John Silloth

Nature. Pubs. Chester FC and footy in general. UK Geography.

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: Friend at Hand, West Wycombe (1996).

An unbreakable bond of companionship destroyed by 21st-century property developers. The pub was demolished and converted to residential use around 2007.

#PubSignThursday

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: Henry VIII, Edenbridge, Kent.

Do not mess with this man. Lager drinkers to the chopping block.

Superb signage from Shepherd Neame (as expected) although they don't own the pub any more and their name has subsequently been blacked out.

#PubSignThursday

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

@BedfordTown It was a case of cry wolf. He got a sympathetic round of applause when he was carried off. Hope the lad's OK but clearly in some pain.

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: Oak & Black Dog, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire (1990).

Atmosphere in abundance. Has the hound spotted a Cockapoo to play with or is he aware of a malevolent presence lurking in the encroaching mist?

#PubSignThursday

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

@shrewdowl And did this work?

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: The Industry, Darnall.

Thirsty work as sparks fly at a foundry in Sheffield. Rather poignant imagery really. The pub's converted to housing, the local Wards brewery has closed and the steel industry has shrunk beyond recognition.

Hey-ho.

#PubSignThursday

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: Lady Chatterley, Eastwood.

Excellent present signage at this Spoons close to DH Lawrence's birthplace in Nottinghamshire.

It might suggest Mellors and her Ladyship are up to more than merely dead-heading geraniums in the potting shed.

#PubSignThursday

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: Rutland Angler, Oakham

When pub signs were good. An ordinary looking bloke absorbed in his own thoughts. Artwork unique to the pub.

Today's sign is a monochrome, stylised graphic of a fisherman casting his rod. In other words, shite.

#PubSignThursday

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Central, Gateshead

Fantastic coffin-shaped pub with Art-Nouveau vibe in the back rooms. Dark wood fittings. Vast etched windows. Little wonder it's on CAMRA's heritage list!

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

@HeanorTownFC Superb entertainment. Credit to both sides.

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: Hansom Cab, York.

What's going on here? A potential fare giving the finger to a cabbie who retaliates with the V sign? Named after a 2-wheeled carriage invented by York-born Joseph Hansom. Now the Burns Hotel with a sign depicting the eponymous Scots bard.

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Narrow Nick, Rothbury, Northumberland.

A superb pint of Allendale Curlew's Return at this tight-squeeze micropub. Relatively remote but Rothbury is a lovely picturesque market town. Almost as lovely as the pump clips.

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: Spinner & Bergamot, Comberbach, Cheshire.

Charming artwork at this Robinson's local. No attempt at realism. Rustic, imperfect but all the better for it.

Named after two 18C racehorses from the nearby (now demolished) Marbury Hall stables.

#PubSignThursday

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

@petesutton1910 @SeanOHa19117792 Top birding to separate that one out.

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Pub Sign of the Week: Harvest Moon, New Waltham.

Perhaps we see here no farm labourer but a grim reaper from Co-op's acquisitions department. Despite strong local opposition, this community pub near Cleethorpes was converted to a convenience store in 2019.

#PubSignThursday

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

@petesutton1910 @SchofieldColin Wrynecks are absolute jaffas!!!

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

@Pauline04023347 And Tom Shaw as joint head coach at Lincoln.

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Crafty's, Buckton's Yard, Darlington.

An intimate micropub tucked down one of Darlington's many intriguing snickets and alleyways. Excellent post-match venue to celebrate Chester's away victory.

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

Old Well Inn, Barnard Castle

A gem of a town pub with hidden beer garden. Great beer and grub with an Indian twist. Definitely fancy the fish, masala chips and jeera matar (peas) one day!

[John Silloth @JSilloth]

@Citrazen1 @ShitChester What's going on there? Who's got the lease? Okells? Market Town Taverns? Just don't understand why such a historic showpiece pub - once so popular for food, beer and sports TV - has been completely neglected these past eighteen months.