July 2020 will be one of those months that changed history, like December Year 0, December 1989 and of course December 1964. That first month of pubgoing deserves its own post, especially for Tim of the estimable Ullage. Pubs came back on the 4th, and standing in a queue in the drizzle outside Blyth Spoons… Continue reading JULY 2020 STOCKTAKE
WITHERING AT THE WREKIN
Welcome to the last post for my travels in July 2020, a tumultuous month of highs and highers. Expect a euphoric Review next up, unless I have to go into hiding after my infamous Daily Mail appearance on Monday. BRAPA may have endured 51 Surrey pubs last week, and now looks like my avatar, but… Continue reading WITHERING AT THE WREKIN
SUNSET OVER THE MERE
You left us in the Vaults, literally, with a cardboard box full of “jerk chicken pizza” and no doubt a guilt complex about the cultural appropriation. One more pub, preferably one with an outside garden so we didn’t need to carry a ton of pizza round the one way system. SEVEN pubs for 3,835 lost… Continue reading SUNSET OVER THE MERE
ELLESMERE LIKES
Today’s retiredmartin cover star, who hasn’t quite mastered the bemused look, is Mrs RM, modelling my Real Women Drink Gallons theme in the Vault in Ellesmere. She nicked my photo and converted it to her Facebook header within minutes, attracting a record 27.5 likes. Failure to like Facebook posts is a criminal offence in Waterbeach.… Continue reading ELLESMERE LIKES
SELBY – IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR
It feels like only a fortnight ago I was in Selby trying to scratch that irritating North Yorkshire itch and leaving feeling frustrated. Actually, it was only 14 days ago. My original target on the trip home from Durham was an equally irritating pub in the slightly better known county town which will remain nameless.… Continue reading SELBY – IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR
PUMP & RUB, THE PUB IS THE HUB
Two more to finish the night in Chester-le-Street for you. It’s a hard place to describe. But pictures often help. A lovely/lively scruffy town of 24,227 souls that looks to Durham City for shopping and high culture in the Station House ,but always returns for the cheap beer and county cricket and Clems. Duncan and… Continue reading PUMP & RUB, THE PUB IS THE HUB
A “STAYCATION” IN CHESTER-LE-STREET
PARENTAL ADVISORY : CONTAINS NORTHERNERS It’s been a great week for pub bloggers. Life After Football celebrated 3 years of Midlands magic with a dull Pedi in a place you’ve never heard of, BRAPA completed the whole of Stockbroker Surrey before all the pubs are locked down again, and Citra actually found an open micropub.… Continue reading A “STAYCATION” IN CHESTER-LE-STREET
CONSETT – THE CORBY OF THE NORTH
A real gem next, as I whizz you through a chaotic Wednesday, Sadly, I’ve just deleted my exemplary notes from the phone, so I’ll just have to make it up rely on the photos. What a joy to find a place in the new GBG I’d never heard of. Not even capable of being marked… Continue reading CONSETT – THE CORBY OF THE NORTH
IS THIS THE WAY TO BARNARD CASTLE ?
Six to do in the Durham chapter (vague reference to my last tick on Wednesday night) of the Guide, but three of those are micros so, oh you guess the rest. A second campervan trip to Durham in July, saving me the extortionate B&B charges in honeypots like Chester-le-Street and Barnard Castle, which is… Continue reading IS THIS THE WAY TO BARNARD CASTLE ?
BRAIN LICKING IN WETHERBY
Wednesday means wandering, and a withering retiredmartin made it to Wetherby* in 2:30 hours before needing a “comfort break”. Wetherby hasn’t given me any new GBG ticks for a decade. And, like 99.7% of the other problems in the world today, that’s all the fault of Leeds. Not just the damned United version, either. As… Continue reading BRAIN LICKING IN WETHERBY
