August 2025. Birmingham. Two nights in Birmingham at the reliable (and £45) B & B hotel across the A38 from the Victoria, and with the Great British Beer Festival tomorrow Thursday was the day to explore Brum, unencumbered by GBG ticking. I always reckon you need at least a dozen visits to get to the… Continue reading ON THE BRUM DESI TRAIL

August 2025. Birmingham. I should have been at the Great British Beer Festival on the Wednesday, bringing you tasting notes from the No/Lo Alcohol bar and telling you how the Rolling Stones tribute was worse than the real Oasis. But Father-in-Law’s emergency treatment took precedence, and deferring the Brum trip a couple of days had… Continue reading TROUBLE BRUMMING AT BREWDOG

August 2025. Birmingham. Halesowen. If July was all about Darlington, August is full-on Birmingham. Two (2) x two (2) day trips to Brum, staying next door to the O2 where I saw Lizzy McAlpine on one of the great nights of my life last October. Four days to get to the heart of the city… Continue reading TAKE THE FIRST BUS TO HALESOWEN

August 2025. Thrapston. Northamptonshire. Wednesday saw us down in Kent, whizzing father-in-law to Maidstone Hospital and back, via what I can only call a chaotic stop in Tonbridge Spoons, where Mrs RM managed 2 pints of £2 Jaipur in half an hour. At least someone is getting use of those CAMRA vouchers. Thursday morning brought… Continue reading THRAPSTON AWAITS ITS CRAFT REVOLUTION

August 2025. Sheffield. My annual walk to one of the Kelham GBG perennials takes me past the old Stones brewery, which sadly doesn’t look like it’s getting the makeover its Yorkshire neighbour Tetley is. Across the road the Gardeners Rest continues as a fine example of a community pub, largely unsung though with the best… Continue reading CONTENTIOUS UNTAPPD CHECK-INS AT THE GARDENERS REST

August 2025. Leeds. Rail journeys via Leeds always involve a wait of between 32 and 54 minutes, just long enough to be irritating.Unless you nip out the southern entrance (the one with the water taxi) for a pint. Always best to stride confidently towards a target pub you decide on at the very last moment,… Continue reading THE TETLEY

August 2025. Burnley. Two Burnley ticks on a Sunday in opposite end of town meant another bus, from Briercliffe to what I guess is Rose Grove to the east. I pay my quid (“Wow !“), the bus pulls into Platform 7 at central station, I realise I need to stay on this bus, even though… Continue reading A SYMPHONY IN BROWN. LANE ENDS HOTEL, BURNLEY

August 2025. Rickmansworth. Yes, actually in August! Straight home from our lodge in Richmond (by the by congrats to the Stable Yard for a dozen coffee sachets and NO decaf 👍), then 2 nights in Waterbeach, where the Brakspear Gravity is superb, and then a day at Pembury Hospital A & E with the father-in-law,… Continue reading OH RICKY YOU’RE SO FINE…

July 2025. Ravensworth. North Yorkshire. “Do you have a booking ?”. Ah, the North-Yorkshire-not-quite-touristy gastropub run by enthusiastic young couple in a village with castle ruins. “Um, just a drink please”. “Super, great idea, we have a loverly garden out back”. Yes, they definitely want the indoors for the diners at the Bay Horse, with… Continue reading TASTES LIKE SHERBERT. SEMER WATER AT THE BAY HORSE, RAVENSWORTH