No, nothing to do with B****t. A post with no pub visit in it brought to you in the interest of historical completeness as Mrs RM gamely sought to provide us with fish and chips on the Northumberland coast*. In Alnmouth we found the glories of the eponymous bay, and some pretty houses, but no… Continue reading KIPPERED IN CRASTER
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.
MURKY & MAGNIFICENT IN MORPETH
A journey of 937 miles starts with a single 45 minute hold-up on the A14, and a mammoth series of posts on the North-East* starts at unheralded Morpeth. I’m not suggesting Mrs RM is only useful in supporting my pub going, but her six month stint at Scottish Borders Council has been instrumental in… Continue reading MURKY & MAGNIFICENT IN MORPETH
CAMBRIDGE BEER FEST – KEVIN, WAYNE & DAVE
It’s that time of year again, when I drag myself away from Proper Pubs and to a big tent on a big field to drink big beers. But first, Cambridge. Resplendent in a heatwave that’s gone already. And a new Antony Gormley exhibition at Kettle’s Yard. Yes, I’ve seen that one somewhere before, too. And… Continue reading CAMBRIDGE BEER FEST – KEVIN, WAYNE & DAVE
HOW CAN YOU BE CLOSED ?
It’s a mystery (like Toyah) pub tonight. A mystery how I retained grace under pressure (little Rush reference there) having made a five hour round trip on Saturday for a half I didn’t get. Plot spoiler – it’s a micro pub. So you pay a Private Investigator (like the Dire Straits song) to compare evidence… Continue reading HOW CAN YOU BE CLOSED ?
NORTHAMPTON – FARM FESTS & WEDDING RECEPTIONS
The last leg of Northampton 2018 now, with two pubs and a chicken dhansak to finish. On to the Malt Shovel, or “the pub by Morrisons” as I know it. I’d guess this is the Magnet or Cambridge Blue of Northampton, the “CAMRA” pub if you like. It was certainly full of people who looked… Continue reading NORTHAMPTON – FARM FESTS & WEDDING RECEPTIONS
MEETING THE MAYOR OF NORTHAMPTON
I’ll really feel a sense of loss when (if) I finish these Northampton posts. Onto the Albion, a.k.a. the Phipps Brewery Tap. Minus at least three of our number who had decided to stick to the Fosters in the Drum (possibly). First, the bad news from the five minute stroll from the Drum. Shipmans… Continue reading MEETING THE MAYOR OF NORTHAMPTON
A PINT OF FOSTERS AT THE RIFLE DRUM
As we approach “Beery long read” day (I haven’t started yet), I give you yet another “Pubby short post“. Nothing to match our favourite pubcrawler LadySinksTheBooze though. Kirsty’s tour of duty amongst the keg joys of Runcorn came to mind as we approached the Rifle Drum, the high point of our Northampton crawl. Back in… Continue reading A PINT OF FOSTERS AT THE RIFLE DRUM
ST GILES ALE HOUSE
Coming towards the highpoint of the Northampton trip now, the Fosters flagship that is the Rifle Drum. But first, we had to do one of those obligatory micro pubs, with only the slight redemption that it was bound to be in the next Beer Guide and would save me a return trip. I include St… Continue reading ST GILES ALE HOUSE
A CRAFT DIVERSION FOR MESSRS MUDGIE & MUDGE
Next up in Cobblers land is the obligatory craft bar. Jon, of Bass braces fame, suggested the Princess Alexandra, so blame him. It was over the road from the Black Prince, too, so hard to make our excuses. But if we’d dodged it we’d have missed a wonderful welcome from the barman. I assume he’d… Continue reading A CRAFT DIVERSION FOR MESSRS MUDGIE & MUDGE
ANNOYING THE BLACK PRINCE WITH “FIRESTARTER”
Via the Norton spare shop, our Beer & Pubs Forum headed onwards and sidewards to the Black Prince, sister pub to the Olde England. You may be able to tell the familial resemblance, though the Gents owed more to the Combermere. It’s a bit closer to town, on Northampton‘s equivalent of Cambridge’s Mill Road, and… Continue reading ANNOYING THE BLACK PRINCE WITH “FIRESTARTER”
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