Crazy Golf in Ardrossan, Scotland

Visiting Ardrossan and finding a Crazy Golf course on the seafront.

The view of the 18-hole Crazy Golf course on the seafront at Ardrossan

On our holiday to Scotland we booked our first night's stay in the seaside town of Ardrossan and what do you know but opposite the Lauriston Hotel was a Crazy Golf course!

Our BA flight was massively delayed arriving at Glasgow which meant we didn't get to check in until after midnight making the course visit in the early hours of the 25th July 2014 probably the latest we'd ever sniffed round a miniature golf course!

Unfortunately for us it was a derelict course, but during our time in Ardrossan we did see a few people playing the course with their own equipment.

You can find the Crazy Golf course on South Crescent Road in Ardrossan

The course was the 225th course we've found to be unplayable for one reason or another on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and the 563rd visited overall since September 2006.

 

When we looked around the 18-hole layout you could see the spot where a hut for the Minigolf course once stood.

We really enjoyed our short stay in Ardrossan and would definitely revisit the seaside town. It was a nice, relaxing spot, with good links to Largs, Ayr and Glasgow where we also travelled to on our holiday.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date
- Scotland
- Ardrossan Swings

Spotting an Abandoned Shoe in an odd spot in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae

What an odd place to see an abandoned shoe!



The Isle of Cumbrae in Scotland is a brilliant place with wonderful views and a great seaside town of Millport.

The abandoned Scottish Saltire Flip-Flop bobbing about in the sea at Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae in Scotland

The UK abandoned shoe count currently stands at 2678.

Links:
- Abandoned Shoe Spotter
- Abandoned Shoe related blog posts

Ardrossan swings

If playing on the swings was a Commonwealth Games sport I'd have a chance to win at least a Bronze medal I reckon.

Playing on the swings opposite our hotel in the very nice little seaside town of Ardrossan in North Ayrshire. The town was on the route for the Queen's Baton Relay, hence the Glasgow 2014 XX Commonwealth Games banner around the park

News Release - World Finger Jousting Championships at World Alternative Games 2014

Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, UK, 28 July 2014 - Competitors invited to take part in official World Finger Jousting Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells.

On Sunday, August 10th competitors will square-off to compete in the World Finger Jousting Federation’s international championship in Britain’s smallest town, Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales. The tournament will be hosted by the 2014 World Alternative Games.

Finger Jousting Competitors at the 2012 World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales

Finger jousting is a sport where two consenting players square off in an attempt to prod their opponent with their lancing (right) index finger before the opposing player can. The competitors must keep their right hands locked in an arm wrestling fashion and not use their legs or latent (left) arm in an offensive manner. The competitors are known as jousters, and the act of touching the other person’s body with the index finger is known as lancing.

Entry to the World Finger Jousting Championships cost £4 per person and players can enter and pay on the day or secure a place by registering to compete in advance via the World Alternative Games website.

The World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells were created in 2012 as an alternative to the “other big event” taking place in the United Kingdom that year. In 2014 the World Alternative Games will hold their over 60 interesting sports, games, and events between Friday, August 8th and Monday, August 25th.

Read the full news release on the World Finger Jousting Federation website.

'Driving' a Train at Falkirk High Station

Emily and I have just returned from a great holiday in Scotland where we rode the rails along the coast from Ardrossan to Ayr and then inland to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and a few nights stay in Falkirk.

Falkirk High station was the scene of one of my favourite photos from the holiday!

'Driving' a miniature barrel train at Falkirk High station as the ScotRail train we arrived on prepares to depart 

Further blog posts with details of the Miniature Golf courses we visited and played in Ardrossan, Largs, Millport - on the Isle of Cumbrae, Troon, Prestwick, Ayr and Falkirk will follow in the coming weeks.

Mini Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham

Two new 18-hole Mini Golf courses now open at Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham.

The new Mini Golf centre at Birmingham's Cannon Hill Park opened this week and it looks great.

The new 36-hole Mini Golf course in Cannon Hill Park. Looking like some sort of driving game!? Photo by Paul Johnson

In brighter weather the course looks even better. Check out this post on the Golden Putter Mini Golf Facebook page for some more photos of the layout.

