Coming to the close of Northumberland GBG now, and an overdue return to Rothbury, home of the great National Trust property (Cragside) and down the road from one of our Basic, Unspoilt gems. A shame the Star is open 5.5 hours a week these days, and my visit was on one of the 162.5  hours… Continue reading ROTHBURY – STOUT, PYGMY GOATS & THE DEFENCE OF RORKES DRIFT

That’s right, take the mick (they probably are called Dick) out of John Smiths drinkers to promote your artisan micro pub in Amble. Worked for me, although my first thought was “definite pre-emptive tick“. Tiny place, bustling with a mixed crowd, reminded me immediately of the Angel in Belper. The first thing you’ll notice is… Continue reading “GOT NEE JOHN SMITHS LIKE”

Back up the A1 for some more Northumberland GBG action The day after the hottest day ever (EVER) in Cambridge, I arrived in Amble in a T-Shirt to find everyone in jumpers and raincoats. Improbably, I’d never been to Amble, just like in the Charlene song. You’ll know that Seahouses is now Islington-on-Sea (Part IV)… Continue reading LOST IN AMBLE

Yes, two posts from King’s Lynn, neither of them in the Beer Guide. I’m losing it. But 400-odd words is my absolute limit now I’m old, and also I need to bring you some more holiday snaps. Actually, describing a 3 hour trip with 3 pints and scampi and chips as a holiday may be… Continue reading CRAFT HITS THE LYNN

  a.k.a. Lynn lovelies. I wanted to use “Kings of Lynn” as a title but Pubmeister beat me to it. His quite brilliant post also has the best lines and unmatchable photos, but if I didn’t do a piece I’d be doing Lynn (no-one apart from a royalist Scot would call it King’s Lynn) a… Continue reading “I DON’T GIVE TASTERS”

A small confession. I’ve skimmed over a few pub visits in North Yorkshire to bring the conclusion of this significant chapter in the Guide. That’s not a criticism of Yorkshire or its often almost tolerable residents. In fact, York’s Pub of the Year, the Mended Drum in Huby produced the best (and murkiest) beer of… Continue reading AYSGARTH FALLS. AND SO DOES NORTH YORKSHIRE

In case you’re wondering how I get away with so much time away from home, I was wondering the same thing myself. Mind, Mrs RM was simultaneously enjoying nights away in Greenwich, Brighton and Brentford, though admittedly there may be some work involved as well there. “Pub ticking IS work” says Mark Crilley, possibly. Well,… Continue reading LARKS IN LANGSTROTHDALE

, Looking at the 1,037 photos on my phone it appears I popped back home in between my week Up North to cook tea for our sons and take Mrs RM on a campervan break in Bury St Edmunds. Not our first trip to the southern Bury, whose forward thinking Council lets us park overnight… Continue reading HE DOESN’T DO KYLIE, BUT GRAHAM McGROTTY WOWS BURY ST EDMUNDS