Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Blog

  • Flights – Gatwick South to Palma Mallorca (British Airways) – Gone Tech

    Flights – Gatwick South to Palma Mallorca (British Airways) – Gone Tech

    Above is aircraft G-EUUW, the Airbus A320 which was meant to take me from Gatwick South to Palma Mallorca. Unfortunately, a technical malfunction with the undercarriage meant that the aircraft needed to make an urgent return to Gatwick South after it dumped its fuel. The aircraft is one of BA’s Gatwick fleet and they’ve owned it since new, when it was delivered to them in 2008.

    Going back a little, this is the boarding gate 28 at Gatwick South. The boarding process was all well managed, the groups were called in order and there was plenty of seating. There was the usual muttering from some passengers in group 5 who had clustered around the gate to board and then found themselves waiting until the end, but the signage and rules are clearly displayed. The staff members were pro-active in moving waiting passengers away from the queue, as there can be gate congestion if this isn’t well-managed.

    I decided that I’d avoid an exit row on this occasion and went for one which was the row behind the exit row, because I like having my bag with me. After a major repair undertaken on my McCain’s bag, I wanted to monitor whether it would collapse or not. The flight was nearly full, it took off time and the pilots sounded friendly and helpful. With everything in order,  I went to sleep.

    I woke up to hear “we are now returning to Gatwick after we circle to dump fuel”. I asked the passenger next to me what had happened and was told that the pilot had made an announcement that something wasn’t responding, but there was no cause for alarm. I thought that this was most exciting and started to wonder whether there would be a three hour delay to claim EU261. I always think it’s just me who ponders on this, but it was clear from listening to other private conversations that it wasn’t just me. A couple of passengers were unnerved and wanted to abandon their flight when they arrived back into Gatwick, but all else remained calm. The crew came around with water and to offer reassurance, which they did very well.

    Fuel dumped, landing back into Gatwick Airport.

    I thought that BA dealt with the process well, but they didn’t really explain to customers where to go, they simply said to return to the main terminal and find customer services. That was fine, I knew where it was, but I was conscious that some people seemed to drift off unsure where to go. Nonetheless, there was a queue ahead of me at the customer service desk, where we were told that we’d be issued with new boarding passes and refreshment vouchers. Instead, we just got the vouchers and were told that the seat numbers would remain unchanged. I’m not sure in that case why they couldn’t have done that at the gate.

    Every passenger got £10 to spend on refreshments.

    I went to Boots with my vouchers. I had to pay 7p for the bag as the refreshments vouchers won’t cover that.

    The boarding gate situation for the replacement flight wasn’t entirely clear, my app was telling me that the flight would depart from Gate 14. But, when I got there, no-one was there and the screen was blank. The boards didn’t give a gate number for some time, but eventually they did and I felt reassured that I wasn’t in the wrong place.

    I was one of the first at the gate.

    And here is my replacement boarding pass, a change from 13F. I had to check that this wasn’t an emergency exit row, for reasons already mentioned. I have, if I’m being honest, had better boarding passes, although it gave the information that was needed.

    This was when things went just a little wrong for some customers. My seat was changed as the exit rows on the replacement A320 were in a different place, so they had to shuffle some customers around. I suspect that every customer was told about a change if it affected them, but some people claimed on board that they weren’t.

    Anyway, I found one of the few plug sockets at the gate and charged my phone, conscious that the three hour delay was now quite marginal and if BA boarded quickly they’d get there just in time to avoid paying the EU261 compensation. Boarding started smoothly and I was on board again soon enough. The new aircraft was G-GATR, an aircraft brought into use by TAM and they kept it until it was sold to BA in 2015.

    The boarding process was confused as some customers had a new seat number and some didn’t. I got on board, sat down at 11F and watched what became a slightly chaotic situation unfold. I’m not sure how much is BA’s fault, as I knew that two customers were deliberately staying in the seat they had already been allocated for the first flight, instead of their replacement seats. They were effectively being moved one row back to a different emergency exit row, but they weren’t having that. Which led to a domino situation of some customers in the right place, some in the wrong place, but some also standing in the aisle in a mood.

