Before I start, can I direct your attention to this wonderful photo in BRAPA’s latest post. That’s the sort of picture you don’t get in Hebden Bridge, where the pubs are full of beardy hipsters and/or Pashmina Paulines and the lager louts have to take a minibus to drink in Burnley. What a jewel Hebden… Continue reading HEAVEN AND HELL IN HEBDEN
Month: August 2021
THE SINGULAR CHARM OF LEIGH, MANCHESTER
I took James for his second Covid vaccination this morning; he could have walked the mile to the west of Sheffield but he seemed particularly keen to be back in time for work. Such dedication to a job, particularly one done entirely from home, is surely to be commended, and contrasts sharply from my own… Continue reading THE SINGULAR CHARM OF LEIGH, MANCHESTER
“MOST IMPROVED PUB”
On Sunday morning we headed off to the in-laws, after the traditional small English breakfast at Hitchin Spoons. Truly, there is nothing sadder than a Spoons before John Smiths Smooth can be served. The biggest obstacle to the 90 minute trip round the M25 and down the A21 to Southborough is remembering the top-up of… Continue reading “MOST IMPROVED PUB”
MEMORIES
Before we move on from the Half Moon in Hitchin, here’s another (less controversial) photo of that party. The inflatable unicorn doesn’t look any happier I’m taking a photo of her, does she ? We’d enjoyed a lovely hour or so with Hitchin John, reminiscing about back alleys and forgotten boozers, but we were struggling… Continue reading MEMORIES
DOING IT IN HALVES
Hitchin John is always great company, and the only thing I can say against him is that he lives in Hitchin, which never has new GBG entries. He should move to Stockton-on-Tees and we could meet up every month. Still, despite the thrill of the tick it’s always nice to pop back and do a… Continue reading DOING IT IN HALVES
WELCOME TO HITCHIN
Simon spends what seems like a month in North Wales and crams it into 2 blog posts; Mrs RM and I spend an evening in Hitchin (zero ticks) and you’ll get at least three posts out of it. I reckon 400 words, 8 photos and a map is about the limit for my readers; you’ve… Continue reading WELCOME TO HITCHIN
PUNK’S NOT DEAD
Stop No.2 on the Sheffield Tramlines Festival Fringe was the Frog & Parrot which I’d skipped to avoid embarrassing myself in front of BRAPA in June. BRAPA would never embarrass himself while drunk, right ? Oh look, there’s a bloke reflected in the mirror taking surreptitious photos on his phone in a pub. The Frog… Continue reading PUNK’S NOT DEAD
NERVOUS PILLS AT THE WASHINGTON
I have two main rules for choosing my gigs; Where possible, only listen to music written that very morning. Give bands that play their old stuff a wide berth. NEVER watch a band that starts songs “1, 2, 3, 4”. Avoid any gig where the audience members are wearing “Friends” T-shirts, ironically or not. So… Continue reading NERVOUS PILLS AT THE WASHINGTON
CASK KIDZ
If you can’t use your children to promote your own blog, what use are they ? Both of our lads came over for the Sheffield Tramlines Festival last week. They must have been desperate for something to do, as the line-up struck me as old skool. In a bad way. Mrs RM went with the… Continue reading CASK KIDZ
JULY ’21 STOCKTAKE + AUGUST PREVIEW
Pubs are back ! OK, they were sort of “back” on April 12, and then a bit more “back” on May 17, but July 19th was when those bar codes and perspex and one way stickers were binned and we could finally order our beer at the bar, consigning the evil of table service whereby… Continue reading JULY ’21 STOCKTAKE + AUGUST PREVIEW
retiredmartin 