As is traditional, the new Beer Guide is greeted by some of the newer Retired Martin family. This year it’s Snuggles, Wilbury and Buzzy Bee. They come to praise the Guide, officially released this morning with little fanfare and seemingly even less interest amongst CAMRA members. Bit of a brick compared to those early editions… Continue reading THE GOOD BEER GUIDE 2026. A TRIUMPH

September 2025. Enfield. Or “The joy of being wrong about a neglected Greater London town” (see also : Carshalton, Brentford). With an alleged population of 333,587, almost as big as Waterbeach when it’s finished, Enfield ought to have something to commend it. But my impression of it, based largely on a few floodlit matches at… Continue reading HOW I CAME TO LOVE ENFIELD

September 2025. Carshalton. It’s 19:37 as I pass Carshalton’s Sun on a sprint to the station. My fast train goes at 19:45. Now that I’ve ticked the Guide newbie (at last) and revisited the Top 10 pub anything else is a bonus. The 3rd Guide entry is the Railway; that must be near the station,… Continue reading A DASH FOR THE RAILWAY, CARSHALTON

September 2025. Carshalton. Ahead of Thursday’s publication of the most-eagerly awaited Good Beer Guide since GBG25, CAMRA Discourse is again in ferment about Guide entries that aren’t “Proper Pubs”. “When visiting somewhere different I would like to be guided to a good pint enjoyed in the surroundings of a traditional pub. I am not keen… Continue reading AFTER THE HOPE, COMES….MORE CARSHALTON GEMS

September 2025. Carshalton. Greater London. Nope. Not a typo, a Top Ten pub, perhaps better. It’s actually the Cryer Theatre, Bobby Davro and all, that’s drawn me back to Carshalton for the first time in over a decade, but there was zero chance I wasn’t using my £25.55 day return to confirm that The Hope… Continue reading TOP 10 PUBS – THE HOPE, CARSHALTON

September 2025. Carshalton. Greater London. The weekly drives down from Sheffield to Waterbeach (and often Tunbridge Wells) to see infirm parents are taking their toll on my knees and my sanity. And also our “beloved” (ugh) vehicles, both of which gave up the ghost in the first week of September. So I took the train… Continue reading CULTURAL CARSHALTON

September 2025. Sheffield. A nice view from our bedroom window, carefully homing in on our neighbours garden rather than ours, which is in a “natural” state. A better view 20 seconds up the hill, where Mrs RM made an overdue return to our beloved Blind Monkey after a summer neglecting our local. It looks as… Continue reading P.E.D.estrian at best

September 2025. Sheffield. It’s very important to get your steps in, I recommend 15,000 a day, though if you’re in Sheffield walking up our hill you may consider every step worth double. What you must not do is start a walk but get immediately distracted by pubs, which unfortunately is what I did while trying… Continue reading A HUNT FOR BASS AND SCUFFLERS. THE LORD NELSON, SHEFFIELD

September 2025. Sheffield. Yes ! Into September, and only an estimated 33 posts to catch up before month-end, which will surely thrill reader Russ. A difficult month so far (parental stuff), but the arrival of a new GBG is always joy, and the Sheffield ticker also has a little trail in aid of Mind to… Continue reading THE SHEFFIELD HALF PINT MARATHON. No. 3 – KAPITAL