March 2026. Wuppertal. Germany. And as you’ll know I have a very precise definition of my “top 100s“. But certainly this suspended monorail in the industrial Ruhr would be in there. Wuppertal, then, “founded in 1929 by the merger of Elberfeld, Barmen, Ronsdorf, Cronenberg and Vohwinkel“, Wupper being the river, and the bear, that binds them together. Wuppertal is a difficult… Continue reading 100 things to do in Wuppertal….when the Schwebebahn is on strike
I❤️WuBÄRtal
March 2026. Wuppertal. Germany. Only three (3) nights in Cologne with the boys, but so much to explore in North Rhine-Westphalia, which kindly lets a group of five of you travel round the state all day for 59,80 euros. We’d had a big argument family planning meeting that first lunchtime in Gaffel and decided to… Continue reading I❤️WuBÄRtal
Cologne, away from the Brauhäuser
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. Cologne wouldn’t quite be in my Top 5 German cities*, yet, but I’ve enjoyed getting to grips with the wider city on two recent trips. And our hotel (Inception, £67 a night) is just far enough out of the Old Town to give a glimpse of a real city beyond the… Continue reading Cologne, away from the Brauhäuser
“What’s Mainzer in Päffgen Kölsch eingelegt Dad ?” TEA AT LOMMI’S
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. Our first of 3 nights in Cologne; I knew I had to visit Gaststätte Lommerzheim (“Lommi’s“) at some point, why not now ? “It’s like the Hare and Hounds” I tell Matt. Frankly, you queue for opening, either for lunch (11) or teatime (4.30), or you miss out. James and Matthew… Continue reading “What’s Mainzer in Päffgen Kölsch eingelegt Dad ?” TEA AT LOMMI’S
CROSSING THE RHINE
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. Our first day in Cologne, six Kolsch down and no plan. Let’s just admire the Old Town, and let Mrs RM take photos she’ll wonder why she took a week later. Wandering down through Salzgasse, towards Martinswinkel, perhaps the architectural highlight after the Dom. At that moment the Noddy train turned… Continue reading CROSSING THE RHINE
Brauhaus Sion, Cologne
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. I thought long and hard about blog titles for Cologne. “Day 1, Hour 3” ? “A Sion of the Times” ? “No, STOP bringing the Kolsch !” ? It’s so much easier when the only possible answer is “Gone for a Burton“. I ought to score these Cologne pubs; I score… Continue reading Brauhaus Sion, Cologne
Brauhaus Gaffel am Dom
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. A short family holiday in Cologne, the first since New York in 2019, a year before Donald J Trump was unceremoniously booted out of office. And a year before the pandemic briefly made pubs insignificant. In 2022 we met up with a former Pub Man of the Year and her husband… Continue reading Brauhaus Gaffel am Dom
THE RETURN OF THE 7am STANSTED PINT
March 2026. Stansted Airport. Essex. Dave (not that one) from Chicago was mildly astonished at the beer and breakfast trade at my local Spoons the other week. Goodness know what he’d make of the drinking at Stansted Airport at 7am this Monday. I’ve resisted the lure of a pre-flight pint since 2018, but what else… Continue reading THE RETURN OF THE 7am STANSTED PINT
UNDER THE ARCHES. PREEMPTIVE BURTON
Some folk told me it was too far to walk out to the Elms from central Burton; lads, it took 16 minutes to get back to Coopers, admiring the ducks, and the bridge over the Trent. Just time to catch up with the hipster vinyl chart at the record shop, and be unwisely diverted under… Continue reading UNDER THE ARCHES. PREEMPTIVE BURTON
BEST BASS IN BURTON ?
March 2026. Burton-on-Trent. A third Bass in rapid succession, perhaps too rapid, but breaking up pints with espressos leads to madness. The “We ❤️ Bass” Facebook page had suggested the Roebuck and the Devvie for the best 🔺 in Burton, but I was heading east of town, over the actual Burton Bridge, past Stapenhill cemetery, to… Continue reading BEST BASS IN BURTON ?
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