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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
The joys of an English beer garden – and my pick of the very best
On a recent Friday afternoon, the garden at Tuckers Grave, a legendary cider-focused pub in Somerset, was abuzz with human activity – and canine activity, too. A spaniel was loudly insistent that he should meet a nearby Alsatian; happily, his human companions quickly acquiesced. Before long they were chatting to the Alsatian's owners, too. When the sun shines, the action at England's best pubs moves outdoors. Not all of them have a garden, but those that do have made very good use of them recently. I spent the period from March to June touring the country, conducting last-minute research for my guide to England's 500 best pubs. The weather was superb, more often than not. Pub gardens from Newcastle to Zennor in Cornwall resounded to the hubbub of happy drinkers. There was the Bridge Inn in Topsham, where cyclists queued at a hatch for beer and sandwiches before taking a seat with a view of the delightful Clyst river; more cyclists at the Plasterers Arms in Hoylake, first to the bar when it opened at 12pm before claiming a spot in the sun outside; exuberant Geordie youth at the Free Trade Inn in Newcastle, enjoying the last rays of a glorious April weekend overlooking the Tyne; and dozens of drinkers in the garden at the Fleece, Bretforton, where the grassy outdoor space stretches endlessly away into the distance. Some outdoor spaces reflect their locality in an uncanny fashion. I'm thinking of the large yard at The Barrels in Hereford, packed with young and old on an overcast Saturday evening, more like a town square than a pub garden; or the hillside garden at The Fox and Goose in charming, quirky Hebden Bridge, accessed via a staircase inside the pub. This languid space, pockmarked with flora and patios, stretches far up the adjoining hill. When I visited recently I watched a man climb up and up, until finally he found a spot in the sunshine. A modern phenomenon – with German roots These gardens seem quintessentially English, but they haven't always played such a key role in our pub culture. They enjoyed a boost between the wars, when middle-class disapproval led to the phenomenon of the 'Improved Pub', which aimed to do away with the gin-drenched excesses of Victorian England (there was a renewed campaign in the Sixties and Seventies, too, driven in part by brewery-run competitions to find the prettiest gardens). At pubs like the now demolished Downham Tavern in South London, opened in 1930, family-friendly gardens formed a key part of the battle against overindulgence. This Presbyterian instinct has nothing to do with Bavaria, where beer comes second only to God, but the term 'beer garden' surely does. It is a direct steal from the German biergarten, and the tradition of drinking outside has deeper roots there, too. There are few pleasures in life greater than settling in under a chestnut tree at a Bavarian biergarten on a warm day. Many of the best examples are in Franconia, Bavaria's northern third, although my favourite is in Austria: the Augustiner Braustübl in Salzburg. England's beer gardens are a bit different from their Germanic cousins, though. They're less well organised, for a start, a rather on-the-nose reflection of our divergent national characters. The best often have a slightly ramshackle feel, with mismatched tables here and there, both in and out of the sunshine; people stand, pints in hand or perched precariously on window sills and walls. They can be chaotic, uproarious, a vision of Hogarthian excess – although in that regard, at least, there's a definite kinship with Munich's classic biergarten. They're lovely when quiet, too. One of the great joys is arriving on a warm afternoon to discover you have a magnificent beer garden all to yourself. This happened to me at the Ypres Castle in Rye, where the garden sits beneath Rye Castle and looks out across Romney Marsh. In that respect it's like many of the best beer gardens: comfortable and bucolic, with plenty of space and a marvellous view over the English landscape. You might get a wasp in your beer, but it doesn't seem so bad if you've got something nice to look at. By and large, I think, the best beer gardens are in the countryside – but they're no more cherished than those in our cities. The tables outside the Lord Clyde in Borough, for example, are nothing to write home about, but with the pub's gorgeous tiled exterior looming over them, they fill up fast at the end of the working day. I've found myself here on more than a few occasions. Many of us, I'm sure, had our first pub experience in a garden somewhere, enjoying a glass of pop and a packet of crisps. Perhaps that's why we enjoy them so much, or perhaps it's because, as on that sunny afternoon at Tucker's Grave, they often show us at our relaxed, sociable best – dogs as well as humans.


Powys County Times
16-07-2025
- Powys County Times
Man with ‘smart' beard seen after livestock attack in Powys
Police are appealing for information after man with a 'smart' beard and a large dog was seen after a livestock attack near Builth Wells. Dyfed-Powys Police have appealed to the public for help identifying an individual seen near the area of a livestock attack at Cilmery near Builth Wells. Witnesses spotted a man and a dog in the area around St Cannen Church and the sewerage works. Police described the man as being of slim build with ginger hir and a 'smart' beard. A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: 'Our Rural Crime Team Officers are investigating a report of livestock worrying at Cilmery in the area of St. Cannen Church and the sewerage works. 'The incident happened sometime between 8.30pm and 9.00pm on Monday July 14. 'A male was seen in a field containing livestock and was heard to be calling a dog, a short time later the male was seen exiting the field with the dog on a lead. 'It was later discovered that two ewes had sustained injuries which resulted in the ewes being euthanised by a vet. 'The dog is described as similar to an Alsatian/Belgian shepherd type. 'The dog owner/person in charge is described as male, white, average height, slim build with ginger hair and a 'smart' beard, aged between 20-30 years. Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app 'Livestock worrying is a criminal offence and comes under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. ''Worrying' is where a dog attacks or chases livestock causing injury or suffering. 'This isn't just a threat to a farmer or landowner's livelihood, it's also a dangerous situation for the animals involved, and could lead to more risk if the animals get onto the road.' Anyone with any information is being asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police via by emailing 101@ or ringing 101 Those getting in touch are being asked to use quote the reference: 25000583060


