February 2024. Battersea. 2 nights in Battersea Travelodge, 2 pubs before Mrs RM arrives. Quite a contrast between the Victorian splendour of the Falcon, and across the road the glory of a furniture store experiencing rebirth as a new Spoons (OK, via a Yate’s). Decent business at 14:30 on a Monday, and a rather different… Continue reading BIG CHIEF SPOONS REDEMPTION
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.
UP THE JUNCTION. PRIDE DRINKING WELL IN THE FALCON
February 2024. Battersea. Mrs RM had booked two nights at bargain rates (well, heaper than 5 pints of murk in Bermondsey) during the Travelodge New Year Sale, the only downside being an insalubrious looking location behind the grimier exit of Clapham Junction Station. But that’s OK, we’re used to insalubrious, and Clapham Junction is only… Continue reading UP THE JUNCTION. PRIDE DRINKING WELL IN THE FALCON
BROXBOURNE – A CALL FOR EVIDENCE
February 2024. The Lea Valley. Just back “home” (Sheffield) from “home” Waterbeach; a week with Mum and Dad split with a couple of days in our capital. A wealth of material from London, which you may have heard of, but I start with a (genuine) request for info. on a place you probably haven’t. I… Continue reading BROXBOURNE – A CALL FOR EVIDENCE
HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY. No. 48 – WORCESTERSHIRE
An attractive county for the walker, and plenty of gardens and black and white timber, but classic pubs ? Well, the Fleece at Bretforton and Three Kings at Hanley Castle might be, but it’s 15 years since I visited so I’ll leave it to you to vouch for their enduring qualities. No doubting Worcester Cathedral’s… Continue reading HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY. No. 48 – WORCESTERSHIRE
ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK No. 6 – BUNDOBUST BREWERY
February 2024. Manchester. Another stressful Saturday afternoon at the Etihad, another catch-up with my lad, another pub tick in Matt Curtis’s excellent guide to the city’s pubs and bars. Arriving at Piccadilly feeling knackered I fancied something fresh and healthy, and the Marhaba curry place is closed weekends, which is a tragedy. But those Bundobust… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK No. 6 – BUNDOBUST BREWERY
PREEMPTIVE DERBY
February 2024. Derby. Almost back to the old days now, with a preemptive tick in one of our best but most stable of GBG cities. 11 minutes, less 3 minutes to leave and then re-enter the station, and the delayed train from Uttoxeter. That leaves about minus 5 minutes for a half in the Victoria.… Continue reading PREEMPTIVE DERBY
HARRY BELAFONTE NIGHT IN THE VAULTS
February 2024. Uttoxeter. Thursday night in Uttoxeter. Got the tick, done the pre-emptive Marston diner, one question remained; What a silly question. Incredibly, only my third visit to The Vaults, perhaps the most famous Bass pub, alongside the bankers of Stockton and the flat nectar of Bath. But then, I haven’t been to the Coopers… Continue reading HARRY BELAFONTE NIGHT IN THE VAULTS
“No mobile phones, please”. QUIZ NIGHT IN UTTOXETER
February 2024. Uttoxeter. No offence at all to local CAMRA, but if ever a town was ill-represented by its GBG entries it’s Uttoxeter. A population of 14,014, occasionally doubled at race meetings, with 20 entries on What Pub but just a couple of micros in the Guide most years. Nothing wrong with the Horse &… Continue reading “No mobile phones, please”. QUIZ NIGHT IN UTTOXETER
PEDIGREE IN DOVERIDGE
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
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 ?
