jeremy Clarkson!,” opined lead singer Peter Hooton as he reeled off a few words on Doncaster’s famous sons, before leading the band on a hit-packed set that took us down memory lane with favourites such as Groovy Train, Mind, Love See No Colour and of course, All Together Now, which sparked the first big singalong of the day. (Doncaster Free Press)
The gig was great, afterwords Carl & Peter went to watch ‘The Twang’…
Formed 2004 in Birmingham comprising of vocalist Phil Etheridge, bassist Jon Watkin, guitarist Stu Hartland and drummer ‘Grandmaster’ Ash Sheehan, The Twang are one of the seminal indie bands of the mid 00’s.
Back in the dressing room we had some food then got back on the bus home…
This week we are returning to Scarborough as guests of the Interzone festival. Last year we played the festival in Newcastle but today we are in Scarborough the scene of our 2023 concert supporting Cast.
Scarborough Spa is located in Scarborough’s picturesque South Bay and is one of the most prestigious venues for conferences, exhibitions, entertainment and events on the Yorkshire Coast.
We’d planned to leave at 11.30 to take in a pub along the way.
Team Mullin had gone ahead the day before but disaster struck…
Their camper van broke down😢
They tried again today as did Team Grimes who themselves were travelling separately…
It was a couple of hours drive to Old Malton in Yorkshire…
It was a beautiful day…
Some encouraging signs…
After a while we arrived at our destination…
Old Malton is a pretty village just north of Malton. It is a designated conservation area and is populated with many stone cottages on either side of the main road, Town Street. Old Malton village is thought to be the original settlement of Malton. There is evidence that the earliest church in Malton was located on the site of the current St Mary’s Priory. Artefacts found in the area also provide evidence of Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian activity in the 10th and 11th Century.
We found the pub quite easily and parked over the road…
The Royal Oak in Old Malton is a Grade II listed inn with a history dating back to 1780 when it was first registered as an alehouse. Originally, it’s believed to have been two farm workers’ cottages that were converted into a pub. Over time, it has been expanded and altered, including the addition of a Victorian extension and a “Tudor” look after World War I. Today, the pub features a cozy snug, a larger garden-facing room with original beams, and a large beer garden.
We quickly found seats outside…
And ordered from the bar…
Mosaic hops are full of blueberry and citrus flavours and seriously pack a powerful punch. This is one juicy banger of a pale ale. ABV 4.3%
It didn’t disappoint…
Decent menu…
Team Grimes ordered the fish and chips…
Fish and Chips £14.75 Battered served with triple-cooked chips, tartare sauce and mushy or garden peas.
and the Bunny Chow…
Bunny Chow £16.25 Often referred to simply as a bunny, this South-African fast-food dish consists of a hollowed-out soup roll filled with a Cape Malay Curry. It originated among Indian South Africans of Durban. Served with tomato sambals.
Time for a depleted team photo…
Before setting off again…
Not far to Scarborough now…
At last we arrived…
Both teams had their own parking spec…
We took a walk up the hill to see Scarborough Spa in all its glory…
While Alex enjoyed a frozen treat by the beach…
As there was no soundcheck, we headed off in to the town to find the pub we visited last time we were here – The Cask Inn…
Sadly it was closing down so we just had a pint of Guinness…
We met up with a couple of fans outside the venue…
Until it was time to go inside…
Backstage…
The rider…
The French lager contains Strisselspalt hops, unique to Alsace, which are used in its brewing process and give the beer its bitter and fragrant citrus taste.
Time to go on…
The crowd gave us a great reception👏
We spent some time with a few dedicated fans before setting off on the journey home.
Our first summer gig of 2025 takes us to the award-winning Old Fire Station in Carlisle. As the city’s largest independent entertainment hub (capacity 500), they host a diverse array of events, up to 20 per month—from famous touring bands and hilarious comedy headliners to captivating talks & interviews.
We’d arranged to meet up at Starbucks at the first junction of the M58…
The plan was to drive to Shap in Cumbria for some lunch…
We set off about 11.30…
We were all very excited as it was the start of the new festival season…
Keith was enjoying a mellow moment…
And the sun was shining…
In no time we arrived in Shap…
The village of Shap consists mainly of two long lines of grey stone houses, many dating from the 18th century, lining the A6 road that runs through the village. In the centre of the village is the market hall, with its curious windows and rounded arches, dating from a few years after the village was granted its market charter in 1687.
