When I can’t find anything that rhymes with a pub, I just lump it in the Top 100 pubs. SURELY you know that by now. The Harlequin, one of 57 excellent free houses within stumbling distance of Citra’s luxurious hotel in Sheffield, had been calling me since pubs re-opened, but I’d been saving it for… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – HARLEQUIN, SHEFFIELD
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.
CITRA MEETS SHAKESPEARE
This post is brought to you from the (unofficial) car park at Aysgarth Falls. I’ve checked, and there isn’t a micropub at the bottom. Last week Citra came to Sheffield. About time too. If he’d given more notice he could have kipped in our new garden shed; same offer I made the in-laws. 15 minutes… Continue reading CITRA MEETS SHAKESPEARE
A TONBRIDGE TOTTER
By a HUGE stroke of luck Kentish Paul was able to avoid me when I visited Tonbridge. It’s actually almost impossible for us to meet up when we do visit in-laws, as I have to sneak out when they’re asleep and then finding the key is a challenge. But having failed to tick new Guide… Continue reading A TONBRIDGE TOTTER
GUESS THE PUB CHAIN
What I really need is a device that only allows you to see the rest of the post (yeah, like you care) if you can answer that question correctly. If anyone said Wetherspoons, Hungry Horse of Magic Rock Tap House you’re in detention later. Anyway, we’re now in Kurious Kent, staying at my in-laws, who… Continue reading GUESS THE PUB CHAIN
“And what would your wife like ?”
Mrs RM roots out more casual sexism in today’s exciting episode, set in bucolic Barton Stacey. You might know Barton Stacey from its service station on the A303 on the way to Stonehenge; it’s a pretty place. Obviously I’d called ahead as pub openings can’t be guaranteed whatever it says in writing, and a lovely… Continue reading “And what would your wife like ?”
BLANDFORD FORUM – BUT IS IT BLAND ?
Just to prove there’s life outside the Beer Guide*, a quick trip to Blandord Forum, the Baldock of the West. My annual music festival has Blandford (pop. 10,610) on its doorstep, but I never visited. In fact I could tell you NOTHING about the town, bar the fact we stopped to tick the Dolphin two… Continue reading BLANDFORD FORUM – BUT IS IT BLAND ?
LOVELY FLAT BEER IN SUTTON POYNTZ
I had a day off from blogging yesterday, attempting to find something to rhyme with Sutton Poyntz. Best I could come up with was Steffen Freund, but it’s not known that he ever played at Weymouth, unlike Steve Claridge. Here’s your complete guide to Sutton Poyntz. Fascinating, huh ? The OS extract is more fun.… Continue reading LOVELY FLAT BEER IN SUTTON POYNTZ
A RARE MONDAY OPENER NEAR THE CERNE ABBAS GIANT
Not much to say about the Rivers Arms at Cheselbourne, bar the fact it was OPEN on a Monday in September, a period when most pubs move smoothly to “winter hours“. In fact, I’d been surprised to see how many pubs shut up shop a week before on the sunniest Bank Holiday Monday in living… Continue reading A RARE MONDAY OPENER NEAR THE CERNE ABBAS GIANT
STURM(INSTER NEWTON) UND DRANG
Sturm und drang means, of course, “turbulent emotion or stress”, which can’t really be applied to a couple of days in Shaftesbury, but on the other hand I HAD gone six days without a GBG tick which is a desperate state of affairs. Pre-Covid, I’d have come home from End of the Road to find… Continue reading STURM(INSTER NEWTON) UND DRANG
SUMMER CAME LATE TO CRANBORNE CHASE
We finally reached September, and after a morning hospital appointment with Mum headed down (only 3 hours, record) to Cranborne Chase, where Mrs RM deposited me at a field, near Wiltshire, like in the Pulp song (no drugs). Yes, End of the Road on my own, with only Baa Baa Toure for company. I’d booked… Continue reading SUMMER CAME LATE TO CRANBORNE CHASE
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