December 2023. Sheffield. Winter came early to Walkley, a layer of snow on Sunday scuppering any exciting travel plans we might have had (though oddly Manchester had escaped). The snow, which never seems to last long here (good), was clearing on Monday before I could emulate the Tynemouth Lodge’s Bass Snowman. By 4pm I’d done… Continue reading THE VIEW FROM THE BLAKE
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.
£21 A PINT ! AND WORTH EVERY PENNY.
December 2023. Sheffield. The Rutland is a singular pub, whatever that means, celebrating the start of Whamageddon by replacing the lyrics of “L*** C********” with Band Aid. And giving Sheffield a US keg takeover anchored by their most expensive beer yet. Just so Beer Twitter can say “How Much !!!” and “You don’t drink it… Continue reading £21 A PINT ! AND WORTH EVERY PENNY.
A SEAT IN THE RUTLAND ARMS
December 2023. Sheffield. Our guest from Bristol had to leave us after a second Bass in Fagans, but at the bus stop seemed to suddenly decide that in fact there was time for a quick half in the Rutland. What impeccable judgement. Impeccable judgement, and improbable luck as the table closest to the bar suddenly… Continue reading A SEAT IN THE RUTLAND ARMS
BASS IN FAGAN’S – A THING OF BEAUTY
December 2023. Sheffield. On Saturday afternoon we had a guest from Bristol. Just for a change they weren’t visiting the Blind Monkey. I suggested a half in the Old Shoe, a very Bristol sort of bar. It ended up with a min-crawl round a hotch potch of central Sheffield that I rather enjoyed, though the… Continue reading BASS IN FAGAN’S – A THING OF BEAUTY
HANG IT IN THE LOUVVVVV-RE
Before I get on to my own Bass encounter the other night, I can’t let Simon’s photo of the year go unnoticed. Any visit to the Sun in Stockton is worthy of celebration, but the look on Colin’s face as he savours that banker is a joy. All it’s missing is the flake. BRAPA ….… Continue reading HANG IT IN THE LOUVVVVV-RE
THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF GOOD BEER GUIDE TICKING – A WORKED EXAMPLE FROM HULL (20 MARKS)
The ultimate clickbait; a picture of a pub I haven’t actually been to yet. A week since my last tick, and I can’t even use the excuse of being in the Balkans again, just rotating between Waterbeach and Sheffield. Monday is a good time to travel; there’s a better than 5% chance your Northern train… Continue reading THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF GOOD BEER GUIDE TICKING – A WORKED EXAMPLE FROM HULL (20 MARKS)
Belgian Blue signals the TRUE start of Christmas in Sheffield
December 2023. Walkley. Sheffield. The first day of December, in fact. Our plumber (Pro Property of Hillsborough) had been in the loft all morning so I took the opportunity to bring the Christmas decorations down, because I know how much Mrs RM loves putting them up each year because “tradition”. See here to remind yourselves… Continue reading Belgian Blue signals the TRUE start of Christmas in Sheffield
THE RETURN OF THE GOOD BEER GUIDE SPREADSHEET – PART I – HOW DID GBG23 END UP ?
Yes, it’s a big spreadsheet. My last post full of numbers and coloured lines at the start of the year has got 414 views, and. in the absence of those rants about closed micros and plant pot pours you love, it seems you want to see pointless statistical analyses on the blog. So here’s the… Continue reading THE RETURN OF THE GOOD BEER GUIDE SPREADSHEET – PART I – HOW DID GBG23 END UP ?
AND THE BEST MIDLANDS COUNTY FOR PUBS IS…
Staffordshire, obviously. Well, Beermat did ask, and I’m always happy to provide the definitive answer. Of course, some will say I’m biased due to the brewery that produces this classic, but not at all. Leave the brewery counting to Norwich and Sheffield and look inside a pub like the Coachmakers in Hanley. Staffordshire has the… Continue reading AND THE BEST MIDLANDS COUNTY FOR PUBS IS…
SUPPER IN A SUPER SHEFFIELD SPOONS
November 2023. Sheffield. The short trek from central Sheffield’s industrial quarter, between the Moor and Bramall Lane, is spookily quiet on Friday night. It’s one of the real points of contrast between Sheff and Manchester; less folk on the streets, but the pubs and diners still seem packed. We’d missed the Christmas market, including the… Continue reading SUPPER IN A SUPER SHEFFIELD SPOONS
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