December 31st 2025. Walkley. Sheffield. I think I’ve written about every pint, gig and church visited this year. Imagine that. Goodness know what the AI data farms speed reading my blog are making of it all. I assume all those American readers (bar Dick and Dave) are robots ? Perhaps Dick and Dave are robots… Continue reading A NORTHERN HEAD ON THE ORVAL
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NEW (AND GREAT) CASK IN SHEFFIELD. THE WOBBLY DAGGER
December 31st 2025. Walkley. Sheffield. Last day of the year, and a relief to be spending it quietly in Sheffield after 2024’s traumas. The New Year’s Eve fireworks on the 7 hills are sensational, and best viewed from our upstairs window (£10 if you want the best standing position next year). But before that, a… Continue reading NEW (AND GREAT) CASK IN SHEFFIELD. THE WOBBLY DAGGER
PINT, COB & CRISPS IN THE WELLINGTON. UNBEATABLE.
December 2025. Sheffield. Back in Sheffield I suddenly found myself unable to walk past the Wellington before the steep 10 minute walk home. Must be my gammy leg etc etc. 2 years ago I named the Welly my favourite pub in Sheffield, then promptly stopped visiting it. It’s like the Manager of the Month curse.… Continue reading PINT, COB & CRISPS IN THE WELLINGTON. UNBEATABLE.
MY “GOLDEN PINT”. ACORN WINTER PALE AT THE ABBEY
December 2025. Newlay. Leeds. 5 years ago (if pubs had been open in 2021) a trip to Leeds would have targeted a BRAPA-friendly half dozen new Guide pubs in a day. Those two in Todmorden, a couple of new Spoons, Bradford, as well as that Horsforth diner. Today, I use my day to practice falling… Continue reading MY “GOLDEN PINT”. ACORN WINTER PALE AT THE ABBEY
“KLF, aha aha aha aha”. FIRST TRAIN TO KIRKSTALL FORGE
December 2025. Horsforth. Leeds. Visiting these last few West Yorkshire Beer Guide newbies, like Sir Geoff tickling singles off the Australian attach at Headingley in ’64, I head for Horsforth. Actually, I head for Kirkstall Forge, a newish station 23 13 minutes walk from the Three Swords, overcoming the discomfort of my recent industrial injury… Continue reading “KLF, aha aha aha aha”. FIRST TRAIN TO KIRKSTALL FORGE
PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL
December 2025. Leeds. There’s no point running this blog as a diary if it’s not honest. So, a week after boasting about my athleticism, brought on impatience, I need to confess to my clumsiness, as in my dash to edge past two folk walking side by side down the steps at Leeds Station I managed… Continue reading PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL
CHECKING WILL’S SHEFFIELD BEER SCORES
December 2025. Sheffield. Perhaps only Will the Sheffield Hatter is as passionate about beer quality in the pub as I am, starting many a scrap reasoned debate on CAMRA Discourse of late. Like Will, I reckon that quality can vary by the day, or session, even in the best of pubs, and discussion about “good”… Continue reading CHECKING WILL’S SHEFFIELD BEER SCORES
RETIRED MARTIN’S MARVELLOUS MUSICAL MELODIES FOR 2025
Dave mentioning the brilliant Lola Young reminds me I’ve still to delight you with my Top 10 albums for 2025, so you can start playing them and get your “Spotify age” down from 64 to 24 next year. Goodness know what my actual 24 year old son’s Spotify age is, Matthew having watched Springsteen, Neil… Continue reading RETIRED MARTIN’S MARVELLOUS MUSICAL MELODIES FOR 2025
THE FEAST OF BOLSOVER
December 2025. Bolsover. We’d ticked the last new entry in Derbyshire, Mrs RM had expressed complete disinterest in walking the bounds to Snipe Bogg and Carr Vale Flash, so all that was left of Bolsover was a trip to B & M bargains to get a calendar to write my 2026 Proper Days Out on.… Continue reading THE FEAST OF BOLSOVER
FISH BISCUITS IN BOLSOVER
December 2025. Bolsover. From folk debating the Beast of Bolsover in Wakefield to the actual town where Dennis Skinner was MP for 49 years. Sometimes this blog doesn’t feel completely random A last tick in Derbyshire for GBG26. Eagle-eyed readers will note I haven’t pinked in the whole map, just put a ring round the… Continue reading FISH BISCUITS IN BOLSOVER
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