Less words, more pics from That London, including a rare diversion into unheralded Finsbury. A night at Tower Bridge was inevitably followed by a Miner’s Benedict in the scruffiest (but somehow lovable) Spoons in the kingdom. I resisted the easy-drinking breakfast beer. You risk bumping into folk, of course, but there’s some weird stuff around… Continue reading A FINSBURY FROLIC
Month: May 2019
GHERKINS & FIRKINS
After Spoons on the Mall, I made a critical mistake. “Shall we walk along Embankment to the Tower, my dear* ?” Mrs RM seemed enthusiastic, but I’d forgotten the law of “inappropriate footwear“, which dictates that the person you’re walking with will never be wearing the right shoes. Even an excellent tea in the Hare… Continue reading GHERKINS & FIRKINS
RUSSIAN BEER TASTERS IN THE MALL
Quite a contrast between Box Hill and Whitehall, where I was meeting Mrs RM for tea beer. What a wonderful sight London is these days. At Victoria I admired the eponymous theatre, currently showing “Hamilton”, a musical about the disallowed Everton goal in the 1977 FA Cup Semi Final. I met Mrs RM at… Continue reading RUSSIAN BEER TASTERS IN THE MALL
“I’VE GOT THE GOOD BEER GUIDE, ON TOP OF BOX HILL”
Yes, a bit of blog title PUNK for you next, courtesy of your favourite country gent and butter expert. 1min 30 secs in for all you lazy types. To think Simon wasn’t quite two when John Lydon ascended Box Hill. Ah, youth ! I was headed to Box Hill & Westhumble for my penultimate Surrey… Continue reading “I’VE GOT THE GOOD BEER GUIDE, ON TOP OF BOX HILL”
THE BUCKINGHAM ARMS – A PASSPORT TO GBG IMMORTALITY
I’m meeting Simon in Belper on Saturday (#PrayForRetiredMartin), and no doubt we will reflect on recent pubbing experiences. Last time we met, down in Dorset, he’d just completed the Famous Five GBG ever-presents at Worth Matravers, treating it with his usual lack of reverence. It’s three years since I last did the FF, and I’d… Continue reading THE BUCKINGHAM ARMS – A PASSPORT TO GBG IMMORTALITY
BASS & BALTI AT BURY ST EDMUNDS BEER FESTIVAL
Yes, that gentleman is actually pouring me a pint of lovely flat Bass yesterday*, at the excellent Bury St Edmunds Beer Festival. I don’t really get Beer Festivals, as you’ll know. In the words of the immortal Richard Coldwell “Beer Festivals Are Killing Pubs !”. But Bury (not that one) is close, the folk are… Continue reading BASS & BALTI AT BURY ST EDMUNDS BEER FESTIVAL
APRIL ’19 STOCKTAKE + MAY PREVIEW
Well, what a disaster this blog is. Sixty-eight posts published (about average) and I’m still only up to 13 April (2019, before the Prof asks). But if I don’t review April now, I never will. THE BARE STATS Fifty-two (52) new GBG pubs. Not as good as Bruce Masters, who’s done 50,000 pubs by doing… Continue reading APRIL ’19 STOCKTAKE + MAY PREVIEW
RUGELEY POWERS UP
Ten minutes on the train to Rugeley Town, then a less than exciting 20 minutes through the western suburbs to what looks like a slice of Cwmbran with more unintelligible accents. Thinking about it, trips into genuinely residential areas for Guide ticks used to be a rarity. But micropubs have changed all that. Rugeley’s Rusty… Continue reading RUGELEY POWERS UP
CHIP CHOICES IN CANNOCK
Happy Staffordshire Day. Home to our top PubMan, and still the UK’s most underrated pub county. My highlights for Cannock may not be the same as Paul Mudge’s own list. But I’m sure we can agree that Miss Penny (US Readers – Ms Nickel) is the sign of a Proper Pub, at least in the… Continue reading CHIP CHOICES IN CANNOCK
DUDLEY & DUNCAN
Another “real ale-free” issue to confuse our American readers, but you’ll live. And I needed to do Dudley justice with a clear head. Actually, I had a bit of a sleepless night in the Station. I was sure I heard wild animals at the window, and I seemed to be alone in the hotel.… Continue reading DUDLEY & DUNCAN
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