It was hot…
Our pub of choice was The Greyhound Inn…
Occupying a stone building overlooking fields, this charming pub with rooms is 2 miles from both the 15th-century ruins of Shap Abbey and the M6 motorway. It’s 7 miles from Lowther Castle.
Good choice of beers…
We wanted to order the Loweswater Gold but as it was a new barrel it was too lively to pour so we ordered the Wainwright Gold…
A superb thirst quenching, refreshing beer packed full of flavour, lightly hopped with subtle sweet notes and a delicate citrus aroma. Inspired by the author Alfred Wainwright, famous for his Lakeland Fell guidebooks. For every summit Wainwright conquered through his passion and commitment, each one delivered the ultimate reward. Refreshingly rewarding for those who think they’ve earned it.
Food was good…
14oz Gammon Horseshoe Grilled pineapple, fried free-range egg and chunky chips. £17.95Crisp Battered Fish & Chips Crisp battered fish with mushy peas, chunky chips and tartare sauce £17.95Whitby Wholetail Scampi Whitby wholetail scampi, chunky chips. garden peas & tartare sauce £17.95
One more pint then time to bid farewell…
Carlisle wasn’t that far away…
We watched an episode of the series Black Mirror…
Not for the faint-hearted😮
We eventually arrived at the venue…
and we were made very welcome…
There was a smashing fridge…
Full of Staropramen – a crisp Czech lager with a golden aroma and a good white head. Grainy, malty aroma with herbal notes. Taste with a slight bitterness in the finish.
and some nice fruit…
Here we go gathering assets in May…
We waited for Peter to finish an interview then proceeded to our hotel where we ordered a cab to take us to meet guests at the West Walls Brewery…
A brewery & taproom under one roof, in a unique and inviting open plan space with 12 draft taps pouring our latest brews alongside a curated selection of the UK’s finest craft beers, both local and from further afield, it’s the perfect spot for any beer enthusiast. We also feature 4 real ale hand pulls, showcasing our own real ale creations and a rotating selection of guest beers.
We enjoyed a couple of these IPA’s…
Bright, juicy, and full of flavour. Chinook and Mosaic hops deliver bursts of citrus and stone fruit with a crisp, refreshing finish. A sessionable IPA that punches above its weight.
It was a ten minute walk back to the venue so we took in some of the sights…
Carlisle Castle is a stone keep medieval fortress located in the city of Carlisle near the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall. First built during the reign of William II in 1092 and rebuilt in stone under Henry I in 1122, the castle is over 930 years old and has been the scene of many episodes in British history.
Back outside the venue with Carl’s former student Toni and her dad Jordy…
Time to go on…
Thanks to Gillian Thomas for the photo’s
Comedian and and writer Jo Caulfield and her partner Kev were in the audience…
Today we are heading to the Black Isle Showground near Inverness as guests of the band Peat & Diesel. Their Black Isle Belter music festival is set to return for it’s second year this weekend, taking place at the Black Isle Showground on May 3 and 4.
A familiar sight when staying overnight in a hotel is seeing the gold bus parked up outside…
Another cheery sight is the hotel breakfast, although sittings are usually a quiet affair with people coming to terms with their hangovers…
Bacon & sausage on toast was very nice😊
We all made sure we had plenty to eat as the journey to Scotland looked ominous…
The forecast was for rain but the day started out fine…
After another stressful Black Mirror episode, we stopped off in Perth for petrol and to stretch our legs…
Think we dozed for the remainder of the journey…
At last we arrived in Muir Of Ord…
Must be near the venue now…
We arrived on site to collect our wristbands…
and our handy plan of the festival site…
You guessed it…straight to the bar area and this fabulous IPA from Cromarty…
A seriously hopped up session white IPA brewed with modern classic hops such as Citra, Motueka and Mosaic. A smooth wheat backbone helps support the hops, round the body and creates an awesome straw haze to the beer. Volume: 440ml BREWERS NOTESABV: 3.8% IBU: 20 Malts: Pale, Wheat, Oats, Cara Hops: Motueka, Citra, Mossaic, Simcoe
We were on stage at 3pm so didn’t have much time to look around but we noticed the crowd building up…
We had a wander over to the entrance of the tent and bumped into our friend Lorna…
Lorna made us some Farm cupcakes back in 2019 when we played Inverness with Madness and we signed her record collection.
