Sometime in mid September, I think. You left me in Leeds, I rejoin you in the breakfast room at Shipley IBIS the next morning.
Mrs RM was working a week of mornings which started with her bellowing “Bonjour” into her laptop so it was time to escape. “Bonjour” is foreign for “what do you want NOW ?”.
The young barman at my Shipley preemptive tick had given me the lowdown on the town centre, and it suddenly struck me I could only think of the Spoons there.
But what’s this ?
Looks ancient, I wondered if it might be a Sam Smiths, but the Cricketers is a mysterious music venue opened last year. Reports please, as they say.
Shipley isn’t pretty, particularly if you’ve just visited the marvels of Saltaire next door. And the unprepossessing Hockney pub has only seem Alan Winfield enter, and report back. Alan scored 7.
I joined the throngs in the giant Asda, stocking up on clothes for the next year/ decade, and admired the clock.
No trendy coffee shops yet, so the space age like Norman Rae it is.
Yorkshire’s Spoons buck the trend in reducing the pump count again.
If you think I’m drinking pints of Wobbly Bob to entertain you, you’re mistaken.
I’ve also spared you pics of the breakfast, which reached McDonald’s levels of inedibility, but the hash browns could be useful if you run out of paperweights.
My free entertainment came from the table attempting to explain the travel/Covid requirements for their impending holiday in Spain.
In 20 minutes I learnt what LAFs, PCRs, and 2 day reporting were, and realised why I’d be sticking to Tenby rather than tempting fate in Tenerife for the foreseeable future.
retiredmartin 
Surprised you haven’t mentioned The Fox which is a lovely micro pub only a short walk from the Ibis and The Ring o Bells, a Camra Heritage pub, at the other end of Shipley both keep beers well.
With Saltaire a short walk away, also with some wonderful pubs, and with both having train stations they are great for trains to both Bradford and Leeds.
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Hi Nick. I’ve visited the Fox, and Hullaballoo, and the Beehive, and Victoria, and Fanny’s and the Salt Cellar on recent trips. If you search for Shipley on the blog you’ll see those. Greater Shipley and Saltaire has great pubs. The central core is an oddity. There was a great little bar just west of the A6038 but it closed.
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Shipley also has one of the finest curry houses in Bradford (Shimla Spice). One of the finest mixed splatter’s on offer. https://shimlaspice.co.uk/shipley/
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Will get there eventually.
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I either seem to be following you or vice versa.
In recent months – Hull & Beverley, Stockport & Manc, Preston, Lichfield & Sutton & Boldmere & Erdington, Sheffield & Chesterfield.
Next week Saltaire & Shipley (ibis!), while Ingleby Barwick is my bored-on-an-evening driving route as I’m residing in Thornaby.
I suspect you may be spending Christmas near Blackpool!!!
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I feel like Forrest Gump, but pubbing not running !
Thornaby? Dangerously close to the Sun (the real one, not the fake one in the sky).
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Nice to see I’m getting a mention in Shipley Spoons!!!
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