Although it’s not on the GBG App anymore, I popped in the Hillside in Hillsborough anyway. A) It looked great. B) I’d have always wondered what it was like inside. C) Just think how annoyed I’d be if it re-enters the Guide, like that Goat In The Garden (first rule of entry to Goat In… Continue reading A PRECAUTIONARY TICK IN THE HILLSIDE
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.
T’OTHER HILLSBOROUGH
Let’s start the Northern Ireland posts, then. If you don’t like the foreign travel blogging, best come back here in July sometime. We were woke from our slumbers onboard the lovely Stena Edda at 06:00, dumped Matt and Emma at the railway station so they could tick Dublin (kids, huh ?) and set off to… Continue reading T’OTHER HILLSBOROUGH
THE VIEW FROM BIRKENHEAD
May 11th 2022. Eight pubs needed in Northern Ireland, and a nagging feeling that I hadn’t done the Antrim coast justice. meant a long weekend in Belfast. Even better, Matt and Emma joined us, their first holiday since the You-Know-What. We picked them up at Stockport station’s shiny new drop-off area and headed to Birkenhead… Continue reading THE VIEW FROM BIRKENHEAD
GRACIE !
Let’s get the music entries out of the way, then. You’ve had too much fun reminiscing about Rory Gallagher and The Who; it’s time for some more American “fuzzy bedroom pop”. I made that genre up, you can buy it for £2.10 (£1.60 with CAMRA discount). Between Alix Page and Gracie Abrams I nipped next… Continue reading GRACIE !
NO QUEUES FOR THE BAR, OR THE GENTS, AT THE ALIX PAGE GIG
9 May 2022. Back in February I told you how Alix Page from Costa Messa, CA was dominating my Tidal playlist, and lo and behold 3 months she tips up in the UK supporting Gracie Abrams, who I’d bought a ticket for before Alix joined her tour. The sun shines on the righteous, even in… Continue reading NO QUEUES FOR THE BAR, OR THE GENTS, AT THE ALIX PAGE GIG
NORTHERN GUITARS
Just to prove I do occasionally (mostly by accident) take advice, I did take a pub tip from Chris Dyson for my second pre-gig pint in Leeds. Chris and 6 Towns Mart are probably my Leeds experts since the loss of dear old Richard and the imprisonment of BRAPA in a flat in York. Perhaps… Continue reading NORTHERN GUITARS
A HOP INTO GRANARY WHARF
9th May 2022. Yes, Will, nearly 4 weeks behind. Shoddy work. I press on. A gig in Leeds, a pretty good place for music as Chris Dyson knows. And just a teeny chance of a pre-gig pint. By chance, I walked out of the station the wrong way and ended up at Ossett’s Hop in… Continue reading A HOP INTO GRANARY WHARF
BREAKFAST AT ALBERT’S
Matt lives and works in the heart of Manchester and seems to know every nook and cranny, though he’s never been in the Hare & Hounds, which means he’s not a proper Manc. He’d never been in Albert’s Schloss, either, the giant German beer hall in the heart of the entertainment district. It’s virtually always… Continue reading BREAKFAST AT ALBERT’S
MISSING BRAPA BY MINUTES IN CHEADLE, CHESHIRE
Our Welsh trip had ended, but with Matt wanting to meet up on the Sunday morning we decided to park up in Greater Stockport. It’s one of our favourite campervan overnighters, but the exact location must remain top secret so no-one else stays there and dumps rubbish outside their van and gets the place shut… Continue reading MISSING BRAPA BY MINUTES IN CHEADLE, CHESHIRE
THE ANGEL OF WELSHPOOL
One last Welsh tick (16 in the bag !) before we head home, or at least to Cheadle (Cheshire), our resting place for the night. Welshpool never fails to disappoint, pubwise, but it does at least have a good Morrisons where Mrs RM could stock up on artisan cheese for tea while I ticked the… Continue reading THE ANGEL OF WELSHPOOL
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