The Sam Smiths post prompted some reminiscing from our friends Reg and Russ in Altrincham, Cheshire’s second town. And since all I’ve got at the moment is Fenland sunsets (no filter folks), and simpering about the prospects of a return of pubs on the 2nd/3rd/ever, here’s some random reflections on Alty. Most of my trips… Continue reading ALL CHANGE IN ALTY
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.
SO, JUST WHEN DOES LOCKDOWN END ?
Not a post as such, more a serious question ? When DOES lockdown end, exactly, and when can I go to the pub (any pub) again ? I know Tier 3 means pubs are closed and Tier 2 means pie and pint deals only, which only leaves me with a beer in Tier 1 (probably… Continue reading SO, JUST WHEN DOES LOCKDOWN END ?
A HUG FOR HOLDENS
Only fair, after bigging up Bathams, to hold up Holdens as an example of a consistently good brewery and pub operator. OK, they are to Bathams what Sam Smiths are to, ooh, Ossett. Their pubs a bit less beery, their flagship brew rather less renowned. But they actually OWN two of the finest pubs in… Continue reading A HUG FOR HOLDENS
BOSTIN BATHAMS
One week to go before Lockdown 2 ends ! Given our singular obsession with the R rate, you might look at the following table, and assume the North-West will be in Tier 1 when the tiers are announced on Thursday so I can head back north for pints of Holt’s in the Hare & Hounds.… Continue reading BOSTIN BATHAMS
WELL DONE OXFORD
I won’t be mean spirited; today is a great day for Oxford. You might think I’d be a bit miffed my own cure for Covid (a gallon of Doom Bar, crispy shredded beef, 2 aspirin) was pipped to the post by the Oxford Uni/AstralWeeks effort, but not a bit of it, and I’m delighted to… Continue reading WELL DONE OXFORD
A DOZEN DOOM BAR DAZZLERS
“There’s nowt such thing as bad beer, it’s just they that keep it that spoil it” – Brad, The Furnace I know you doubt me, but Brad’s maxim is never truer than with our nation’s favourite beer (sorry, Donnington BB). I probably drink half a dozen pints a year, mainly in Spoons. I’ve never taken a… Continue reading A DOZEN DOOM BAR DAZZLERS
SEVEN SAM SMITHS SIZZLERS
Bass pubs are fine, but I know what you’re really after* is some photos of Sir Humphrey’s homages to an Edwardian era. With Dickensian working conditions. There’s been a tiny difficulty capturing the majesty of Sam’s pubs of late. But you can get round the mobile phone ban one way; and I’d like you to… Continue reading SEVEN SAM SMITHS SIZZLERS
ALCONBURY BYPASSED
Greetings from Locked-down Waterbeach, where the nearest I’ve got to a pub recently is this fine exhibit in our local garden centre; I wish there really was a pub that looked like The Wesley. Those blokes in the West End Tap are much too close; typical micropub. Just the lone pub in Alconbury; I’ll definitely… Continue reading ALCONBURY BYPASSED
TOP BASS PUBS – THE RECOUNT CONTINUES
I kicked a hornet’s nest, as they say in Carluke, with those Top 7 Bass pubs. To avoid wars with Pontfaen and Portishead, here’s another seven for the intrepid Bass Man or Woman who has a second day (or week) on their hands. It does make the map look a little more representative of the… Continue reading TOP BASS PUBS – THE RECOUNT CONTINUES
BURY ST EDMUNDS – NOT BURIED YET
Possible law-breaking, now, as we leave the county (just) for some essential shopping. Do that in Renfrewshire and you’ll be attacked with a battered haggis Mars Bar. Technically I’m safe buying my aubergines from Bury St Edmunds in Tesco as it has a slightly lower Covid rate than our own village. The sign at Junction… Continue reading BURY ST EDMUNDS – NOT BURIED YET
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