Photos of the course, before the downpour, by Paul Johnson are below.

Back in March our fellow Minigolf Explorers Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson, Owen Johnson, Steve Sturdy and Ruth Burke visited the site and got some snaps of the course being built. Check out the blog post about it at "New Mini Golf course opening soon in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham."

The mascot of the Golden Putter Minigolf Courses. 'Gordon Putter' as he's known doesn't always have a 'tache though!

Visit the Golden Putter Mini Golf website for details of the other Golden Putter Mini Golf courses at Warwick, Wroxham, Staines and Rotherham. As well as their portable course.

Emily and I have visited all of the Golden Putter courses so far, except Rotherham. We're looking forward to giving the two new ones in Birmingham a play.

Links:
- Golden Putter Mini Golf
- Greenspace Leisure Ltd

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- New Mini Golf course opening soon in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

Cooking with Genius Gluten Free shortcrust and puff pastry

Some great gluten free cooking from Emily Gottfried.

As someone with Coeliac Disease I'm incredibly lucky to have a very understanding wife, who is also a very keen cook and baker!

One very happy Coeliac with a fresh from the oven Cheese Straw - my absolute favourite puff pastry treat

Check out the photos below for some of Emily's recent savoury and sweet baking.

A selection of Hors d'oeuvres (including a first attempt at Vol Au Vents) made using Genius Gluten Free Puff Pastry

Gluten Free Empanadas using the Genius Gluten Free Shortcrust Pastry

Apricot Frangipan Tarts made using Genius Gluten Free Shortcrust Pastry

A Pork & Mushroom Pie made with Genius Gluten Free Shortcrust Pastry. It was a little crumbly, but tasted great

Check out Emily's Twitter feed for more photos of her great gluten free cooking.

Visit the Genius Gluten Free website for more information on the Genius range of gluten free products.

Link:
- Genius Gluten Free website

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free
- Coeliac

Egg Throwing at the World Alternative Games

Egg Throwing competition to be held at the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells on Sunday 10th August.

The upcoming World Alternative Games will once again feature an Egg Throwing competition!

Taking place in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales during the morning session on Sunday 10th August the Egg Throwing tournament ('Taflu Wyau' in Welsh) is an Open event.

Players compete in pairs and the aim is to throw and catch a raw egg without breakage. After each round the teams must move further apart until there is just one team left standing with a whole unbroken egg.

Its a great, fun event and at the 2012 World Alternative Games me and my team-mate Jas Kukielka won the competition!

The 2012 World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Championships Gold Medal winning team and the Silver Medallists - from l-r Jas 'Jasain Bolt' Kukielka, Richard Gottfried (with Egg), Seve Kukielka

To register to take part in the Egg Throwing event, and other contests, please visit the World Alternative Games website.

Throwing an egg to Jas Kukielka

Egg Throwing can be a messy sport!

In the morning session on the 15th August there will also be a Russian Egg Roulette competition ('Rwlet y Rwsiaid â Wyau')! Each player takes it in turn to crack an egg on their forehead until one unlucky competitor finds they have the one fresh egg in six smashed on them. The winner moves into the next round.

The World Alternative Games are taking place place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August 2014 with over 60 sport and recreation events held during the festival of fun and games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

The official WFJF Finger Jousting World Championships will also be taking place at the 2014 Games, with male and female competitions taking place in the afternoon session on Sunday 10th August.

Check out the events listing and games brochure on the World Alternative Games website for more information.

Links:
- World Alternative Games website
- World Alternative Games on Twitter
- World Alternative Games on Facebook
- World Finger Jousting Federation website

Related blog posts:
- Becoming a World Champion in Egg Throwing!
- Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
- World Alternative Games

Conker Championships at the World Alternative Games

Conker Championships to be held at the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells on Friday 15th August.

The upcoming World Alternative Games will feature a Conkers competition!

Taking place in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales in the AM session on Friday 15th August the Conker Championships ('Pencampwriaethau Concyrs' in Welsh) will see competitors split into three groups - men, women and children.

