April 2025. Sheffield. A Good Friday 10,000 steps around Kelham but definitely not a pub, oh no. Hang on that’s Ireland that’s dry today (once arrived in Kilkenny on that day, not fun). Oh, hang on, Alder, haven’t been there for ages. A whole year, in fact; I was bemoaning the loss of the keg… Continue reading A GOOD FRIDAY FOR SHEFFIELD BASS FANS
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.
OH, GO ON, THEN…
April 2025. Sheffield. After the Raven, it becomes difficult contemplating not stopping in the Blind Monkey on the arduous 5 minute slog back to Retired Martin Towers, particularly when Mrs RM weighs up the relative appeal of a third reheating of Tuesday’s veg stew against the Monkey’s artisanal pizza. And as CAMRA life members (“leeches”),… Continue reading OH, GO ON, THEN…
“EVERYTHING IS LEGAL IN A DRESSING GOWN”
April 2025. Sheffield. We’ve actually been spending a bit of time at home in Sheffield of late; grief, I even mowed the lawn last month. It’s been worth my while to power up the Naim SBLs and play a bit of music on Tidal, and Mrs RM has turned on the slow cooker. Of course,… Continue reading “EVERYTHING IS LEGAL IN A DRESSING GOWN”
A SEARCH FOR ABBOT IN ELY
April 2025. Ely. Weekly trips down to Waterbeach to see Dad in his care home, finding a cosy place to park up the campervan and give Tumble, Ginger Tom and Buzzy Bee a break from the monotony of Sheffield life. Buzzy Bee had spent (we think) two decades hidden in the back of Mum’s cupboard… Continue reading A SEARCH FOR ABBOT IN ELY
THE NEW FACE OF HOLT BITTER
April 2025. Manchester. On the way back from the Etihad to town after City’s unexpected comeback against Palace, Mrs RM calls me. “Fancy meeting Matt and me at a pub ?“. Mrs RM asks the daftest questions. “I’m at the Hare and Hounds. Do you know it ? Lovely White Rat ?” Do I know… Continue reading THE NEW FACE OF HOLT BITTER
GOODNIGHT, BOLTON
April 2025. Bolton. Our intrepid trio decided six (6) pubs in Bolton would do, what with Jane having to catch a train to the wild, untamed lands of Blackpool. The night might have ended earlier, if the Ukrainian Club had had vodka, or we’d succumbed to the liquor in the Old Man and Scythe. I… Continue reading GOODNIGHT, BOLTON
YE OLDE MAN & SCYTHE
April 2025. Bolton. Coming to the end of the Bolton crawl now; a very new one and a very old one. The Old Man & Scythe dates back to at least 1251, when it was first entered on the WhatPub listings. Tucked in the cobbled street of Churchgate, opposite the fun pubs, it’s the heritage… Continue reading YE OLDE MAN & SCYTHE
INTO THE VAULTS
April 2025. Bolton. Pub no. 4 on our trio’s mini-Bolton crawl, and following the old indoor market bar we head for the one in the new shopping centre. Great Ale at the Vaults does most of what it says on the tin, tucked away in the basement next to mini-golf and Nandos and the slightly… Continue reading INTO THE VAULTS
THE BIG BOLTON BANQUET DECISION
April 2025. Mr and Mrs RM and Blackpool Jane do Bolton. Our route back into central Bolton from Dibnah’s birthplace takes us past St Peter’s, and into Churchgate, the start of the town’s, er, compact nightlife scene. A glance at Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe reminds us we’re 3 pubs, if not pints, into The Medium… Continue reading THE BIG BOLTON BANQUET DECISION
FRED DIBNAH
April 2025. Bolton. Blackpool Jane had expertly curated a pub crawl tour of Bolton’s artisanal public houses, expertly blending GBG entries with heritage pubs, and a visit to the closest bar to Fred Dibnah‘s house. Fred has the sort of adulation in this country reserved for national heroes like Bobby Charlton, the Queen Mum and… Continue reading FRED DIBNAH
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