As you can see from what I’m holding, the Whiteout IPA had ran out so we were on to the Tenants lager – a blast from the past as we did a tour of Scotland in 1989 sponsored by Tenants…
First produced by Hugh Tennent at Wellpark in 1885, our flagship brand has long been established as Scotland’s best-selling pint. Tennent’s Lager is brewed to meticulously high standards, using exceptional ingredients and characterised by its clean taste and refreshingly crisp finish – best served ice cold. Having maintained its popularity in the face of changing tastes and fashions, Tennent’s Lager has also earned widespread acclaim for its staunch commitment to football and music in Scotland.
Back stage Keith had met up with Team Mullin’s Lily the Chihuahua…
Time to go on – some amazing photos of our performance taken by Vhairi Walker…
The crowd were fantastic!!!
It was a brilliant gig!
Time to get some food…
The venison wrap was amazing!
Peat & Diesel where on next so we went back into the tent…
It was packed…
We also watched them from the side of the stage…
They went down brilliantly and it was a great festival but it was time for us to head off to our hotel in Inverness…
Enjoy impressive panoramic views of the meandering River Ness and striking Inverness Castle
We dumped our things and a few of us met downstairs to take a look around the town – a sort of ‘coalition of the willing’. The idea was to head off to the Black Isle bar which was just up the road…
We had a good pint of the Goldfinch Session IPA…
Visually, the beer is a nice and hazy amber colour and a good carbonation gives it a big, white head. Very citrusy on the nose, predominately of grapefruit I think. It’s telling you straight away it’s going to be a hoppy beer. And as expected that first taste is instant hop. As the beer goes down that hoppiness slowly dissipates but does leave a faint lingering hop in the back of the throat. While the hop level is punchy the beer is not too bitter. There is a slight but very pleasant bitterness that is moreish to an extent.
From there we went on to the ‘An Seomar’ venue where Peat & Diesel were having their after show party…
We had a good laugh with the lads and their families.
Here we tried the Nitro Stout by the Dog Falls Brewery in Inverness…
This smooth & creamy nitro stout offers rich, roasted flavours with a velvety texture. Brewed with a balanced and complex grist, it delivers notes of coffee, cocoa, and caramel. Goldings hops provide subtle earthy balance, leading to a smooth, clean finish. For a perfect serve, swirl, pour hard and fast.
As time was getting on, Carl wanted to find a bar he’d been to before called ‘Gellions Bar’…
The legendary Gellions Bar is the oldest venue in Inverness and features live music 7 days a week, along with an extensive range of Scottish Gins, Whiskys and Beers
It was jam packed…
It was full of music lovers who’d been to the festival and we were recognised immediately!
Needless to say we didn’t have to buy another drink again that night…
Swirling clouds tumble as the storm begins to calm. Settle. Breathe in the moment, then break through the smooth, light head to the bittersweet reward.
We managed to get out alive and staggered back to the hotel…
‘Coalition of the swilling‘🍻
Monday May 5th 2025
Travel day today so a big breakfast was on the cards…
Team Mullin had gone on ahead sightseeing…
We planned to stop off in Moffat for some lunch…
It was a beautiful day…
We stopped off in Sterling to get petrol…
About an hour later we arrived in Moffat…
We ordered two pints of the Highlander…
A nutty, caramel-malt body with sweet red fruit notes and a gently bitter finish. Proudly traditional, Highlander is the punchy, bittersweet amber ale that Fyne Ales was built on.
And two pints of the Black Bull best…
A balanced flavor with equal amounts of fruit and bitterness, leading to a smooth and creamy finish. You might also taste notes of malt, caramel, toffee, and digestive biscuits.
