A month that started here; and ended here; can only be a great month. Dryanuary has been a roaring success,with a round 50 new GBG pubs (take that, BRAPA) in 15 counties. completing just Notts this time. And Nevada, of course. Highlights were the pubs of Northumberland, the Manchester Beer Festival, and that “3 Billboards”… Continue reading JANUARY ’18 STOCKTAKE
Month: January 2018
WHEN THE LEVY (CRAFT BEER FLOOD) BREAKS
Part 2 of last Friday’s Levy trail, as we “headz to Fred’s” (potential slogan there). Then we saw this; In years to come, future generations of pub tickers will debate, “JFK”-style, which of us actually suggested a detour from our CAMRA approved crawl to this unassuming backstreet Irish pub. “It’s a secret new craft bar” … Continue reading WHEN THE LEVY (CRAFT BEER FLOOD) BREAKS
2018 PUB CAT CONVENTION IN LEVENSHULME
As all pub bloggers know, bench seating and cracking beer are no match for a cute pub cat when it comes to blogging. The one above was a bit coy, obviously waiting for Pub Curmudgeon as I discussed opening time fails with Pubmeister in Levenshulme’s Blue Bell. A second trip to Levy in quick… Continue reading 2018 PUB CAT CONVENTION IN LEVENSHULME
3rd TIME LUCKY AT MANCHESTER BEER FESTIVAL
There are three things you must do when visiting Manchester Beer & Cider Festival Fill your CAMRA plastic bag full of branch magazines Find a table where people will chat to you even though you look like an axe murderer (thanks Cheshire folk) DON’T get paralytic. Regular readers will know I failed fairly spectacularly on… Continue reading 3rd TIME LUCKY AT MANCHESTER BEER FESTIVAL
PORTWOOD PERFECTION
I left you in the bar at the Petersgate Tap on Thursday night (25/1), two great pints of Draught Bass down in 20 minutes, wondering if I should ask for the flat version again. But I figured a great night in Stockport needed a Chinese takeaway. I stuck out a tweet and waited for… Continue reading PORTWOOD PERFECTION
“BLESSINGS ON YOUR TAP, YOU SERVE GOOD BASS”
Coming almost up to date with this weekend’s (26-27/1/18) trip to Stockport, surely the Vegas of Cheshire. No football, but Manchester Beer Fest, a crawl round Levenshulme and a Bass challenge on the “To Do” list. Trivelles Mayfair is the unlikely name of my regular hotel for trips into Manchester*, ideally placed for trains… Continue reading “BLESSINGS ON YOUR TAP, YOU SERVE GOOD BASS”
SWINTON SWAGGER
After Bolton, just enough time before City’s late kick off v Newcastle (20/1/18) for a detour to Swinton, and who can resist Swinton ? I’d forgotten how long the walk was from station to the clutch of “improved” pubs along Worsley Road, which compare sharply with the more basic (and interesting) fare to the… Continue reading SWINTON SWAGGER
MORE BOLTON – FINDING BUNBURY’S
I left Great Ale at the Vaults last Saturday (20/1/18) greatly cheered by new Bolton. The Market Place shopping centre, helped by flashy cinema, seemed a lot more youthful than Bolton normally does. Stopfordians should visit and see what they could have had. Saying that, central Bolton is still definitely a “work-in-progress“. The indoor market… Continue reading MORE BOLTON – FINDING BUNBURY’S
BOLTON – INTO THE VAULTS
More from last weekend (19-20 Jan), with a trip to beautiful Bolton, always good for a GBG surprise or two. The walk from the station to my new pub is a story of continued decline, with a string of boarded shops on and off Bradshawgate, and some tired looking recent GBG pubs (sadly, Sparkles isn’t… Continue reading BOLTON – INTO THE VAULTS
WAITING IN WORSLEY
I’ve been asked to date these reports, which makes sense. This was last weekend 19-20 Jan). I’m still a week behind with posts, but catching up slowly. More of Salford, technically, though Worsley is a bit of a posh anomaly on the edge of that great City. Beer Guide entries over recent years have included… Continue reading WAITING IN WORSLEY
retiredmartin 