MRS RM IS UNABLE TO WALK PAST RYE’S QUEEN’S HEAD. IT’S A GOOD DECISION

November 2025. Rye,

Odd to think we’ve had a caravan in Rye Harbour for 3 years and I hadn’t been to all the town pubs before this last week.

Heading back to Landgate from the Globe,

Mrs RM had stopped a few yards short, staring at the Queen’s Head, about which I knew nothing.

“What’s that like ? Let’s go in”

“Dunno. We’ll do it next time”

“Want to do it NOW !!!”. And she complains I force her into pubs. I was teetotal when I met her, you know.

Well, I wasn’t expecting this. A chaotic, rambling place, Daleks and old phones and jazz vinyl,

“almost” “ruin pub” *,

with only a lone Hophead pump and a lack of exposed circuitry to tell you you’re in Sussex not Transylvania.

Mrs RM takes up position in the more traditional looking seating,

and I decide on a coffee (served in a nice cafetiere) with the Hophead, only £6.20 the two.

And here’s the shocker, it’s a cool, chewy pint of Evening Star standard (NBSS 4). I cannot lie.

No Athur Tracy in the soundtrack,

but a glorious mix of post-punk classics from Graham Parker, Squeeze and Joe Jackson. Why does “Another Nail In My Heart” sound so much like “Pulling Mussels From The Shell” ?.

When I come back, as I will, I might go for the weird Finnish drink, in honour of my readers from Finland.

A gem, and a reminder that ALL pubs have merit.

Sometimes it’s just hard to find.

*I’m exaggerating the point a bit, as “ruin” becomes the new scruffy but loveable.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

20 thoughts on “MRS RM IS UNABLE TO WALK PAST RYE’S QUEEN’S HEAD. IT’S A GOOD DECISION”

      1. Main trips are a joint decision. I have a pending list so it’s kind of easy. Day trips, usually me, again following the list ideas! We never have overseas trips planned for months in advance, usually a month or so before or less although for the next one we do as we are unusually going with other people. Four nights in Slovenia in May.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Lana, day trips will never be the same again once you’ve got your new book. Your lifestyle will probably be rather like Martin and myself !

        Liked by 1 person

  3. “MRS RM IS UNABLE TO WALK PAST RYE’S QUEEN’S HEAD. IT’S A GOOD DECISION”

    (looks up)
    Blimey! There really were aliens on that 3I/ATLAS comet!

    “Odd to think we’ve had a caravan in Rye Harbour for 3 years and I hadn’t been to all the town pubs before this last week.”

    Pfft. As if you’d spend all your spare time in and around Rye.

    “Heading back to Landgate from the Globe,”

    (looks down)
    Those two arrow slits below the clock; do they have animatronic figures come out from each slit and walk along the ledge to the other slit and back in when the hours toll?

    “staring at the Queen’s Head, about which I knew nothing.”

    It usually has a crown on it, a fixed smile and, if you’re lucky, one hand held up in a royal wave.

    “I was teetotal when I met her, you know.

    Get out!
    (i.e. pull the other one)

    “A chaotic, rambling place, Daleks and old phones and jazz vinyl,”

    (looks down)
    Crickey. That could be someone’s home.

    ““almost” “ruin pub” *,”

    (looks down)
    Ooh, I remember that one.

    “Mrs RM takes up position in the more traditional looking seating,”

    (looks down)
    What about the comfy chairs and couches?

    “And here’s the shocker, it’s a cool, chewy pint of Evening Star standard (NBSS 4). I cannot lie.”

    Indeed. I understand that’s one cracker of a pub, even if Dark Star has been bought out and moved on.

    “When I come back, as I will, I might go for the weird Finnish drink, in honour of my readers from Finland.”

    (looks down)
    I am… intrigued.

    “Sometimes it’s just hard to find.”

    True dat. All boy scouts have merit (in badge form) but that does not make them good drinking companions.

    Cheers

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. You’re right, that Queen’s Head could be someone’s home. That’s what I was looking for

      If you ever get to meet Mrs RM, and we still need to visit Canada (never been) the first thing she’ll say is “He was teetotal when he met me, you know”.

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      Reply

    2. I feel morally obliged to answer all your questions, Russ. Sadly, there aren’t animatronic figures below the clock that emerge on the stroke of the hour, need to go to Prague or Tbilisi for that.

      Hophead is brewed by Fullers (I think), still a good beer but lacking the virtue signalling of independence !

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      Reply

      1. I was thinking of Prague when I wrote that clock bit.

        Also, good lord man! No obligation necessary. Heck, if you start answering all of my questions, you won’t have any time to actually, you know, blog. 😇

        Like

      1. Brilliant! That’s the sort of service we only get at Retired Martin Inc.

        Remind me to pay my annual subscription next time I see you.

        Liked by 1 person

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