October 2024. Mapperley. Not the most exciting urban exploration of the year, but the mere fact I could tell you nothing about Woodthorpe and Mapperley in Nottingham’s northern suburbs made it worthwhile. And a double espresso in the Chinese run One Little Room was a gem. With half an hour till my micro opens, I… Continue reading BLUES DAWG, MAPPERLEY
Month: October 2024
IN PRAISE OF NOTTINGHAM BUSES
October 2024. Sherwood. Nottingham. I mentioned last time how the new GBG entries seem chosen to cause maximum irritation to the noble band of Guide tickers without the luxury of a chauffeur like BRAPA has. I guess the suburbs are more likely to have cheap units that can easily be converted to a Spoons or… Continue reading IN PRAISE OF NOTTINGHAM BUSES
THE POTTLE – A BOON TO BEESTON
October 2024. Beeston. Nottingham. I planned to bring you a long, scholarly analysis of the new GBG; winners (Chesterfield) and losers, emergent themes (one pump bozzers), notable omissions (Briton’s Protection) etc etc So expect that in 2026. One thing that sticks out is how few new entries are in urban areas accessible by rail; Simon… Continue reading THE POTTLE – A BOON TO BEESTON
THE HALFWAY HOUSE, A CLASSIC HOLT
October 2024. Edge Lane. Manchester. CAMRA published a guide to classic pub crawls in the late 90s with some basic Holt houses. A lack of Holt is the only gap in Matthew Curtis’s excellent guide to Manchester beer. Spying a Holt pub on the tram back from Droylsden to the Etihad, it seemed daft not… Continue reading THE HALFWAY HOUSE, A CLASSIC HOLT
A DART TO DROYLSDEN
October 2024. Droylesden. “Fancy a cut tomorrow before the City game ?” asks Matthew. Such a nice lad. Well, if your children won’t take you to the pub I guess a monthly haircut is second best. An 11am slot gives me time for a pint or two before the Etihad. Very few new entries anywhere… Continue reading A DART TO DROYLSDEN
THEY ALSO SERVED, WHO ONLY DROVE PUB LEGENDS AROUND SOUTH YORKSHIRE
October 2024. South Yorkshire. For a second week in a row I get to be DES to one of the pub ticking legends around Greater Rotherham’s rich collection of new Guide entries. While “pints only” BRAPA‘s initial target was a conservative half dozen, “strictly halves unless it’s Doom Bar” Ian aka Alfie had loftier ambitions;… Continue reading THEY ALSO SERVED, WHO ONLY DROVE PUB LEGENDS AROUND SOUTH YORKSHIRE
OLD BLOKES, NEW MUSIC
October 2024. Norwich. I was actually in Norwich for a gig that Wednesday; the two new pubs and a stunning dusk were bonuses. Yes, yes, it’s a fine city. I’ve been to the Arts Centre in the shell of St Swithin’s a few times over the year, a lovely 300 capacity choice for musicians adding… Continue reading OLD BLOKES, NEW MUSIC
“****ing let ‘im in, he wants a beer”. NORWICH’S MARLBOROUGH ARMS
October 2024. Norwich. A second GBG newbie for the self-proclaimed “City of Beer”, as different from the Weavers as Manchester’s Hare & Hounds is to Mackie Mayor. Which is fine, Viva la diffidence as they say, and the 10 minutes stroll the quirky Coslany quarter, over St Crispins Road and into the irredeemably dreadful and… Continue reading “****ing let ‘im in, he wants a beer”. NORWICH’S MARLBOROUGH ARMS
SUFFOCATINGLY NORWICH
October 2024. Norwich. There’s a Twitter account called Fesshole where you admit to non-legal crimes such as calling mathematics “math” or asking for a taster of Doom Bar. Well, along with a grudging respect for micropubs, I’d like to admit that Norwich pubs aren’t all bad. It’s the self-awareness that’s bugged me, that “City of… Continue reading SUFFOCATINGLY NORWICH
WHAT’S THE POINT OF NEW COSTESSEY ?
October 2024. (New) Costessey. This being a diary, I’m obliged to bring you pub-by-pub details of my ventures, even to unspeakably dull Norfolk towns like Costessey. Looks like a suburb of Norwich to me, and why is it given the prefix “New” ? A bit like Curry Charles’s hometown of Dereham adding “East” at the… Continue reading WHAT’S THE POINT OF NEW COSTESSEY ?
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