Nostalgia Trip #2: Warwick
Leaving Brownsover we avoid motorways and take the short countryside route via the appealing Dunchurch to our next destination, Warwick. So many visitors to England make Stratford-on-Avon a high priority; we have to say it’s their loss if they miss out on visiting the splendid nearby town of Warwick. Steeped in history, packed with gorgeous historical buildings, straddling the River Avon and boasting one of England’s most magnificent castles, any visitor would surely be thoroughly enchanted by Warwick.
So why are we here on our nostalgia trip? My (Phil) parents moved here in 1979 and lived in the town for their remaining years, with Dad dying three years ago in June 2018. My Dad was extremely entertaining company and was a highly amusing character, completely capable of holding court in a pub he was visiting for the first time. I remember taking a friend to meet Dad (Stanley) for a beer on our way to a football match; on returning to the car the friend grinned and said, “so how was it, growing up with a flamboyant father?”, which probably says everything.
I have many, many wonderful memories of great nights out, at least a book’s worth of funny Stanley stories and a huge number of fond memories of many beers together. You could never describe Stanley as a mentor or a role model, he was too independent for that, but my memories of times with my Dad definitely fall into best friend/best drinking buddy/funniest nights/cameraderie territory. He was, as I say, terrific company.
And so, apart from being here to see Warwick as tourists, something we didn’t really do when making family visits, we are here today to tour those pubs where I spent many great nights and from which I have so many great memories. It is, if you like, a pub crawl in Stanley’s honour.
Sadly, we quickly discover today that the pub with probably the greatest collection of memories, the Zetland Arms, has permanently closed since our last visit here, another sad indicator of the parlous state of the licensed trade and actually a great loss to the town. This morning though the town basks in glorious sunshine, its market square thronged with people at outdoor tables and buying produce from the market stalls, its huge numbers of ancient buildings looking even more splendid on this perfect day. It’s just one of those places which keeps making you gasp, it really is exceptionally lovely.
Having pre-booked our entrance tickets we spend a couple of hours within the terrific confines of Warwick Castle, exploring its grounds and its beautifully preserved interior, absorbing its history and following the walkway which scales its towers and ambles along the top of its ramparts. The view across Warwickshire from the highest points is fabulous, green fields rolling into the distance as the serene River Avon flows beneath. The castle tour is well designed and cleverly thought out and, with families as its clear target market, there are many child friendly moments, none of which detract in the slightest from its overall appeal.
Beyond the castle, the sumptuous ancient buildings and cobbled walkways of Warwick combine beautifully with its green spaces, the spires of its many churches reaching up towards the day’s azure skies. The town truly basks in its splendour.
The sun beats down, but our intended pub crawl doesn’t go quite to plan: not only is The Zetland closed, but the Rose & Crown in the market square is fully booked, the COVID way. But we enjoy beers at The Old Fourpenny Shop, which is our perfect overnight base for this visit, and The Bowling Green, both old haunts of Stanley, before we go a little off piste for beers at other pubs in the market square, all followed by the real bonus of a terrific Lebanese meal in Jury Street. By the end of it, we think we’ve done justice to Stanley’s memory.
I miss him, of course, but his time was done. Stanley was a lover of life, and once his age meant he could love life no longer, he wanted his life to end. And so he went, leaving me and lots of others with great memories. Today has been lovely, wandering the streets of the town he loved, drinking beer in the sun and recounting some favourite stories of my time with my “flamboyant father”.
Gone. But never forgotten.
21 Comments
Andrew Petcher
It is a great town and castle. I grew up nearby in Rugby and lived for a while in Stratford
Lovely picture of your dad.
Phil & Michaela
We were in Rugby the day before Warwick, not sure if you saw that post, Andrew
leightontravels
Warwick Castle just looks stunning. Sladja is already asking if we can squeeze this is when we finally make it to England. The idea of honouring your dad’s memory with a tour of his old stomping grounds is touching. And what a great photo at the end, just from this shot you get a “one of a kind” feeling. By the way, Lebanese food is one of my favourite world cuisines. Happy Anniversary! (Forgot to say that in the last article).
Phil & Michaela
Cheers Leighton
Monkey's Tale
I’ve never hear of Warwick, but the castle and the cute downtown look perfect. Sorry about your dad and the pub closing. He sounds like a real character 🙂 Maggie
Phil & Michaela
It’s a beautiful town, Maggie. Put it on your UK wish list!
Nemorino
This brings back nice memories for me, too, because in the summers of the 1990s I used to take groups of Germans to Birmingham (Frankfurt’s sister city in the UK), and Warwick Castle was one of our usual excursions with them.
(Along with Ironbridge and the Severn Valley Railway.)
Phil & Michaela
Great choices of destination! Warwick really is a lovely place.
Lookoom
What a beautiful smile to keep forever, very touching to read these memories being relived through the pubs. I also love the photos of the castle on a perfect day.
100 Country Trek
Wow..we have never seen Warwick Castle..this would be an incredible site to see. Photos bring back memories.
Phil & Michaela
It certainly is! Warwick is a lovely town, the castle is such a great sight
wetanddustyroads
What a lovely way of remembering your dad Phil! It’s wonderful that you have such amazing memories of him.
Love the pictures of the castle and surroundings – sounds like a great day out! Oh yes, almost forgot … we also have a place called Warwick here in South Africa … a very, very nice wine estate close to Stellenbosch (THE wine producing area in South Africa). So, if ever you get to my country, make sure not to miss out on this one 😄.
Phil & Michaela
Sounds like a plan!
WanderingCanadians
Warwick Castle and the surrounding grounds look quite impressive. That picture of Stanley says it all. He’ll always be in your hearts and memories.
Jyothi
Loved the Warwick Castle image! Looks beautiful!
grandmisadventures
Enchanting is right! What an incredibly beautiful town. And a perfect tribute to such a fun loving man. Cheers to Stanley and the memories he created.
Toonsarah
What a lovely way of honouring your dad’s memory, in the pubs he enjoyed so much. He looks a great character, one who could tell a story or three!
Phil & Michaela
He made a few stories himself too!
Gilda Baxter
Warwick Castle is my favourite English Castle, absolutely beautiful. I have never explored the town, so it is great to learn about it on this post. Beautiful homage to your father.
Annie Berger
What a lovely tribute to your father, Phil! It must have been fun to return to Warwick as a tourist and not just fulfilling family commitments while there each time when your Dad was alive. Glad you raised a pint or two to Stanley in some of your old haunts.
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Annie, was great to go back as a tourist, Michaela had visited the Castle several times as a child, happy I have seen it now too