At the start of each game, the competitors will be given a new lace and conker and each player then takes three alternate strikes on the opponent’s conker. The game's outcome is decided when one of the conkers is smashed.

To register to take part in the Conker Championships, and other contests, please visit the World Alternative Games website.

My friend Chris 'Stretch' Jones was the official World Conker Champion in 2006! At the 2007 Midlands Minigolf Open tournament in Warwick I got to see some world class conker action as the then World Conker Champion was challenged by preliminary competitor Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd!

Chris 'Stretch' Jones - 2006 World Conkers Champion - holding out his conker for enhancement talent Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd to take a shot

The World Alternative Games are taking place place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August 2014 with over 60 sport and recreation events held during the festival of fun and games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

The official WFJF Finger Jousting World Championships will also be taking place at the 2014 Games, with male and female competitions taking place on Sunday 10th August.

Check out the events listing and games brochure on the World Alternative Games website for more information.

Links:
- World Alternative Games website
- World Alternative Games on Twitter
- World Alternative Games on Facebook
- World Finger Jousting Federation website

Related blog posts:
- Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
- World Alternative Games

Zombie Fun Run at the World Alternative Games!

Zombie Race to be held at the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells on Monday 11th August.

A Zombie Fun Run will be taking place at the upcoming World Alternative Games!

The race (shouldn't it be a shamble?) will be held in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales during the PM session on Monday 11th August.

Anybody can enter the The Zombie Fun Run ('Râs Hwyl Sombi' in Welsh) and there will be many different categories. The main rule is that you MUST be dressed up as a zombie!!! Runners should start thinking about their costume and make-up now, as the 'best dressed' zombie will win.

The closest I've ever been to a Zombie Race was trying to evade the hordes at the Halloween Zombie Apocalypse in Hastings outdoor laser tag event in 2011!

A Zombie Apocalypse victim and a future victim in Hastings

Christopher Gottfried and two new friends at the Zombie Apocalypse in Hastings

To enter the Zombie Fun Run, and other contests, please visit the World Alternative Games website.

Llanwrtyd Wells is renowned for its quirky and odd sporting events. One of the most physically demanding contests is the annual Man vs Horse Marathon that began in 1980! For more information check out the Green Events website.

The World Alternative Games are taking place place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August 2014 with over 60 sport and recreation events held during the festival of fun and games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

The official WFJF Finger Jousting World Championships will also be taking place at the 2014 Games, with male and female competitions taking place on Sunday 10th August.

Check out the events listing and games brochure on the World Alternative Games website for more information.

Links:
- World Alternative Games website
- World Alternative Games on Twitter
- World Alternative Games on Facebook
- World Finger Jousting Federation website

Related blog posts:
- Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
- World Alternative Games

Rock, Paper, Scissors at the World Alternative Games

Rock, Paper, Scissors competition to be held at the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells on Monday 11th August.

The upcoming World Alternative Games will feature a Rock, Paper, Scissors competition!

Taking place in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales in the PM session of Monday 11th August the Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament ('Pencampw riaeth Carreg Papur Siswrn' in Welsh) is an Open event where everyone can compete on the same level and one person will become the Corinthian Rock, Paper, Scissors Champion.

We're big fans of Rock, Paper, Scissors and have competed in many of the Wacky Nation RPS events over the years. In 2012 we were fourth (as San Marino)  in the International Team Rock, Paper, Scissors Championships in London.

Facing off against Neil 'Razor' Ruddock in an International Rock Paper Scissors 'friendly' match in 2012!

To register to take part in the Rock, Paper, Scissors event, and other contests, please visit the World Alternative Games website.

The World Alternative Games are taking place place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August 2014 with over 60 sport and recreation events held during the festival of fun and games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

The official WFJF Finger Jousting World Championships will also be taking place at the 2014 Games, with male and female competitions taking place on Sunday 10th August.

Check out the events listing and games brochure on the World Alternative Games website for more information.

