Tom Hallett

A blog about craft beer, food and drink, pubs and restaurants, life in Hampshire and outdoor lifestyle

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Where to see the autumn colours in Hampshire

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Here are 12 places you can see the autumn colours in Hampshire, including many places you can visit for free.

One of the things that makes the transition from long summer days to long winter nights more bearable is the burst of autumn colour we get to see in September, October and November.

And while the UK doesn’t naturally enjoy the multitude of colour seen in places like the US or Japan, where there are naturally more species of trees, you still can’t beat an autumn walk in an ancient forest or a tree-lined avenue as the leaves fall gently around you.… Read more

How I spent a day as a tourist in my hometown (Sherborne, Dorset)

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Find out what I got up to when I spent the day as a tourist in my hometown, Sherborne. Includes sights such as Sherborne Abbey, the Conduit, Cheap Street and Sherborne Castle and gardens.

I was lucky enough to spend the first 21 years of my life in and around Sherborne, the historic abbey town in north-west Dorset.

Yet, it wasn’t until I left to go to university that I began to appreciate how fortunate I had been to grow up in such a beautiful setting.… Read more

A walking tour of Winchester’s best real ale pubs and historic sites

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If you like sightseeing and love beer, the roman city of Winchester is perfect.

Not only is there lots of history, heritage and fine architecture dotted throughout the city’s medieval streets, but there are also many excellent traditional pubs serving excellent real ale.

This pub crawl and walking tour of Winchester allows you to see many of the sights of the city while sampling real ale from some of Hampshire’s 30+ breweries.… Read more

Beer, boats and bayonets on a weekend touring Leeds’ craft beer pubs and bars

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Find out how I got on when I spent the weekend visiting some of Leeds’ many craft beer bars and real ale pubs.

It’s Saturday morning in early March on the south bank of the Leeds and Liverpool canal a few hundred yards from Leeds city centre.

Jamie and I are treading carefully along the sodden towpath to pick up our friend, Robbie.… Read more

5 ways to spend time with the locals on holiday in Barbados

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Barbados offers amazing beaches, great food, lots of shopping and plenty of culture.

Despite all this, the best thing about this Caribbean island is the people.

Not only are they welcoming and friendly, but everyone – from the bar staff in your hotel to the ladies and gents dressed in their Sunday best outside the local churches – has a story to tell.… Read more

Liming with the locals at Merton’s (Moontown) Fish Fry, St Lucy, Barbados

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Every Friday in the UK, thousands of people flock to the nation’s fish and chip shops for their weekly helping of fried fish.

It’s no different in Barbados.

But instead of cod and chips from the chippie, Barbadians head to the weekly fish fry. This is where vendors cook up the day’s catch on the barbecue and serve it with a few sides and some Banks beer or local rum to wash it down.… Read more