October 2023. Newcastle University Students Union. Young American women make all the best music these days. Back in September I heard 22 year old Alix Page cover Sunshine Baby, a new song by The Japanese House that sounded like an instant classic; even without that contribution of Matty Healy of the 1975. So I booked… Continue reading THE QUEUE FOR THE JAPANESE HOUSE
Month: October 2023
STUDENTZ, SPOONS, NEWCASTLE. HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY FAIL ?
October 2023. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Here’s the updated map from that Saturday Stagger on Tyneside. Stop (G) is Newcastle Uni, stop (H) is Newcastle Hospital. I was regretting those “bonus” stops at the Bridge and the Free Trade by now; this bloke on the approach to Chinatown seemed to be admonishing me. 8.30pm now. I ought to… Continue reading STUDENTZ, SPOONS, NEWCASTLE. HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY FAIL ?
THE HOLY TRINITY IN THE THREE BULLS HEADS
October 2023. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Here’s a little map showing you the pubs I’d been to on that epic Saturday night in Newcastle. You can walk it in a mere 6:11, so it’s a good job the Tyne & Wear metro is such a joy. But I left the metro behind at the Free Trade, inspired by… Continue reading THE HOLY TRINITY IN THE THREE BULLS HEADS
DRINK BEER SMOKE TABS
October 2023. Byker. Newcastle. Back on the tram, just about to pass Byker, when the Americans pop up. I really shouldn’t have stopped at the Free Trade Inn., with one (1) more Newcastle pub to tick (a Bass tick at that) and a need for pre-gig scran. But Dick had asked, sort of, and I… Continue reading DRINK BEER SMOKE TABS
LEFT LUGGAGE, LEFT OUT OF THE GBG
October 2023. Monkseaton. Tyneside. Having ticked the annual (and inevitably excellent) North Tyneside Beer Guide newbie I walked the ten minutes to Monkseaton Metro, admiring the roadside pubs (and opticians), and wondering what the Front Street Tap had done to lose out on GBG glory this year. Or, come to that, the Left Luggage Room… Continue reading LEFT LUGGAGE, LEFT OUT OF THE GBG
REV JAMES DRINKING WELL IN MONKSEATON
October 2023. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I’d obviously lost track of time as it was past 5pm when I left the Bridge Hotel in search of two Newcastle ticks, the first of them right out on the coast. The skies were looking angry as I descended to the bowels of the metro, but it was the bladders of… Continue reading REV JAMES DRINKING WELL IN MONKSEATON
TOP 100 PUBS – BRIDGE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
October 2023. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We crossed the High Level Bridge from the Microbus into the Toon, the opposite journey to the one we’d managed with my in-laws in June, a stark reminder of how far octogenarians can manage when there’s beer and cake at the end of a long walk. Even better views today, but I… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – BRIDGE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
BUS, BUS, BUS, BUS, MAGIC MICRO BUS – A GATESHEAD GREAT
October 2023. Gateshead. An absolute deluge of posts coming up from Newcastle; old favourites, new favourites, that bloke from the 1975 AND Les Dennis. Saturday night sees the hotels either side of the Tyne fill up and double their prices; the Durham House Hotel is probably too far from the Toon for tottering hen parties… Continue reading BUS, BUS, BUS, BUS, MAGIC MICRO BUS – A GATESHEAD GREAT
HOW DID I MISS THE PICKLED PARSON ?
October 2023. Sedgefield. Another weekend, another trip down to Waterbeach (Covid and flu jabs this time) then straight back up the A1. Didn’t even get a Crispy Beef; the chicken kebab (“with all the trimmings“) seems the parents favourite now. On brief stop on the way to Gateshead/Newcastle, an unexpected return to Sedgefield, meeting place… Continue reading HOW DID I MISS THE PICKLED PARSON ?
MORE GREATER GRANTHAM GASTROPUBS
October 2023. Greater Grantham (or is it Super Sleaford ?). Lincolnshire. Some blokes like to admire other bloke’s Panini sticker albums from the 1986 World Cup, some compare rare Radiohead vinyl, but pub tickers love, LOVE, looking at each others Beer Guides and going “Oooh, you’ve got all four new Grantham ticks to do”. Yes,… Continue reading MORE GREATER GRANTHAM GASTROPUBS
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