    There’s a page on Flyertalk called DYKWIA (don’t you know who I am?) and there was a little of this kicking off. One customer told a crew member that they always had the same seat and he expected them to deliver that. The crew member didn’t seem impressed, but acted professionally, asking him just to take his new seat and they’d resolve the situation when everyone had boarded. Unfortunately, he didn’t like this and he told the crew that he was unhappy and stood up again, delaying customers. A few other people were murmuring, but BA had a crew member who was solid and firm, he wanted people to take their seats and he’d do what he could on what was a nearly full flight.

    Our passenger, let’s call him Gordon although I don’t know his name, then continued arguing with a crew member in what was becoming a difficult situation. I heard another crew member say that they might need the pilot to intervene, but the crew member dealing with the situation said clearly “sir, you have two choices, you either sit at the seat you have been requested to sit at, or you leave the aircraft now”. The customer said something about there was another choice about he could have the seat he wanted, but the crew member was persistent and received a final warning of “sir, sit down or you will be asked to leave”. He sat down. I was marginally disappointed.

    This whole situation had meant that BA no longer had any chance of arriving into Palma within three hours, although I’m not going to credit the grumpy customers with that. The flight was comfortable and the pilots were professional and calm, apologising several times for the delay. The pilot also mentioned that he had been led to believe that a new crew would have been taking us to Palma, instead of mostly the same crew, hence a delay as they had to complete a considerable amount of paperwork relating to the now broken aircraft. Incidentally, I was also pleased as I now had a seat free next to me on the flight, which I hadn’t earlier on.

    We received refreshments of biscuits and a glass of water from BA, as there was no catering on the replacement flight. This isn’t a problem for economy as it’s a buy on board situation for customers, who could get stocked up at Gatwick, but the Club Europe customers couldn’t have been thrilled. The pilot made an oblique announcement when we landed that EU261 would apply, although he didn’t use those exact words and left just a little to the imagination. The doors opened, which is the measure of whether the compensation is paid, at 3 hours 19 minutes late, so this wasn’t the cheapest of days for the airline. But, looking at BA’s profits, I think they’ll manage.

    But everyone was safe and sound, and all told, a professional operation from my favourite airline. How very lovely.

  • Sheffield – Head of Steam

    Sheffield – Head of Steam

    Following my visits to their pubs in Liverpool and Hull, this is my third Head of Steam in four weeks. I might as well try and get to them all over the coming few years, yet another challenge to try and meet.

    The beer selection was extensive, varied and interesting. The member of bar staff was knowledgeable, helpful and I also liked that the pub offered CAMRA discount even on half pints. I opted for the Pollards Milk Stout from Thornbridge Brewery, which was beautiful, creamy in taste and full of flavour, with hints of chocolate and coffee.

    The building used to be a bank, with one of their safes still visible.

    I doubt Scott wants to be in a photo, but since he won’t read this, it won’t matter. Like Schrodinger’s Photo, it might not exist if you don’t know about it. Anyway, it was the glass that amused me, a special child’s glass for Scott.

    A Chimay beer bottle, something a little different in terms of the decor. Although, whilst on the subject of decor, I was disappointed that there weren’t any screens as I wanted to see my name on the live Untappd feed, which is because I’m very easily pleased.

    Overall, this was another very lovely pub, laid-back, fun, interesting and quirky. I also liked that the music wasn’t too loud, the building was interesting and there were plenty of different seating areas. I was confused why they had doormen on the front checking customers entering, but no-one at the back of the pub, but the atmosphere was welcoming and calm, so all seemed under control.

  • Sheffield – Gardeners Rest

    Sheffield – Gardeners Rest

    This understated little pub was busy even in the afternoon, but the welcome was friendly and there was a relaxed atmosphere in the venue. It’s run as a community pub and that local feel was evident, no doubt essential after floods caused significant damage in 2007 and closed the premises for some time.

