If these little posts were pub write-ups in the Beer Guide they’d be “Try Also”, a short-lived feature from the early 2000’s that was created so as not to upset pubs that would have sued if they’d been completely kicked out of the Guide. The Elm Tree in Beech Hill deserved its entry in GBG21,… Continue reading BEECH HILL – OUD, CEDAR & AMBER
Month: November 2021
I’M SORRY, I HAVEN’T A CLEWER
A year ago retiredmartin was in a bad way. Pubs had just closed as the unexpected Lockdown 2 hit as dark descended, and after a final hurrah in London my blog material dried up. Both of our lads were kicking their heels, and our move north to Sheffield hit an unexpected snag due to an… Continue reading I’M SORRY, I HAVEN’T A CLEWER
HOW DID I END UP IN SWINDON SPOONS ?
The truth is out there (not THERE) and the truth MUST be told. With all of Swindon’s options, I somehow ended up in the Spoons. Not in the grotty but loveable GBG occasional Savoy, either, but the shiny Sir Daniel, whoever he was. Quite what attracted me away from the lure of Swindon Kebabs, who… Continue reading HOW DID I END UP IN SWINDON SPOONS ?
CIDER WITH RETIRED MARTIN
So, as I was saying, I left Chippenham 2 (or 1+) ticks to the good, and returned to Swindon for an early night blogging. Except it was only 19:30, and how often do you find yourself in Swindon at 19:30 with a bed for the night paid for ? I really wanted an Arkells but… Continue reading CIDER WITH RETIRED MARTIN
SATURDAY NIGHT IN CHIPPENHAM
As always, young Quinno is strident with his views on all matters Pubs West; But is he right ? Certainly, Chippenham (pop. 45,620) has a lot of competition for the pub ticker pound (or groats if you’re in Calne). It’s traditional to bring you some context on a town before I bombard you with pics… Continue reading SATURDAY NIGHT IN CHIPPENHAM
CHIPPING AWAY IN CHIPPENHAM
Back to the Wiltshire Wandering now, and a long night in Swindon was extended with an 11 minute rail trip to Chippenham to add some continental exotica to the evening. It’s at least 7 years since my last visit to Chipz (as the kidz call it), though I DID drop Mrs RM here on a… Continue reading CHIPPING AWAY IN CHIPPENHAM
A MACCLESFIELD TASTER
Blogging from McDonald’s at Watford Gap, the start of the North, as 377,000 Newcastle fans queue for a Big Mac. Few words, just some pictorial highlights from a great day in Macclesfield yesterday with some new old and newly recruited Old Codgers. Name all the pubs and win Mudgies Good Beer Guide.
One Pornstar Martini too far
I’m taking a short break from Super Swindon now to bring you live blogging from the Old Codgers trip to Macclesfield today. Quite a select band of Old Codgers now that Mrs RM has pulled out due to overdoing it in Manchester and Sheffield the last two nights as we entertained a visitor from Waterbeach… Continue reading One Pornstar Martini too far
STEAMING ! THE SURPRISING SWINDON NEW TOWN
Two (or three ?) Swindon ticks down, and a third in the New Town as I took the scenic route down the hill past the Roaring Donkey. My big regret about Swindon is the total absence of Arkells in the GBG, perhaps the least highly-regarded of all traditional brewers apart from that lot in the… Continue reading STEAMING ! THE SURPRISING SWINDON NEW TOWN
TWO HOPS IN SWINDON OLD TOWN
Before we saunter round Swindon, some good(ish) news about the missing Good Beer Guide. It seems that during a CAMRA HQ administrative reorganisation the direct debit details for the GBG Club were lost, and an email asking me to set it up again went to “spam”, which I thought was the volunteers lunch at the… Continue reading TWO HOPS IN SWINDON OLD TOWN
retiredmartin 