Old Road Tavern, Chippenham

Having visited this pub earlier in the year, we knew what to expect. Nothing fancy, but very good beer. What we did not expect was cheap and cheerful grub too. Parking around the pub is terrible, owing to the fact it is on a one way street and near the town's railway station.

Having left Dunstable without eating many of the Regimentals tucked into full English breakfasts and bacon sandwiches, as well as indulging in the reliable Otter Bitter and the Wye Valley Brewery's HPA.

Another foul day, weather wise, as well as football wise, as the Blues capitulated to a 4-1 defeat.

Pembroke Arms, Biggleswade

On a foul night in November, a stop off in a lovely pub is ideal, until you remember you have to go and stand in the wind and the rain for two hours to watch football. With the wind making any kind of football a lottery, maybe staying in the Pembroke Arms in front of the fire would have been a better idea.

The pub, formerly known as the Brown Bear, has recently reopened after an extensive refit. The layout is largely unchanged, with one large L shaped bar sporting six handpumps. The interior decoration is modern and airy and benefits on cold days like this one, from two open fires. Guest ales from Marston's group often feature Banks, Jennings, Ringwood, & Wychwood.

We sloshed down the Hobgoblin and a smashing stout called Lord Barker by Gun Dog Ales, before heading out into the elements. Once across the Biggleswade Town car park, which resembles the surface of the moon, we experienced a match controlled by the conditions.

A fair result on the night of a 3-3 draw, left us hoping for the opportunity of a return to Biggleswade on a Saturday, so we can try a few more pubs out in the town.

Bedworth Tour 2015

The general meeting place on Saturday morning is Tony’s Café on High Street North in Dunstable. A slap up breakfast to line the stomach for an away day is an essential part of the day.

The train from Leighton Buzzard to Bedworth, with just the one change at Coventry, got us into town at 12:57 and with a short walk to the Bear & Ragged Staff, a Wetherspoon’s establishment, we were soon sampling the ale.

Poor Dean was already worse for wear, after a late night at The Gate and was already struggling, but following a short snooze in the pub was back in the land of the living.

Regular cask ales Greene King Abbot, Marston's Pedigree were complimented by the guest ale, Shepherd Neame’s Bishops Finger. Other JDW regulars Devils Backbone and Shipyard’s American Pale Ale were also available.

As kick off approached the refreshed Regimentals walked to the Oval Ground, based in the town’s Miners Welfare Park. The heavens had opened but playing on a 3G plastic pitch meant the game was not in any doubt and the soaked supporters cheered the team on to a well-deserved victory.

Before catching the train home, a quick pit stop at a local chippy, to sample the local delicacy of faggots, mushy peas and chips, was in order.

The return leg was an opportunity to analyse the match and sober up a little before we ended up in the Harvest Home, (a Dunstable Town sponsor) to watch an AC/DC tribute band. A good idea at the time, but meant that hearing anything on Sunday was challenging.