retiredmartin

July 2025. Northampton.

Apart from the market square, Rifle Drum, county cricket and All Saints Church, Northampton also has some subtly gorgeous architecture,

some pleasing hotels from its time as a commercial centre,

and even a bit of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

But it’s shoes it’s most famous for, just as Stockport is best known for Robinsons hats,

and the refurbished town museum is comprehensive in its history of footwear, if a bit academic.

The social history section is light on football and brewing, ignoring entirely the contribution of Ian Clarkson to the Cobblers late ’90s success.

Beer only makes a fleeting appearance with the use of tin can and bottle tops in the modern art.

Luckily, the town has a pretty decent collection of backstreet pubs, though it’s no Wolves. Whether you’d call the Garibaldi a boozer in an ecumenical question.

Oh look ! Bench seating !

Oh listen ! The Kinks, Dylan and the Velvet Underground !

Yes, aimed more at Gen Z than the Boomers, it’s a cheery place centred on Mexican food and cocktails rather than cask, like that Leamington Spa place. Or at least that’s what I told myself standing at the bar.

The lad who’d beat me to the door by a second went for the house lager, and when I asked what it was like I got such a glowing report I had one too.

Who brews “Sunshine Indoors” ? No-one knows.

And no-one cares.