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” film, which could put you off dentists for life. Stockport also looked enchanting last Thursday night.
NEW PUB OF THE MONTH – Station House in Durham was that rarity, a micro pub that felt like a pub, with plenty of space to hide away, do jigsaws or fall asleep.
BEER OF THE MONTH – Leyland Badger by Crankshaft at Bunbury’s in Bolton, Dark, rich and gorgeous. Great pub too.
BAR STAFF OF THE MONTH – Spoons in Galashiels, also the hangover of the month.
DRAUGHT BASS OF THE MONTH – the flat Bass at the Petersgate Tap, of course
PUB CAT OF THE MONTH – Felix, Blue Bell, Levenshulme. Another corker
FEBRUARY PREVIEW
A trip to Ally Pally, probably taking in a basic unspoilt pub in Whetstone, followed by a week in Malta for Mrs RM, and then a pub crawl round Oxford with Pub Curmudgeon and his Beer & Pubs Forum mates.
I’d tell you I’m going to the Isle of Wight but you wouldn’t believe me.
retiredmartin 
Very solid performance indeed. Credit to the profession. Bit surprised your annual leave request to Malta was approved midway through a Guide year. Must be more liberal management down there.
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I suspect my 50 may pale against your achievements, perhaps we’ll find out…
Obviously you haven’t noticed who’s the boss in the RM household yet 😉
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Your brief mention of holidaying in foreign climes constitutes a Malteaser.
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👏
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Very similar to you (57) but February looks a disaster for various reasons. After double checking I need 162 but very limited progress likely between now and Easter.
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57. 👏
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That’s 50 more than i have done and i am still not allowed to eat or drink anything.
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Our sympathies, Alan. I’m really enjoying reading your reports from previous years. Hope you’re able to do those. Best wishes.
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A day in Oxford with the grunpy old men should be fun.
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We have grumpy oldness down to a fine tee John !
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For Mrs Rm? I thought you were just coming out to Malta to go for a pint with me? Salisbury Arms, Triq Il-Kbira, Sliema was buzzing tonite. Four live matches on and they put Man City on the shit one in the corner! No Man City fans and obviously no Baggies.
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In the spirit of the Prefab Sprout album “From Langley Park to Memphis,” I will think of this post as “To Levenshulme from Vegas.” Will we get updates from Malta? And do you think you’ll find Bass down there? Either way, much to look forward to in Februrary!
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Big Prefab/Paddy fan here. Sure I’ve used that album before on my blog, but Dick or Dave will have to confirm it.
There’s a secret supply of flat Bass in a cave on Gozo, Mark. That’s why I’m going. Actually, I’ve no idea why I’m going. New country and very cheap. Will blog.
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I searched both my memory and the blog to no avail. I believe Mark may have the first Langley Park reference here. Two points to Mark?
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It’s possibly I had one prepared by didn’t bother doing it. Langley Park is where the Prefabs came from, west of Durham.
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Actually, you’re wrong, it’s a hidden cache of Shepherd Neame Double Stout, buried in case Faith Hope & Charity couldn’t keep out the Luftwaffe. Might be some SSX bottles about as well.
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“And Nevada, of course.”
You never know; could be a pre-emptive tick some day. 😉
“and that “3 Billboards” film, which could put you off dentists for life. ”
Haven’t seen it yet (plan to) but Marathon Man did that for me. 🙂
“do jigsaws or fall asleep.”
For me, that’s usually the same thing. (LOL)
“BEER OF THE MONTH – Leyland Badger by Crankshaft at Bunbury’s in Bolton, Dark, rich and gorgeous.”
Wish I could find a decent stout locally (sigh).
“followed by a week in Malta for Mrs RM,”
I take it your included?
“and then a pub crawl round Oxford with Pub Curmudgeon and his Beer & Pubs Forum mates.”
(green with envy)
Cheers!
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Haven’t seen “Marathon Man”. I won’t, now.
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What a great month you’ve had there – and a new, if somewhat formative, pub blogger hits the streets.
“I’d tell you I’m going to the Isle of Wight but you wouldn’t believe me.”
I don’t believe you – nobody goes to the Isle of Wight – except summer holidaymakers (oh hang on – and retired people). Are you getting it mixed up with Malta?
The ‘city of dreaming spires’ pub crawl sounds great..
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Really enjoying your blog, pubhermit, a sort of companion piece to beermat’s travels round the Midlands. I suspect the number of articles on UK pubs has doubled in the last two year since Pubmeister, BRAPA et al started.
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NEW PUB OF THE MONTH
What an honour! I hope there’ll be a presentation…
OBB and a pub cat looks like a blissful way to spend an evening.
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The presentation evening will be at the Hungry Horse at Ransome Indutrial Estate in Ipswich on Thr 14 November at 8am. Hope you can make it.
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We’d best get booking the train tickets…I hope a pub crawl in our honour will be provided.
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I’m in the no-cats-in-pubs brigade.
The blighters set off no end of allergic reactions.
Give me a mutt any day.
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You can have mine…..
😉
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Did you ever make it to the Isle of Wight? I live on the island, I’m always interested in finding other people’s blog posts about our lovely island, but when your blog came up in a search, your post was just about beer and pubs!
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This is an interesting tale, Georgie. Every month I plan to visit the IoW again and every month I fail (I’ll need to book ferry and B&B). Once I get there, I’ll write about the towns and villages, social interaction, art and pubs. Hopefully it’s not just about pubs, or I’d find my trek very dull ! (and of course, pubs reflect life !).
Whereabouts on Wight are you ? I’ve been a couple of times for short breaks.
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We are in Ryde, not far from the lovely beach, we moved over here just under a year ago. It’s a lovely place to be, lots to see, country walks and some great pubs!
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