February 2026. Downham Market. When mum was coming towards the end of her life just over a year ago I was virtually living in Waterbeach. The only thing keeping me sane were a few short rail trips once mum was in bed, exciting places like Littleport and Downham Market. As the sun set, I returned… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE CROWN HOTEL, DOWNHAM MARKET

February 2026. Waterbeach. My cousins from North Norfolk came over last week to give us hand clearing Mum’s belongings (yes, it’s a long process). They used to love visiting Sunnyside, and have recently acquired a liking for the Nepalese food at Waterbeach’s White Horse. That view of the gault was from this evening, but last… Continue reading SPRING HAS SPRUNG

February 2026. Back from Hull, Mrs RM taunts me with photos from her Rome weekend. Prize if you can name this one, quite famous I reckon. I’d been abandoned while she went off on her girls weekend, but I get to sit in my new favourite place, the big sofa at Sang Lung, waiting for… Continue reading A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

February 2026. Hull. I can’t leave Hull without another quick look at the Old Town, one of our very finest. The city really got its tourist act together for its spell as UK Capital of Culture, producing loads of trails for its wealth of museums (more than Sheffield) and statues. Quite a focus on William… Continue reading THE HULL STATUE TRAIL

February 2026. Hull. Just back from a lovely evening with James at the “new” Harlequin, burgers and 12% Dutch banana bread pastry stouts, and finding it hard to find the enthusiasm to complete my blogs on Hull. Which probably sums up the whole problem with BrewDog. No-one cares any more. Leaving Sam Smith’s Blue Bell… Continue reading MY LAST EVER PINT IN A BREWDOG

Only 30 different pubs, and 10 Italian bars in a month of just one revisit; the Fargate proving its popularity with Sheffield folk during trips with Ian and Rich (two top Pub Men), who would have approved of this pump clip. February was one of those months, looking a bit lighter on the map due… Continue reading FEBRUARY ’26 STOCKTAKE + MARCH PREVIEW

February 2026. Hull. Getting your GBG tick done early is a good idea, as anyone who’s been on Orkney worrying if the death of the Queen will mean your penultimate Guide pubs will close as a mark of “respect” will confirm. But it does raise the question, “What next ?”. There’s plenty of heritage pubs… Continue reading THE TORTURE OF A SAM SMITHS PUB

February 2026. Hull. Great excitement in the Pub Ticker community as I note a Draught Bass check-in on the way to Hull, but sadly Nolan’s (next to Ye Olde White Hart) was experiencing a lack of the amber nectar. Has there ever been a cask beer so frequently out of stock as Bass ? Never… Continue reading JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU’D DONE ALL THE PUBS IN HULL OLD TOWN…

February 2026. East Manchester. From Timperley, a tram back to Manchester interrupted by the racists in Piccadilly Gardens, and an hour in the Art Gallery, before continuing on the metro to Clayton Hall. Just beyond the Etihad stop, not many folk get off at Clayton Hall, but I had two hours before kick-off and it’s… Continue reading CLAYTON HALL, AND A NIGHT OF MAGIC AT THE ETIHAD