July 2025. Northampton. These 4pm pub openers that dominate even the busiest towns nowadays force us tickers to seek out cultural diversions. And at the end of Drum Lane lies Northampton’s gem, the parish church rebuilt after the 1675 fire. I always thought the great fire was in 1666, forgetting that London was a different… Continue reading ALL SAINTS, NORTHAMPTON (NCSS 4.5)
Month: August 2025
A WISTFUL LOOK AT THE RIFLE DRUM
July 2025. Northampton. I’m drowning in blog material at present, but resisting the temptation to rush through some of our loveliest unsung towns. Like Northampton, on a first visit to the centre in seven years, an old codgers trip where we met the actual Mayor of that fine town. It seems to be a town… Continue reading A WISTFUL LOOK AT THE RIFLE DRUM
TOP 100 PUBS – MINER’S ARMS, HUNDALL, DERBYSHIRE
July 2025. Hundall. Drone Valley. Mrs RM called to say “Old Shoe at 5 ?”, which meant I’d have to get a shift on to walk the 20 minutes down the valley from the Travellers to the second GBG regular, and Top 100 debutant. Yes, yes, I know that the Retired Martin Top 100 Pubs… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – MINER’S ARMS, HUNDALL, DERBYSHIRE
DRONE (VALLEY), NOT DRONES
July 2025. Drone Valley. Dronfield. Sheffield is a drinkers walkers paradise, seven hills, edge of the Peak, endless exploration. Except, well, I sometimes feel I’ve explored it now. But a 10 minute train trip south will take you to Dronfield, the Glossop of the east, a town with places called Summerley and Cartledge which have… Continue reading DRONE (VALLEY), NOT DRONES
ANOTHER FAILURE TO FIND A DUFF PINT IN THE KELHAM ISLAND TAVERN
July 2025. Sheffield. At the Great British Beer Festival* yesterday I had to confess to living on the edge of Kelham Island but not visiting its pubs every day. In truth, I seem to make it to the Kelham Island Tavern, perennial Pub of the Year, barely biannually. And on one of these trips I’m… Continue reading ANOTHER FAILURE TO FIND A DUFF PINT IN THE KELHAM ISLAND TAVERN
BAKED NOT FRIED. THAT FRIDAY NIGHT RITUAL AT THE SUN IN FULL
July 2025. Waterbeach. Straight from Mr Straw’s house to Mr Taylor’s house in Waterbeach, where we happily check on Dad and less pleasurably spend the weekend in Sunnyside. Any stigma about staying in a place Mum died went fairly quickly but I can’t get much joy from nights here. Except for the visit to The… Continue reading BAKED NOT FRIED. THAT FRIDAY NIGHT RITUAL AT THE SUN IN FULL
MR STRAW’S HOUSE
July 2025. Worksop. A stop on the weekly 2hr 26 slog down the A57/A1/A14 from home to see Dad, and breakfast in Worksop, where the walls opposite the Spoons show how North Notts folk make their own entertainment. Hey ! Isn’t that a bottle of Jamaican tonic wine on the right ? Spoons should do… Continue reading MR STRAW’S HOUSE
ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – SADLER’S CAT
July 2025. Manchester. Back in Manchester I’d picked a classy gig on one of the few days Oasis fans weren’t in town polluting the city, but I still saw a few beanie hats (that’s Stone Roses, lads). Matt met me after work for a quick pint in the Sadlers, bang next door to New Century… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – SADLER’S CAT
TALES FROM THE WILLOW BANK
July 2025. Smithdown Road. Liverpool. The train from Liverpool’s mysterious Wavertree Technology Park left in 24 minutes. Google Maps said it was 28 minutes walk from the Black Cat to the station; I reckoned that minus 4 minutes was enough for a pre-emptive half in the Willow Bank, which I swear had three pint pots… Continue reading TALES FROM THE WILLOW BANK
ALMOST PENNY LANE. THE BLACK CAT
July 2025. Smithdown. Liverpool. I’ll confess the geography of south Liverpool confuses me, and the folk at local CAMRA who stick the pubs under ever changing geographical labels. What I do know is that leaving the cask desert of Toxteth, and heading along studenty Smithdown Road towards Penny Lane, is a “cosmopolitan” delight. Some delights… Continue reading ALMOST PENNY LANE. THE BLACK CAT
retiredmartin 