Now watching this - it might be a day overdue but it never gets old!

Now at @thegreengoddesspub.bsky.Cask Festival!

The gardens at Eltham Palace are gorgeous too - especially with spring flowers out - primrose, bluebell, fritillary, wood anemone, cherry blossom, vetch, magnolia, all sorts!

Loved having another visit to Eltham Palace, exploring the Art Deco opulence and rooms kitted out with all mod cons for the time like an integrated speaker/music system, centralised vacuum cleaner, uplighting and all sorts. I can't believe (rich) people got to live in these surroundings!

Had to stop by the Rusty Bucket pub on my way to Eltham Palace - would be rude not to, when the bus stops outside - it's a really welcoming place and excellent beer selection too

Having another day out today, to visit the stunningly beautiful Art Deco Eltham Palace and gardens (hoping the sun comes out) then the @thegreengoddesspub.bsky.social cask beer festival!

In an unusual move, brunch today is moussaka, with asparagus and broccoli. The veg needed using up, and I was gifted some portions of moussaka by the Greek Food Kitchen stall who are guest trading at @southbankcentre.bsky.social Food Market this week. Super filling but very tasty!

GOOD MORNING! Here's the latest edition of our weekly round-up of good writing about beer and pubs, including evidence that we're being haunted by the ghost of BrewDog. 🍺🍻 boakandbailey.com/2026/04/news...

Yay delighted to be able to make a brief visit to @thornbridge.bsky.social's new London pub The Wild Swan, on opening day!

Fuck

I never made it to the Kulminator in Antwerp - partly bc I found the "test" to get in a bit off-putting. Sad to see it's closed now, though. share.google/xMDX78IysdIg...

UPDATE - The Wild Swan, new London @thornbridge.bsky.social pub opening now at 5pm, not 12pm as previously reported! Tagging @amethystheels.bsky.social @willhawkes.bsky.social @carolinedebenh1.bsky.social

PLANET OF THE APES was released 58 years ago today. Regarded as one of the great science fiction films and a movie with one of the great plot twists, the behind the scenes story is like talking a walk through The Forbidden Zone… 1/50

Top night at Proud Place last night with quizmaster @iammilliam.bsky.social and author @grindrod.bsky.social and several of the Bluesky massive. John, I was going to buy the book anyway but you would have sold it to me on that first extract reading alone! A book that needed writing. Buy it folks.

New Forest asparagus for breakfast! With a poached Burford Brown, parmesan, and plenty of butter, salt and black pepper

9th Whitstable venue is the Twelve Taps - really glad to get the chance to visit here again, what a vibrant inclusive place with amazing beer selection & their own gins too!

Eighth stop was the really lovely Sea Farmer's Dive taproom - serving loads of beers from the Whitstable Oyster Brewing Co. Doesn't open till 3pm but I really recommend it!

Seventh calling point in Whitstable was to check out the castle and gardens - mischievous squirrels and crows building nests

Sixth stop is the Tankerton Arms - hadn't realised this was a micropub - it's a lovely wee place, local beer & cider, interesting photos & memorabilia.

Another stop while mooching through Whitstable was the Whitstable Harbour Gin store - after a tasting, I picked up these two to take home.

It's so warm sitting in The Royal beer garden overlooking the sea, I've had to take my coat off!

Oh man, I was really in luck today - the sun came out just as we set off to walk east along the seafront!

Third on the Whitstable agenda are huge plates of fish & chips at The Harbour cafe (used to be VC's) - rather fine indeed!

Damn, our main reason for coming to Whitstable was to get some local asparagus (best we ever had, was hot here a few years ago, picked that morning!) - but the Kent crop isn't ready yet! Got some from the New Forest instead

Second stop in Whitstable, as recommended by @tringdriventhing.bsky.social is the Ship Centurion. More well conditioned cask. I'm not sure what all the Das Boot and Laurel and Hardy references are about though?

Made it to the seaside! First stop, this repurposed Art Deco cinema. Cask quality seems decent!

My god I am so mentally tired. I have tomorrow off, ostensibly to go adventuring to the seaside for fish and chips, I hope I can make it out of bed and onto a train

@totalcurtis.bsky.social hi Matt, what would be the best way to order/buy your book to ensure I could get hold of a copy quickly - will it be available in bookshops eg Waterstones after 2nd April do you happen to know?

Japanese week continues part 2 - teriyaki salmon for tea, with spicy yuzu shiitake and yakisoba with carrot & cabbage, pickled ginger, and Nanbu Bijin sake

Japanese week continues part 1 - made a deconstructed bento today for lunch, with leftover nikamiso and rice, more pickles & addictive cabbage, scallions, miso glazed veg and chilli crisp

People familiar with Manchester - is the NQ area safe or sketchy to stay in? Church Street in particular? Trying to figure out a hotel /suite/ apartment for a possible April visit

I can't believe my bad luck with cat sitters - was meant to have someone who is a professional dog/cat sitter in my area come round tonight at a time we agreed, to meet us & collect keys for a trial run ... they just didn't show, or reply to my message :-(

Making more Japanese food tonight - nakimisu from Tim Anderson's book (savoury pork mince). More "addictive cabbage". Miso glazed sparagus and broccoli. Pickles.

Holy god I need a lie down now

Sando for lunch! In honour of the Japanese Grand Prix - a Japanese milk bun with crispy katsu chicken, lettuce, Bulldog sauce, and cabbage slaw with a yuzu spicy Kewpie mayo dressing. Oishii!

More hanami / blossom viewing in Archbishop's Park

@paulspencer1973.bsky.social would you have any recs for daytime things to do in Manchester to keep me out of the pub for a few hours? Is the MOSI good to visit?

Under the blossom canopy

Yes @thegreengoddesspub.bsky.social doing a cask fest Sat 4th - Mon 6th

"Scheming". Ah, jaysus

Well these look very inviting! A St Austell Hicks and Proper Job at The Mudlark by Southwark Cathedral

Watching a film with yer young one in it, Jessie Buckley, and honestly, every person in it is horrible! (fair play to the actors)

Yay my signed copy pre-ordered from Bookseller Crow of @grindrod.bsky.social new book was waiting for me when I got home! Looking forward to reading this

My new book, Manchester's Best Beer Pubs & Bars, launches in two weeks. For @whatsbrewing.bsky.social I've written about why one of the greatest strengths of its pub scene is those underrated holes in the wall that once you discover, you'll never want to leave. wb.camra.org.uk/2026/03/12/m...

I stopped to help a tourist who was lost yesterday, on my way to work, and they gifted me a chocolate from Hawaii in return - isn't that a nice thing!

'New Day Dawning' by UK printmaker Gail Brodholt #WomensArt

Reposting for the evening audience - recommendations welcome!

I’ve spent all day giving my website a good going over in the hope that I get a few more views/sales/commissions. Have a look and tell me what you think. www.gailmyerscough.co.uk

Looking for inspiration for an England based 2 night April trip (as I'm not having a week Italy now) - good beer but also birthday restaurant recs - where's good for a fancy tea in Manchester?

When Brewdog went into Administration at the start of March aside from sacking 484 workers on the spot it had debts of £553.8m. Creditors are unlikely to get their outstanding bills paid... wp.me/p15p2Q-gpG