July 2026. Newcastle. Trips to Newcastle produce a wealth of blog material, even when the pace of new pubs dry up and you start to feel you’ve seen Grey Street just a few too many times. That picture from the top of one of the UK’s great streets outside the Theatre Royal is instructive. It’s… Continue reading A CULTURAL INTERLUDE IN TOON
“MAINSTREAM MUSIC” AT THE LUBBER FIEND
July 2026. Newcastle. Last week my son told me I had “mainstream music taste“. Let that sink in. “Matthew has to be contrary” says Mrs RM. “I suspect your son enjoys winding you up” says ChatGPT. And you can rely on ChatGPT, folks; it told me so. ChatGPT was helping me to find some mainstream… Continue reading “MAINSTREAM MUSIC” AT THE LUBBER FIEND
MURK AND GBG MYSTERY AT MONKSEATON METRO
July 2026. Monkseaston. Tyne & Wear. Whitley Bay ticked, Spanish City gelato licked, I headed for the metro back to the Toon. It’s a problematic map, every stop the gateway to a classic pub that distracts you from culture. I really should have popped back to the Tynemouth Lodge for Bass (patience !), but fell… Continue reading MURK AND GBG MYSTERY AT MONKSEATON METRO
VENETIAN ICES, WHITLEY BAY
July 2026. Whitley Bay. Tyne and Wear ticked for another year, I thought I’d best visit the Bay bit of Whitley, as I seem to be the only person not heading to the coast this summer. Will the water be warm enough to swim in by September ? Oddly, more adults than children on the… Continue reading VENETIAN ICES, WHITLEY BAY
WHITLEY BAY CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF THE £1.60 PINT OF JAIPUR
July 2026. Whitley Bay. A Monday night on the Toon gives an unencumbered man many options. Though not, sadly, the micro pub in Seaton Delavel, which would have been a nice tick on the Northumberland line if open. I drop my bag at the easyHotel, which has impressive tiling, but some technical issues. A lady… Continue reading WHITLEY BAY CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF THE £1.60 PINT OF JAIPUR
BOB TROLLOP. OR IS IT ?
July 2026. Newcastle. Mrs RM’s sporting injury (pics only available to Patronised readers) precluding a return to the Cask Camino, I set off alone in search of blog material. You can get a return to Newcastle for £33 from Sheffield, and outside the heady stag/hen weekends the Toon has bargain central rooms, as you can… Continue reading BOB TROLLOP. OR IS IT ?
ATOMIC
July 2026. Sheffield. I drove down with the boys to see Dad a week ago, and back the same day. Dad didn’t recognise us, but was enjoying the company and the fishcakes, which is what matters. Now Sunnyside is sold I’ve no need to stay in Waterbeach, and the boys have no fondness for Cambridge,… Continue reading ATOMIC
TASTES LIKE TRACK SONOMA. TRAMLINES FRINGE 2026.
July 2026. Sheffield. The boys wanted to visit Dad with me, so we all popped down Saturday after a night of fringe fun. Tramlines “proper” is Sheffield’s equivalent of Latitude (ugh), without the pashminas and laughing gas and dangerous proximity to Southwold. 3 days (no camping) of heritage (ugh) bands living off their 2000s hit.… Continue reading TASTES LIKE TRACK SONOMA. TRAMLINES FRINGE 2026.
FIVE WHITCHURCH (SALOP) WONDERS – (v) THE CRAFTY DRAGON
July 2026. Whitchurch. Shropshire. A short post to end Whitchurch on a high. A 4pm opener, 12 minutes walk to the station, train to Crewe at 16:44. Perfect. And the Crafty Dragon, which I am going to call the Magic Dragon, opened a minute early. I like that in a pub. Opening half an hour… Continue reading FIVE WHITCHURCH (SALOP) WONDERS – (v) THE CRAFTY DRAGON
FIVE WHITCHURCH (SALOP) WONDERS – (iv) THE BLACK BEAR
July 2026. Whitchurch. Shropshire. Two to go, before a dash to the station and a series of gaps between trains that weren’t quite long enough to fit in more “research” in Crewe and Stockport. The Black Bear is the pub in that Visit Shropshire guide, mainly because it’s a restaurant. A chap barges past me… Continue reading FIVE WHITCHURCH (SALOP) WONDERS – (iv) THE BLACK BEAR
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