A big thanks to Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA for giving me an overdue return to Middleton, home of Lees Brewery, in the new Beer Guide. We used to use the Travelodge just off the A627(M) and walk to Mills Hill Station (A), which is where I start this little jaunt into Tandleland. Just for… Continue reading THE MIDDLETON WAKES
Month: September 2018
TOTALLY WIRED
“Always jump on a bandwagon” is the best advice I can give any aspiring young pub blogger, and so it is that I find that the Mark E Smith mural I stumbled across looking for a Prestwich pub is big news. The Mark Smith painting has been all over Twitter today, and uncannily, Retired… Continue reading TOTALLY WIRED
TOP 100 PUBS – THE LAMB, ECCLES
Yes, I’m staying in Eccles. That’s how brave I am at 53. The Milton Hotel has a job centre and NHS facility built into it, which could be useful later. Great view for £34, but the WiFi is rubbish, so here’s one from my phone. A wasted £34, since the GBG pub up the road… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE LAMB, ECCLES
WINNERS & LOSERS IN THE NEW GOOD BEER GUIDE
The first Good Beer Guide post-Roger* is with us, and a thing of beauty it remains. Until it’s been battered by being dropped, splattered in Chinese takeaway, and generally mistreated so the pages start falling out somewhere in Ilkeston. Before I start, thanks to all the CAMRA volunteers who do the dirty and unheralded work… Continue reading WINNERS & LOSERS IN THE NEW GOOD BEER GUIDE
BLOOMSBURY x BURY ST.EDMUNDS = CASK ALE LOTTERY WIN
One last post from London, which I’ll admit looked fairly stunning on Wednesday. I’ll bring you my essay on the new Beer Guide tomorrow, but as a taster of the horrors to come, here’s a fact for you; There’s a bar in the new Beer Guide that’s open a maximum of 110 hours. All year. … Continue reading BLOOMSBURY x BURY ST.EDMUNDS = CASK ALE LOTTERY WIN
6.5% BREAKFAST STOUT BY THE PINT
A couple of short posts praising London (calm down !, calm down !), and then I’ll give you my review of GBG19, featuring bits nicked off BRAPA’s post last night. Amongst the GBG ticking fraternity*, we use the word “professional drinking” to indicate sensible quaffing that maximises ticks without busting the Government limits (the Spanish… Continue reading 6.5% BREAKFAST STOUT BY THE PINT
IN THE TEMPLE OF LOVE (FOR QPR ’67)
Part 3 of the Great Central London Wash-Up took me west (checks compass) from Shoreditch to Temple, via Barbican and Smithfield Market. The route through Farringdon is a lot less glossy than the walk along Fleet Street into Bank, and you bump into less suits. Smithfield is crumbling a bit, but trees growing out of… Continue reading IN THE TEMPLE OF LOVE (FOR QPR ’67)
SHABBY SPITALFIELDS CHIC
You need your wits about you when you’re walking past Liverpool Street Station at midday, or you’ll get bumped into by someone refreshing their blog stats or swiping right. My obstacles are the approximately 137 pubs on the way to the Commercial Tavern, and the frankly gorgeous views round every corner. I stopped for some… Continue reading SHABBY SPITALFIELDS CHIC
“AIN’T NO WARM BEER IN THE HEART OF THE CITY”*
Suddenly, the whole world has discovered London, a fast growing town 200 miles south of Manchester. First, BRAPA explores the so-called “hipster quarter” (well, the Tand, Quinno, Doris and I were there recently) King’s Arms, Bethnal Green. This is the most modern day London pub ever! Like a 2018 Chas n Dave with just… Continue reading “AIN’T NO WARM BEER IN THE HEART OF THE CITY”*
THE PEDIGREE’S PROGRESS
GBG19 had all been going so well. Seven pubs, seven pints, five of them in the “Mmm, try this” category. And Bedford, while not exactly a pub jewel, tends to give you competently kept BBB. But last year we had the Brewhouse & Kitchen debacle (that one’s gone from the Guide) Anyway, what’s new in… Continue reading THE PEDIGREE’S PROGRESS
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