March 2026. The Belgisches Viertel. Cologne. Our last day in Cologne, a day carrying our luggage around, but that’s OK because I follow Mrs RM’s packing guidance. I should stop promoting her blog; she’s getting a thousand view a day which is the same as me without the North Bergen data farms. Despite staying yards… Continue reading The Belgisches Viertel, Cologne
Geese after Gaffel. Gig night in Cologne
No, the bloke with the sword waver isn’t a famous American real ale drinker you might know. March 2026. Cologne. Germany. You left me and our lads in Kupferhut in the Cologne suburb of Mülheim, finishing our second Gaffel and deciding that we were never going to get a third, so let’s get to the… Continue reading Geese after Gaffel. Gig night in Cologne
The Kupferhut. A proper Cologne kneipe.
March 2026. Mulheim. Cologne. Our last night of three in Cologne, time for a gig out in the slightly edgier suburb of Mülheim, the only place we’d see much “diversity” (most of it in Turkish kebab shops). Seven minutes on the train, 25 15 minutes walk to our show at the Palladium. Doors don’t open… Continue reading The Kupferhut. A proper Cologne kneipe.
Pfaffen, not Paffgen
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. Back from Bonn on our last night with the lads in Germany, with a BIG indie gig (not Nicole) to come in Cologne. Indie gigs don’t start till late, so no rush; I walked Mrs RM back to our ring-road hotel and popped in Paffgen for a quick couple of the… Continue reading Pfaffen, not Paffgen
Nicole in front of a washing machine, Bonn
March 2026. Bonn. Germany. More highlights from our half day in Bonn, which seems to have stolen the Pied Piper from Hamelin for its pedestrian crossing. Apart from schnitzel and a beer, the essential activity in Bonn is a visit to Haus der Geschichte Bonn, 10 minutes south of the station by tram or underground… Continue reading Nicole in front of a washing machine, Bonn
Wobbly glasses and Willy Brandt in a dodgem. The Brauhaus Bönnsch
March 2026. Bonn. Germany. You can’t really claim to have visited a German city till you’ve bought a pastry in Rewe, misunderstood the local transport system, and checked in a beer on Untappd. At Brauhaus Bonnsch you go for the cloudy Kolsch in a weird vessel that’s vaguely reminiscent of that Lees glass you stole… Continue reading Wobbly glasses and Willy Brandt in a dodgem. The Brauhaus Bönnsch
Roll over Beethoven. Bonn in an hour.
March 2026. Bonn. Germany. 3 nights in Cologne, 1 new city (Wuppertal), 3 revisits. The only memory I had of former West German capital Bonn, 11 years ago on a post-exam (his, not mine) trip was a long closed kneipe, and the Haribo shop. In 2005 James came away with a kilogram bag for a… Continue reading Roll over Beethoven. Bonn in an hour.
A murky interlude in Kolschland.
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. With mild alarm I realised that our two lads had actually been to nearly all the Old Town pubs, having arrived a day earlier and stayed out after Monday’s Proper Kolsch Day Out. Never seen them drunk. They recommended “Salzgasse”, but I needed to try the craft bar, which tellingly our… Continue reading A murky interlude in Kolschland.
Sünner im Walfisch
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. Back in Cologne from Dusseldorf, an early night we admired the Dom, then persuaded Mrs RM that despite our exertions, another tick in the 2006 German Beer Guide was required. Perhaps it’s the name, but I’d wanted to visit Sünner im Walfisch, between Heumarkt and Fischmarkt. Nothing like the showpiece Brauerei… Continue reading Sünner im Walfisch
Finally, Schlussel.
March 2026. Dusseldorf. Germany. You can’t come to Dusseldorf and just do one Braurei, even if that one is Uerige. I’d made a list, I was checking it twice. But I already knew I had to pop in Schlussel on the Bolkerstraße, one of the world’s great pub streets. 3 years ago with the lovely… Continue reading Finally, Schlussel.
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