September 2025. Sheffield.
Back home in Sheffield, for a couple of days at least, the question is “How much time do I waste on this new GBG, then ?“.
Once you’ve done it once (did I ever mention ?) there’s no real need to do it again, unless you have the unlimited funds to fly to the Scilly Isles and Shetland in the same month.
But it’s nice to colour in a little book with a pink marker,
and see what’s new and exciting (not a lot on first look).
Last year saw a veritable flood of new Guide entries in central Sheff that brought the tickers to the (Leah’s) Yard, this year just the one.
And the Itchy Pig on Banner Cross is Number 26 on the half-pint marathon, too.
What can I tell you about Banner Cross then ?
A mile south west of centre, it’s where the young professionals live, apparently. It’s a bit dull, though it did host the famous “Spoof GBG entry“.
I was trying to think why I hadn’t been here before, the original Itchy Pig is a GBG perennial, and I remembered I’d walked here once to find it unexpectedly closed, and I do hold grudges.
But today the door was open, the welcome warm, the seating functional,
and the soundtrack eclectic. I commend the barmaid on playing “Tim” by the Replacements; it must be good to choose your own indie soundtrack when there’s no customers.
I have a pint of the official half marathon beer, the best PED so far, and she asks how I’m getting on, which is when I have to confess I lost my map leaving the Harlequin and have had to start again.
First world problems, I know.
retiredmartin 
Once there might have just been the Pig and Whistle but recently Pig pubs have become more popular – including the Pretty Pigs seen from the train on the Atherstone side of Tamworth, the closed Pig on the Wall in Dudley that gave its name to Black Country Ales’s Mild and the Pickled Pig in Stafford which in a dozen weeks time might be considered for the 2027 GBG.
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Poor you what is the prize for completion a pint of Doom Bar?.
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Err, a print celebrating True North. I suspect they’d give you one even if you’d done zero pubs on the trail.
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“the question is “How much time do I waste on this new GBG, then ?“.”
Considering what you’re currently through with estate stuff and whatnot, I would say; whenever you can to help counterbalance the stressful bits. 👍
“Once you’ve done it once (did I ever mention ?) there’s no real need to do it again, unless you have the unlimited funds to fly to the Scilly Isles and Shetland in the same month.:
Yes, you did mention. And yes, if you become filthy rich then Bob’s your uncle.
You could also consider just doing the new ones and ones that you’ve missed over the years?
“But it’s nice to colour in a little book with a pink marker,”
Careful. Talk like that could have you in a rubber room, complete with rubber jacket, colouring with a marker between your teeth. 😁
“And the Itchy Pig on Banner Cross is Number 26 on the half-pint marathon, too.”
That reminds me; I still have to try and figure out this whole P.E.D. thing.
(the weather here has been crap so I’m binge watching with my darling wife more than is normal)
“What can I tell you about Banner Cross then ?”
(looks at pic below)
That saying is somewhat similar do someone falling from a very high height (so far, so good). 😉
“and I remembered I’d walked here once to find it unexpectedly closed, and I do hold grudges.”
This is my shocked face (LOL). 😯😆
“the welcome warm, the seating functional,”
Depending on the weather I might prefer a functional welcome and warm seating.
“it must be good to choose your own indie soundtrack when there’s no customers.”
Every job has its perks.
“I have a pint of the official half marathon beer, the best PED so far”
Aha! A clue! (scribbles notes)
“which is when I have to confess I lost my map leaving the Harlequin and have had to start again.”
You have a lot on your mind mate.
Cheers
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Nothing beats a warm welcome, though you might not stay for a second pint if the seat’s not comfortable.
Two pubs in Atherstone have the sort of bench seating you might stay in all day.
Anyway, tell us a bit about your own pub going, Russ, where have you been in the UK in times past ?
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Alas RM, I haven’t been to the UK since… ’81? I spent the summer travelling around the UK with a backpack. Will have to do some thinking on that.
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I had 1981 in my mind from earlier conversations too. Didn’t they make that into a film about Americans with backpacks in pubs in the woods ?
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“I had 1981 in my mind from earlier conversations too. Didn’t they make that into a film about Americans with backpacks in pubs in the woods ?”
Yes, but that was… AMERICANS.
(while we may be their ‘hat’, we are not them – you know, like English and… Scottish?)
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I thought Trump had bought Canada ?
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“I thought Trump had bought Canada ?”
Depends on the day. One day it’s us, the next it’s Greenland. Heck, yesterday I read that he wants to be Governor of GAZA (along with Tony Blair). 😏
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