Is there anything more British than an underwhelming boast on a sign?
In this era of relentless, irony-free, fact-free boastfulness, a lesser establishment might have shouted about being the best cafe in Worcester, Worcestershire or all of merrie England. So this was refreshing to see. A good 20 years ago, I drove past a sign outside a pub near Warwick promising 'crap beer, terrible food, unfriendly service'. I've always regretted not popping in to pay tribute to the management.
Another, less knowing example of this kind of thing that has long charmed me is the sign for Monmouth golf club on the A40 just outside the town. It says, in quotation marks, that it is 'arguably the prettiest course in Wales'. The 'arguably' is doing a lot of honourable work there. It's not clear who is being quoted – it may be the club itself – but a lesser establishment would have left the 'arguably' out, removing all doubt from the question. Respect.
Sometimes, a boast is so deliciously odd that it's not clear whether or not there is irony at play. There is a sex shop in central London the sign of which boasts: 'The only 2 storey Adult Shop in Soho!' I've walked past this place a hundred times and always wondered about this. Is it true? Does it matter? I've never worked up the courage to go in to ask.
Now, I've ridden through the northern fringes of Worcester and chanced upon another wry sign, this one for an art gallery. It reads: 'Last Gallery Before M5'. I like its style. This is a place called the Bevere Gallery. Assuming its art is as good as its signage, I'll be back for a look.
Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, writer and Guardian columnist
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Sunderland's Keel Crossing one-day opening for Rugby World Cup
An unfinished footbridge will temporarily open for the first day of the Women's Rugby World Cup before shutting again for final cosmetic Keel Crossing will welcome pedestrians on 22 August, including fans travelling to the Stadium of Light for the tournament's opening match between England and the more than 40,000 people expected in the city for the game, council leader Michael Mordey said: "It will be incredible seeing a sea of England and USA shirts and scarves walking across the bridge."Keel Crossing will close at the end of the day so the final phase of works can be completed before it is officially opened for permanent use. The £31m structure links Keel Square in the city centre with Sheepfolds and the Stadium of is one of several high-profile developments currently under construction as part of the Riverside Sunderland scheme, including Culture House and the new eye said: "I think this crossing has come to represent the sense of renewed positivity and optimism that is growing in Sunderland right now." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
It's Yorkshire Day but what do Lincolnshire folk think?
Ee bah gum it's Yorkshire Day - an annual celebration of England's largest county, and the birthplace of such notable figures as the Bronte sisters, singer Louis Tomlinson and artist David day was first celebrated on 1 August 1975 in an effort to restore pride in the whole year, Ilkley will co-host the official civic celebration, the centrepiece of Yorkshire Day, alongside Bradford, the UK City of Culture asked people in neighbouring Lincolnshire - so called Yellowbellies - what they thought of "God's Own County" and visa versa. Both county's boast a number of North Sea holiday resorts, including Skegness in Lincolnshire and Whitby in North in Gainsborough, which incidentally was once the Viking capital of England before York got in on the act, Sarah Patrick, 57, said: "I absolutely love Whitby - I've been to Whitby quite a few times."It's just that nice quaint little seaside town without too much of the Skegness thing in it, if you know what I mean?"Others remarked about the "beautiful weather", possibly tongue in cheek, the friendliness of Yorkshire folk, and the variety of things to see and when asked they conceded they were originally from Bradley, 91, from Torksey, near Gainsborough, worked as an engineer in Wakefield for 10 years, for E Green and flying the flag for Yellowbellies, he said the best thing about Yorkshire was its proximity to also joked that Nottinghamshire was his second and Sutton on Sea in Lincolnshire were both named in the Sunday Times best places to live guide in 2024 and Steep Hill in Lincoln's historic quarter was previously awarded the title of Britain's Best Place by the Academy of Urbanism. Meanwhile, in Driffield, East Yorkshire, punters and traders at the market had their say on Lincolnshire, which hosts its own annual celebration day on 1 seller Martin Helbrow said he often ventured over the border to attend farmers' markets, and quite liked it, but added that he was proud to call East Yorkshire his Cole said she was unable to comment as she had never been to told that she was missing out on some of the best beaches anywhere in the land, she said: "I very much doubt it - Bridlington is very nice."Another woman said all she knew was the county was well-known for its Mark Edwards summed up the Yorkshire mood, saying: "I used to live in Lincolnshire, but came back to Yorkshire because it is much better."However, cheese seller Anita Jepson offered a more diplomatic approach."Anywhere in Britain is beautiful, beautiful countryside, beautiful people," she said."We do have a nice Lincolnshire cheese on the stall - so we do like to promote everybody," she added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Yorkshire Day celebrated by BBC local radio show
A comedian and radio host has spent the week travelling Yorkshire in the run-up to the 50th annual Yorkshire 1 August celebration of "God's own county" was set up by the Yorkshire Ridings Society in 1975 in response to the creation of new local government administrative areas the previous to the society's website, the creation of Yorkshire Day, was "to reaffirm Yorkshire's true boundaries".Toby Foster, who presents the afternoon show for BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield and BBC Radio York, travelled Yorkshire on public transport for a Race Across the World-style challenge. Foster said it reaffirmed his proudly held view that Yorkshire was the best county in the world."Everybody has been really nice. All the people we've met have gone out of their way to help us," he said."There's been a lot of pride in where people live, a pride that's coming back, certainly in Bradford you can feel that."The trip, dubbed Race Towards Yorkshire Day, started at Bradford's National Science and Media Museum with other locations revealed throughout the week. Challenges included Toby having a tarantula on his face and producer Chelsey Ward riding the Gyrosaur attraction at Gulliver's Valley Theme Park in locations visited included Crystal Peaks shopping centre in Sheffield, Park Dean Resort at Cayton Bay, near Scarborough, and Tropical World at Roundhay, Leeds. Zach Huntley, 29, lives in south Leeds and works for a craft brewery. He met the team during a stop in Roundhay Park. "I moved from down south and I feel very accepted and welcome," said Mr Huntley. "Yorkshire's about community and wildlife and nature." He plans to join the West Yorkshire Bat Society, which works to conserve the Kuunal, 31, lives near York and is an animal keeper at Tropical World. For her, being outdoors makes Yorkshire said: "Exploring, hiking, birdwatching, all of those things in the Yorkshire countryside. That's what's made it so special for me, out in the Yorkshire Dales and places like that." Jai Robinchalk, 24, lives in Leeds and works at The Great Yorkshire Shop at the city's Corn met Toby and Chelsey during their challenge to pick up a jar of rhubarb jam from Yorkshire's rhubarb triangle. "Everyone helps each other out, everyone's so nice and you can have a conversation with anyone if you want to, and that's what Yorkshire is," he said the incidental conversations the team had during their trips on public transport really stood out."I didn't realise what kind of relationship the bus drivers had with all the punters who get on," he said. "They know them all, they've got nicknames for them all, they have a laugh with them all."The Race Towards Yorkshire Day is due to finish with a Yorkshire Day Party in Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire later. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
