Oh dear. It was all going so well. October has brought me a string of trips to interesting places (Levenshulme), quirky pubs (Levenshulme) and great beer (etc). So why did I have to go to the outer reaches of Milton Keynes on a wet Thursday and spoil it ? Because the Beer Guide demandeth… Continue reading HALLOWEEN – A NIGHTMARE IN MILTON KEYNES
Month: October 2017
TOP 100 PUBS – THE ALE WAGON, LEICESTER
I see top pub photographer Richard Coldwell (he really is) has been publishing photos of me in his latest series of blogs from Leicester. Nice of him to airbrush my bald patch out of that shot from behind, but you’ll know how I feel about folk taking photos of old blokes in pubs. I see… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE ALE WAGON, LEICESTER
RUTLAND WEEKEND TOPING
I know I’ve used “Toping” recently, but it’s a great word. And nothing else rhymes with “Television“. We completed the Rutland chapter of the Beer Guide last Sunday. It’s no big deal, just the two new entries in a total cohort of seven. They should lump the entries back in with Leicestershire, like I have… Continue reading RUTLAND WEEKEND TOPING
BACK TO THE ’80s IN GAINSBOROUGH LAND
Mrs RM was determined to get her money’s worth from the Day Trip to Sudbury, urging me to pop in to an attractive looking place by the river (the Angel I think). “But it’s only got Landlord & Adnams on !” “Go on, live a little” she urged. “Get out of your comfort zone for once”… Continue reading BACK TO THE ’80s IN GAINSBOROUGH LAND
SUPPING IN SUDBURY – VOLUME I
A first new Guide pub in many years in Rugby, followed by an overdue newbie in Sudbury. Which is possibly the only thing those two towns have in common, unless you know better. There’s a temptation to make this post about opening hours, or more specifically the display of opening hours, but I know… Continue reading SUPPING IN SUDBURY – VOLUME I
WILD MEN IN THE WILD CAT OF STIRCHLEY
I left the highlight of my recent Brum Boozer Bonanza ’till last. A trip to the home of top Midlands photographer Peter Allen to tick the Wildcat Tap in Stirchley. In a rare moment of fallibility, the Beer Guide map places Stirchley pretty much where Sandwell starts. It would also have been a rare moment of GBG… Continue reading WILD MEN IN THE WILD CAT OF STIRCHLEY
“LONDON CALLING”, RUGBY
There can surely be no better place to complete Warwickshire GBG entries than the fine town of Rugby. Except possibly Atherstone. And what better way to complete any county than in a modern music bar, as the sole customer treated to Taylor Swift videos played on every wall, drinking a Church End beer in a… Continue reading “LONDON CALLING”, RUGBY
A “SIGN OF THE TIMES” IN REDDITCH
About time I started a post with a photo of beer barrels used as urinals. On to Redditch, the town famous for having more roundabouts than Milton Keynes (don’t check that) and producing Steph from Big Brother, amongst lesser known stars. I also know people who live there, so I’m on best behaviour. Rather like “The… Continue reading A “SIGN OF THE TIMES” IN REDDITCH
BIZARRE BROMSGROVE BOOZERS
Apart from opening times (or lack of them), my biggest gripe with the Beer Guide is geographical inconsistency. A bit rich coming from a man who gets east (window) and west (door) mixed up, perhaps. But pubs shoot around between headings in the Beer Guide, making life hard for the completist. “Oh, I’ve done the Printer’s… Continue reading BIZARRE BROMSGROVE BOOZERS
THE LANDLORD TEST
What a place Bewdley is. But what a shambolic report from it these posts are, the result of (I presume) losing my notes at the bottom of the Severn, to be poured over by aliens at the End of Time like that scene in A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Dick and Dave had had quite enough beer,… Continue reading THE LANDLORD TEST
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