18th January 2023. On the journey from Birmingham I realised I’d have an hour to kill in Tamworth, and with the castle closed as there are no attacks on the town in January I’d have to find alternative enetertainment. A Teardrop Explodes trail ? Here’s the micropub where Julian took the “Buy 6 Get 1… Continue reading DRAUGHT BASS IN TAMWORTH – FROM SLUDGE TO SILK
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.
NEW SPOONS ON WEDNESDAY
18th January 2023. I’d always targeted one new Beer Guide entry in Birmingham and a second, irritating one in Tamworth. But I also wanted a bit of Brummie culture in the Museum and Art Gallery (having narrowly missed the exhibition on the city’s musical heritage, Dexy’s. Stephen “Tin Tin” Duffy et al.; SHUT ! Re-opening… Continue reading NEW SPOONS ON WEDNESDAY
HIT THE NORTH (BRUM REMIX)
18th January 2023. Last week’s day trip to Birmingham was a perfect example of the traumas afflicting the Beer Guide completist. I’d been in Brum half an hour and ticked the only GBG newbie that was actually open (the Digbeth tap room being shut till this weekend). A year ago, if I’d been focused on… Continue reading HIT THE NORTH (BRUM REMIX)
FINALLY FINDING THE EXIT AT NEW STREET STATION
18th January 2023. Nothing that exciting to report so far in January, certainly nothing to compare with Duncan, who’s just back from ticking Athens, or BRAPA, who’s just been to the Blind Monkey. Look ! Here’s his hand ! But a day in Birmingham had been eagerly anticipated, at least until I realised that the… Continue reading FINALLY FINDING THE EXIT AT NEW STREET STATION
Fantasies Friday.
Originally posted on Evo Boozy Scribbler:
16th December. 6.18 pm. My clock card was about to take its final dive into the machine of the week. Always a joyous moment. My phone rang. I clocked out and answered. It was Josh. “What are you doing later geezer?” he asked. I explained my plans and that…
A DEYA IN THE LIFE
17th January 2023. As the song goes, “Sheffield, so much to answer for“. I’d never have moved from Cambridge if I’d known there were pubs on every street corner here, pubs that will probably never grace the Good Book, but are are as essential as anything in the rest of the UK. And I still… Continue reading A DEYA IN THE LIFE
THE UNION HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS SHEFFIELD’S STRENGTH IN DEPTH
17th January 2023. Late last year Boak & Bailey visited Sheffield and lauded the Union Hotel, making it their Pub of the Year. I’d never heard of it, but then it hasn’t graced the GBG in the 25 years I’ve been visiting the city, and I’ve made only steady progress walking out to the unheralded… Continue reading THE UNION HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS SHEFFIELD’S STRENGTH IN DEPTH
THE CLOSEST PUB TO GRANTHAM’S BRAND NEW SOUTHERN RELIEF ROAD !!!
16th January 2023. “Sadly, after Retired Martin completed the Beer Guide, he rather lost the plot. Some days he stayed at home, he started mumbling about revisiting Maidenhead, and then he began to tick ALL THE PUBS IN GRANTHAM”. And why not. Grantham is as good, or bad, as anywhere. I can even park our… Continue reading THE CLOSEST PUB TO GRANTHAM’S BRAND NEW SOUTHERN RELIEF ROAD !!!
MORE PEOPLE HAVE STOOD ON THE MOON THAN HAVE TICKED BEDFORDSHIRE
And I can tell you as one of them, completing Beds is MUCH tougher. 13th-15th January 2023. A long weekend in Waterbeach, with 3 days to crack Bedfordshire’s four GBG newbies*. Thrilling. Despite nearly catching up on the blog (take that, BRAPA !), I’m giving you four pubs in one today. Because Beds is Boring.… Continue reading MORE PEOPLE HAVE STOOD ON THE MOON THAN HAVE TICKED BEDFORDSHIRE
“Are you SURE you don’t want to eat ?”
12th January 2023. The Surrey ticking season begins. It’s not all bad, there’s an entry in Addlestone this year, but in general Surrey means dining pubs in an AONB (Area Of NBSS 2.5 Beer). That’s not entirely fair, the hills between Horsham and Box Hill House some crackers. But the Seven Stars at Leigh is… Continue reading “Are you SURE you don’t want to eat ?”
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