February 2024. Doveridge, Uttoxeter. You left your ticking hero in the dark, on the muddy approach to Doveridge Grave Yard. You may remember Kentish Paul (gently) chiding me for the act of walking public roads from Uttoxeter last year, and although this was a marked path it seemed scarcely less foolhardy, though a man who… Continue reading PEDIGREE IN DOVERIDGE
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.
A WALK ALONG THE HARD SHOULDER OF THE A50, OR A NIGHT IN THE VAULTS ?
February 2024. Uttoxeter. It’s all well and good revisiting great pubs in Manchester and Sheffield, but that doesn’t tick a Beer Guide, and nothing gives a ticker as much pleasure as applying pink marker to a small map. I’m never going to actually finish a GBG in-year again while spending 5 days a week in… Continue reading A WALK ALONG THE HARD SHOULDER OF THE A50, OR A NIGHT IN THE VAULTS ?
HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY. No. 47 – WILTSHIRE
Ah, Wiltshire; get shot of that big pile of stones off the A303 and you’d have a fine county. For heritage sites, I point you to Avebury and Swindon magic roundabout instead. And Cranborne Chase for the hills. Not a county for the heritage Pub Man or Woman, though Swindon’s Hop Kettle is where I… Continue reading HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY. No. 47 – WILTSHIRE
ALBION REVISITED
February 2024. Sheffield. One more report from a quiet Wednesday afternoon with Sheffield Hatter, where he forces me at gunpoint to join him in a third pub of the day that I didn’t need to go in, but am glad he did. Some of you have asked what my photos look like before they’re cleaned… Continue reading ALBION REVISITED
ALL THE PUBS IN SHEFFIELD ON FOOT No. 173 – BEER ENGINE
February 2023. Sheffield. Since moving to Sheffield 3 years ago I’ve managed to revisit all the current GBG entries. All except the Beer Engine, an in-out sort of entry, the Norwich of the Guide, and one easy to mix up with your Beer School and Ale Shop and Craft House up the road. The closest… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN SHEFFIELD ON FOOT No. 173 – BEER ENGINE
IN SPRING, A MAN’S THOUGHTS TURN TO PLANNING A PUB CRAWL IN LEEDS
February 2024. Sheffield. Spring has sprung, and the Sheffield Hatter is planning a day out in That Leeds. I’d been invited to discuss the merits of pubs with Bass, pubs with average NBSS scores above 3.31, and pubs that are somehow doable by public transport. Foolishly, I used public transport to make my way to… Continue reading IN SPRING, A MAN’S THOUGHTS TURN TO PLANNING A PUB CRAWL IN LEEDS
NON-ALCOHOLIC SHEFFIELD. ALMOST.
February 2024. Pub tickers really are the nicest bunch, always positive even after the Bard of Prescot is found unexpectedly shut a third time, always offering to drive you to remote pubs in grim southern towns like Maidenhead. They’re on the road so much it’s hard not to bump into them, as I did Ian… Continue reading NON-ALCOHOLIC SHEFFIELD. ALMOST.
ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK No. 5 – THE MOLLY HOUSE
February 2024. Manchester. A Monday lunchtime pub session with Paul Mudge is never a quiet affair. 11:20 The Millstone 11:45 The Hare & Hounds 12:35 Mr. Thomas’s Chop House 13:15 Briton’s Protection 13:50 Paul was off to check-in at his Youth Hostel; I was heading home.. “Unless you fancy a nightcap, Paul ?“. Well, you… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK No. 5 – THE MOLLY HOUSE
ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK No. 4 – THE BRITON’S PROTECTION
February 2024. Manchester. Still on the Matthew Curtis Beer Book trail, and a fourth tick by 13:15, which sounds a bit scary when you say it like that, but we’d walked 5,000 steps by then so it was probably fine. The walk from Mr Thomas takes you past the Midland, where Mrs RM and I… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK No. 4 – THE BRITON’S PROTECTION
ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK No. 3 – MR. THOMAS’S CHOP HOUSE
February 2024. Manchester. Monday lunchtime in central Manchester. “Paul’s possible pubs” focused on heritage, and our 3rd of the day took us past some classic Mancunian architecture to a heritage pub I’d failed to visit. Ever. I’d failed a year ago because Mr Thomas’s Chop House was completely packed, even for drinkers, but on a… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK No. 3 – MR. THOMAS’S CHOP HOUSE
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