It’s hard to believe, but The Shropshire GOAT is celebrating its first birthday. It’s incredible to think that a whole year has passed since I moved to Telford and started to get to know the county. And what a year it’s been!
2022
In August 2022, I started off by enjoying Shrewsbury Cocktail Week and the Telford Balloon Fiesta, before taking a stroll around Newport. Then launching into September it was all about the launch of Telford Makerspace and the wonderful Shrewsbury Beer Festival.
What else could I have enjoyed more than the Shropshire Oktoberfest as we moved into the autumn? And I started to get to know the team at the fantastic Anthony’s of Wellington. I harvested grapes at the Hencote Estate and enjoyed a slap up Sunday lunch at the Pheasant in Admaston in November.
2023
As the year drew to a close, we had all the information we needed in the Shropshire Christmas Light Switch on Directory and I held a festive imperial stout tasting at the Boot Micropub in Wellington.
As 2023 began, a whole new set of events dawned. It was the first Drive Yourself to Drink alcohol free beer tasting, which I ran in conjunction with dry. of Shrewsbury. One of the most popular reviews I wrote was of Mexicano in Shrewsbury – I think its existence was news to long term locals!
February was dominated by the superb Shropshire Kids Festival at the Telford International Centre, and in March we welcomed Dina Restaurant to Wellington. In April I made my first visit to the Salopian Brewery Taproom for one of their monthly open weekends, which was a real day to remember. Plus we celebrated St George’s Day at Telford Town Park.
Spring had sprung and in May one of the highlights was Telford’s Big Walk Week, and of course I held the first ever Shrewsbeer Sunday Beer Tour. Tickets are now available for the August and September tours, if anyone would like to join in that particular bit of fun! June was a real month of celebration. We enjoyed back to back carnivals around Telford, a fantastic wine tasting with Paso Primero and I put on the first ever beer tasting at the Shrewsbury Food Festival.
What’s next?
And now, here we are in the summer (or so they tell me – we’ve not seen so much sunshine!!) We celebrated new management at The Unicorn Inn in Little Dawley (which I hope to visit soon) and Electronic Music Open Mic in July, and here we are in August! I’ve been out and about in #NotShropshire this month mainly, so no posts to note so far, but there’s still time!
Thanks to everyone who has popped in and read the GOAT, followed me on social media (for lots of different content) and all the businesses locally who have welcomed me with open arms. Let’s get cracking on year number two!
🐐 I’m running a Shrewsbury beer tour on Sunday 27th August – book your tickets here.
🐐 Bridgnorth Beer Festival is just around the corner, with more than 40 real ales and 10 real ciders. 7th-9th September, find out more on their website.
🐐 It’s fantastic that I will get to extol the virtues of cask ale and lead a tasting of superb Shropshire breweries at the Ludlow Food Festival. You can book a ticket to the session on 8th September at 5pm on their website.