retiredmartin

Well, here’s what March’s travel map looked like.

It started in Athens, ended in Pristina, and took in Mytholmroyd, Bolsover and Sleaford in the middle.

In truth, the Balkans have been the month’s highlights, and the coffee in Pristina is stunning, though their anti-Bass tendencies are a bit unnecessary;

Talking of Bass, the welcome return of Fagan’s also brought the first permanent Bass in Sheffield this century, and the second visit saw an NBSS 4.5, best beer of the month.

I “only” visited 32 new Beer Guide pubs in March; may as well give up on GBG23 now.

Spending too much time in the local doesn’t help,

but being snowed in the Blind Monkey when their beer and music is as good as it’d been wouldn’t be a hardship. As long as the pizza oven was working.

Pub of the Month was the Vaults in Uttoxeter, of course. If only I could remember it.

Another return visit, to the Unicorn in Greater Stourbridge, showed just how great the Batham estate is, even if opinion on the merits of their beer, up against Holden’s, were divided.

James bought hid first car, a blue one, and drove me to a great gig by Anna B Savage in Manchester.

In April, James will hopefully be driving me to the Highlands, hovering outside pubs while I nip in for a 30 second half. It’s what sons should do.

Only joking. Actually I’m leading a tour of the Doom Bar pubs when CAMRA comes to town.

And doing a pub crawl of Brum on the 14th. Can’t wait.