piesse of piddle

waterside pub of the season - autumn 2019

piesse of piddle, wyre piddle, river avon

Editor's Note: We are sad to say that the Piesse of Piddle has now been permanently closed. The building will be up for sale, and may well re-open as a public house. But it will never be the same as it was under Graeme's management. Graeme, and the Piesse of Piddle will be missed by customers and villagers. And I'm sure everyone wishes Graeme all the best in his new venture in Dartmouth. We have left this article up as a memento!

graeme piesseThe Piesse of Piddle, hotel, bar and restaurant, is managed by Graeme Piesse, and it is he who is the heart and soul of the place.

Graeme is a connoseur of fine wines, a lover of fine cars and cricket, and a very fine singer and guitarist (especially when it comes to Donovan and Leonard Cohen).

Piesse of Piddle wine barThe bar area is unique and interesting, with statues and enormous plants, and giant beer barrels supporting the bar itself.

The walls display original paintings - mainly of musicians, all adding to the bohemian feel of the place. The atmosphere is relaxed, the locals very friendly and Graeme always has a small but very good selection of real ales on offer. There are guitars dotted about and with a piano in the hall, and many musicians amongst the regular customers, there is often the opportunity for a jamming session.

There is another small room off the bar, and this leads to a much bigger room which serves as a function room.

There is always plenty going on. There is a very well attended quiz night on the last Sunday of the month, a folk night on the 4th Monday of each month, and an open mic night on the last Wednesday of each month.

Live music acts are usually booked for the weekends, and Graeme has a knack of selecting varied acts of the highest quality.

Add to this the occasional live band practice and regular jamming sessions, and you can be pretty certain that you will find something to entertain you.

The hotel offers rooms with unrivalled views of the river, and the establishment has on occasion been the venue for weddings.

The outdoor space is wonderful, with a large top terrace, then a couple of smaller terraces with wild gardens leading down to the river. A brand new pontoon offers spacious moorings - perhaps in one of the loveliest spots in the country.

 

 

The Piesse of Piddle is, and will hopefully remain, a delightfully quirky, unique establishment and a wonderful place to spend a few hours or to stay for a few days - ask for the room with the four poster bed! Dogs are welcomed, as are children. And if you are musically inclined, take a guitar, a penny whistle, a mouth organ - or even a saxophone with you - we're sure it will go down well!

Graeme offers everyone a very friendly welcome to his hotel and pub. He is always ready to chat or to entertain. At the moment the pub is open from 4.30 every day except Sundays when it opens at 12.00. Food is available 12pm to 6pm on Sunday, and from 5pm Tuesday to Saturday. Sunday roasts are particularly recommended, though all the food is excellent. Rooms are available for short or long term rental, and there is a large private dining room which can be made available for special occasions - anything from Christenings to Wakes.

mad hatter

roving canal traders

lorraine stevenson - the mad hatter

lorraine stevenson - mad hatterI first started boating in 2003 when I sold my house for a killing, bought my first boat and went boating as a single handed woman.

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the all new canal turn, carnforth

pub of the season spring 2019

the all new canal turn, carnforth, lancaster canal

This is the first edition of the all new CanalsOnline Magazine and we could we find no better way to start the pub of the season than with the All New Canal Turn in Carnforth on the Lancaster Canal. This is where we sat and agonised over all the changes to our website, and it is due largely to the pub managers and staff that we remained sane ( if not strictly sober).

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brian greaves – the blacksmith’s craft

roving canal traders

brian greaves - the blacksmith's craft

Brian & Jane's narrowboat is warm and welcoming compared to the chilly weather outside, smoke curling from its chimney, and frost sparkling on the ground.

It's an unusual life, to say the least, that began when the couple borrowed a canal boat from one of Jane's colleagues for their honeymoon. They fell in love with the canal life and it wasn't long before they were living on the water more permanently.

Brian did his apprenticeship as an engineer in Skipton in Yorkshire, then went on courses to learn blacksmithing - something that would give his creativity a freer rein.

Brian and Jane were already living on board narrowboat Emily, when Brian started to build tugboat 'Bronte'. It took him over three years. Bronte has an engine in the aft section to push the engine-less narrowboat Emily along.

It also has a fully working smithy's forge.

This year marks their 30th year living on board Emily. In that time they have had two children, Lewis 26 and Frances 24, who spent their lives aboard until leaving for university.

Jane & Brian have been roving canal traders for the last 6 years, travelling the whole canal system at a gentle pace, Brian producing a large range of hand forged iron work beautifully combining form and function. His work is mainly self designed, with a small range of traditional designs.

Brian also undertakes commissions to your own design or can design for you.

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brian greaves

Brian Greaves has a fully operational forge on his narrowboat tug 'Bronte'. His wonderful pieces of ironwork, from pokers to delightful sculptures, are created on board, and it is always a special privilege to be able to watch him at work.
You can find out where he is by following him on Facebook "the Blacksmith's craft"

Call:  07968 019 203  Follow: Facebook    Visit: Website Link

yorkshire waterway museum

yorkshire waterways museum

recollections of a missing yorkshire gem

classic bikes outside Yorkshire Waterways MuseumI’m upset Yorkshire Waterways Museum was forced to close, despite being so closely linked with other partners, including the Canal and River Trust and that since its closure, little has been decided about the site.

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