This blogging lark is easy, at least once Matt goes to College and the internet improves a bit (it was brilliant in the Eccles Trivelles this week, but I can’t move there permanently). Just a picture of a cheese & onion cob and a nice half of pale on a beer mat; cue frenzy over… Continue reading BITTER-SUITE
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.
LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL(S)
Only this blog takes you from Accrington Canine Club to Lichfield Cathedral. The British summer came to an abrupt close yesterday, but a week ago it was glorious, which no will doubt will cheer the hearts of our American readers. I’ve shown Lichfield’s position in the Midlands firmament in relation to Brownhills, as lovely… Continue reading LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL(S)
RAINING CATS & DOGS IN ACCRINGTON
Inevitably, one must follow a morning in Blackburn with an afternoon in Accrington. My best Accy anecdote comes from their Premiership winning season (one more than Liverpool – FACT) when Mrs RM and I were looking for a B & B the night before their match against Forest (I used to tick League grounds). This… Continue reading RAINING CATS & DOGS IN ACCRINGTON
A BLACKBURN STAR
I’d been eagerly anticipating my own Amy Winehouse style “Back to Black”burn trip since the Guide came out (late), signalling a first new Guide entry since well before this blog started. The closure of the main Thwaites (pronounced “Twits”) brewery this decade and a failure to grasp the craft nettle as robustly as Blackpool, Blackley… Continue reading A BLACKBURN STAR
BREAKFAST IN SEAFORTH
A few more holiday snaps from my trip to Bootle. Not that you need any more convincing, I’m sure. Oh, here’s one from my walk back from Waterloo on Sunday night. “Lennon was rubbish. Imagine is the worst song EVER.” said Matt last night. Wait till he hears “The Frog Chorus“. My car was still… Continue reading BREAKFAST IN SEAFORTH
WISTFUL IN WHISTON
Still in Liverpool, folks. Mind you, BRAPA is still in Dorset, getting further behind by the day. I waved Stafford Paul off at Lime Street as he returned to the bosom of a Proper Pub (probably the Roscoe Head) and set off for an afternoon of micro madness. I reckoned I could be in Whiston… Continue reading WISTFUL IN WHISTON
PLUM PORTER IN ‘POOL
The Pool Crawl goes on, though only halves at Sanctuary, my lone new Guide pub back at Lime Street. More great architecture and kebab shops to admire on the way. Look at those skies over the Wigwam. Paul had already visited the Sanctuary, tucked in opposite the famous Adelphi and this one. And I was… Continue reading PLUM PORTER IN ‘POOL
THE PRICE OF FAME – A QUIET P*** IN THE PHIL
Yes. The source of that famous quote can now be revealed*. “At some point maybe pop in to the Philharmonic for a wee!”. Me pointing out that “The toilets are nothing compared to the main rooms of ‘the most ornate pub in England’” – Paul Mudge The most famous PubMan of them all (per… Continue reading THE PRICE OF FAME – A QUIET P*** IN THE PHIL
LISTEN TO THE LION
I’m not really one for revisiting “Classic Pubs”, what with needing to do 600 new ones a year to finish the Beer Guide and all, but it’s been surprisingly rewarding doing a few oldies with the Beer & Pubs gang of late. The Lion in Liverpool’s business district has been on my “Must Do… Continue reading LISTEN TO THE LION
PAUL WEARS THE CROWN
The Crown came into view just as a light drizzle descended on Lime Street Station, overlooked but not overshadowed by the ongoing building works behind it. What a wonderful pub to step into on a drab Sunday morning. Inside, Stafford’s Paul Mudge seemed mildly surprised to see me nearly on time. He hadn’t even finished… Continue reading PAUL WEARS THE CROWN
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