Food…
HAGGIS NEEPS & TATTIE PIE £14.95 In a scotch pie shell, served with a tender stem broccoli & whisky sauceHOMEMADE PIE OF THE DAY Freshly made pie served with seasonal veg, mash or chunky chips £16.95BEER BATTERED FISH & CHIPS £15.95 Thick cut chips, minted mushy peas, chargrilled lemon wedge, homemade tartar sauce & side salad
The pub was great and had loads of character so we had one for the road before setting off once more on the journey home…
Today we’re off to the Shiiine weekender in Butlins at Minehead. It has become THE platform for the ultimate indie party over the last 9 years. Alongside the weekenders they have also hosted boat parties along and cruises, all with live music and DJs. The weekender though is the ultimate for true indie fans.
Great line up this year as we’re on with The Lightning Seeds and Echo & The Bunnymen!
It’s a long journey to Minehead so we planned a trip to Frampton on Severn for lunch…
The journey called for two films so first off was this Will Ferrel comedy…
Very funny
Then after a short stop we plumbed for this favourite…
Probably cancelled nowadays
On route we found out the ‘three horseshoes’ pub we’d planned to visit was shut but fortunately there was another one in the vicinity…
The Bell is a welcoming village pub serving traditional food, real ales and charming accommodation overlooking the longest village green in England. Situated just minutes from the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal and a short drive from both Stroud and Gloucester, The Bell is a favourite for locals, walkers and visitors exploring the local area.
The otter beer is one we’ve had a few times…
Otter Ale is a very well balanced beer that delivers the flavours of quality floor malted barley and finishes with a combination of fruit and some bitterness.
And this one was a decent alternative…
Butcombe Gold, a golden ale brewed by Butcombe Brewery, is a well-balanced and full-bodied beer with a subtle floral and herby aroma. It’s described as fresh and fruity, with a robust apple taste and a slight bite to finish.
The food was very good…
Chef’s homemade shortcrust pie with fresh mixed vegetables & choice of potato £14FRESHLY BATTERED COD FILLET, CHIPS & GARDEN OR MUSHY PEAS | £18WHOLETAIL BREADED SCAMPI, CHIPS, SALAD & TARTARE SAUCE | £18All Together Then
Time to head off to Minehead…
Still a way to go…
At last we arrived…
Straight to the dressing room…
Peroni Nastro Azzurro is a widely popular Italian lager known for its crisp, refreshing taste and light-bodied profile. It’s a favorite for those who enjoy easy-drinking, flavorful beers.
Today we are playing at The Heal Music & Wellbeing Festival in Shrewsbury which is returning for its third year with over 100+ acts and performers at the iconic DMOS West Mid Showground, Gravel Hill Lane.
We had to be in Shrewsbury for 4 so we arranged to meet up at 1:30 to give us plenty of time to stop off at a pub…
No sign of any of the band yet and just two crew members because of illness…
Eventually after about 35 mins Carl & Peter arrived, their cab had been stuck in traffic due to road closures near the Strand. The Labour Party conference was being held near the waterfront and the surrounding areas were the location of a huge pro-Palestine march.
Meanwhile ‘Team Mullin’ had gone on earlier and avoided any traffic…
They stopped off for lunch in the village of Broxton…
The Egerton Arms is a traditional pub with a modern twist, situated in the delightful landscape of the Cheshire Plains. It offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, a delicious menu, and a wide selection of drinks.
We picked up Alex in Toxteth but ended up being caught in match traffic trying to get to the Wallasey tunnel – it was a perfect storm😖
It took us another half hour to get to the tunnel as we were ‘en route’ to the Wirral to pick up Roy in a Starbucks on the M53…
Eventually…
As it was now 3pm the idea of stopping off at a pub became unrealistic. Thankfully Roy had brought a beer…
CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain – Triple Finalist 2009,2010,2019 A refreshingly hoppy session beer. Golden ale, providing a mouthful of fruit zest, with hints of orange and grapefruit.
Our ETA was about 4.20pm…
Back in Broxton, Team Mullin we’re sampling the delights…
A renowned beer with a 17th-century Three Tuns Brewery recipe, XXX is our premium pale ale. ABV 4.3%
Let’s give a big hand for…
‘Bastion’ by Big Hand Brewing is a dry, malty best bitter, mahogany in colour with a full mouthfeel. Biscuity flavours and faint roast notes feature throughout.
