JANUARY ’24 STOCKTAKE + FEBRUARY PREVIEW

A difficult start to the year, spending longer at the parents/in-laws than in Sheffield, and cancelling a trip to Jordan (vibrant Draught Bass scene, apparently) due to “events, dear boy”.

But the travel map for January isn’t that bad,

though you’ll notice I’ve yet to even graze Wales, Scotland and whatever it is beyond the M25.

The month in Sheffield started with a bang,

and the snow came (briefly) in Tunbridge Wells,

but the real fireworks came on two chaotic nights in Stockton and Preston, both of which had Mrs RM and I swearing never to drink again, like Blackpool Jane does.

Two wonderful nights, which saw Mrs RM introduced to the delights of bankers,

and the Black Horse.

Those two trips were prime example of how “ticking the Guide” has become secondary to getting pissed a curated re-exploration of classic pubs. With a wealth of material, I managed 101 posts in January, and those “Half A Dozen Pubs…” posts proved very popular, except in Surrey.

Mrs RM finally launched her own travel blog (“One Small Bag“), which has better photos than mine.

but sadly seems in hiatus since Mrs RM’s trauma at the screening of Poor Things, which I enjoyed rather more than her.

Incidentally, my listening indefinitely paused as the floorboards that housed our Hi-Fi are being replaced, so no reviews of Christian lesbian confessional second albums for a while.

I ought to do a spreadsheet post, but the hard facts were sixty different pubs visited in January, half of them new, but only 22 new Guide pubs.

My new pub of month is the 9 Anchors in Seaton Carew, a visit held over from my birthday (22 December), partly for the quirky interior, partly for the local acoustic night,

but mainly for the gem of a barmaid, so positive about Hartlepool it made me realise the kids are alright, just like Jimmy Pursey sang.

Pub Revisit of the Month was the Mitre in Buckingham, unexpectedly one of the most joyous places I’ve been to. What do they know that we don’t ?

Although this isn’t a beer blog, I’ve joined Mrs RM in Untappd of late and can I make it clear that I’m NOT your friend and will not be friending you so you can bully me into leaving tasting notes on pastry stouts.

But this was French DIPA in Sheffield’s Head of Steam was a cracker;

though it tasted far, far, stronger than 7.8%. Perhaps it’s us getting weaker rather than the beer getting stronger, as Terry at the St Radegund used to say.

Anyway, let’s hope for something new and exciting in February, when I have trips to Liverpool (again !), Northumberland and Hereford planned.

All I need is a little app that send you a message saying “STOP. NOW” as you approach that unwise pre-emptive craft bar.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

31 thoughts on “JANUARY ’24 STOCKTAKE + FEBRUARY PREVIEW”

      2. Paul,
        Well I don’t think there’s anything missing in Uttoxeter, a town that welcomes folk of our age.
        It has a railway station and several proper pubs with Draught Bass or Marstons Pedigree.
        You’d like it.

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      1. Paul,
        If that’s too much for one day, Derby is only twenty minutes away and you could get a room in the Alexandra, a cockstride from the railway station, for £30.

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  2. That’s more travel than I’ll manage this year, given the hassle of getting off Shetland (22,000 alcolohics clinging to some rocks. But at least one of us is listening to Tracey Thorn at the moment)

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  4. I ought to do a spreadsheet post, but..

    Stop behaving like a Greene King pub and give the punters what they want – frothy spreadsheets, directly from the cask, and not in those silly straight glasses

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      1. Sorry to disappoint, but Paul is streets ahead of me in that respect.

        And as for remaining sober and fit…

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      2. And as for remaining sober and fit…
        That means the 2.30pm bus home from Lichfield after six pints last Saturday and a seventh in Stafford.
        Probably similar from Newport tomorrow. The Shropshire one as it’s nearest.

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      2. I work crawling distance from the Barrels but can’t remember when I last visited. The Hereford Beer House (no cask) is where I usually end up. Which pubs are the GBG entries?

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