March 2025. Iaşi. Romania. Yes, we’re not in Kaunas now, Tonto. Iaşi has its share of brutalist housing estates (this one facing the Opera House), but it’s also packed with gorgeous buildings housing smart shops, and speakeasies. There’s some money around in Europe’s fastest growing economy. I always aim to explore the streets of a… Continue reading “Early to bed, early to rise…”
Month: March 2025
“Atelierul de bere” – As close as Iași gets to a Spoons ?
March 2025. Iași, We conclude our lone night in Romania’s cultural capital, not in the Palace of Culture itself (never made it), but at Iasi’s extraordinarily upmarket Palas shopping mall, and a wander round the boutique stores. The mall (a MUST if you visit) has flashy brewery-run dining pubs, but we’d crossed the road for… Continue reading “Atelierul de bere” – As close as Iași gets to a Spoons ?
“Întunecat” – Romanian craft at Iaşi’s Kaze Taproom
March 2025. Iaşi. Romania. The really notable thing about the craft bars in Eastern Europe is that they’re in the most expensive places in town. I guess with their strong pints (0.4 litres) at £4.50 a pop they’re as aspirational as Beermoth or the Old Shoe in England. Kaze is bang central, opposite the Metropolitan… Continue reading “Întunecat” – Romanian craft at Iaşi’s Kaze Taproom
IASI – ROMANIA’S CULTURAL CAPITAL
March 2025. Iaşi. Romania. Let’s get the culture out of the way quickly, so you philistines can read about pubs* next up. I have to get my culture in where I find it; when you join CAMRA-approved “Pub Research Trip” (ugh) you have to sign a contract agreeing not to nip off to visit Art… Continue reading IASI – ROMANIA’S CULTURAL CAPITAL
WELCOME TO IASI
March 2025. Iași. Romania. Mrs RM will probably produce one mega post on Iaşi; expect it in October (2026). My attention span aged 60 is now so low I can only blog in chunks of 10 pics and 300 words, i.e. lots of 2 minute posts you can read while downing your pint of Doom… Continue reading WELCOME TO IASI
The importance of the “comma below” in Iași
March 2025. Iași. Romania. A 4:30 am alarm in the Mid Stay at Luton Airport, a quick fry-up of last night’s curry, and then we left the campervan in the safe hands of Alfie, Dave and co. It’s only a 10 minute stroll to the terminal, which makes Luton Mid Stay better than some short… Continue reading The importance of the “comma below” in Iași
3 HOURS IN HITCHIN – RAJ DOUTH AND UNLIMITED FLAT WHITES
March 2025. Hitchin. Mrs RM’s quest to visit all the countries in Europe (she such a ticker) reaches a pause, if not a conclusion, in Moldova. For now, Belarus seems A Bad Idea, if only because of the rumoured lack of Bass. Luton Airport is home to Wizz Air, budget airline to all of Eastern… Continue reading 3 HOURS IN HITCHIN – RAJ DOUTH AND UNLIMITED FLAT WHITES
THE ABBOT IN CODICOTE’S GOAT IS THE “BEER OF THE GODS”
March 2025. Codicote. Hertfordshire. We’re just back from Luton (Airport, oo-ee-oo), with quite a tale to tell, but before posts on Russian theme pubs and MoldovanTomato Gose, one last GBG tick in dear old England. Time for a pint before an early flight, sadly not in luscious Luton itself, but in a village that’s eluded… Continue reading THE ABBOT IN CODICOTE’S GOAT IS THE “BEER OF THE GODS”
NORTH WESTWARD HO !
March 2025. Manchester. Son Matt just messaged me asking for a smart pub recommendation in Hebden Bridge for Emma’s family. I was tempted to say “Fox & Goose”, but we’re all getting on OK and I don’t want to ruin that, so Old Gate or Vocation then. A week ago he was looking at a… Continue reading NORTH WESTWARD HO !
THE INEVITABLE TIM TAYLOR LANDLORD, EVEN IN LOUGHBOROUGH
March 2025. Loughborough. One cask pump is plenty, often more than enough, but sometimes five (5) pubs isn’t enough, and a sixth was demanded. Always best pick one you’ve never heard of, lest folk on Discourse accuse you of only going to the “best” pubs to keep your NBSS averages up. The Blacksmiths doesn’t look… Continue reading THE INEVITABLE TIM TAYLOR LANDLORD, EVEN IN LOUGHBOROUGH
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