Scotsman
11-07-2025
- Scotsman
Owners reported by police as two dogs die after being found in hot car
The dogs were found to be dead on their arrival to the vets. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Two dogs in Paisley have passed away after being found in a car and their owners are now being reported by police. Police were called to Linwood at around 1.05pm on Thursday after concerned passers-by spotted the dogs in a car and believed they were in distress due to the hot weather. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Officers gained access to the car and took the two dogs to a local vet. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. However, the Maltese and Alsatian Lurcher Cross were both found to be dead on arrival. A 53-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman are now the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.


Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
The tiny European town that people say is like a real-life Disney village
NO, this isn't the fictional town from Beauty and the Beast, it's a real and charming village that you can actually visit. With brightly coloured timber houses and window boxes full of flowers, Riquewihr in France has been compared to looking like something from a Disney film. 4 Riquewihr is an Alsatian village with colourful timber houses a hgue clock tower Credit: Alamy 4 The village has been compared to looking like one from a Disney movie Credit: Alamy Riquewihr is a village in the Alsace region known for having a blend of French and German culture resulting in picture perfect communes. These have half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and vineyards. Unlike surrounding towns like Colmar, Riquewihr is much quieter when it comes to high season. While it doesn't have the canals that Colmar does, the town of Riquewihr has been called just as beautiful by visitors. One visitors wrote on Tripadvisor: "This town is so cute you'll think it was made for a Disney movie. we were here at Christmas and it gets EVEN CUTER with the decorations. you won't believe it. i think it's the cutest of all the Alsatian towns." Another added: "Picturesque would be an understatement. It's a fairy tale village that doesn't seem real." You'll find the town between the Vosges mountains and the Alsatian vineyards, which only adds to its beauty. During spring and summer, the village is decorated with colourful flowers. And for Christmas it looks like an advent calendar, set up with seasonal markets and lights hanging between the houses. Venturing around the village, you could take a picture around every corner and admire the 82 foot high Dolder Tower, which is the village's iconic monument. The beautiful French town with Venice style canals 4 The village is surrounded by mountains and vineyards Credit: Alamy As it's surrounded by vineyards it would be a shame to not try the wine. There are lots of organised vineyard tours around the village, and plenty of wine cellars that sit underneath Riquewihr. Scattered around the village are restaurants, cafes, and shops selling traditional Alsatian pottery, linens, and souvenirs. Another similar village is Eguisheim which has more than once been named as One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France since 2003. Travel Blogger Full Suitcase wrote: "Visiting this pretty little town is like taking a trip back in time. "As you walk its picturesque cobbled streets admiring colourful houses, with pointed roofs and timber-framed facades, you feel like you stepped into a real-life fairytale." For those wanting to visit both Riquewihr and Eguisheim - the villages are just 10 miles apart. Here's another hidden waterfall village that looks like a fairytale and has been named one of the most beautiful in Europe. And check out the world's most beautiful village that has classic car tours, fairytale vibes and cheap Ryanair flights.


The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
The tiny European town that people say is like a real-life Disney village
NO, this isn't the fictional town from Beauty and the Beast, it's a real and charming village that you can actually visit. With brightly coloured timber houses and window boxes full of flowers, Riquewihr in film . 4 Riquewihr is an Alsatian village with colourful timber houses a hgue clock tower Credit: Alamy 4 The village has been compared to looking like one from a Disney movie Credit: Alamy Riquewihr is a village in the French and German culture resulting in picture perfect communes. These have half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and vineyards . Unlike surrounding towns like While it doesn't have the canals that Colmar does, the town of Riquewihr has been called just as beautiful by visitors. Read More on Euro Breaks One visitors wrote on Another added: "Picturesque would be an understatement. It's a fairy tale village that doesn't seem real." You'll find the town between the Vosges mountains and the Alsatian vineyards, which only adds to its beauty. During spring and summer, the village is decorated with colourful flowers. Most read in News Travel And for Christmas it looks like an advent calendar, set up with seasonal markets and lights hanging between the houses. Venturing around the village, you could take a picture around every corner and admire the 82 foot high Dolder Tower, which is the village's iconic monument. The beautiful French town with Venice style canals 4 The village is surrounded by mountains and vineyards Credit: Alamy As it's surrounded by vineyards it would be a shame to not try the wine. There are lots of organised Scattered around the village are restaurants, cafes, and shops selling traditional Alsatian pottery, linens, and souvenirs. Another similar Travel Blogger "As you walk its picturesque cobbled streets admiring colourful houses, with pointed roofs and timber-framed facades, you feel like you stepped into a real-life fairytale." For those wanting to visit both Riquewihr and Eguisheim - the villages are just 10 miles apart. Here's another And check out the world's most beautiful village that has classic car tours, fairytale vibes and cheap Ryanair flights. 4 The French village of Riquewihr looks like something from a Disney movie Credit: Alamy