The first month of the new GBG ticking season is one of high excitement for the Maltmeisters, BRAPAs and that Scottish chap. Is that new entry in Harrogate the same as the Old Tap & Spile ? What’s happened to all the micros in Burton ? And are there really TWO new entries in the… Continue reading SOLVING BUXTON’S GBG MYSTERIES
Month: December 2021
BETWEEN BABYLON AND VENICE
Think of this as a short bonus post on a day when other news may take your attention from my blog. (Congratulations Carrie and Boris). On Sunday I became the first person ever (ever) to visit Cheadle, Staffs four (4) times in a calendar year. Even Mrs RM said “Cheadle? Not again !” and she… Continue reading BETWEEN BABYLON AND VENICE
DESTROYING CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS IN ANSTEY
I didn’t actually know where Anstey was, but of course I would never admit that to Mrs RM, being a bloke. Here it is, excitingly placed east of edgy Coalville ,north of the dull bit of Leicester and close to Charnwood Forest where in the ’70s footballers would run country pubs post-retirement at 35. It… Continue reading DESTROYING CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS IN ANSTEY
RIPLEY TALES
Mrs RM was keen to join me on these ticking trips; I think she thinks it’s all like BRAPA. To disabuse her of the notion GBG ticking is exciting, I let her accompany me to Ripley. Ripley (pop. 20,807) is one of the many old mining towns in the Amber Valley that no-one visits because… Continue reading RIPLEY TALES
MORE PRE-TRAIN DIVERSIONS IN BURTON
One left in Burton. As Matt says; there’s plenty of good pubs here, including The Dog. Not sure about the appeal of 11 handpulls, mind. I only saw one Pedi pump on the bars at the Leopard and the Anchor. Once I’m sure that Life After Football has been in I’ll do those next visit.… Continue reading MORE PRE-TRAIN DIVERSIONS IN BURTON
READ ALL ABOUT IT, BREWS OF THE WORLD
I still had 20 minutes till my second and final Burton GBG tick opened, 17 minutes before the train left for home, and you should NEVER walk past a new pub recommended by Life After Football. Particularly one like Brews of the World that bothers to be open, look inviting, and be full of Bass… Continue reading READ ALL ABOUT IT, BREWS OF THE WORLD
A PUB TEA AT THE OLD ROYAL OAK, BURTON
Right, let’s tick Burton. 2 minutes from The Crossing (not the Big Country album with the bagpipes) is the market square I never knew Burton had, and the pub I never knew existed. It’s very quiet, but to be honest so is Burton. There’s more folk in pubs than in shops, just as it should… Continue reading A PUB TEA AT THE OLD ROYAL OAK, BURTON
WHEN IN BURTON, A MAN SHOULD DRINK THE LOCAL BEER
That’s not me being sexist, by the way, I’m sure it’s a direct quote from Wordsworth. Or Burton Tourist Office. Women ARE allowed to drink Doom Bar rather than Babycham or Rochefort 10, even though Mrs RM turned down the amber nectar at Winchester in 2019. You left me at Henry’s Record Shop, having just… Continue reading WHEN IN BURTON, A MAN SHOULD DRINK THE LOCAL BEER
“B” FOR BURTON, BURTON FOR BASS
I left Mrs RM to return to RM Towers, and headed on the 14:00 via Derby (split ticket saves about 3 pints of Bass) to Burton. You remember Burton, don’t you ? Blimey, it had been four years since my last visit, and now there were TWO (2) new GBG entries, though as I’d have… Continue reading “B” FOR BURTON, BURTON FOR BASS
WALKING THE SHEFFIELD CANAL
We’d been talking about walking from home to IKEA since we “landed” in Sheffield a year ago. Many take the official Five Weirs route along the Don, which gives you a glass of murky DIPA at St Mars of the Desert in Attercliffe if you time it right. Mrs RM and I took the more… Continue reading WALKING THE SHEFFIELD CANAL
retiredmartin 