January 2026. Fleetwood. Not really a cut-out-and-keep guide, and I’d struggle to sell you Fleetwood (pop. 26,232, plus a Football League team) as a holiday destination, but it’s better than Clacton, so there’s that. I had half an hour before my new GBG pub opened, plenty of time really. I’d actually seen the owner setting… Continue reading TAKE THE FIRST TRAM TO FLEETWOOD
STEALING VEGAN BREAKFASTS IN CLEVELEYS SPOONS
January 2026. Blackpool. When you left us Mrs RM was in St Annes Spoons, resisting the onion rings but succumbing to Chardonnay and Cointreau after that Imperial Stout. It may be her only relapse during an otherwise impeccably observed Dryanuary. In consequence, she was in no mood to join me in the chill of the… Continue reading STEALING VEGAN BREAKFASTS IN CLEVELEYS SPOONS
BURNS NIGHT
January 2026. St Annes. Mrs RM decided to leave the Fifteen at Seventeen Twenty-Three. I have no idea why. “A walk along the bracing sea front, Mrs RM ?“ “No, Mr RM. Tea and back to that nice warm room at the Travelodge“. St Annes was looking pleasant by night, with lots of dining options,… Continue reading BURNS NIGHT
“MEET ME AT THE FIFTEEN”
January 2026. St Annes. Two nights in St Annes, with Friday designated as “Tick Blackpool Day”, so we went local on Thursday. St. Tanz is the sort of genius pun that BRAPA would be proud of, in a seaside retirement town that lacks trad pubs but makes it up for it in micros. Lytham has… Continue reading “MEET ME AT THE FIFTEEN”
LACINGS IN LYTHAM. BASS LACINGS !
January 2026. Lytham St. Annes. A confession. The things that stress me aren’t the things that should stress an approaching middle-age boomer. I detest cars. Last Autumn (America – “Fall”) our Citroen’s gears started playing up, the main dealer quoted us £5k just to take the box out, and even with my lucrative sponsorship deal… Continue reading LACINGS IN LYTHAM. BASS LACINGS !
YOUR CUT-OUT-AND-KEEP GUIDE TO WATTON
January 2026. Watton. Norfolk. I knew you’d want a proper post on Watton (pronounced Wotton) ahead of the holiday you’ve just booked on account of the NBSS 4 that I just gave Greene King IPA. Assuming you’re going, here’s some accommodation for next Friday; Personally I would always go for a hotel with “Vibe” in… Continue reading YOUR CUT-OUT-AND-KEEP GUIDE TO WATTON
BRECK BY BRECK. THE KINGS ARMS, WATTON
January 2026. Watton. Norfolk. Obviously no pressure to visit the GBG newbies anymore, but there’s something compelling about them, even if my pinking is a bit half-hearted these days. The places I’d circled were the newbies, and as I’ve completed Norfolk every year since Delia Smith did her “Let’s be ‘avin’ you” rant at half-time… Continue reading BRECK BY BRECK. THE KINGS ARMS, WATTON
MRS RM’s DRYANUARY RUMBLES ON
January 2026. Sheffield. Enough of me, I’m sure you’re all keen to know how Mrs RM is getting on with her 0.0 January. Well, she holds on to the lie that alcohol-free beer tastes just like the real thing, and was ready to have temptation placed in her way with a Sunday in Kelham Island.… Continue reading MRS RM’s DRYANUARY RUMBLES ON
BLUE MOON. RECOVERING IN THE KELHAM ISLAND TAVERN
January 2026. Sheffield. Back home in Sheffield on Saturday lunchtime, I hid under the covers avoiding the Manchester derby. Unless I’m physically at the match, I have to avoid the score till the final whistle and last VAR review. “Ooh, are City losing ?” asks Mrs RM. All her friends are United supporting glory hunters,… Continue reading BLUE MOON. RECOVERING IN THE KELHAM ISLAND TAVERN
RAISING A PINT (OR TWO) TO MUDGIE IN WIDNES
January 2026. Widnes. A confession. I intended to make that post on Mudgie’s funeral a long read including the post-wake pubs, but Mrs RM had finished her pint/wine/Amaretto Disaronno in St Annes Spoons and I had to press “PUBLISH” in case the WiFi ran out in our Travelodge (£29.99). It would have been rude not… Continue reading RAISING A PINT (OR TWO) TO MUDGIE IN WIDNES
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