Links:
- World Alternative Games website
- World Alternative Games on Twitter
- World Alternative Games on Facebook
- Wacky Nation website
- World Finger Jousting Federation website

Related blog posts:
- Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
- World Alternative Games

Worm Charming at the World Alternative Games

Worm Charming Competition to be held at the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells on Sunday 10th August.

Amongst the many sports, games and events on offer at the upcoming World Alternative Games will be a Worm Charming Championship!

Taking place  at the Games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales on the morning of the 10th August the Worm Charming Championships ('Pencampwriaethau Hudo Mwydod' in Welsh) will be using the official IFCWAP (International Federation of Charming Worms and Allied Pastimes) rules for the event.

To register to take part in the Welsh Worm Charming Championships, and other events, please visit the World Alternative Games website.

In July 2011 alongside my friend (and champion worm charmer) Oliver 'The Machine' Florence, and my nephew Kallum Harper, I competed in the Worm Charming Competition at St Mary’s Village Carnival in Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire. What an event that was!

Action from Plot 68 at the Worm Charming Competition at St Mary’s Village Carnival in 2011

The World Alternative Games will be taking place place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August 2014 with over 60 interesting sport and recreation events held during the festival of fun and games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

The official WFJF Finger Jousting World Championships will also be taking place at the 2014 Games, with male and female categories for athletes to compete in on Sunday 10th August.

Check out the events listing and games brochure on the World Alternative Games website.

Links:
- World Alternative Games website
- World Alternative Games on Twitter
- World Alternative Games on Facebook
- IFCWAP (International Federation of Charming Worms and Allied Pastimes) website
- World Finger Jousting Federation website

Related blog posts:
- Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
- World Alternative Games
- Worm Charming Competition at St Mary’s Village Carnival in Edlesborough

- Congratulations to Oliver Florence & Team for winning the South of England Earthworm Charming Championships

Sponsor us in the Minigolf British Doubles Championship

Sponsorship available for Minigolf Doubles Team at event in September.

Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried in Putter King kits at the BMGA English Open minigolf tournament

We'll be competing at the BMGA British Doubles Championship at the 18-hole Minigolf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull in September. The doubles event will be preceded by the Midlands Open singles competition at the same venue.

If you'd like to sponsor us in this event, or others throughout the year, then please get in touch. You can also follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems.

Sixteen teams will line-up to compete for the BMGA British Doubles title and we're offering naming rights for our team, along with kit branding opportunities (polo shirts, shorts/trousers, hat, umbrella in case of rain! and logo placement with patches/badges etc.).

Emily Gottfried at the Midlands Open at Dorridge in 2011

The Midlands Open/British Doubles weekend is a great minigolfing event, with players from around the UK competing for the titles.

Richard Gottfried playing in the Midlands Open at Dorridge in 2012

We can be available to sponsors for interviews, photo opportunities, training and events.

My best result in the BMGA British Doubles was third place, when teaming with Bath's Kevin Moseley at Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010.

Richard Gottfried playing at Four Ashes Golf Centre in the BMGA British Club Championships in 2011

Emily's best finish in the BMGA British Doubles was fourth place when she partnered with Welsh Ladies Number One Cindy Kukielka at the same event.

Emily Gottfried playing in the BMGA British Doubles Championship in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010

We are both active on the national minigolf tour and have competed in over 100 tournaments, league events and club nights since our debuts in 2007. We have also represented Great Britain at international level in World Minigolf Sport Federation and European Minigolf Sport Federation tournaments in Finland, Sweden and England.

Emily is a member of the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club, and I am a member of the Midlands Minigolf Club. Both clubs are comprised of players that compete around the UK and overseas, including the annual BMGA British Club Championship, which was won by Midlands MGC in 2008.

Emily Gottfried at the WMF Nations Cup in Stockholm, Sweden in 2011

Richard Gottfried at the WMF Nations Cup in Stockholm, Sweden in 2011

For further information about sponsorship opportunities please get in touch.

Related blog posts:
- Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

Links:
- British Minigolf Association
- Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

Hide N Seek at the World Alternative Games

Hide N Seek tournament to be held at the World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells on Sunday 10th August.