    The Porteresque from Hophurst Brewery, which was frankly, quite brilliant. Rich and long-lasting flavours of salted caramel in a beer, there can’t be many better flavour combinations. Although when a brewery finally gets around to launching a chicken bake porter, that might be the ultimate taste sensation.

    The bar billiards table, where Nathan managed to narrowly beat me, although it was strange playing on a table with different rules to what I’m used to. Liam and Ross powered to a 0-0 draw, one of the worst games I’ve seen, but I was fortunately happily distracted with the beer.

    Back to the service in the pub, which was impeccable, with the staff being interested in their customers and willing to answer questions. They were conversational, engaging, friendly and all the other elements which makes me like a pub just that bit more. And with everything else stacking up, this was my favourite pub in Sheffield. And indeed, one of my pubs of the year, being the fourth to be added to my list.

    All very lovely.

  • Sheffield – Devonshire Cat

    Sheffield – Devonshire Cat

    There was something of a Head of Steam or Brewdog feel to this pub, an informal bar which seemed to be popular with students, not least as it’s beneath a university accommodation block.

    A well put together choice of keg and craft beers, although the writing on the board was difficult to read in places.

    Of all the 20 or so pubs we visited during the weekend to Sheffield, this was perhaps my least favourite. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with it, indeed it seemed successful, but the noise was a bit loud and the beer just a bit too cold for my liking. The beer I opted for was the Yorkshire Blackout Nitro Stout, but I struggled to find any real depth of flavour to it all and I would have rather it had been served at something like cellar temperature rather than Yorkshire Blackout Extra Cold.

    I think that on reflection I’d have liked this more during the day, when there was likely a quieter and more relaxed vibe, as the food options looked interesting. It was though also one of the most expensive rounds of the weekend and this was before Nathan started to eye up some of the more premium craft beers.

    My favourite review on TripAdvisor made me love the pub more though, a customer complained about how many craft beers they had, noting with their 1/5 review:

    “Whilst for some it maybe a selling point, for me the fact I can’t even get a popular lager meant I was only drinking shorts.”

  • Sheffield – Kelham Island Tavern

    Sheffield – Kelham Island Tavern

    This is the only pub that has won the CAMRA national pub of the year for two consecutive years and it has won a host of branch and regional awards as well over the years. It was a derelict pub pulled back into use by Trevor Wraith in 2001, a perhaps unlikely location at first sight to have been saved, with the landlord only retiring earlier in 2019. Under new landlords, the pub has continued its policy of having around thirteen real ales available, with a mild and porter always on that list of options.

    We were delayed a little by a rather out of their depth group of customers who seemed to be already intoxicated and loud, being demanding and frustrating to the staff. However, once free of them, the atmosphere at the bar improved somewhat.

    The selection of beers, an excellent choice which is to be expected from a pub with such a positive reputation. I went for the Dead Disco from Chin Chin Brewery, which was fine but it was called a Mexican stout because of the chilli, and that element was perhaps just a little lacking. Anyway, a rather special pub and they have a collection of old Good Beer Guides and it was very lovely to be in such an award winning location.

  • Norwich to Gatwick Airport by Overnight Train

    Norwich to Gatwick Airport by Overnight Train

    The train from Norwich to London Liverpool Street wasn’t very busy, around a handful of passengers in each carriage. Although, slightly irritatingly, I had to change carriage after getting all comfortable as I discovered the power didn’t work in the one that I had chosen. The conductor was a friendly and affable man, with the train being spotlessly clean since the cleaners spent around thirty minutes on it, cleaning it both inside and out.

    Safely at London Liverpool Street, arriving on time. I noticed customers in two carriages couldn’t get out, an unfortunate side effect of these slam shut doors. I, being ever helpful, opened one door when walking by, whilst the others managed to unfree themselves from their trap.

    Although I had a ticket to use public transport from London Liverpool Street to London Blackfriars, the underground was just shutting down and the times suggested by GWR didn’t seem to actually correspond to any underground trains. So, since I like walking, I went for the option of the 25-minute walk across the city.

