October 2024. Ripley. From Derbyshire, to Nottinghamshire, and back to Derbys, like Brian Clough poaching players in the ’70s. Our map covers some of the least compelling towns, but best countryside and pubs in the country; The Rainbow One takes you from Eastwood to Ripley in comfort and with a phone charging outlet, which is… Continue reading PUNTERS PIE AT THE TALBOT, RIPLEY

October 2024. Cavendish. Suffolk. I know the Southworths like Suffolk, particularly its pubs and churches, but I’ve no idea whether there’s much UK tourist trade outside of Bury and Lavenham. Mrs RM came to a wedding here, she claims, she had posh friends before she met me and had to make do with my mates.… Continue reading I AM CAVENDISH’S TOURIST

October 2024. Cavendish. Suffolk. Always slightly irritating when you realise a new GBG entry was mere minutes from a pub you visited only months ago (Clare), but Mrs RM was keen to make a trip out to Cavendish in posh but dull Suffolk, and frankly there’s nothing closer to Waterbeach to tick. You’ll get a… Continue reading BLIMEY ! A DECENT GREENE KING IPA

October 2024. London. Despite investing in one of those travelcards the Mayor of London will apparently scrap I opted to walk back from the Viaduct to King’s Cross for my Wednesday gig. A mile walked in London is worth a marathon elsewhere, I reckon, and I don’t know how I resisted the call of the… Continue reading PERSEVERANCE

October 2024. Smithfield. London. New Guide entry No. 2 (of 2) in the City of London, only 5 minutes from the Bishop’s Finger but with a millennium of history on the way. How inviting does Beppe’s look ? I noted the absence of City suits in the Bishop, but there were plenty outside the Viaduct,… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – VIADUCT TAVERN, SMITHFIELD, EC1

October 2024. Bishopsgate. Or is it Smithfield ? Or Farringdon ? A first visit to the City of London in the GBG25 ticking year. As Simon so eloquently notes, that first trip to the City is always a joy, particularly with a visit to a place owned by a company who seem to have given… Continue reading THE BISHOPS FINGER

October 2024. Killamarsh. These posts are brought to you from the excitingly named Emergency Admissions Unit 3 at Addenbrookes, sadly NOT a new craft bar. Guzzle in Killamarsh IS a craft bar, my penultimate Derbyshire newbie leaving just a (you guessed it) brewery tap in Little Eaton to finish the set. 50 minutes on a… Continue reading THE THEORY OF PORK SCRATCHINGS RUINATION OF BEER HEADS DEBUNKED IN KILLAMARSH

October 2024. Castleton. Derbyshire. Some genuine touristy ticks now, as Mrs RM joins me on a trip to the only new GBG entry in the Peak. Only 33 minutes from Blind Monkey to Castleton, as honeypot as it gets, but oddly not a place I’ve ever warmed to beyond Winnats Pass on the way to… Continue reading PEVERIL AND THE PEAK

October 2024. Nottingham. The bus back from the Blues Dawg was comfortable, but also late. You pays ya money (£2) etc. What annoys me is how long it takes folk to buy bus tickets these days, digging out their phone, forgetting the password, the Google Wallet failing. Other passengers must hate me. Still, a missed… Continue reading UNSUNG NOTTINGHAM PUBS