7th February 2020 Paul had a detailed itinerary for his first ever exploration of Congleton, thanks to WhatPub and his diligent research going back decades. The four GBG entries comprised a micropub, a modern beer bar, the local microbrewery tap, and the revitalised Joules pub. NONE of those were on Paul’s list, of course. The… Continue reading KEG PUBS, DEAD PUBS, TWO FINGERED COMMUNICATIONS – CONGLETON VOL II
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.
A CONGA THROUGH CONGLETON
7th February 2020 A short break from the Beer Guide now, as I join a Pub Legend in Congleton. I’d picked Heaton Chapel, not just for the Booking.com Genius rate if £27.20, but also because it’s a doddle to get to Beartown (look it up yourself) via Stockport. Assuming the train from the Heatons makes… Continue reading A CONGA THROUGH CONGLETON
FINISHING MANCHESTER
6th February 2020 It took three trains to get from Heaton Chapel to Bromley Cross, all of them delayed for reasons like “Train manager has lost his map”, “Unexplained item in the packing area” and “You don’t really want to go to Bolton, do you ?”. Never mind, I’m sure it’ll be as great as… Continue reading FINISHING MANCHESTER
JARL AND A MINI PLOUGHMANS IN RAMSBOTTOM RBL
6th February 2020 Onto my latest trip now, a rather disastrous attempt to get my hair cut. My base for the next two days was Heaton Chapel, which some of you may have heard of. It’s in Greater Manchester/Stockport/Cheshire Lancashire. I paid the princely sum of £54.40 for a two night stay in Trivelles on… Continue reading JARL AND A MINI PLOUGHMANS IN RAMSBOTTOM RBL
I’M WEALD, WEALD GONE
5th February 2020 Our favourite Kentish blogger Paul Bailey is doing a great job avoiding me (or it the other way round ?). First a trip to Dundee when I joined Mrs RM in Tonbridge last month, and now my flying visit to Charcott coincides with his Welsh funeral. We’ll probably catch up somewhere weird… Continue reading I’M WEALD, WEALD GONE
A SURREY THROWBACK
3rd February 2020 So here it is, my last Surrey tick. I only beat Duncan by a week, but a week is a long time in pubbing. Surrey may not be around when Simon gets there, it’ll probably have been sold to reduce the national debt. We could probably clear the whole debt by selling… Continue reading A SURREY THROWBACK
“YOU’RE MAKING ME SURREY, SURREY, SOMEHOW”
3rd February 2020 Surrey to a finish (nearly) , before it gets all blown away tomorrow by Storm Ciara. Two nicely contrasting Guildford GBG entries left, and they sum up a county bravely resisting the surge of micros and craft to the east. I never quite get the county town (dont @ me, Kingston), and… Continue reading “YOU’RE MAKING ME SURREY, SURREY, SOMEHOW”
“WE’RE THE WALTONS, WE’RE THE WALTONS OF SWING”
2nd February 2020 Now Walton gets interesting, a bit like The Waltons gets interesting when John-Boy joins CAMRA in the 3rd series (it’s on Netflix, check it out). Part II of my Elmbridge evening, rather more exciting than the first half as Dire Straits make their customary appearance. There are 1.2 million people in Surrey,… Continue reading “WE’RE THE WALTONS, WE’RE THE WALTONS OF SWING”
TAKE COURAGE, IT’S ONLY WALTON-ON-THAMES
2nd February 2020 Lots of short posts from Walton-on-Thames (“Boo ! long posts !”) , the wonder of West London Surry. Yet another town of about 25,000, but not a disused mine in sight unless the bitcoin in mined in Hersham. February is an odd time for #pubmen. Floods and storms with funny names can… Continue reading TAKE COURAGE, IT’S ONLY WALTON-ON-THAMES
WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL IN SUNBURY-ON-THAMES
2 February 2020 Tonight’s Top 5 Trending on Twitter (great alliteration there) makes fascinating reading; #IfTheWorldIsEndingSoon, by the way, is a hashtag started by the residents of Maidenhead alerted to BRAPA’s impending visit. Go, Si. But even more important than the end of the world, it’s old Top of the Pops night, highlighting middle-aged UK’s… Continue reading WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL IN SUNBURY-ON-THAMES
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