Writer and blogger specialising in alcohol-free beer, craft beer, hospitality and getting outdoors.
Posts about food and drink including pub and restaurant reviews, recipes, craft beer and the latest in my search for Hampshire's best burger.
On Wednesday night, Tiff’s dad’s friend Janet treated us to dinner at the Shoe Inn in Exton, a village in the South Downs national park just off the A32 between Wickham and Alton.
Tiff’s dad picked me up straight from work so we arrived just before 6pm. I’d directed us on a bit of a detour down some extremely narrow lanes.… Read more
Last Saturday I popped down to the relatively new Cracklerock brewery in Botley to pick up some fresh draught ale to take away for a barbecue.
I don’t really enjoy bottled beer, so I’m quite lucky to have a few breweries close by that do public sales such as the Botley Brewery down in the Botley Mills and the Bowman Ales brewery near Droxford.… Read more
Every year around this time, Tiff and I make a few batches of elderflower cordial to drink over the summer.
Elderflower seemingly pops up everywhere in late May and early June. Yet we always struggle to find any in a good spot – on a public right of way, easily accessible (not too high up!) and away from traffic fumes.
One reason for this is that the elder tree is inconspicuous for most of the year – only when it’s in blossom or in fruit is it easy to find.… Read more
Last Saturday, I met up with some friends for a day out (aka pub crawl) in Salisbury.
Jamie and I arrived at the train station first. Rather than wait for everyone else there, we decided to head for our first pub.
We had a little bit of time to kill because it wasn’t quite opening time. Instead of heading into the city centre we went looking for the Village Freehouse pub, which is in the opposite direction.… Read more
Last night, Smudger and I made a relatively impromtu visit to the Southampton Beer Festival at the Guildhall (or “O2 Guildhall Southampton” to give it its proper name).
Last year, we went to the Saturday daytime session and ended up doing a pub crawl back to Bitterne Triangle where we finished the day in style in the curry house. This time, with a christening to go to on Sunday, I persuaded Smudge that we should do the Friday night session.… Read more
When I used to work from home, I always had time for a leisurely breakfast on weekdays. Not so now – I either quickly shovel something down my throat before I leave the house or I grab a bowl of muesli at my desk.
The important thing is that I do eat something. There’s no way I could survive until lunchtime without a proper brekkie, even if it is a little rushed.… Read more
![Mango, apricot and fig breakfast bars [recipe]](http://thomashallett.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/File-18-05-2015-16-40-07-1024x768.jpeg)