    I’ve never seen the above church, which is St Ethelburga’s at Bishopgate, near to Liverpool Street station, which just goes to show how unobservant that I can be… It’s one of the few surviving medieval churches in the city centre and there were once two shops at the front of the building, but these have since been removed. It was also one of the churches which allowed divorcees to remarry, which wasn’t quite within the rules of the time. Although the building has mostly survived, even through the London Blitz, it didn’t entirely make it through an IRA bomb placed outside in 1993, which destroyed 70% of the building.

    The Bank of England.

    St. Paul’s Cathedral.

    Safely at Blackfriars station, where I promptly went up the wrong escalator and reached the platform for trains to Luton Airport. Hopefully no-one noticed me going up one escalator and then straight back down the one next to it.

    This was awkward, I’d reached the correct platform, which was Platform 1, and noticed there was a train ready and waiting to depart to Three Bridges. This is also the train to Gatwick Airport and the passenger in front of me ran for the train, where as I thought I’d have a little meander around as I was hardly in a rush. And then I heard the station staff call out that they’d hold the train for me, so I do a slightly fast walk to get a train that I didn’t really need to get.

    I thought I looked quite smooth and nonplussed in walking towards the train, although I might have actually rushed and been less lackadaisical if it was a train I was actually trying to get.

    On board the Thameslink service from London Blackfriars to Gatwick Airport.

    The train arrived on time at Gatwick Airport.

    Inside the terminal, one of the few times that the ticket machines are so underused. Incidentally, my railway ticket failed to open the barriers and I noted that Gatwick Airport had employed a member of barrier staff who didn’t burden himself in using his customer service skills. But, since he was standing there at 01:00 in the morning, perhaps it’s not entirely fair to expect him to be anything other than fed up.

    And here we are at Gatwick Airport arrivals at South Terminal, arriving around 30 minutes earlier than expected as I accidentally caught a train I hadn’t intended to get at London Blackfriars. The ticket cost just over £20, which I think is reasonable given the distance travelled and the comfort provided. It just now means I have to faff about for my flight, but I like the adventure really….

     

  • Sheffield – Shakespeare Pub

    Sheffield – Shakespeare Pub

    This pub, which is now in the Good Beer Guide, has had a difficult few years involving closure and a substantial refurbishment before it reopened. But, it’s now an established and popular pub again, with an entry into the Good Beer Guide.

    This is a marvellous thing to see on the entrance into the pub, although perhaps Ross might have privately disagreed…..

    The kegs and casks list, all very clear and I like the title of Shakesbeers.

    The Milky Joe coffee milk stout from Ridgeside Brewery, an entirely acceptable beer with a pleasant flavour, although it lacked the depth of taste that I’d have ideally liked. However, still drinkable and it was at the appropriate slightly chilled temperature. The service was polite and efficient, with the staff being keen to help and offer assistance to customers.

    The external yard of the pub, where the stabling was once located for the horses when it was a coaching inn. The interior of the pub has been knocked about since it was opened in the early nineteenth century (although I had thought it was an earlier building, it had that sort of atmosphere), although I didn’t spend long trying to work out what went where. There are though several smaller rooms, with the whole pub having a real character to it, although I’d like to return when it’s quieter as I didn’t really get chance to have a proper look around the building. Another very deserved entry in the Good Beer Guide, which notes that this pub has served over 5,000 different beers over the last seven years.

  • Sheffield – Unit

    Sheffield – Unit

    Our choice of dining location for our first evening in Sheffield was the burger restaurant Unit. I think that it’s fair to say that it’s not in the most salubrious of locations, and Liam was unsure at first whether he had actually navigated us to the right place. However, inside this restaurant is on-trend, modern and the atmosphere was clean and comfortable. I quite liked the chipboard walls in the restaurant, although I understand that opinion is a little divided on this matter.

