Greetings from lovely Darlington where I’ve just returned after meeting Duncan completely accidentally in Newcastle. Spooky. The Dalesman Hotel in Darlo (keg Magnet) is £30 en-suite (on-sute as my Mum would say), very clean but with weak WiFi. So it’s more short posts from Aberdeen. First stop on the Great Grampians Tickathon was Stonehaven, a… Continue reading A CROQUE MONSIEUR IN STONEHAVEN
Month: March 2019
SHOULD YOU GO TO ABERDEEN….
… don’t forget the cliches. The Granite city, grey buildings glistening in the rain, pints costing a fiver due to oil riches, a place full of craft keg fanatics with a BrewDog on every corner, a last stop before the ferry to the beer paradise that is Lerwick, etc etc. Possibly. It felt very quiet… Continue reading SHOULD YOU GO TO ABERDEEN….
A RUDE AWAKENING IN PERTH
In case you’re wondering where I’m up to, it’s now 21:15 on Monday the 4th, and the Departures Board at Euston Station is telling us the Aberdeen Sleeper is “Delayed“. From my vantage point at Leon, I’d been eyeing up the Signal Box, a new Fullers bar next to the other chain diners on the… Continue reading A RUDE AWAKENING IN PERTH
MRS RM’S EUSTON TIP
Off to Aberdeen with Mrs RM, where I will slave away visiting pubs while she solves the University’s IT problems or something. We’d booked the sleeper from Euston. “Shall we go up early. Have a beer in the Tap ?” she said. Now, as a mansplaining man, it never pays to be too enthusiastic about… Continue reading MRS RM’S EUSTON TIP
A JEWEL IN THE JEWELLERY QUARTER
Only one more post then it’s the big trip to Aberdeen, which is more than a succession of Brew Dogs. The Jewellers Arms has generous opening hours, but being a few minutes from Burning Soul, which doesn’t, I’d been saving it up. I didn’t have high expectations, having had my share of disappointments with Black… Continue reading A JEWEL IN THE JEWELLERY QUARTER
BRUMMIN’
The train from Stechford to Brum drops you in the centre of “New” New Street Station, an unfortunate place to be dropped. For the third time in a row I failed to find the exit, wandering aimlessly past Leon’s and Five Guys and Prets before emerging blinking in Chinatown. So the half hour I’d allowed… Continue reading BRUMMIN’
A STECHFORD STRETCH
Where is Stechford ? A mile east of famed boxing Brum boxing arena St. Andrews, apparently. And just below Ward End, home of the Midland’s most idiosyncratic Spoons. And what’s happened to the “t” in Stetchford ? After all, there’s a “t” in snitch (top). I blame the Villa. Stechford is the nearest station to… Continue reading A STECHFORD STRETCH
MORE CHESHIRE GASTRO PUB “FUN”
Yes, enough of the “better-than-expected” trendy café bars; it’s back to what makes Cheshire famous. Ancient gastropubs for retired gentlefolk in the middle of nowhere (well, far enough away from Crewe for comfort, anyway). Before the Cheshire mafia start their abuse, Cheshire is an attractive county and if I was legally compelled to take my… Continue reading MORE CHESHIRE GASTRO PUB “FUN”
NORTHWICH – REBIRTH OF THE SALT
I’ve done all the easy counties now. Time for the remote ones (West Wales, Devon), the ones with micro heaven/hell (Hants, Lancs) and the one with gastro dreadfulness. Yes, a return to Cheshire, so much less since they lopped off Stockport and gave it to the Mancs. I start at the place which can console… Continue reading NORTHWICH – REBIRTH OF THE SALT
BULLS HEAD – BULLSEYE
It can never be said too often; Manchester is a great night out. Particularly when it starts in a £25 budget hotel in the “dodgy part of Eccles” (Source: Quosh) and includes a home win against the Hammers (sorry Mr Protz). It must have been a glorious evening. Even the bit of Salford near Old… Continue reading BULLS HEAD – BULLSEYE
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