I’d been hoping that the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown would have a shiny bistro for lunch like the one in Blackpool the other month, but it didn’t look like it. so I visited the Greene King family diner instead. Chain pubs need our support too, you know. This was a multi-roomed Tetley Guide pub when… Continue reading IN PRAISE OF “Jo” AT THE BOLD ARMS IN CHURCHTOWN
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.
PEAKY BLINDERS
Ooh, another trip to Southport in GBG22. Who’d have predicted that ? (A – Every pub ticker, ever). And we’d all have predicted ANOTHER Merseyside Peaky Blinders, the chain that keeps on giving. First, Lord Street, now Churchtown. Sadly, the fun train to Churchtown now resides in the Botanic Gardens, but a brisk 30 minutes… Continue reading PEAKY BLINDERS
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes – The three (3) months late Good Beer Guide highlights post
I’ve had a few draft posts in my “draft” (or is it draught ?) folder on Word Press for a while. NOW is the time to share them with you. Pubmeister beat me by a mere 3 months. And the theme for GBG 22 is; 1) Name changes Loads of pubs like to keep tickers… Continue reading Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes – The three (3) months late Good Beer Guide highlights post
A STRATEGY TO COMPLETE GBG22
Now I’m (nearly) up-to-date on the blog, I thought you’d like some spreadsheets. “About time” says Duncan. When I finally received my shiny new GBG in November I wrote that I’d need to visit 581 pubs in the next year to finish the Guide and join the immortals (well, Duncan). Actually, it was 582, after… Continue reading A STRATEGY TO COMPLETE GBG22
WONDER IN MANCHESTER, WOE AT THE WANDERERS
Blimey. A post on last night’s mini adventure. I’m not used to be up-to-date. After a trip to the dentist in Sheffield (I’d swallowed a crown, very costly) I scooted over the Snake Pass to Manchester for a hair cut. I once met a Hi Fi dealer in Wilmslow who’d driven to Birmingham just to… Continue reading WONDER IN MANCHESTER, WOE AT THE WANDERERS
BELFAST
I’ve restarted my Monday lunchtime cinema sessions at Sheffield’s lovely Light, now that masks aren’t compulsory. Given that I’ve never been to a screen with more than half a dozen other customers and they all sit a dozen rows behind me I can live with that. I went for the noon show, and fuelled up… Continue reading BELFAST
DISCIPLINE SLIPS IN CONGLETON (AGAIN)
Now, I’m not saying that I was determined to spend £26.40 on beer and food in Congleton because that’s what my rail ticket cost, but I was definitely looking for something to take home. I even picked up the local paper, before leaving it on Platform 2 in Stockport. Three more pub revisits to report… Continue reading DISCIPLINE SLIPS IN CONGLETON (AGAIN)
DOOM BAR CRISIS IN BEARTOWN SPOONS
You left me in my Congleton tick, planning a leisurely afternoon at Macclesfield Town (and Bass in the Jolly Sailor) before heading home. I checked the Silkmen’s website on the walk across the park. It was SOLD OUT ! What to do to get some value from my £26.40 ticket (more fool me for not… Continue reading DOOM BAR CRISIS IN BEARTOWN SPOONS
CONGLETON CONQUERED
I very nearly finished posting about January travels before the highlights issue; just reports on a very messy day in Congleton and a pint of Guinness to come. This is a tale about my penultimate Beer Guide tick in Cheshire (the last one is in Wrenbury and will be a doddle; they even have a… Continue reading CONGLETON CONQUERED
JANUARY ’22 STOCKTAKE + FEBRUARY PREVIEW
THE MAP – Oooh, headed South this month, didn’t I ? THE HIGHLIGHTS A cultural month, with Rachmaninov and Russian ballet in Sheffield, and the Bury tourist trail. I managed to meet up with Mr and Mrs Prop Up the Bar, Pubmeister and Maltmeister, and Jane and Lee Blackpool (David Ford was a great gig),… Continue reading JANUARY ’22 STOCKTAKE + FEBRUARY PREVIEW
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