As the Mullins bade farewell to the Cheshire Plains…
Back on the bus the weather outlook was grim…
At least we had the bottle of Trapper’s Hat…
To make things worse we got stuck behind a tractor…
We toyed with the idea of watching a video but no one could summon up any enthusiasm…
Then Jim our driver for the day decided he’d had enough of following the tractor and put his foot down…
E I…E I…O!
Next stop Shrewsbury!
River SevernShrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in western England. It sits inside a loop of the River Severn, and its Tudor centre is lined with half-timbered houses. The medieval, red-brick Shrewsbury Castle houses the Shropshire Regimental Museum, where military artefacts include uniforms and weaponry. St Chad’s Church is defined by its unique circular nave, and St Mary’s Church has elaborate stained-glass windows.
We were very near the venue, just a few more narrow roads to navigate…
At last we arrived at the festival…
At Heal we love music, culture, art. From pumping techno beats to soothing folk vocals, howling guitars and feel-good reggae rhythms – we appreciate good music. We believe there is a shared heritage in music, helping to unite all of the different parts of our community together – that community being the human race.
We can see the stage now…
Everybody out…
Keith was already in the dressing room…
We had a quick look at today’s line up…
Then went out front to have a look around…
Mungos Hifi ft. Aziza Jaye were great!Aziza Jaye
Craig Charles was just finishing another great set…
Carl had arranged to meet his friend from school days, Kev…
What3Words?
A fingerpost…
Gillian Thomas who came to our gig in Leeds earlier this year travelled to see us again. Seen here with Kev’s sister Tracy.
A farm fan showing us his tattoo’s…
Dumbo & Dumber…
Time to ‘head’ back…
In the dressing room, Carl had put his foot in it …
Apologies for these abysmal jokes 😫
Featuring in our rider today…
Brooklyn Pilsner is a crisp lager inspired by Brooklyn and brewed for all. It layers clean malts with a balanced wave of bright hops, crowned by an instantly refreshing finish. Light toasty flavours and spicy, subtle citrus hop notes make it an instant classic.
Our driver Jim was the hero of the day in many ways, after getting us to the venue on time after all the delays. Knowing we were a man down he offered to look after and tune the guitars on stage during our performance. Big thanks 👍
Time to go on stage!
The star of the show was this lad with his bubble machine…
The rest of the crowd weren’t bad either…
Caught Carl taking the snap above…
We got a great reaction from the crowd…
The official Heal Festival trailer…
After the show we stayed a short while and had a drink with our guests…
Team Mullin headed off first with the remains of the rider setting their Sat Nav to the nearest food bank 😀
Soon enough it was time for us to leave so we headed back to the van in search of petrol and something to eat…
We stopped off at a garage in Prees Heath…
Little did we know that it concealed a fish ‘n’ chip restaurant round the back…
With a fully licenced bar!!!
Birra Moretti is a low fermentation beer, made from a blend of fine hops, giving it a pleasant taste that is finely bitter and balanced, with floral notes and initial aromas of barley malt.
Fish n chips were delicious as was the beer 🙂
Cod & Chips £8.50
What a fantastic way to finish our summer season of gigs.
Our latest festival takes us to Cumbria for the 20th annual Solfest festival.
Solfest is a music and arts festival on the Solway Coast in the North West of England.
It is held annually at North Lakes Country Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
It has grown from a 1,800 capacity event in 2004 to a 10,000 capacity festival.
This year, acts due to perform at the first day of the festival had been cancelled due to the bad weather. Heavy rain and high winds which battered Cumbria on Wednesday night meant the organisers had to make the decision to delay opening the stages until Friday morning.
We set off around midday – boots, umbrella’s and cagoules all packed…
Back in the gold bus today with the crew going in Mick’s van…
The plan was to travel to Keswick for our lunch…
First video today was very funny…
The weather was brightening up and in no time we were up amongst the fells…
Team Mullin had gone on ahead in their camper van and arranged to meet us in Keswick.
