Skip to content

retiredmartin

On permanent exploration of places, pubs, people and new music.

Month: July 2021

MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN…

MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN…

July 31, 2021August 1, 2021 8 Comments

At last, the Merseyside micros end (good though they were) and you get a Proper Pub. A minor classic too, the Plasterers Arms in Hoylake the sort of place to restore your faith in suburban midweek drinking. Tucked in the back streets, minutes from the beach, I thought for a second I might not get… Continue reading MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN…

HoylakeMerseysidePlasterer's ArmsProper pubsTimothy Taylor
BLACK TOAD ROCK

BLACK TOAD ROCK

July 31, 2021August 1, 2021 18 Comments

Back in Liverpool Central from Waterloo, I changed for the Wirral line for 2, possibly 3 ticks. Could I possibly even complete Merseyside today. The tension was palpable. I spent the trip trying to get enough WiFi to check train times, scuppered by the Mersey tunnel. Ooh, look, there’s a train home that stops in… Continue reading BLACK TOAD ROCK

WATERLOO, HOW MANY BLOG POSTS CAN I GET OUT OF YOU ?

WATERLOO, HOW MANY BLOG POSTS CAN I GET OUT OF YOU ?

July 31, 2021July 31, 2021 7 Comments

James called me on Thursday night and said he wanted “some advice”. Every dad fears the worst when they hear those words. Was he looking to ditch City after our disastrous 20-21 season and needed help to choose a new team ? Could he not choose between Crispy Beef and Spicy Squid at Sang Lung… Continue reading WATERLOO, HOW MANY BLOG POSTS CAN I GET OUT OF YOU ?

THE SECOND SUMMER OF SOUP ?

THE SECOND SUMMER OF SOUP ?

July 31, 2021July 31, 2021 Leave a comment

With the relaxation of Covid restrictions comes the return of the Pub Men. I was fascinated to read Pub Curmudgeon’s reflections on the return of normality. Of a sort. New blogpost – back to the bar, but no bacchanalia, and it will be a long hard road back for pubs. https://t.co/kvctCmNax4 — Pub Curmudgeon 🌸🍻 (@oldmudgie)… Continue reading THE SECOND SUMMER OF SOUP ?

SOUTHPORT – ON THE BLACKPOOL JANE TRAIL

SOUTHPORT – ON THE BLACKPOOL JANE TRAIL

July 30, 2021July 31, 2021 1 Comment

These next few posts might be a bit haphazard, coming as they do from the wet fields of Kate Rusby’s posh Barnsley folk festival. Rather different weather in Southport last Wednesday, but I was on my own then. Blackpool Jane had laid the path for my trip (see here), and when a fellow blogger and… Continue reading SOUTHPORT – ON THE BLACKPOOL JANE TRAIL

SOUTHPORT LAWNMOWER MUSEUM

SOUTHPORT LAWNMOWER MUSEUM

July 30, 2021July 31, 2021 9 Comments

I saw Lawnmower Deth at Download once. I think their shortest song was 93 seconds. In truth, I could have walked round Southport Lawnmower Museum in 93 seconds too, but then I’d have failed to bring you the evidence of Joe Pasquale’s Lawnmower, the prime exhibit. In more truth, I only went in because Blackpool… Continue reading SOUTHPORT LAWNMOWER MUSEUM

“Haven’t you heard ? You don’t need to wear that anymore !”

“Haven’t you heard ? You don’t need to wear that anymore !”

July 29, 2021July 30, 2021 12 Comments

At 56 there is nothing more exciting in life, bar Mrs RM rustling up tea from “leftovers” than being on a run of new GBG pubs. After a dull start at the Railway, my next tick was less than 10 minutes west east. SO WHAT if it’s a Greene King dining pub in a dormitory… Continue reading “Haven’t you heard ? You don’t need to wear that anymore !”

QUEUEING IN FORMBY

QUEUEING IN FORMBY

July 29, 2021July 29, 2021 3 Comments

And we’re off ! Seven pubs to tick on Merseyside, presumably all micros, and a chance to reacquaint myself with the Sefton coast, which isn’t short of pubs. Or golf courses. Or wine bars. Or pizzerias. I’d forgotten that all Merseyrail trams have a mandatory rule that customers carry a can of G & T… Continue reading QUEUEING IN FORMBY

FormbyGeorge FormbyMerseyside
DOES THIS TRAIN STOP ON MERSEYSIDE ?

DOES THIS TRAIN STOP ON MERSEYSIDE ?

July 29, 2021July 29, 2021 4 Comments

Opportunities for doing six new GBG pubs by public transport in a day are vanishingly thin once you reach the dizzying heights of 88% Guide completion, which is why us tickers need their own chauffeurs, private jets and ability to bend the ticking rules. Merseyside offered a rare prospect of multiple ticks this year, even… Continue reading DOES THIS TRAIN STOP ON MERSEYSIDE ?

DERBYSHIRE DEFEATED

DERBYSHIRE DEFEATED

July 28, 2021July 29, 2021 14 Comments

A quick post to celebrate the conquering of Derbyshire GBG entries on a warm Tuesday in July, always a tough place to come and get a tick. You left me at the Whaley Nook, wondering how long it would be before E. Wild the butcher had been in business.  The short telephone numbers are always… Continue reading DERBYSHIRE DEFEATED

Posts navigation

Previous Posts

Search blog by map

Recent Posts

  • TAKE IT (my Pad Thai) TO THE BANK
  • NO HATCHET JOB
  • McARTHUR’S YARD IS MELTING IN THE DARK
  • AND SO TO BED(MINSTER)
  • THE GOLDEN GUINEA

Recent Comments

A Football Tourist… on TOP 100 PUBS – PLATFORM…
retiredmartin on McARTHUR’S YARD IS MELTI…
dave on McARTHUR’S YARD IS MELTI…
retiredmartin on NO HATCHET JOB
Bill on NO HATCHET JOB

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015

Categories

  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com
Blog at WordPress.com. retiredmartin
retiredmartin
Blog at WordPress.com.
  • Follow Following
    • retiredmartin
    • Join 643 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • retiredmartin
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...