Amongst the 60+ sports and games events on offer at the upcoming World Alternative Games will be a Hide N Seek competition!

Taking place in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales in the afternoon of the 10th August the Hide N Seek competition ('Chwarae Cwato' in Welsh) will feature both adult and junior team categories.

The Japan Hide-and-Seek Promotion Committee was established in 2010 and aims to have the sport in the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan!

The rules of tournament Hide N Seek sees two teams of seven players face each other in a ten minute match. In the first five minutes, half of one team is given two minutes to hide within an area that measures 65ft x 65ft. The opponents then have to locate and tag the hiding players, with the second half of the match mirroring the first. The rules are the same for children under the age of 12, but the area measures 55ft x 88ft.

Hide N Seek in Llanwrtyd Wells - can you spot me and Emily in this photo in the town centre?

To register to take part in the Hide N Seek event, and other contests, please visit the World Alternative Games website.

The World Alternative Games are taking place place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August 2014 with over 60 interesting sport and recreation events held during the festival of fun and games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

The official WFJF Finger Jousting World Championships will also be taking place at the 2014 Games, with male and female competitions taking place on Sunday 10th August.

Check out the events listing and games brochure on the World Alternative Games website for more information.

Links:
- World Alternative Games website
- World Alternative Games on Twitter
- World Alternative Games on Facebook
- World Finger Jousting Federation website

Related blog posts:
- Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
- World Alternative Games

New products from Udi's Gluten Free

Blog post about some of the new products available from Udi's Gluten Free.

At the recent Allergy and Free From Show in London I spotted some of the new gluten free products from Udi's Gluten Free.

Following feedback from customers since the UK launch in 2013 Udi's have launched 27 new gluten free products.

I was given samples of the new Soft n' Chewy Chocolate Banana Cereal Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Milk Chocolate Wafers by the Udi's team at the Allergy and Free From Show. So far I've had one of the chocolate banana bars, which was nice

Yesterday I received a nice surprise hamper from Udi's!

It's always nice to receive a surprise food hamper! Especially when you know all of the contents will be gluten free and suitable for coeliacs!

Last December I blogged about the first products launched in the Udi's Gluten Free range, and its going to be great trying the new products which all sound interesting and tasty.

In my pre-Coeliac Disease days, back when I was able to eat a 'normal' diet, I wasn't a big fan of bagels. However, that changed when I tried the Udi's Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. The chocolate chip ones sound even better. Everything tastes better if its got chocolate in it!

The gluten free hamper contents were Soft & Tasty Chocolate Chip Bagels,Soft & Delicious Blueberry Muffins, Soft & Chewy Cherry Flavoured Breakfast Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Lemon Flavoured Wafers

I'll be scoffing my way through the new products in the coming weeks, I think i'll start with a toasted bagel, followed by a blueberry muffin...

Udi's Gluten Free launched here in the UK at the end of last year and have been operating in the USA since 1994. Check out the Udi's website for further details of their range and stockists near you.

The Udi's philosophy is creating great gluten free foods that bring happiness. Read more of the Udi's story, from starting out in Colorado, USA in 1994 to the UK launch on the Udi's website.

Udi's Gluten Free was the headline sponsor of the recent Allergy & Free From Show at Olympia.

A wall of Udi's gluten free products at the Allergy and Free From Show in London, including some of the 27 new products added to the range

If you missed that event then you can attend the Allergy and Free From Show North that is taking place on the 25th & 26th of October at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool.

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free USA

Related blog posts:
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
- The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Miniature Golf and the Olympic Games

Did you know - Miniature Golf was once played during the Olympic Games!

While it was not officially part of the Games programme, the participants in the Golf tournament at the 1904 Olympic Games held in St Louis, USA also competed in a Putting Championship on a specially built miniature golf course.

The 9-hole Putting Course was specifically built at the Glen Echo Country Club for a Putting Championship and was constructed with electric lights surrounding the layout.

The Putting competition was won by Burt McKinnie of Normandie GC. McKinnie defeated Clement Smoot of the Exmoor Club in Chicago for the trophy after McKinnie scored a total of 21. Both players had been tied going into the last hole!

