Finally, the Awards.
Who will be this year’s Paul Mudge, Wolverhampton and Marsaskala Social Club ?
Will anything from my foreign jaunts get a look in ?
TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS
TOP 5 ALBUMS (yeah, like you care)
5. Hand Habits – Placeholder
4. Lomelda – M for Empathy
3. Aldous Harding – Designer
2. Big Thief – UFOF
1. Julia Jacklin – Crushing
In ticking, 688 new GBG pubs, 30% up on 2018. 864 posts though, so there must have been a lot of pubbing outside the Guide. It does exist.
On the blog, Greenland once again proved elusive, but I’m headed there this Summer to rectify that.
MOST READ BLOGPOST – PIERCEBRIDGE (again)
RETIRED MARTIN TOWN OF THE YEAR – HALIFAX
The Piece Hall, great curry, exponential growth in new pubs, weird locals.. It was so good that Curry Charles went back there. Without me.
PUBS OF THE YEAR
3) The Angel, Ramsey – Drunk locals
“Jo was on her 4th pint of Goose Island I think we can forgive her”
2) The Blue Mugge, Leek – The best pub, the best Bass, the best food, the best company. We stayed so long we were kicked out.
“I know some good words“ said the drunkest of the happy mob. Oh yes.
“Imprucity” I think I wrote that one down wrong.
“And Petrichor. That’s a great word.” It was.
Our last trip with Richard. Simon loved it. I loved it too.
CHEAPEST PINT OF THE YEAR – £1.93, BRAINS BITTER, CARDIFF
HANDWASH OF THE YEAR – Wilko
PUB CONVERSATION OF THE YEAR – Lamb & Flag, Welney
“Are you still wanting that pig then ?” –
Plum Porter, roaring fire, giant pike, irreverent banter, most of involving a word that rhymes with “duck“*and arranging to deliver a pig to Upwell. I belive that Netflix has the film rights to that one.
THE INAUGURAL PAUL MUDGE PUBMAN OF THE YEAR
Here’s a clue;
and another,
and one more.
Yes, never seen without a pint in hand, with two ESBs in half an hour in The Dove the award goes to Joan Southworth. I’ll send the award via Dave.
BEER OF THE YEAR – BLACK SHEEP
Always good, never better than in the Half Moon in Rugby. Not much was better than the Half Moon in Rugby, to be honest.
BEST CRISPS – TRUFFLED CHEESE & CHAMPAGNE SMUGGLED IN MANC BEER FEST
BEST DRESSED PERSON (again)
Runner-up – Chris Dyson
BEST PUB SEATING – UTTOXETER
BEST PUB CAT – NANCY, BRENTFORD
BEST BEER GLASS CARRYING – UNNAMED BLOKE IN THE STRAWBERRY
Runner-up – Dick in Slubbers
And with that image I put 2019 to bed.
retiredmartin 
Congratulations to the Southworths. An ocean won’t get in their way for seeking out good beer in proper pubs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can say with great certainty that nobody loves English pubs more than Joan. Will I be able to get that gold trophy on the plane? She is absolutely giddy about the award!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s in the shape of a Doom Bar glass, should be fine 👍
LikeLike
Just got an email from my brother. He thinks he dresses better than Simon and stacks like nobody else. He’s contesting the awards.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, there is an appeal process. Small admin fee. Send $500 and a picture of your stack in a dress to PO Box 3446 and wait.
LikeLike
Wow I must say I was surprised and very impressed you’d managed a 30% increase on 2018. You are superhuman, clearly!
Your truffled cheese and champagne crisps are making my love of salt & vinegar ones seem decidedly pedestrian. 😉
Thanks for another delightful year of reading, Martin, and for the steadfastness with which you reply to my comments and never ending questions. Really can’t imagine my life without your blog, and the many smiles it brings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mark, your comments make this blog.
“Superhuman” is a polite term for “stupid”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Congratulations to Joan and all the winners! Very glad the Blue Mugge made it. What a great pub.
I would appeal but I do not own a dress. Well, one that fits, anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant review! I LOL’d and so proud to be best dressed … still, I’d better up my wardrobe game in 2020 to keep my crown,
Great to see the Southworth tribe nearly getting a clean sweep otherwise, very much the modern day Titanic, Avatar and David Jason rolled into one.
If you don’t visit any pubs in 2020, you can let me catch up a bit AND you won’t lose as many when new GBG comes out. Win win?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sensed that was the award you wanted most.
LikeLike
Some well deserved award winners there. You need to use your considerable influence to lure the Southworths this far north. Interesting and successful map – Africa takes a bit of cracking. Your tally is around 200 more than me for the year, a fine performance.
LikeLike
Isn’t Paisley the geographic centre of the UK if you include the Faroes?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Paisley to Unst, Shetland is the same mileage as Paisley to Southampton…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Long way for a half of Doom Bar 😕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Done that!
LikeLiked by 1 person