February 2026. Timperley. Greater Manchester. On Saturday I dropped Mrs RM off at Manchester Airport after an exciting trip through Wynatt’s Pass and less absorbing trek along the A555, which let me tell you in no A57. Mrs RM was off on another planet-killing trip with a very famous pub blogger, but it wasn’t me… Continue reading TO BE FRANK, TIMPERLEY IS A CURATE’S EGG
RETIRED MARTIN MEETS ROCKIN’ RICH
February 2026. Sheffield. One of the best things about retirement, and goodness knows it’s been epic, has been getting to meet nice people over a pint in comfy pubs. And so it was that I finally met one of the many nice guys from Yorkshire, Rockin Rich(ard) Clark from Harrogate. He’d been trying to arrange… Continue reading RETIRED MARTIN MEETS ROCKIN’ RICH
WHEN A PROBLEM COMES ALONG, YOU MUST WHIPPET
With apologies to Devo. February 2026. Lichfield. My third GBG pub ticked before five, I actually felt wiped out as a night in Lichfield lay before me. Young BRAPA really needs to finish the Guide before he hits middle age and loses that ticking energy. But with, er, zero pounds spent on my night’s luxury… Continue reading WHEN A PROBLEM COMES ALONG, YOU MUST WHIPPET
TIRED OF LICHFIELD, TIRED OF LIFE ?
February 2026. Lichfield. Quite a rarity for me to get three new GBG pubs in quick succession these days, on a bus line as well. The number 36 rumbles between Walsall and Lichfield every half hour purely for the benefit of Beer Guide tickers, and Lichfield Council have also provided some parking spaces for campervans… Continue reading TIRED OF LICHFIELD, TIRED OF LIFE ?
THE LONE TREE ON STONNALL HILL, A DISCARDED BLOSSOM HILL BOTTLE
February 2026. Stonnall. A rare new GBG pub double, and just a 20 minute stroll from Lazy Hill in the West Midlands down to Stonnall over the Staffs border. I am delighted to find I know nothing about Stonnall (pop. 1,546) so I use AI. Chat GPT tells me it’s the 3,756th dullest town on… Continue reading THE LONE TREE ON STONNALL HILL, A DISCARDED BLOSSOM HILL BOTTLE
A GREEN DUCK IN ALDRIDGE’S HOP STATION
February 2026. Aldridge. Walsall. No railway station in Aldridge (the curse of B******g), but plenty of buses from my secret campervan stop. I still made the schoolboy error of heading for central Aldridge, confused by Lazy Turtles and Hop Heads, and missing the main point that my target GBG pub was actually in a suburb… Continue reading A GREEN DUCK IN ALDRIDGE’S HOP STATION
ISOTONIC ALDRIDGE
February 2026. Aldridge. Walsall. What can possibly compete with a wet Sunday in Letchworth ? Why, a wet Tuesday in Greater Walsall, of course. Where would I rather be than a shopping arcade in Aldridge, ruminating on my culinary options. Pig & Potato from the Pig & Potato, Sizzlin’ Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken from the… Continue reading ISOTONIC ALDRIDGE
YOU CAN NEVER WALK PAST LETCHWORTH SPOONS
February 2026. Letchworth Garden City. According to the times on my photos, I left my first Letchworth pub of the afternoon at 16:27 and entered my fifth at 17.29, which even by my standards is going some, particular with a detour to the old hosiery factory and some nostalgia thrown in. You’ll guess my last… Continue reading YOU CAN NEVER WALK PAST LETCHWORTH SPOONS
THE BLACK SQUIRREL
February 2026. Letchworth Garden City. I write my posts almost entirely chronologically (rather than thematically), because, oddly, that’s how my life tends to work. So, from the Arena to the Cinema, Letchworth’s Art Deco gem, “now showing Billy Goats Gruff“, who I presume to be a Biffy Clyro tribute band. North Herts is an emo… Continue reading THE BLACK SQUIRREL
BORING BROWN BITTER
February 2026. Letchworth Garden City. Just for you, a map showing all the things in Letchworth, a town rather changed from our time there 35 years ago. Notably, Sagar Tandoori where we ended our £40 Friday night splurge with a flaming sambuca is closed, not that I’d have been able to see it in the… Continue reading BORING BROWN BITTER
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