Contractual obligations demand a monthly summary of the GBG pilgrim’s progress. That progress came to a juddering halt on 13th March, probably the least of many of our concerns. No GBG ticks in June (that I’ll admit to), unless the Mace in Swaffham Bulbeck that sold me Mrs RM an emergency 4 pack of… Continue reading JUNE ’20 STOCKTAKE + JULY PREVIEW
Month: June 2020
BOTTISHAM – SAVED BY THE BELL
Yes, ANOTHER Bee Gees reference, even though the Isle of Man’s finest (apart from Dave Halliwell) never played the WMC in Bottisham. Unless YOU know better. Scraping the Fen Edge barrel, now, though Bottisham (pop. 2,199) punches well above its weight in some respects. The village college takes up half the Wiki entry, and seems… Continue reading BOTTISHAM – SAVED BY THE BELL
COBBLERS
The great city of Leicester came to a standstill last night to cheer their East Midlands neighbours Northampton as they made an unlikely return to League 1 in front of 90,000 empty seats. They’re the ultimate yo-yo club, along with Luton. Some Leicesterians may even make a trip south to Sixfields on Saturday to enjoy… Continue reading COBBLERS
THE COTON REJECTS
More posh Cambs now, as I give you the Saturday Coton & Madingley double bill. You can actually walk from Coton through the University fields towards the Backs, but you’ll get run over by aggressive cyclists if you’re not careful. Walkers really are second-class citizens in Cambridge; see how cyclists ignore the “Please dismount” signs. Feel… Continue reading THE COTON REJECTS
A SPECIAL DAY IN CAMBRIDGE
Only 5 more sleeps and I can return to a pub. I’m still a BIT nervous about pub interiors, and reports from US Mark’s home state (not your fault, Mark) don’t help confidence. 85 patrons of a Michigan restaurant and pub have contracted the coronavirus and health officials expect the number to rise. The restaurant… Continue reading A SPECIAL DAY IN CAMBRIDGE
DROWNING SORROWS IN D.C.
I actually heard the sad news about Richard on the National Mall. staring at the Capitol. I did like the capital (as opposed to the Capitol); it felt a bit like someone had taken the best bits of Newcastle and plonked them in Milton Keynes. Great museums, sumptuous parks, cheap Chinese food, murky beer… Continue reading DROWNING SORROWS IN D.C.
STILL MISSING RICHARD
It’s a year since Richard Coldwell left us, and I still miss him a lot. I didn’t know him as well as some, but you can tell a lot from a smile. Nearly all the photos of him on the Proper Pub days out show a wide beam on his face. I like to think… Continue reading STILL MISSING RICHARD
TOP 100 PUBS – THE BLIND TIGER, NEW YORK
Grief. It’s been five months since my last Top 100 pub; how have you coped ? One last American memory from a year ago today. New York is gigantic, isn’t it ? It takes an artist to pick out the detail at ground level. Dylan may not have explicitly written about the Blind Tiger in… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE BLIND TIGER, NEW YORK
IF YOU’RE GOING TO BOURNEMOUTH, STOP IN CHRISTCHURCH BAY INSTEAD
This blog exists partly as a diary to let Mrs RM know where I am (not that I’ve been out of her sight these last 3 months) and partly to promote lesser-known Britain, in what used to be known as “a public service“. Instead of heading down to the Sodom and Gomorrah that is Bournemouth,… Continue reading IF YOU’RE GOING TO BOURNEMOUTH, STOP IN CHRISTCHURCH BAY INSTEAD
READING – BISCUITS AND BBB
Today’s programme, a titchy affair, comes from one of our many underrated pub towns along the M4. If you’re lucky I might get to Swindon before pubs return. Duncan might have been a teeny ballboy at this gripping 2-2 draw with eventual champions Coventry. I don’t know, I wasn’t born. Perhaps he made ballboy for… Continue reading READING – BISCUITS AND BBB
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