25th January 2020 More random diary entries from Calderdale as Duncan departs for obscure non-league grounds, North Lancs League Div 1 Millhead (2) 4 Burton Thistle (0) 1 att 18hc at the extraordinary Iodine Park #groundhopping pic.twitter.com/JA6xX09uOL — Duncan Mackay (@mackay_duncan) January 25, 2020 and I ended up at a pub with a Subbuteo pitch… Continue reading COMPLETING WEST YORKSHIRE

24th January 2020 A last half on the West Yorkshire trip saw us back in one of those “classic, or is it ?” places. Rather like the Beehive or Fanny’s, you’re never quite sure if it’s what it was in its ’90s heyday. I’d been in the Three Pigeons a fair few times over the… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THREE PIGEONS, HALIFAX

24th January 2020 After my slog of a walk into Marple and back I was done. No Manc Beer Fest, no trip to Macclesfield, just a train back to Halifax and bed, where I probably slogged away doing this blog so Dave doesn’t complain. But by 9.15 I was getting jealous of the fun Duncan… Continue reading 163 DIFFERENT BEERS IN HALIFAX

Eagle-eyed readers (not Eddie) will note I’m only up to 24th January with the posts, but with just a few posts from West Yorkshire and the Black Country to come, here’s the review of a tumultuous month. THE STATS You’ll recall December saw eighty (80) new Beer Guide pubs, a retiredmartin record. It being Dryanuary… Continue reading JANUARY 2020 STOCKTAKE + FEBRUARY PREVIEW

24th January 2020 Another Proper Pub for you traddies, except this one is a Community-owned one. Will they growl at incomers ? (Spoiler:only BRAPA). Also, one for those of you believe in long walks between pubs to walk off calories. The 15:27 from Hyde Central arrived at Rose Hill at 15:40. Google said 1:15 walking… Continue reading RUNNING UP THAT MARPLE HILL

24th January 2020 I’d still intended to pop along to the Manc Beer Fest after a couple of halves, but a couple of things derailed my plans. First, a hideously calorific plateful of gunk selected by Matt at Archie’s in the Arndale. Now the lad has left the Royal Family he needs to earn a… Continue reading NO HYDE-ING PLACE

24th January 2020 I can sense reader US “retired” Dave shaking with rage after four craft beer bars in a row on this site (calm down Dave), so this next one is dedicated to him. Friday. Manchester Beer Festival day. Would I go and drink daft DIPAs or have a few halves of sensible 3.6%… Continue reading TWO HALTS, TWO HOLT’S

23rd January 2020 You’ll never see one of these posts in a local CAMRA magazines. For a start, a basic appreciation of east and west (nearest the window) and historic counties is required. But mainly, I can’t be bothered with reporting beer ranges and strengths, the dates things opened and shut, or pictures of middle-aged… Continue reading LAST TANGO-FLAVOURED DIPA IN HALIFAX

23rd January 2020 We’d checked into our digs at the Wool Merchant in Halifax after an exciting descent into town and some aggressive road works than caused Duncan to waste £3 on parking. I resent paying for parking at the best of times; £3 is two ticks worth of beer. I enquired about the free… Continue reading A CUP OF SCRATCHINGS AT THE MILL

23rd January 2020 Mostly downhill from the Hare & Hounds into Sowerby (“It’s Sorby !”) shout Duncan and Quosh. So I’m proposing that Sowerby applies for a formal name change. Sir Menzies can change his name to Ming at the same time. I dropped the terrible trio off at the Blind Pig and went in… Continue reading DEATHCORE CRED RESTORED IN SORBY BRIDGE