December 2025. Whitstable. “Sittingbourne !!! Why on EARTH would I want to go there ?” said Mrs RM, crossing the road to Whitstable Spoons. And so I left her to charge her phone in the Peter Cushing while I nipped to the Park Tavern on the train. Whitstable is a gorgeous town, though of course… Continue reading MRS RM SITS OUT SITTINGBOURNE IN SPOONS
Author: 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.
THE PARK TAVERN, SITTINGBOURNE. AN OLD MUDGIE SORT OF PUB
December 2025. Sittingbourne. Back to my campervan overnighter in Whitstable last week, as I leave Mrs RM in the glamour of the Spoons and nip off to Sittingbourne to tick the sort of new GBG entry our Mudgie would appreciate. He did like his historic towns, though perhaps Sittingbourne would have appealed less. In fact,… Continue reading THE PARK TAVERN, SITTINGBOURNE. AN OLD MUDGIE SORT OF PUB
PETER
I just heard the news that Peter Edwardson aka Old Mudgie aka Pub Curmudgeon has died. Rather than be reflective or attempt an eloquent memorial I’ll just say, for now, that I’m going to miss Peter very much. From reading and commenting on his blog to numerous pub crawls over the last decade I’ve always… Continue reading PETER
ALL SHIP SHAPE AT THE SHIP CENTURION
December 2025. Whitstable. A Proper Day in Whitstable must include oysters and beer and pashmina shops and pebbles on the beach. Mrs RM fancied something “authentic” but the seafood restaurants were both expensive and fussy looking, and you don’t really come to the Kent coast for curry. Oh, here’s an idea… The Ship Centurion is… Continue reading ALL SHIP SHAPE AT THE SHIP CENTURION
TOP 100 PUBS – THE FOUNTAIN, WHITSTABLE
December 2025. Whitstable. Plenty of pubs in Whitstable, but then I’m surprised it has a population of 32,196; although a lot of those are in the suburbs away from the pubs (and the artisanal muesli boutiques). 20 minutes from our campervan stop along the coast brings you to the Savoy, possibly not that Savoy, and… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE FOUNTAIN, WHITSTABLE
TANKERTON SLOPES
December 2025, Tankerton. Kent. A short break from pubs as Mrs RM and I head to North Kent. Don’t worry, it’s the posh bit, we’re not savages. Six (6) posts coming up from Whitstable, with a night in Tankerton, where the MoHos were circling. None of those is ours, which is a small, incognito (apart… Continue reading TANKERTON SLOPES
THE WAITING ROOM
December 2025. Sheffield. 2 nights in Sheffield, 2 laundry washes, 1 trip to Manchester, 3 meals of Sang Lungs Singapore Rice and Crispy Beef (thanks to Chat GPT for the reheating advice). And then back to Rye on the greyest day of the year so far. Quite why I turn up at the station 90… Continue reading THE WAITING ROOM
MURK, MATES, MANCHESTER
November 2025. Manchester. Back in Piccadilly Gardens from Sale only slightly later than hoped, I admired the Manchester Christmas markets, apparently only second to Nuremberg, who are therefore the Arsenal of Christmas tat. All you need for Christmas is a pint of Holt in the Hare & Hounds, but I reckoned Matt would like to… Continue reading MURK, MATES, MANCHESTER
PRAY TELL, IS THE CASK DRINKING WELL IN SALE ?
November 2025. Sale. Greater Manchester. A 3pm Saturday kick-off against Dirty L**ds, and just time before the match to meet Matt and tick off one GBG newbie in Greater Manchester with a half hour metro trip down into Trafford. There’s a good cricket team in Trafford, I understand. I’d made a fruitless journey to Sale… Continue reading PRAY TELL, IS THE CASK DRINKING WELL IN SALE ?
THE 18:48 FROM RYE IS CANCELLED
November 2025. Rye. “At least the trains from Rye are reliable” I tell Mrs RM, as I head for the bus into town to start my latest 3:15 hour rail trip north (Sheffield not Waterbeach this time). “18:48 cancelled” flashes the sign, followed by an excuse that roughly translates to “can’t be bothered. So, a… Continue reading THE 18:48 FROM RYE IS CANCELLED
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