Here is Keith trying out his new gimbal…
Some sort of tripod😀
Meanwhile we’re on to our next video…
Prefer Tommy…
Just passing Penrith…
The film finished as we were just entering Keswick…
Keswick is a market town in northwest England’s Lake District National Park, surrounded by mountains like Skiddaw. In town, The Cumberland Pencil Museum documents the history of pencils, and the Keswick Museum & Art Gallery displays local artefacts. On a hilltop east of town, Castlerigg Stone Circle dates back to the Neolithic era. Vast Derwent Water lake is south of town, with boat tours and the Theatre by the Lake.
Our pub of choice is…
The Wainwright is a traditional pub on Lake Road in Keswick town centre. We refurbished the old ‘Four In Hand’ over the Winter of 2014/15 and opened at the end of April 2015. We are dog friendly, having oak floors throughout, and hope to provide a relaxing atmosphere for the casual tourist as well as the committed user of the Fells.
We fancied the blonde beer…
This is a thirst quencher like no other, brewed with water from the heart of the Lake District, this ale certainly makes a splash. A Maris Otter Malt base is then double hopped with a careful blend of Goldings and Savinjski Goldings hops. The result is a delicious combination of delightful floral notes, followed by subtle yet zesty lemon and lime undertones, finishing with a remarkably clean final bitterness.
It was a popular choice…
The menu…
Some good choices…
Keith joined us in the pub…
Time to squeeze in another pint?
Some facts…
This little gem of a century-old, family-owned-and-operated traditional picturehouse boasts state-of-the art sound and projection in a gorgeously restored 157-seater auditorium, plus a new 28-seater Screen 2.
We had an Only Fools & Horses moment heading back to the bus…
We waited in one car park while the bus was in the other😫
Off we go again…
The beautiful Skiddaw…
Time for one of our favourite films…
The Likely Lads
Then…
Aggro in Baggrow…
There was only one road into the festival and we got stuck in a queue…
Fortunately we had a box of beer left over from the last festival…
Eventually we arrive at Solfest…
Everyone out…
Our dressing room…
Back stage…
Time to have a look out front…
The Solway bar stage looked interesting…
Great atmosphere in here and out of the wind…
Great band Colt 45
Decent beer on sale too…
Inspired by the famous Lakeland fell-walker Alfred Wainwright, our master brewers go the extra mile too. They search near and far for quality English malt and hops and tirelessly craft unique combinations worthy of the Wainwright name, like this delightfully refreshing Golden Beer. Lightly hopped with subtle sweetness, a delicate citrus aroma and a gloriously golden colour.
There was a bar backstage…
It wasn’t open
Time to go on…
Great photos by Andrew Simpson 👏
Great crowd…
The weather started to get worse and as the gold bus had gone early, we got ready to leave in Mick’s van only to find it stuck in the mud!
Disaster averted and as it was still too wet to go out and get food from the festival, we set off towards the motorway in search of KFC…
Two established and much-loved Scottish festivals have joined forces to announce a powerful new partnership for live music in Scotland! The festival is situated ideally between both Glasgow and Edinburgh in Linlithgow, making it easily accessible.
Taking place in the grounds of Bonnytoun Farm, across the loch from Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
The journey to our hotel in Yorkshire from Orpington took a good four to five hours arriving at about 3.30 am…
We got stuck in traffic at the Dartford tunnel…
Three hours later, we we’re back up for breakfast…
We checked out of the hotel and wondered what the commotion was…
A flat tyre…
That’s all we need!
Fortunately it was sorted…
We chose the scenic coastal route…
This was today’s film…
It was superb, kept us totally entertained all along the A1…
Holy Island
The border…
Nearly there…
Finally our dressing room…
Good to meet up with Ed Pope who’s playing sax today…
Ed was appearing at the Edinburgh fringe festival and came over to play and also sample some of our Groovy Grain beers…
The moment of truth…
This was also on the rider…
A celebration of new growth, New Shoots is a hop-forward, summery pale ale. Plenty of classic American West Coast hops, with the addition of freshly foraged conifer tips, makes for a refreshing ale with punchy citrus and pine flavours.
The dressing room was 15 mins walk from the festival site so we had to take all our ‘gear’ over in a shuttle bus…
We were allocated a cabin backstage and were joined by Nick and Rachel the owners of Let’s Rock Scotland…
Lovely to see them again after our 6 Let’s Rock gigs last year.
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