Off to Paris today, but at least I’m up to date with the blog. That won’t last.
Dryanuary was a triumph; 51 new Beer Guide pubs with Kent, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester all complete.
Without further ado, here’s the spreadsheet;
In a nutshell, 83% of the GBG ticked, but I need 366 more pubs by the time the new Guide is out (Christmas ?) to hit my 91% target. I’m progressing at 12 a week, which is a better average than the England cricket team.
A month in each of Devon, Dorset and West Wales would help; that may require some exceptional negotiation skills.
January Highlights – Pub crawls in Manchester, Halifax and Newcastle went over old ground, but all 3 towns looked dazzling on cold but dry days.
Stafford Paul getting six sausages at the Lost Dene was an example of substitution at its best.
Old Pub of the Month – The Circus, Manchester
Four pristine pints of Dizzy Blonde awaiting Luke & The Two Mudgies, a North-West Skiffle Band in the making. A truly wonderful (near) finale to the Southworth Saunter.
New GBG Pub of the Month – Town Mouse, Newcastle
And the last (of the month) shall be first.
Actually, beer quality was better than pub quality in January (except in Manchester). I rated four pints close to perfect; two trad,two achingly craft.
Holts in the anonymised Salford pub,
Doom Bar in Llantwit Major Rugby Club, Brass Castle Bad Kitty at the Manchester Beer festival, and that pint of Almasty murk in the Town Mouse.
Oh, and to finish, here’s your official BRAPA mask as spotted in the City Arms in Cardiff. Well done on finishing Cambridgeshire, you hero.
retiredmartin 
> In a nutshell, 83% of the GBG ticked, but I need 366 more pubs by the time the new Guide is out (Christmas ?) to hit my 91% target.
Christmas of what year ?
What does the yellow highlighting indicate on the spreadsheet ?
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A Child’s Christmas in Wales, the John Cale song.
Yellow means I could finish a county in a long weekend (20 pubs or less to do).
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And why is your target not 100 per cent ?
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Need to stay within Government drinking limits, Fred. Aim is to get to 100% by age of 62.
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So what are these limits, on the Government’s drinking then, Martin? Have they changed since Winston Churchill?
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The Spanish Government. We no longer have a functioning Government in this country.
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I misread Hoppy Brains Bitter in that cat picture.
All being well I shall be back in the Circus Tavern at the beginning of April. Free sausages there again might mean that I needn’t bother with the Lost Dene earlier in the day.
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“A month in each of Devon, Dorset and West Wales would help”
92 in Devon looks the most which is three a day for a month, and a month’s quite quick considering that the Devonian geologic period spanned sixty million years
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55 in Cumbria plus the Aberdeen & Grampian and Highlands & Western Isles look even more challenging !
Of course, the hills, rivers and long journeys were put in place to help keep the GBG-tickers’ alcohol consumption in line with Government limits.
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I blame Wainwright.
Actually I reckon I could crack Cumbria this year.
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Cumbria will be an exciting adventure, although Mrs RM might find the WiFi a tad weak in some of those hilly rural areas !
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Would it have been easier to crack as two halves, Cumberland and Westmorland ?
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The Devonian problem is logistical rather than one of excess consumption. I believe their train line has been washed away and the sole bus left for Totnes yesterday.
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> …and the sole bus left for Totnes yesterday.
It was due to leave on Wednesday but delayed by snow ?
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Those 92 Devon pubs, look a tall order, and West Wales quite a challenge as well, given the large geographic spread. Good luck with those negotiating “skills”, I think you might need them!
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Aw just look at that delicious spreadsheet. I agree with Fred re 100% target! Offer of chauffeuring to some awkward ones remains open of course, whilst recognising your preference for local explorations best done by bladder-busting bus journeys. Good progress with only really half a dozen highly challenging areas/tallies.
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What is needed is an extended campervan holiday in Scotland 😄
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Exactly. Sadly, 17 year old metalcore fans seem to lack appreciation of the wonders of Perth pubs.
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Let alone Ullapool pubs. But, before too long, the time will come when you can cast them adrift…
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I can’t believe anyone wouldn’t like the cherrybank Inn.
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“Dryanuary was a triumph; 51 new Beer Guide pubs”
The irony is palpable. 😉
“that may require some exceptional negotiation skills.”
All of us married men can sympathise. 🙂
“awaiting Luke & The Two Mudgies, a North-West Skiffle Band in the making. ”
Right up there with the Travelling Wilburys. 🙂
“And the last (of the month) shall be first.”
Well, it is Sunday so you’re allowed to be a bit preachy today. (LOL)
“I rated four pints close to perfect;”
Getting soft in your old age.
“here’s your official BRAPA mask”
Crikey! Technology can be downright frightening at times!
Cheers
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I like spreadsheets but can we have some graphs please? Pie charts per area, would be my choice.
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We merely exist to serve your needs Cookie.
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How many of those 67 Leicestershire pubs are in Coalville and Whitwick????!!! An outrage if the answer is 0
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Mmm spreadsheets! Offer of a chauffeur day in County Durham still there if you can cope with braving the North East again…
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I’ll be up again soon enough, High Force awaits. Always prefer my own steam (is there a tram to High Force) but will return to the Station if I stay in Durham (always a good idea).
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Don’t think there’s even steam on the Weardale Railway these days…!
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