“Time for a Spoons in Ards before we check-in to Bangor, Mrs RM ?” Do Ards, and there’s only 3 (plus Donaghadee just in case it restores cask) left to do and I can pink in the whole of N.I. ! Why not, it’s on the way, we’ve never been to Ards/Newtownards/N’ards and there are… Continue reading THE THINKER. AND OTHER GREAT REASONS TO VISIT NEWTOWNARDS.
Month: June 2022
THE “INTERNATIONAL SIGN OF THE HANDPUMP” USED TO NO EFFECT AT STRANGFORD LOUGH
Day 1 of the Northern Ireland Tickathon, and while my son hit the Dublin Guinness factory, Mrs RM and I wobbled round Strangford Lough trying to find cask. Strangford Lough has some cultural resonance, I’m sure Van Morrison wrote about a light snack of two pounds of potted herrings or similar, but I bring you… Continue reading THE “INTERNATIONAL SIGN OF THE HANDPUMP” USED TO NO EFFECT AT STRANGFORD LOUGH
BANG BANG (CHICKEN) THE IRISH TICKS FALL, BANG BANG WHEN RETIRED MARTIN CALLS
I know you’ve been patiently waiting for an obscure B.A. Robertson reference (especially Scott), and there it is. Pub No. 2 on the Norn Iron Tickaton, and the first one actually in the Guide. It’s the White Horse in Saintfield (pop. 3,381), which looks promising when framed by bodies of water either side on the… Continue reading BANG BANG (CHICKEN) THE IRISH TICKS FALL, BANG BANG WHEN RETIRED MARTIN CALLS
A PRECAUTIONARY TICK IN THE HILLSIDE
Although it’s not on the GBG App anymore, I popped in the Hillside in Hillsborough anyway. A) It looked great. B) I’d have always wondered what it was like inside. C) Just think how annoyed I’d be if it re-enters the Guide, like that Goat In The Garden (first rule of entry to Goat In… Continue reading A PRECAUTIONARY TICK IN THE HILLSIDE
T’OTHER HILLSBOROUGH
Let’s start the Northern Ireland posts, then. If you don’t like the foreign travel blogging, best come back here in July sometime. We were woke from our slumbers onboard the lovely Stena Edda at 06:00, dumped Matt and Emma at the railway station so they could tick Dublin (kids, huh ?) and set off to… Continue reading T’OTHER HILLSBOROUGH
THE VIEW FROM BIRKENHEAD
May 11th 2022. Eight pubs needed in Northern Ireland, and a nagging feeling that I hadn’t done the Antrim coast justice. meant a long weekend in Belfast. Even better, Matt and Emma joined us, their first holiday since the You-Know-What. We picked them up at Stockport station’s shiny new drop-off area and headed to Birkenhead… Continue reading THE VIEW FROM BIRKENHEAD
GRACIE !
Let’s get the music entries out of the way, then. You’ve had too much fun reminiscing about Rory Gallagher and The Who; it’s time for some more American “fuzzy bedroom pop”. I made that genre up, you can buy it for £2.10 (£1.60 with CAMRA discount). Between Alix Page and Gracie Abrams I nipped next… Continue reading GRACIE !
NO QUEUES FOR THE BAR, OR THE GENTS, AT THE ALIX PAGE GIG
9 May 2022. Back in February I told you how Alix Page from Costa Messa, CA was dominating my Tidal playlist, and lo and behold 3 months she tips up in the UK supporting Gracie Abrams, who I’d bought a ticket for before Alix joined her tour. The sun shines on the righteous, even in… Continue reading NO QUEUES FOR THE BAR, OR THE GENTS, AT THE ALIX PAGE GIG
NORTHERN GUITARS
Just to prove I do occasionally (mostly by accident) take advice, I did take a pub tip from Chris Dyson for my second pre-gig pint in Leeds. Chris and 6 Towns Mart are probably my Leeds experts since the loss of dear old Richard and the imprisonment of BRAPA in a flat in York. Perhaps… Continue reading NORTHERN GUITARS
A HOP INTO GRANARY WHARF
9th May 2022. Yes, Will, nearly 4 weeks behind. Shoddy work. I press on. A gig in Leeds, a pretty good place for music as Chris Dyson knows. And just a teeny chance of a pre-gig pint. By chance, I walked out of the station the wrong way and ended up at Ossett’s Hop in… Continue reading A HOP INTO GRANARY WHARF
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