Back to the hard slog of pub ticking earlier this month, and a first trip in many years to Uttoxeter, or Greater Alton Towers as the TIC has probably rebranded it. The hardened members of the Beer & Pubs Forum will be visiting the town’s famous Bass & Pedi pubs on June 14th. Unlike Burton,… Continue reading LEAVING UTTOXETER CLEAR FOR A DAY OF BASS
Month: May 2019
THE RITES OF SPRING – CAMBRIDGE BEER FESTIVAL 2019
Leaving strict chronology for a moment, I bring you my annual trip to the Cambridge Beer Festival, the UK’s most pashmina-friendly fest. It’s a compulsory trip, whatever I say about fests. No Mrs RM (she’s in Pasmina Peckham), and no Simon or Kevin, workmates I’ve been bumping into since this was at the old Cambridge… Continue reading THE RITES OF SPRING – CAMBRIDGE BEER FESTIVAL 2019
COME AND GET ‘EM, SOUTHWORTHS
Yes, it’s the highlight of Mrs RM’s housecleaning year as the the Southworth clan set off from Chicago and Minneapolis, preparing mentally to take back duff pints in Pembroke and be told “It’s real ale. Its supposed to taste like that.” I’m sure they’ll find good pubs in West Wales, which I believe may have… Continue reading COME AND GET ‘EM, SOUTHWORTHS
PARMA VIOLETS
Two more pubs for Taylor’s Toping Taxis (don’t bother nicking it, it’s trademarked), then I can bring you some of my own ticks. If I get to West Wales before midnight. Two gems that in 90% of the GBG counties would be your Pub of the Year. We were staggered to hear that Mark, who… Continue reading PARMA VIOLETS
TOP 100 PUBS – THE HOLLY BUSH, MAKENEY
Bit of a cheat, putting a pub in my Top 100 (373) when I only had a pint of water and Si’s dregs (which would make a great name for a beer). But Makeney’s Holly Bush could just serve Peroni and you’d still want to drink there. In case you’re paying attention, I did drop… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE HOLLY BUSH, MAKENEY
BRAPA DOES IT HIS WAY
Part 2 of BRAPA in the Amber Valley, and my chance to impress me with your musical knowledge. Stop C (where A was the quiche place in Belper) is the award-winning White Hart in Bargate, star of my own blog a mere 14 months ago. It would have been walkable from the Black Bull’s Head,… Continue reading BRAPA DOES IT HIS WAY
TAXI FOR BRAPA ! A BELTER OF A BELPER
Yes, very naff title. I’m tired. I won’t drag this one out (I will). For a start, as DES, I’ve nothing to say about the beers on Si’s Amber Valley Day Out. Though I must say, the water in Belper was better than in Cambridge. And secondly the banter in Belps was so good… Continue reading TAXI FOR BRAPA ! A BELTER OF A BELPER
BULLISH ABOUT PUBS
“Frankie Says…” go to a pub. Actually, after the Half Moon I was ready for an early night of Chinese takeaway and LBC, with BRAPA to come in the morning. But then our group split up, and Pete & The Mudgies (a punk group from Atherstone, surely ?), nipped in the Bull. For a… Continue reading BULLISH ABOUT PUBS
THE HALF MOON – FIGHTING BACK
I’m sorry this post pops out long after the lovely Ali has brought her cover versions of Fairport Convention classics to the Half Moon. You can still catch Dean Friedman, though. Pub Number 8 was a lung-busting five minutes out of town, and only inserted in the itnerary at my insistence. It was the Pub… Continue reading THE HALF MOON – FIGHTING BACK
BEER GUIDE TICKING TERROR AT THE TAP
Nearly finished Rugby now. Then I can turn my attention to (checks diary) BRAPA in Belper. One of the downsides of these pub crawls, apart from the fixation on craft bars, is that you’re expected to stick with the group, and not nip off to pubs that aren’t on the official route or admire the… Continue reading BEER GUIDE TICKING TERROR AT THE TAP
retiredmartin 