November 2025. Mayfield. My mystery trip into the Sussex Weald took us from Batemans to Mayfield, a village half an hour from the in-laws; a journey that Mrs RM made far too regularly when her mum drove my brother-in-law to the Catholic Boys School on Little Trodgers Lane when she couldn’t be trusted to be… Continue reading A TRIP DOWN LITTLE TRODGERS LANE. MAGICAL MAYFIELD.
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.
MAYFIELD’S ROSE & CROWN. A WEALD PUB
November 2025. Mayfield. East Sussex. My penultimate East Sussex Beer Guide tick takes us deep into the Weald, but only half an hour from Mrs RM’s in-laws (and Kentish Paul, coincidentally). Mayfield lies deep in the teenage Miss Spencer consciousness, for reasons we’ll see shortly, but first it’s lunch at the white boarded Rose &… Continue reading MAYFIELD’S ROSE & CROWN. A WEALD PUB
T’OTHER BATEMAN’S. DON’T ASK FOR AN XB
Quite a lot of the essential (i.e. pubbed) Sussex and Kent is doable by train from Rye, but there’s a few new Guide entries, and lots of National Trust properties, miles from a station. Good luck, Si. I took Mrs RM on a “mystery trip” just before the Trust cards ran out, and enjoyed her… Continue reading T’OTHER BATEMAN’S. DON’T ASK FOR AN XB
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… Continue reading MRS RM IS UNABLE TO WALK PAST RYE’S QUEEN’S HEAD. IT’S A GOOD DECISION
NOVEMBER ’25 STOCKTAKE + DECEMBER PREVIEW
Your brief monthly highlights package. Only forty-five pubs, 21 new GBG entries, in a month of high quality and variety. I almost caught up on the blog, too, though with reading Russ’s comments (thanks Russ) occupying 35% of my time I may never have time to go to the pub again. Amongst all that quality,… Continue reading NOVEMBER ’25 STOCKTAKE + DECEMBER PREVIEW
ALL THE PUBS IN RYE. THE GLOBE INN MARSH
November 2025. Rye. The usual routine. 2 days in Waterbeach, leave a bag of washing in the garage for pick up later, pack light for trip to Rye via London. I cannot believe how much luggage folk drag around the capital. 22 minutes between trains.at Kings Cross St Pancras. You’ll recognise the lure of this… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN RYE. THE GLOBE INN MARSH
SIMPLE PLEASURES. THE TRAFFORD ARMS, NORWICH
November 2025. Norwich. We daren’t travel too far at the moment, with declining parents and unsold properties, so it’s lucky I can get so much joy from an afternoon in a big city walking suburban streets, gazing at street art and churches, and only having to choose which pub to nip in and eavesdrop on… Continue reading SIMPLE PLEASURES. THE TRAFFORD ARMS, NORWICH
NEW IN NORWICH. THE HOP ROCKET
November 2025. Norwich. 10 minutes out from Norwich market along residential Unthank Road to my new GBG tick, a genuine new pub from the Fat Cat stable rather than an old one you’ve walked past a hundred times and thought “Wonder when that’ll get in the Guide ?”. Looks lovely from outside, the interior of… Continue reading NEW IN NORWICH. THE HOP ROCKET
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN NORWICH
November 2025. Norwich. I’ve taken more rail journeys these last 3 years than I had in all the previous 57, and despite the overcrowding on the Sheffield to Manchester routes and the unpredictable late cancellations I’m glad to get away from the car. No, really. But Monday nights trip south was a nightmare, an already… Continue reading CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN NORWICH
PLATFORM 1b, SHEFFIELD STATION
November 2025. Sheffield. Back from Leeds on Monday morning, quick walk to RM Towers to take the brown bin in, check taps, put heating down, then return to Sheffield station for the train south to Waterbeach. Wash and repeat. The rain adds something to central Sheffield. But obviously not the rail network, with a points… Continue reading PLATFORM 1b, SHEFFIELD STATION
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