I’ve recently been hammering on about re-visiting Britishland and doing a pub tour of the villages therein. But I’ll be skipping this one:
Tiny English village is like going back to the 1960’s with chocolate-box houses
Located in southwest Birmingham, Bournville is a tiny village that was built by the Cadbury family.
The model village was founded by George and Richard Cadbury, the sons of John Cadbury.
You don’t have to be from Birmingham to instantly recognise the name, Cadbury, with the chocolate giant celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.
John Cadbury originally opened a small shop on Bull Street where he sold tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
All well and good. However:
Because of its Quaker heritage, there are no pubs in Bournville.
So… pass, then.
Not that I’d want to go anywhere near Birmingham anyway, having been warned off by Mr. Free Market and other such worthies.
Here’s an alternative:
More my kind of place altogether. That’s in Burton, Gloucestershire:
Note the uh, other attractions thereabouts. Yes, altogether much better than some silly Quaker stronghold. And they even serve brekkie.
The Rowntrees are just as bad if not worse.
Cadburys is a big supporter of anything green or woke.
I remember in the old times you visited the Royal Berkshire Shooting School.
What you should have done whilst there is visit the Bell at Aldworth, maybe 3 miles away.
Been in the same family for 250 years, Grade 2 listed bar (let alone the building), no lagers served (only beer and cider; mulled wine in winter). Often have classic car rallies, or morris dancers in the road. Backs onto the cricket pitch (and the real night to go is when they have the annual pub vs Bradfield school match; the drinking goes on all night). They only started taking credit cards after lockdown.
We often cycle up in the summer, get a few jugs and sit in the garden and just enjoy the stillness of an English night-time. Before cycling home slightly worse for wear.
The only downside for you is no fish and chips; just rolls (but what rolls!) and soup.
https://perfectbeers.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/134-the-bell-aldworth-berkshire-england/
that looks like a lot of fun. Do some shooting then over to the pub for a pint and a bite.
JQ
There are many, many fantastic pubs in the UK.
What I don’t understand is why pub culture in the USA and Canada is so nasty. Bud Lite, loud music and horrible food, mostly.
That’s because there is NO pub culture in the U.S. They are simply “bars” where one goes to get drunk, rather than enjoy sociability with a group of regular customers and friends.
you’re absolutely right. There is a bar a half mile from my house and despite several name changes its reputation remains as a dive bar.
The tavern in the town next door is in an old historic building and they serve good food. Their libation list is rather good but it doesn’t have the coziness of pubs of formerly Great Britain and Ireland. The highly rated Irish bar in my town is overcrowded and far too loud. Their whiskey selection is better than average but not a place to linger over a few pints. It’s more of a restaurant than a pub. the wood bar is beautiful though. None have a dart board that I am aware of. Nah, American bar culture is bad with very few bright spots.
One of the best pubs I visited was in Maam Cross, Co Galway, Ireland. The front had two doors, one to a lounge and one to the pub side. The bar split the building to serve the two different areas. The lounge side was quiet and relaxing like a living room. the pub side was a little louder but still nice.
I think I’ll plan a vacation to GB to visit pubs, do some hiking, see some historic sites. I probably won’t go because I abhor TSA’s mandatory rub down.