April 2026. Spitalfields. London. I had a sneaking suspicion that Dave had picked the King’s Arms for his post-museum pint as it provided a direct route to the Pride of Spitalfields, one of the London classics on his Pub Bucket List. The walk down Brick Lane is as exhilarating as ever, with the old Truman’s… Continue reading (STILL) THE PRIDE OF SPITALFIELDS
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.
AUGUSTINER IN THE KING’S ARMS
April 2026. Bethnal Green. London. An afternoon in east London with Joan and Dave, barely mentioning the T***p at all; just culture and cask and the Columbia Road. It helps as a tourist, UK or American, if you like a bit of scruff with your charm, which is why Bethnal Green is such a joy.… Continue reading AUGUSTINER IN THE KING’S ARMS
WHERE’S GEFFRYE GONE?
April 2026. London. I’d never been to the Museum of the Home at Hoxton Station (blue M at the red dot), not sure I’d ever heard of it. Standing proud in old almshouses on the A10 next to the famous Vietmamese cafés, close to the cultural melting pot of Hoxton Street. Worth coming just for… Continue reading WHERE’S GEFFRYE GONE?
IN SHOREDITCH. I THINK.
April 2026. London. Staying overnight in Tunbridge Wells meant an easy rail journey the next morning; half-full Southeastern train to London Bridge, Northern Line to Old Street, 20 minute walk to the Museum of the Home next to Hoxton Station. We’re meeting the lovely Joan and Dave “US Dave” Southworth, who are staying near enough… Continue reading IN SHOREDITCH. I THINK.
A SIGN OF SPRING
April 2026. Royal Tunbridge Wells. An evening in a sunny Pantiles, mainly spent in the subterranean bar of the Mad Dog, and again we’d forgot to eat. I’m sure the Pantiles has many dining options, most outside our budget, so we headed back up the hill for a minute before Mrs RM dived into the… Continue reading A SIGN OF SPRING
It was the Stouty McStoutFace What Did It. The Mad Dog, Royal Tunbridge Wells
April 2026. Royal Tunbridge Wells. “Well, I’m back in Tunbridge Wells again” says Mrs RM as we re-enter the Pantiles, almost getting nostalgic for her childhood home again, much as I might almost get nostalgic for the Sun and Chung Hwa. Almost. Actually, the Pantiles are worryingly quiet on a sunny Tuesday; things will be… Continue reading It was the Stouty McStoutFace What Did It. The Mad Dog, Royal Tunbridge Wells
RAGGED TROUSERS
April 2026. Royal Tunbridge Wells. A gorgeous Tuesday night in Royal Tunbridge Wells, as blogging royalty headed out to see the state of pubs in commuterville. Mrs RM was racing down to the Pantiles, the picture postcard quarter, where I’d asked her to meet me in the Ragged Trousers, a long-term favourite from her misspent… Continue reading RAGGED TROUSERS
MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN GO OUT IN THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS SUN
April 2026. Royal Tunbridge Wells. Two nights in T’Wells as we tick parents and Americans (patience !) in quick order, and on a Schorchio ! day I get a chance to see posh Kent out enjoying pubs in the sun. Perhaps. Mrs RM has important things to do on her blog, so I leave her… Continue reading MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN GO OUT IN THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS SUN
A PROPER FULL ENGLISH IN ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS
April 2026. Royal Tunbridge Wells. I’m still driving down to see Dad every week, that smile is worth any journey, but now without the stress of checking on a house that had been “Sold Subject to Contract” for a year. We combined the trip to Waterbeach with one to Mrs RM’s parents in Kent, where… Continue reading A PROPER FULL ENGLISH IN ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS
MICRO NO MORE ? THE BEER ENGINE, SKIPTON
April 2026. Skipton. Loads of pubs of all shapes and sizes in Skipton, and loads of disagreement over “the best”, whatever “best” means. I wanted to show Mrs RM the canal basin, as it’s where folk gravitate for boat trips and ice cream. They’ve named one of the ships after my musical heroine of 2025… Continue reading MICRO NO MORE ? THE BEER ENGINE, SKIPTON
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