I WANT A PORK PIE!

Well, can you guess where we're going today? The title may be a clue. Or you can just follow the map here. To start with, we're heading east, into a prong of Leicestershire and the large village of Bottesford. Here's Bottesford West Junction signal box, on the Nottingham to Grantham ex GNR line.

So. let's go into Bottesford itself (Creative Commons License).

Bottesford railway station, 1963 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

A DMU arrives at the unstaffed station in 1985.

Bottesford church, also in '85.

While we're in Bottesford, we might as well call in at the Bull Inn.

Sadly, the Red Lion closed in 2017.

There's also the Rutland Arms.

Believed to be the first Marquis of Granby, this pub is at Granby itself (back in Nottinghamshire).

At nearby Langar, there's a collection of vintage buses owned by Messrs. Sharpes (Andrew Fieldsend).

A quick foray into Lincolnshire and a place called Harlaxton, once home to several ironstone workings. Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST Salmon worked here, but is seen under repair in 1959. It has since been preserved,

The Grantham Canal, under restoration, passes through Harlaxton.

Back in Leicestershire, the Nag's Head at Saltby serves a decent pint.

And so the the town of Meton Mowbray. 58002 and a pair of class 31s wait to leave one of the loops in 1983.

Here's the railway station in 2015.

A Cross Country class 170 departs.

A tall ex LMS signal box controls movements.

Let's now go into the town. Here's a postcard of The Bridge.

It's Market Day!

Now, time for that pork pie.

Barton used to have a depot in the town.

Midland Fox became the major bus operator.

Arriva took over Midland Fox operations.

Fairtax was a subsidiary of Midland Fox.

Veolia once had a few services in Melton Mowbray.

West End Travel also ran buses in the town.

Today, many routes are operated by Centrebus.

Beer time! By the impressive church is the Crown, an Everard's pub.

Close by - the Anne of Cleves - more Everards.

Here's the town's Wetherspoons, the Kettleby Ox.

The Mash Tun and the Bricklayers Arms have both closed.

The Generous Briton, seen as a Home Ales pub, no longer has cask beer.

By the Pork Pie Shop is the Half Moon, a traditional town boozer.

The Noel's Arms used to be a good pub, but no cask ales these days and it's more of an eatery.

Not far away, the Harboro Hotel serves good beer and has accommodation.

Just along the road, close to the station, the Boat Inn, a good place to finish this post.

Next time, we'll head west, or thereabouts.

BOTH SIDES OF THE TRENT

Leaving Wellow behind, we head south to the small town of Southwell, famous for its race course and the Minster, designated as a cathedral, though Southwell does not have city status.

At the site of Southwell's lost railway station is a great free house, the Final Whistle.

The Bramley Apple pub, that once sold Springhead beers, is now closed.

The Hearty Goodfellow is an Everard's house.

Here's the Old Coach House Inn.

Also worth seeking out, the Wheatsheaf.

To find out where we're going now, you can look at the map here. You'll see that our next stop is at Fiskerton station, to admire the ex Midland Railway signal box on the Nottingham to Newark line.

By the River Trent in Fiskerton is the Bromley Atms.

Further along the line, towards Newark, is Bleasby station, seen in 1963 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Bleasby has a decent pub, the Waggon & Horses.

Nearby Epperstone is the home of Midland Vectis Buses. This Leyland National was photographed here in 2024 (Andrew Fieldsend).

Another Midland Railway signal box, this time at Lowdham in 1986.

The World's End is in Lowdham!

Onwards now to Hoveringham, only to find that the Marquis of Granby is no longer a pub.

Thankfully, the Reindeer in Hoveringham is still pulling pints.

This area is producing quite a pub crawl. Out next stop is the Black Horse at Caythorpe. At one time, around 2000, it brewed its own beer.

To the south is East Bridgeford, where we find another Reindeer Inn.

Onwards now to the small town of Bingham, on the Nottingham to Grantham railway line. Here's the station in GNR times.

Now it's 1963 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Bingham station, unstaffed, in 2014.

The ex GNR signal box survives.

Services are operated by East Midland Trains.

Some freight passes through too.

Trent-Barton is the main bus operator in Bingham.

Premier Coaches once operated a town service.

The town's centrepiece is its Butter Cross.

The Wetherspoons takes its name too.

The Butter Cross was previously the Crown Inn.

The White Lion has a range of real ales.

We conclude our tour at the excellent Horse & Plough.

Next time, we'll continue our journey southwards.