May 2026. Turda. Romania. I’ve enjoyed spending time seeing unsung Romania, away from Dracula and the bears and the brewery taps. The cities are colourful, spotless and efficient, though of course efficient isn’t always a good thing in itself. By far the biggest “tourist attraction” round here are the old salt mines of Turdu, half… Continue reading SALINA TURDA

May 2026. Cluj. Transylvania. Another nervy wait for a mini-bus at Targu Mures bus station, regretting that morning craft beer/coffee combo before a 2 hour trip to Cluj to complete our Romanian road trip. It’s not so much that the buses don’t turn up (eventually); it’s not knowing when they’ll turn up, and where there’ll… Continue reading CLUJ DAYS 2026

May 2026. Targu Mures. Transylvania. Targu Mures was the surprise of our Romanian week, as classy as anywhere we’ve been in Europe, and in the Palace of Culture (£5) you’ve one of Europe’s undiscovered gems. A startling collection of stained glass, three floors of modern art with obligatory pretentious narrative, and a concert hall with… Continue reading TOTAL TARGU MURES

A month after the relief of selling Sunnyside, the joy of seeing Matt and Emma move to Stockport. I am so jealous. Forty-four pubs (plus whatever in Romania) in May, not a dud among them, though that heatwave was affecting cask quality this last week. Next week CAMRA scraps the centuries old beer scoring system,… Continue reading MAY ’26 STOCKTAKE + JUNE PREVIEW