I sense you folk are a bit down at the moment; what you need is a nice post about an unexpectedly good pub to warm your little hearts. Dave asked me about places that surprised me, and this one in the Derbyshire Dales sprung to mind. It’s in Wirksworth, a quiet town just allocated to… Continue reading A NICE SURPRISE
Month: November 2020
FEARS FOR TIERS – IT’S A MAD WORLD
Regular readers will know that I am the most positive person in the world, having somehow survived 28 years of marriage and the finale to the 2011-12 Premier League season. But you may rightly assume I’m slightly miffed by the announcement of the new tiers today. Even though, as requested, I got to see them… Continue reading FEARS FOR TIERS – IT’S A MAD WORLD
LET’S GO WALK THE KITE
While I wait for the Tears at 11.30, here’s some pics from my Cambridge walk this morning while I waited for Mrs RM to complete her dental treatment. Did I ever tell you I left it 34 years between dental appointments (1979-2013) ? That was a mistake. Mrs RM’s dentist is on Newmarket Road, home… Continue reading LET’S GO WALK THE KITE
A BLACK COUNTRY SIX
Six of the Best from Black Country Ales, the Antic of the West Midlands. Well, perhaps not quite Antic, but BCA’s combination of smart community pub with lots of beers does have some similarities. Because Brum gets a kicking sometimes, let’s start in the heart of the second city (after Manchester). Jewellers Arms, Birmingham Lovely… Continue reading A BLACK COUNTRY SIX
ALL CHANGE IN ALTY
The Sam Smiths post prompted some reminiscing from our friends Reg and Russ in Altrincham, Cheshire’s second town. And since all I’ve got at the moment is Fenland sunsets (no filter folks), and simpering about the prospects of a return of pubs on the 2nd/3rd/ever, here’s some random reflections on Alty. Most of my trips… Continue reading ALL CHANGE IN ALTY
SO, JUST WHEN DOES LOCKDOWN END ?
Not a post as such, more a serious question ? When DOES lockdown end, exactly, and when can I go to the pub (any pub) again ? I know Tier 3 means pubs are closed and Tier 2 means pie and pint deals only, which only leaves me with a beer in Tier 1 (probably… Continue reading SO, JUST WHEN DOES LOCKDOWN END ?
A HUG FOR HOLDENS
Only fair, after bigging up Bathams, to hold up Holdens as an example of a consistently good brewery and pub operator. OK, they are to Bathams what Sam Smiths are to, ooh, Ossett. Their pubs a bit less beery, their flagship brew rather less renowned. But they actually OWN two of the finest pubs in… Continue reading A HUG FOR HOLDENS
BOSTIN BATHAMS
One week to go before Lockdown 2 ends ! Given our singular obsession with the R rate, you might look at the following table, and assume the North-West will be in Tier 1 when the tiers are announced on Thursday so I can head back north for pints of Holt’s in the Hare & Hounds.… Continue reading BOSTIN BATHAMS
WELL DONE OXFORD
I won’t be mean spirited; today is a great day for Oxford. You might think I’d be a bit miffed my own cure for Covid (a gallon of Doom Bar, crispy shredded beef, 2 aspirin) was pipped to the post by the Oxford Uni/AstralWeeks effort, but not a bit of it, and I’m delighted to… Continue reading WELL DONE OXFORD
A DOZEN DOOM BAR DAZZLERS
“There’s nowt such thing as bad beer, it’s just they that keep it that spoil it” – Brad, The Furnace I know you doubt me, but Brad’s maxim is never truer than with our nation’s favourite beer (sorry, Donnington BB). I probably drink half a dozen pints a year, mainly in Spoons. I’ve never taken a… Continue reading A DOZEN DOOM BAR DAZZLERS
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