We all have good days and then we have bad days. The visit to Barnsley was a good day. As I write this less so. For anyone interested we visited Barnsley because my partner in crime David had always wanted to visit the Cooper Gallery.

The gallery is a joy. Great staff and art that reflects the town and region. The Cooper Gallery is unlikely to hold world class exhibitions: unlike its more illustrious galleries just up the road – the YSP and the Hepworth. Yet that is not the point of the gallery. It is a local resource and it is much the better for that. (If you want a more comprehensive description of the gallery then hope over to David’s blog)

The town centre is dominated by the Town that sits on top of Market Hill. Given all the nonsense going on at the moment I found the war memorial very chilling. But we have to live in the world as it is and so I’m afraid, we’ll be marching to a martial beat for the foreseeable future.

So if you are passing on the M1 then it might just be worth you while popping into see the good people of Barnsley. Oh and if you a really great meal try out the Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill. We enjoyed the food and you may well do to.

Editor’s Note: I promise I have not been paid a penny by the Barnsley tourist board (if there such a thing?)