I caught the 13:55, just, and after changing at the mysterious “Oxenholme for the Lake District” found myself in the enigmatic Kendal for the first time since 2017. I actually completed the chunky Kendal set back then, but a year or two later I find SIX (6) new entries. What’s happened ? Well, brewery taps… Continue reading Six pubs in the Beer Guide and NONE of them are open !
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.
LANCASTER, SO MUCH TO ANSWER FOR
One of the joys of train travel is the uncertainty about whether you can break your journey to do a tick on the way to your main destination. A reminder that Tom Irvin is available 24 hours a day to take your questions on rail travel. Sound tough ? Well, Google says 18 minutes walk… Continue reading LANCASTER, SO MUCH TO ANSWER FOR
A VOCATION IN MANCHESTER
Last Tuesday I decided to brave one of those long train journeys, praying that sitting in front of someone for an hour wearing a mask wouldn’t generate a “ping” to put on hold my ticking. The winged lion of Sheffield looked doubtful. The cheapest advance fares (£5.40 single) take you the slow route (1hr 20)… Continue reading A VOCATION IN MANCHESTER
“ALWAYS OPEN”
I know how much you lot enjoy it when Simon travels 7 hours to find a pub closed despite being promised it would be open. Truth told, this year has seen fewer epic fails than usual, despite the complete absence of opening hours in the Guide. I guess we’ve had to work harder, comparing Facebook… Continue reading “ALWAYS OPEN”
FLOWERS OF THE FENS
On the morning after the final I visited my sister’s burgeoning garden centre, the first new business in Waterbeach that doesn’t involve pharmacy or pizza since 1963. Mrs RM converted her veg and herbs into a healthy dish later that week. Then I wandered home via the Fen backroads, stopping for a troublesome tick in… Continue reading FLOWERS OF THE FENS
LEICESTER LICKED
Yes, after Notts, the next day I licked Leicester, and coming up you’ll see I Lasso (?) Lincs and Defeat Derbyshire. July 11th was also a busy one for our pubs, and I popped home to watch the Final with Dad even though you’ll know I don’t approve of TV football. My lads were watching… Continue reading LEICESTER LICKED
NOTTS HAS FALLEN
FINALLY. Finally, I finished Nottinghamshire the other Saturday. Where better than in Worksop ? Well, I guess it would be nice to do a few more trips to the North West of Notts. Does Bawtry even exist ? Still, an hour before the Dukeries Tap opened gave me chance to tour the rarely seen ecclesiastical… Continue reading NOTTS HAS FALLEN
RUMBLE BY THE HUMBER
Here’s the Brough micro I promised you earlier, the last of the trio of E.Yorks ticks a week last Saturday. Football fans will immediately notice North Ferriby FC, the only team on Humberside to win a national cup competition, before disappearing completely. The Histon of the North, perhaps.. Rather more seriously, Brough has recently lost… Continue reading RUMBLE BY THE HUMBER
BACK TO THE BAR
Next up should have been the micropub in Brough which I know you’re desperate to read about, but on “Freedom Day” I have to bring you a report on my first trip to the bar in what seems like years. I was going to have a day off the beer as I mentally prepared for… Continue reading BACK TO THE BAR
A HALT IN HALTEMPRICE
Another year, another trip to Cottingham, easily confused with Cottenham in Fen Edge land. I feel obliged to bring you some startling new angle on this dormitory town, but it’s a tough ask. Luckily, the station itself provides a new star. Not just the deck chairs and flowers in treacle, but the pure charm of… Continue reading A HALT IN HALTEMPRICE
retiredmartin 