September 2026. Manchester. Apart from an essential haircut, I was also in Manchester to see Ninush, whose single “Neighbours” (not THAT one) is a modern classic. A gig at a rare pre-emptive tick in Manchester’s studentland, too, which I head for on the V2 bus, taking in the Oxford Road pub sights. Oxford Road is… Continue reading NEW IN MANCHESTER ! NINUSH AT THE ABBEY
A NIGHT IN A SALFORD HOTEL
September 2026. Salford. Two quick ticks by two in Flixton and Urmston, and I’m safely back from Trafford at Oxford Road station, where I decide this odd staircase is the highlight. I’d hoped to minimise the walking last Tuesday, but decide you can walk off a broken leg, so head through majestic Manchester to my… Continue reading A NIGHT IN A SALFORD HOTEL
CHAT GPT DEFENDS URMSTON
September 2026. Urmston. Greater Manchester. Mrs RM will confirm that my brain is wired a bit differently from most of the population, and only works when fed new experiences on a daily basis. Last Tuesday, that experience was a tour of unsung Greater Manchester (Trafford, strictly) suburbs. Having hobbled to Flixton, I took a bus… Continue reading CHAT GPT DEFENDS URMSTON
FOX ON THE RUN (HOBBLE) TO FLIXTON
September 2026. Flixton. Greater Manchester. By Tuesday I was itching at the bit to get out of Sheffield, determined to walk off that leg injury I don’t like to talk about. Ideal, then, that Flixton in the middle-class suburbs of west Manchester Trafford has the UK’s largest collection of crumbling pavements, commissioned to increase orthopaedic… Continue reading FOX ON THE RUN (HOBBLE) TO FLIXTON
TOP 100 PUBS – ROSE & CROWN, BRAMPTON, CHESTERFIELD
September 2026. Chesterfield. Having spent at least a tenner getting to the outer edge of Chesterfield for that Beer Guide newbie, and with the next nearest GBG tick a) an hour away or b) not open till Friday I decided to try an old favourite at random. One of the things you notice each September… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – ROSE & CROWN, BRAMPTON, CHESTERFIELD
THE BRAMPTON MILE, M’DUCK
September 2026. Chesterfield. When a new Beer Guide comes out each September the temptation is always to look for trips to towns with lots of new ticks, even if that means a train to Newton Abbot or Carlisle. But my priority on Monday was nursing my gammy leg I don’t like to talk about, but… Continue reading THE BRAMPTON MILE, M’DUCK
IGNORE THE CLOSED SIGN. THE HEWETT ARMS, SHIREOAKS
September 2026. Shireoaks. Nottinghamshire. 10 minutes through the old colliery site to the GBG brewery tap, ten minutes back to the station, still feeling that ache at the back of my leg but keeping up with Google maps generous timings now. One of the most attractive approaches to a Beer Guide pub anywhere, I reckon.… Continue reading IGNORE THE CLOSED SIGN. THE HEWETT ARMS, SHIREOAKS
THE GBG CLOCK STARTS TICKING IN SHIREOAKS
September 2026. Shireoaks. Notts. The new Good Beer Guide has dropped (ugh); it would have been poetic to blame my injury on the descent of this massive brick of a book (forgot to mention that last post), but it arrived while I was in Dewsbury and flattened Mrs RM instead. Having made every effort to… Continue reading THE GBG CLOCK STARTS TICKING IN SHIREOAKS
A LIMPING RM HOBBLES TO THE ASAHI SELF-SERVICE MACHINE
September 2026. Manchester. Oh, Manchester, but it’s Goldthorpe with so much to answer for, as my post-pint dash through another South Yorkshire mining town ends with a pulled muscle (or something, I’m no medic) at the back of my leg. I really shouldn’t have taken the mick out of Mrs RM’s sporting injury. So Friday… Continue reading A LIMPING RM HOBBLES TO THE ASAHI SELF-SERVICE MACHINE
THE GOOD BEER GUIDE 2027. A TRIUMPH
Yes, officially out today (order HERE !), the 2027 Good Beer Guide is a triumph of campaigning for real ale. And non-real ale, as we see more crafty keg outlets with the rider “Please ask which beers are Key Keg“, which I guarantee no-one is going to do. And who cares ? Good beer is… Continue reading THE GOOD BEER GUIDE 2027. A TRIUMPH
