May 2026. Stockport. Having a son living in Stockport presents a challenge; will I impose on him to put me up in his spare room after a night out in Manchester ? In honesty, I’m grateful our two lads still seem to want to meet their ancient parents so often and I wouldn’t want to… Continue reading YE OLDE VIC
HELLO STOCKPORT, GOODBYE PEP
May 2026. Stockport. Back from Romania, we dashed off to Stockport the next morning to help Matt and Emma with their move from central Manchester (Emma’s Dad had already done the hard yards) to Heaton Norris. Just look at the stress on Matt’s face on the Magnet’s balcony; Yes, we turned up just in time… Continue reading HELLO STOCKPORT, GOODBYE PEP
A HUB OF TRANSYLVANIAN CRAFT ? I HAVEN’T GOT A CLUJ
May 2026. Cluj. Romania. I could write far more about Cluj’s architecture, but you’ve got the idea by now. How about the bars ? All the attractive looking cafes in the cobbles off the main square seem to have a craft beer in a can; I really liked Opium by Cluj’s Hophead Brewery in Brasseria… Continue reading A HUB OF TRANSYLVANIAN CRAFT ? I HAVEN’T GOT A CLUJ
SALINA TURDA
May 2026. Turda. Romania. I’ve enjoyed spending time seeing unsung Romania, away from Dracula and the bears and the brewery taps. The cities are colourful, spotless and efficient, though of course efficient isn’t always a good thing in itself. By far the biggest “tourist attraction” round here are the old salt mines of Turdu, half… Continue reading SALINA TURDA
CLUJ DAYS 2026
May 2026. Cluj. Transylvania. Another nervy wait for a mini-bus at Targu Mures bus station, regretting that morning craft beer/coffee combo before a 2 hour trip to Cluj to complete our Romanian road trip. It’s not so much that the buses don’t turn up (eventually); it’s not knowing when they’ll turn up, and where there’ll… Continue reading CLUJ DAYS 2026
TOTAL TARGU MURES
May 2026. Targu Mures. Transylvania. Targu Mures was the surprise of our Romanian week, as classy as anywhere we’ve been in Europe, and in the Palace of Culture (£5) you’ve one of Europe’s undiscovered gems. A startling collection of stained glass, three floors of modern art with obligatory pretentious narrative, and a concert hall with… Continue reading TOTAL TARGU MURES
MAY ’26 STOCKTAKE + JUNE PREVIEW
A month after the relief of selling Sunnyside, the joy of seeing Matt and Emma move to Stockport. I am so jealous. Forty-four pubs (plus whatever in Romania) in May, not a dud among them, though that heatwave was affecting cask quality this last week. Next week CAMRA scraps the centuries old beer scoring system,… Continue reading MAY ’26 STOCKTAKE + JUNE PREVIEW
A LAST KISS BEFORE THE TOWER
May 2026. Târgu Mureș. Central Romania. An early night in Medias, before a 6am start on Wednesday morning . Only (great) coffee and ice cream on sale at the kiosk at the Autogare before the early bus to Târgu Mureș, where we arrive with early check-in at Pensiunea Select Central (£40) for reasons I can’t… Continue reading A LAST KISS BEFORE THE TOWER
MEDIAS. TRANSYLVANIA WITHOUT AN UNTAPPD CHECK-IN
May 2026. Medias. Transylvania. Our 7 night, 5 city trip round the heart of Romania had taken in a few of the less obvious stops, a bit like adding nights in Mansfield and Rotherham to your big Yorkshire tour. “Most people who visit Medias, Romania, come there by accident. Located right in the center of… Continue reading MEDIAS. TRANSYLVANIA WITHOUT AN UNTAPPD CHECK-IN
A BEER IN BIERTAN
May 2026. Biertan. Transylvania. Due to Mrs RM’s immaculate travel planning (she could be a pub ticker) we’ve managed to avoid any transport disasters in eastern Europe so far, bar that two hours stuck on a gravel track in small-town Albania. But Biertan had no bus service at all, bar that UNESCO service that had… Continue reading A BEER IN BIERTAN
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