The on-the-ground research for this Swindon in 50 Drinks post about hot chocolate necessitated a return visit to Los Gatos, on Devizes Road in Old Town.
No 8: Hot Chocolate
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No 7: Sherry – Fortified Wine of Spain
Right! If your perception of sherry is the dark, somewhat sweet stuff you remember your granny drinking in a schooner at Christmas – prepare for a surprise. Because there’s as much variety with it as there is with other wines. The fortified wine you associate with grandma and Christmas is more than likely Harvey’s Bristol Cream – or something similar.
Sarsens Restaurant Marlborough
This post forms an exception to a general rule, that this blog only covers the borough of Swindon, rather than extending into Wiltshire. But I enjoyed this place so much that I decided to break my own rules. Not to be confused with Sarson’s the vinegar people – Sarsen’s restaurant in Marlborough is wonderful! Or at any rate myself and my companions thought so.
No 6: Hop Kettle Pilsner Lager
For this post and this drink we make a return visit to The Eternal Optimist bar on Devizes Rd above Los Gatos.
See also in this series, No 5: Gin & Tonic for more on the Eternal Optimist.
No 5: Gin & Tonic
I have a confession to make. I loathe gin. And I’m not a fan of tonic either. Which is as bit of a bummer given that every bar in the land is awash with every variety of Mothers’ Ruin you can imagine. And, I daresay, some you can’t. So I can’t tell you how pleased I was when my good chum, Jo Garton, volunteered to take one for the team and write a few lines about her gin experience at Old Town bar, The Eternal Optimist.
No 4: Prosecco
On a recent night out at The Weighbridge Brewhouse, down near the Outlet Centre, one of my dining companions and myself decided to have a glass of Prosecco. Which gave me the perfect opportunity to do this post in my series Swindon in 50 drinks.
No 3: The Bloody Mary
Continuing our journey round Swindon in 50 drinks, this post features the Bloody Mary you see in the picture below - at The Tuppeny in Swindon's Old Town. I saw this image of this rather splendid looking Bloody Mary on the Twitter stream of The Tuppenny in Old Town....
No 2: Coffee
Hello listeners. Welcome to the second post in my tour round Swindon in 50 Drinks.
Because I don’t want you all getting the idea that I’m ONLY interested in alcohol (almost but not quite) the subject of this post is that magic bean – coffee.
The History of Coffee
This guest blog from The Blog Frog is all about the history of coffee. Sit back and look forward to a few fab facts about coffee and caffeine.
No 1: Ouzo – it’s all Greek to me
7th August 2019
Four days ago myself and friends were out celebrating the launch at the Baker’s community cafe, of my second book Swindon in 50 Buildings.
Now, more than once in recent weeks the topic of covering Swindon in 50 Drinks arose. It was somewhat tongue-in-cheek TBH. But then I got to thinking ‘Why not?’ Something a little different for this blog.
Ergo, being as how the location for my book launch celebrations was the Greek Olive, what better drink to have for No 1 in this series than Ouzo.
The Greek Olive Refreshed
I’ve got a very soft spot for the Greek Olive restaurant on Faringdon Road. I struggle to believe that four years have passed since I first wrote about the place on the blog here. Swindon’s Greek Olive is a popular place and with good reason. The people are lovely, the food is consistent and the portions are large. And who doesn’t like a large portion?! 😉 It’s a charming taste of Greece in the heart of Swindon.
‘Sorry Swindon’ says Weighbridge Brewhouse
Long-established Swindon venue, The Weighbridge Brewhouse, relaunched last week [26 June] with a refurbished restaurant and bar, and changes to its food and drink menus – thanks in part to its friendly Facebook followers.
Swindon In 50 Buildings
A Ken White Retrospective
Secret Swindon
Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide
Dona Bradley Architectural Illustrator
We Are Swindon
