August 2024. Sandwich. Quite a lot of inductees into the Top 100 recently, so any fair I should kick one out occasionally, so let’s say “bye for now” to the Town Wall Tavern* in Coventry, Bass and all. That releases a space (No. 566) for a gem that has somehow escaped the attention of the… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE NEW INN, SANDWICH

August 2024. Kent. Last Friday was typical of our current manic schedule, continuing a trip down from Waterbeach with an apparent attempt to visit all of Kent in a day. Simon and Quinno will know how this feels. Dartford isn’t quite Kent these days, despite 65% of the pubs being called “Man of Kent“, but… Continue reading A SANDWICH IN SANDWICH

August 2024. Dartford. We’d left Waterbeach at 3:45 and parked up just over the Dartford Bridge in our first Holiday Inn Express for a decade, a hulking monolith overlooking the M25 A282 in possibly the UK’s noisiest location outside of Maidenhead’s Honeypot. While Mrs RM fiddled with Wi-Fi I’d headed along a grim suburb of… Continue reading A DASH ROUND DARTFORD

August 2024. Plumstead. A rare bit of leisurely ticking on a Thursday night in South-east London. Just a couple of newbies; Duncan managed thirteen (13) but I think he counts touching the door as a tick these days. Maltmeister still ticks closed pubs from old Guides. I think this one was in the 1738 edition,… Continue reading PANIC IN PLUMSTEAD

August 2024. Charlton. A very rare excursion into the northern bit of South-east London, which might be Greenwich, Woolwich,Charlton or Blackheath for all I know, and that’s half the fun of London pubbing. I catch the train from Dartford to Charlton, a place with a 3rd division football club but Isthmian League GBG game. According… Continue reading SHOOTERS HILL

August 2024. Newmarket. We’ve been down in Waterbeach most of August attending to my parents, but staying at Mum’s has stopped being an option due to a) the risk of Chung Hwa 5 nights a week, b) the risk 3 pints in The Sun 5 nights a week, c) lack of internet meaning Mrs RM… Continue reading A NIGHT IN NEWMARKET

August 2024. Sheffield. Mondays mean closed pubs, even in Sheffield, so we took little Dave out for a trip in the Rivelin valley. Dave started in my back pocket, but ended up in Mrs RM’s bag, which will be relevant later*. From the Blind Monkey you can be up Bole Hill on the edge of… Continue reading A RIVELIN RUMBLE

August 2024. Sheffield. Fresh from nasal reconstructive surgery (something about having to breathe in Mancinuan air, I guess) Matthew arrived in Sheffield on Sunday lunchtime with Emma. “We’ve brought our overnight bags“. Matt’s is the size of the average Mumsnetter handbag. I love the fact our lad just turns up and stays the night; there… Continue reading MOTHER AND CHILD REUNION (SHEFFIELD REMIX)

August 2024. Stockport. 3 ticks in the Manchester Beer Book, time for some “grass roots” football in Stockport. It took me all my willpower to resist a 4th pre-match pint in the Armoury, and instead head into “Edgy” Edgeley” for the ritual pre-match kebab. Cooking Lager did a post about Edgeley’s artisanal public houses a… Continue reading EDGELEY PARK