Staveley Mill Yard

I haven't blogged about places lately, but Debbie suggested Staveley as a day-off trip out on Monday. It's just off the A591 Kendal-Windermere road. As you go through the village, the entrance to Staveley Mill Yard is quite an unassuming one. However it's worth persevering to explore this developing centre.

Within what initially looks like a little industrial estate is Wilf's Cafe, which does delicious food but not at full-on Lake District prices. Next door is the home of Hawkshead Brewery, which has a very stylish beer hall with all the ales on tap and in bottle. Nice pint of draught Red was enjoyed, and in bottles I recommend Brodie's Prime - all the proof you need that porter is an excellent drink.

Add to that the More? artisan bakery and some very pleasant riverside walks (which also generates a proportion of their electricity) it makes a worthwhile place to call at just a slight remove from the more picture-postcard locations in the Lakes.

I'll be back.

Beer with a wicked twist

The recent bone breakages in our household put a hold on Debbie and I going out for a meal to celebrate our wedding anniversary. However, we did manage a quick and very nice lunch out at the Hest Bank Hotel (at Hest Bank). An excellent selection of ales (Black Sheep ale, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Butcombe) and good food. Not cheap, but good for a treat. Bluffers fact: Hest Bank is the only place you can see the Irish sea from the West Coast Main Line.

Anyway, later in ASDA while shopping for tea, I picked up 3 ales, one of them by Charles Wells, called Bombardier Satanic Mills (obviously referring to the line in the hymn "Jerusalem") When I got home, and marvelled at my skill at getting nearly everything on a Multibuy, I noticed "satanic ale" on the listing. Is somebody trying to tell me something?

Good discoveries in Morecambe.

Encouraged by Bill Bryson's affection for Morecambe, despite its set-backs, I think we need to be talking the place up at every opportunity. Thought I'd mention a few early discoveries from my first few weeks here. There's obviously Holy Trinity, Poulton-le-Sands with St Laurence Church, but I'm biased! Here are some others in no particular order:

1) Morecambe Bay itself. The view across the bay (as seen at top of blog) is, of course, Morecambe's greatest asset. Every day is different - with the light constantly changing, and only a small change in the tide having substantial effects on the relatively level bay, it's fascinating (even in bad weather). Grange, Ulverston and Barrow in the distance can all be seen, but so can a range of Lakeland Hills. Fantastic to have it 3 minutes' walk away.

2) Friendly people. It's brilliant to find people who chat everywhere.

3) Kenny's fish 'n' chips, Euston Road. Edges it as the best shop we've tried so far (although the one by Morecambe FC is good, too.)

4) Food4thought community cafe runs in Poulton Memorial Hall Tue-Fri 12-2. Good cheap food and drinks. Friendly service and a good project.

5) Breeze cafe. Futuristic building next to West End Gardens. Very good range of smoothies, ice creams, milk shakes and Atkinsons coffee, served in big, wonderfully coloured cups.

6) Special mention in despatches for the Farmers Market at Christ Church URC, Broadway. 4th Thursday in the month 9am - 2pm. Yet to get there, but everyone keeps talking about it!

7) I've yet to try many of the local hostelries. Near to home is the Smugglers Den. A very compact old pub in the heart of old Poulton. Seriously committed to its real ales (10p per pint discount for CAMRA members it provides a really good friendly local experience. Looking forward to testing a few other venues in the coming weeks!

Lots more to discover, I'm sure, but Morecambe is well worth the visit!