Only 9 days behind with the blogging now, or (checks spreadsheet) 28 pubs. Oh dear. Nearly as bad as BRAPA, who hasn’t even met up with me at the Champion on his blog yet. Normally at this time of year I’d be telling you how wonderful Hull Old Town is, making a poor pun on… Continue reading GRIMSBY DOCKS
Month: July 2021
A NIGHT IN PICCADILLY
Arriving back in Manchester last Tuesday, I had conflicting feelings. Finally, some great pubiness in Kendal, but only five (5) ticks for me efforts. BRAPA wouldn’t get out of bed on Saturday for five ticks. But Manchester looked glorious, the streets shone, and the holy trinity on Portland Street called. I resisted. Thrillingly, my night… Continue reading A NIGHT IN PICCADILLY
PLAU-ING A LONE FURROW IN PRESTON
Looking back at these photos from the Kendal trip, something struck me hard. Why do they peter out in Preston. Also, why did I stop in Preston when one of the two new GBG ticks (the Ferret) was closed till Wednesday ? And then I suddenly remembered the Tinderbox IPA I’d had in the Fell… Continue reading PLAU-ING A LONE FURROW IN PRESTON
OXENHOLME (FOR THE LAKE DISTRICT)
I had another 45 minutes between trains at Oxenholme; you’d be amazed how much of GBG ticking involves being stranded at stations for irritating amounts of time that challenge your bladder and patience. The Centre for Studies reports that in 2019 (latest figures) rail passengers spent over 3.1 billion hours on Oxenholme Station platform wondering… Continue reading OXENHOLME (FOR THE LAKE DISTRICT)
KENDAL. WHEN IT ALL FELL INTO PLACE
Getting that first pick tick in Kendal lifted a weight off my shoulders, like hitting a six after four dot balls at the start of The Hundred (powerful metaphor I feel). It was now 4pm and I knew that Fell Bar and Factory Tap would be open soon, they promised, so I’d at least get… Continue reading KENDAL. WHEN IT ALL FELL INTO PLACE
Six pubs in the Beer Guide and NONE of them are open !
I caught the 13:55, just, and after changing at the mysterious “Oxenholme for the Lake District” found myself in the enigmatic Kendal for the first time since 2017. I actually completed the chunky Kendal set back then, but a year or two later I find SIX (6) new entries. What’s happened ? Well, brewery taps… Continue reading Six pubs in the Beer Guide and NONE of them are open !
LANCASTER, SO MUCH TO ANSWER FOR
One of the joys of train travel is the uncertainty about whether you can break your journey to do a tick on the way to your main destination. A reminder that Tom Irvin is available 24 hours a day to take your questions on rail travel. Sound tough ? Well, Google says 18 minutes walk… Continue reading LANCASTER, SO MUCH TO ANSWER FOR
A VOCATION IN MANCHESTER
Last Tuesday I decided to brave one of those long train journeys, praying that sitting in front of someone for an hour wearing a mask wouldn’t generate a “ping” to put on hold my ticking. The winged lion of Sheffield looked doubtful. The cheapest advance fares (£5.40 single) take you the slow route (1hr 20)… Continue reading A VOCATION IN MANCHESTER
“ALWAYS OPEN”
I know how much you lot enjoy it when Simon travels 7 hours to find a pub closed despite being promised it would be open. Truth told, this year has seen fewer epic fails than usual, despite the complete absence of opening hours in the Guide. I guess we’ve had to work harder, comparing Facebook… Continue reading “ALWAYS OPEN”
FLOWERS OF THE FENS
On the morning after the final I visited my sister’s burgeoning garden centre, the first new business in Waterbeach that doesn’t involve pharmacy or pizza since 1963. Mrs RM converted her veg and herbs into a healthy dish later that week. Then I wandered home via the Fen backroads, stopping for a troublesome tick in… Continue reading FLOWERS OF THE FENS
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