July 2025. Stannington. Sheffield. Right, let’s finish the Sheffield suburb of Stannington so I never have to go there again. Actually, it’s a pleasant little place, proper church, edge of the Peak, two Co-ops, three pubs. but you won’t believe it has a population of 18,607, which is bigger than Devizes (and Marple). Pub 3… Continue reading STANNINGTON AT A STANDSTILL
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.
MINNIE’S
July 2025. Stannington. Sheffield. Bit of clickbait there. “Minnies” sounds like one of those West Welsh parlour pubs serving Felinfoel from a dragon’s horn, doesn’t it ? Sadly, it’s just the locals name for the Rose & Crown, our second Stannington pub, a short walk in the heat past bees*, and a terrific view out… Continue reading MINNIE’S
STANNINGTON BRASS
July 2025. Stannington. Sheffield. Back from Newcastle, GBG ticks in the bag, I then added an NCTSS 4 with a “cheeky” crispy beef and Singapore rice from China Dragon outside Darlington station. It deserves an extra half mark, really, for being open after 10pm when Google says it’s shut. I genuinely have no idea if… Continue reading STANNINGTON BRASS
TOP 100 PUBS – THE BODEGA, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
July 2025. Newcastle upon Tyne. Having sprinted back to Chillingham Road Metro after finishing Tyne & Wear to ensure I’d be back for that 21:15 train with 44 seconds to spare, I find LNER is, inevitably, running six minutes late. Hey ! Six minutes ? What can you do in six minutes ? (no, not… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE BODEGA, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
ELDER (AND WISER). TYNE & WEAR COMPLETE
July 2025. Newcastle upon Tyne. 17:38 train from Darlo 18:1015 arrive in Newcastle (late) Dash to Metro at Monument tram towards Heaton delayed 18:30 catch tram to Boldon Dash to cricket club, drink pint, dash back 19:25 tram back to Monument 19:50 tram to Chillingham Road …… 21:15 train back to Darlo Yes, a mad… Continue reading ELDER (AND WISER). TYNE & WEAR COMPLETE
MY MAXIM – SPORTS CLUBS IN THE GBG ARE INCREDIBLY DULL BUT THE BEER IS ALWAYS GOOD
July 2025. East Boldon. No sooner do I tell you my ambitious plans for August than family drama strikes, for the 36th consecutive month, and I’ve just spent all afternoon in a Kent A & E waiting room with my father-in-law eating lentil crisps. Such is life, and a reminder to take every opportunity to… Continue reading MY MAXIM – SPORTS CLUBS IN THE GBG ARE INCREDIBLY DULL BUT THE BEER IS ALWAYS GOOD
VE-VE-VESUVIO
July 2025. Darlington. I’m about to analyse my whereabouts in July, and it may horrify Kentish Paul to learn I spent as many nights in a Co-op car park in Darlington as I did at home in Sheffield. No sooner was I back from Waterbeach than heading out in the campervan to Cockerton library, where… Continue reading VE-VE-VESUVIO
11:15 ON A SATURDAY NIGHT
July 2025. Waterbeach. Being all heart, I’d offered to pick Mrs RM up on her return from Nantes that Saturday evening. Being French and all, that flight decided not to arrive at Stansted till gone 10pm, wrecking my thoughts of a pint in the Sun. But then our lads arrived home from watching Neil, Cat… Continue reading 11:15 ON A SATURDAY NIGHT
PUB DESERTS AROUND BELTON
July 2025. Belton, Grantham. It’s our decennial National Trust membership year as I get to feel we’re getting value for our £139.20 by visiting every stately home and deer park in England. Mrs RM was drinking DIPAs in Nantes while I pulled off the A1 north of Grantham to join the gentlefolk at Belton House,… Continue reading PUB DESERTS AROUND BELTON
JULY ’25 STOCKTAKE + AUGUST PREVIEW
Your contractually obligated July highlights package is a bit of a fraud. Look at this travel map, my busiest month since I completed the Guide in September 2022 (pretty much when parents health started a steep decline). You’ll notice trips to Hampshire, Newport Pagnell, Liverpool and Edinburgh still to write up, including one of the… Continue reading JULY ’25 STOCKTAKE + AUGUST PREVIEW