Check out the Olympic Golf Replica Program from 1904 and the 'Little Known Olympic Facts' section on the Glen Echo Country Club website for further info on the event.

On this year's Olympic Day (23 June) I tweeted about the Putting course and championships and Glen Echo tweeted back.

The 1904 Games were quite a wild affair - with a number of other sporting events taking place out of the scope of the 'official' sports. They also took place over several months and organised alongside the World's Fair, rather than as a standalone event.

More information about the 1904 Olympic Golf Matches can be found on the Glenn Echo Country Club website.

On a related note, the Olympiapark München is home to a Miniature Golf course that was set-up in the athletes village for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Now open to the public you can find more information on the Olympiapark München and the Minigolf & Pit-Pat Olympiapark München websites.

International Minigolf Sport is governed by the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF). The WMF currently has 46 member associations. The WMF is a member of SportAccord, an organisation comprised of a wide-range of Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations.

Richard Gottfried playing a shot on the World's First Miniature Golf course in April 2012 - The Himalayas Putting Course at St Andrews, Scotland. The course was founded in 1867 when The Ladies' Putting Club began playing.

Links:
- Glen Echo Country Club website
- Glen Echo Country Club on Twitter
- Glen Echo Country Club on Facebook
- 1904 Olympic Golf Matches
- Olympic Golf Replica Program from 1904
- St Louis 1904 at Olympic.org

Related blog posts:
- The Himalayas Putting Course at St Andrews, Scotland
- Two Miniature Golf Firsts
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- The Other Olympics

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

New Gluten Free Beer and Cakes at M&S

New gluten free products - including beer and cakes - in the Made Without Range by Marks & Spencer.

Emily and I are big fans of Marks & Spencer as in the last few years they have added more and more products to the 'Made Without Wheat' range.

In addition to the special Made Without Wheat gluten free branded line, M&S has been making a lot of other items gluten free - such as the new BBQ and Grill range - which include our particular favourites of pulled pork and the cheese & chilli 'posh dogs'.

While having a browse in the Luton branch today I spotted there are now two new gluten free beers available!

The new Marks & Spencer beers - the Belgian Golden Ale on the left and the Belgian Premium Pilsner on the right.

I'm a big fan of beer, ale and lager and after my diagnosis with Coeliac Disease in 2008 following years of illness I received the additional hammer blow of being told that I wouldn't be able to have a pint of beer again.

Since then I have found that there are a number of gluten free tipples available and details of those beers I've found and drunk are available on my compilation blog post about Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers.

The Belgian Golden Ale and Belgian Premium Pilsner are brewed by Brouwerij De Brabandere in West Flanders, Belgium and have been specially brewed for Marks & Spencer.

The new M&S Ale and Pilsner both contain Barley and in the information on the bottle it says "Barley gluten is removed during the brewing process to leave a great tasting gluten free beer."

I bought a bottle of each beer. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm sure they'll get drunk over the weekend.

M&S have also recently started selling four new cakes. I spotted three of these in the Luton branch, while the Party Cake was spotted in the Ipswich store.

The Made Without Wheat Extremely Chocolatey Celebration Cake by M&S. I bought one of these for our recent wedding anniversary.

The Made Without Wheat Extremely Chocolatey Celebration Cake was nice, I liked it more than Emily, but we both agreed the base of the cake was a little too dry. Not a bad amount of chocolate cake for the £10 price tag. I'd buy it again, and at least this time I'd have it all to myself.

The M&S Made Without Wheat Carrot & Walnut Cake and Coffee and Walnut Cake. I haven't tried these. Yet.

The M&S Made Without Wheat 'Party Cake'. I hope I get one of these on my next birthday.

Check out the M&S website for details of the Made Without Wheat range and the other Gluten Free items they offer. I spotted some different cakes available there too!

Links:
- Marks & Spencer website
- Marks & Spencer Made Without Wheat page
- Brouwerij De Brabandere
- Coeliac UK website

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files
- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers
- A blogger's gluten free sandwich
- Gluten Free Finds in London (and beyond) - October 2010