Chris_OGrady

Have you tried the Navigation yet in Barrow?

I took my Dad to Pinsent just before Christmas and he's obsessed with it now. Now I've got him out of Quorn he realises that there's better pubs elsewhere.

Afraid not. The windmill would have been perfect for that but it's gone now.

Swan in the Rushes (Old man and Castle Rock). Other notable shouts: Organ Grinder (quite traditional), White Hart (traditional pub, but stylish), Wheeltapper (micropub), Needle & Pin (micropub), Three Nuns (Traditional Everards and next to White Hart).

Yes, I rate their big cuts of red meat, but I had some Aldi-like chicken from there recently. I like the big prawns you can get in the frozen section. I buy in bulk and then divy up and freeze most of it.

Do Costco get their meat from the same place as the supermarkets? You can buy large cuts of meat from there which you can't get at the supermarkets, but I think the quality is closer to the supermarkets than butchers.

I'm happy to spend a bit more on good quality food and drink because that's what I'm into. I have 0 interest in stuff like cars and designer clothes, which means I can allocate those monthly finance payments elsewhere

Thanks! This makes perfect sense, as I switched to buying butchers chicken last year, after getting fed up of Aldi chicken, and there is a clear improvement in quality.

I know someone who works for a brewery, and they said that Wetherspoons can sell their beer even cheaper than the brewery can in their own pubs, because Wetherspoons buys in such large volumes and benefits from other economies of scale. They also said that out of all the big pub chains Wetherspoons is the best to work with and very supportive of local and independent breweries.

What's the difference between supermarket meat and say butchers meat? Do the same people supply all the supermarkets? For example, does "Ashfields" chicken from Aldi come from one supplier or lots of suppliers?

They must be doing a bit better with there being an absolute dearth of pubs by the train station. What's happened to Steamin Billy these days? Looks like they've got rid of all their pubs apart from the Cow and Plough in Oadby.

I mean you clearly have an anti Leicester agenda so no point listing any others . It was the one on Park Road. Will go to Birmingham again this year so will hit you up for some suggestions beforehand!

I like Paddy's, Little Club, Broadway, Indian Queen and Three Kilns. I'm more into the starters and Indo-Chinese stuff like crispy aubergine, chilli mogo, masala fish, lamb chops etc. Done Hen & Chickens and Soho Tavern in Brum. I liked Hen and Chickens, but thought Soho Tavern was overhyped. Felt a bit Instagrammy inside and none of the dishes we ordered were that good, apart from the mixed grill which is hard to get that excited about. Agree with you on the price though, it was very good value for money and cheaper than Leicester.

All the Castle Rock ones are good. West Bridgford and Beeston are worthy of crawls themselves.

Yeah fair, agree to disagree on Leicester. I know you side with Birmingham!

What are the good ones in Nottingham out of interest, because I'm yet to find one... Please don't say The Emerald because I want more than just a dry mixed grill . I've done Cumin, Calcutta Club, 4450 Miles from Delhi, Mem Saab, and Anoki - all decent enough, but expensive and pretty standard fare.

Punjabi food in the UK is just big mixed grills for Insta, not much more to it...

It’s absolutely essential for every village to have a "Deano pub." In Barrow, The Moorings serves as the perfect Deano filter, drawing them in with its prime visibility as soon as you enter the village. Throw in the wooden cabins, chart music, Instagram-worthy riverside views, and an extensive selection of macro lagers, and you’ve got the Deano market locked down. Meanwhile, The Navigation, tucked away in the side streets, goes blissfully unnoticed and acts as a safe space against Deanoism. I reckon The Waterside in Sorrel plays a similar role, pulling the Deanos in and preventing a Dawn of the Deano at The Swan.

Deanos love a wooden decking outside area or a bit of synthetic grass

Yes the Deanos love the Pear Tree! Especially their girlfriends- very Instagramable! Also the Manor in Quorn works in just the same way as the Badgers Set!

Now we're talking about Deano pubs, I'l throw in Moorings Barrow and White Hart Quorn. Maybe White Horse in Quorn too.

Just googled the Narborough Arms and I can totally see why Greene King pub too to add insult to injury. Bet Madri sells well there!

What do we reckon is the most Deano part of the county? I reckon there's a strong Deano belt that hugs the outside of the M1 starting in Groby and looping round to Blaby and Whetstone.

Yeah, it's really nice. One of the best places to visit in Italy.

I know, hence my response too . Fair play to him he's got a massive platform now