    The menu, which was of a limited size, usually a positive sign. The service here was excellent, with the staff member being engaging, attentive and helpful. The only time where we got marginally confused was when no-one told us to pay at the counter, rather than to wait at the table. But, otherwise, the whole process was seamless. There was a marginal problem that some of us, namely Liam and Scott, had eaten beforehand as they got over-excited, but we all managed to order and get through a main course.

    I went for the Buff Ting chicken burger and this was way above average, well presented, a fair portion size and all at the appropriate hot temperature. The chicken was tender and moist, with the coating being rich and flavourful. The gherkins were battered and complemented the meal well, with the fries being firm on the exterior and slightly fluffy on the interior. The salad elements added texture and the mayo added flavour, with the whole meal representing good value for money. I was the only one of the five of us to go for a chicken burger, but I’m reliably informed that the beef burgers were also excellent.

    I have to admit that I failed to notice at the time that the promised coleslaw wasn’t served with the burger, something I’ve only realised as there are several other complaints on-line about this made against the restaurant.

    A tempting range of ice creams were at the front counter. Unit isn’t licensed, so there aren’t any alcoholic drinks, with their dining atmosphere being somewhere between a fast food outlet and a restaurant, although it was spacious and table service was offered.

    Overall, all very lovely, failing solely on missing the coleslaw from the meal which is a little bizarre since it seems to be such a common complaint made against the restaurant. The restaurant is also doing well as there have been 150 reviews for them on TripAdvisor and they haven’t yet picked up a 1 out of 5 star, which is quite an achievement in itself.

  • Sheffield – Bar Stewards

    Sheffield – Bar Stewards

    Excuse Scott in the above photo, he’d just had two half pints of beer in under an hour. This micro-pub opened in 2016 in what had previously been a boarded up row of shops.

    The keg and cask beer list with what I thought was a well curated choice of options.

    The bar of this micropub and shop, which is relatively small in size, but it has a quirky and laid-back feel to it. My only comment is that it is a micropub, as if it wasn’t listed in the Good Beer Guide, I might not have visited it because initially I thought it was primarily a shop. The service was efficient and the staff members seemed knowledgeable about the beer options, although I’d have been rather surprised if they hadn’t been.

    This is the Festive Star from Northern Monk brewery, which confused me for a while as I couldn’t work out what the taste was that I wasn’t getting. It transpired to be cinnamon, probably because that’s not a flavour that I’m used to in beer. When I realised what it was (only after Nathan had told me) it made much more sense and had a very Christmasy feel. This is certainly a beer which would go brilliantly well with a Festive Bake from Greggs.

  • Sheffield – Crow Inn

    Sheffield – Crow Inn

    Formerly known as the Sleep Hotel and the Old Crown Hotel, the Crow entered the Good Beer Guide in 2019. The building has a rather more murky past, as a drinker was murdered here in 1859 when sitting in one of the pub’s snug areas. It was also a pub used during the Chartist protests and also suffered during what are now the infamous Sheffield Gang Wars in the 1920s.

    The local media reported the 1859 murder:

    “About ten o’clock on Monday night James Lindley, saw-grinder, was shot while sitting at the Crown Inn, Sheffield. The ball entered his left temple and lodged behind the eye. He is expected to die. Lindley had previously been shot at, and attempts had been made to blow up his house, and he has now, no doubt, been shot for refusing to join the Sawgrinders’ Union”.

    The union was also known as the Ratteners and was a violent organisation, it attempted to destroy residential and commercial buildings, with violence and injury being commonplace.

    Anyway, enough of the history of the building and back to the present. The selection of keg beers was well measured and interesting.

    I had some difficulty photographing the pump fronts as it was busy, but I had the Praline Stout from Lost Industry brewery. This was excellent, although I notice that some on-line reviews don’t agree, with a depth of taste to it and a flavour of sugar and nuts (the beer I mean, not the on-line reviews).

    The pub was welcoming and the staff member at the bar was friendly and efficient, with the prices being reasonable. It was busy during our visit, but we were able to find a table after a while, and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. A well deserved entrant into the Good Beer Guide.