retiredmartin

July 2024. Blyth. Northumberland. Our Northumbrian explorer came to an end in Blyth, which will always hold a place dear to my heart as the town that pubs re-opened at 9am on 4th July 2020, after a nervous night spent in a dogging car park. Who’d have guessed they’d be closed 4 months later ?… Continue reading BLYTH SPIRIT, 2024

July 2024. Newbiggin-By-The-Sea. The Great Northumbrian Coastal tick continued as we headed back from fishing villages to mining towns, and stopped in Newbiggin to give Mrs RM her Insta hit, “Put yer coat on, love” her instant title. No ! That’s not us ! The “Couple” out on a plinth in the middle of the… Continue reading “Put yer coat on, love”. A LUCKY DIP IN NEWBIGGIN BY THE SEA

Next stop, Newbiggin by the Sea. But first, an impromptu stop at a brewery tap. Not MY idea, let’s be clear. Mrs RM sees a sign saying “coffees”, and two minutes later she’s seated in the music room at Alnwick Brewery, about to spill this lovely blonde on a, er, lovely blonde. Brewery taps are,… Continue reading FOLK AFTERNOON IN ALNWICK BREWERY

July 2024. Craster. Despite the drizzle, an absolute joy of a Saturday on the Northumbrian coast. At risk of this blog turning into “The Hairy Bikers but in a reasonably-priced car“, I have to bring you the culinary highlights, which oddly don’t involve a cheese and onion bap and a packet of Pipers. Having turned… Continue reading FROM BAMBURGH TO CRASTER

July 2024. Bamburgh. Like the night “Red” endures when Andy escapes via Raquel, I spent a tortured night in Wooler wondering about my next tick. The Castle Inn, Bamburgh ? What Pub has no record it, though there’s a Bamburgh Castle in Seahouses, and I’m worried I’m looking at a GBG cock-up. Well, not really,… Continue reading BAMBURGH CASTLE . OR IS IT ?

July 2024. Wooler. Mrs RM retired to her four poster bed and spa bath at the Black Bull, leaving me to get a second Wooler GBG tick in an hour 5 minutes away. How does Wooler go from zero Guide entries to two (2) overnight ? Well, it’s their turn, I guess. The Tankerville Arms… Continue reading RED SQUIRRELS, RARE TICKS IN WOOLER

July 2024. Wooler. Terrifyingly close to that Scottish border, as we reach our destination at Wooler. I almost suggested a trip across to Coldstream when it seemed our hotel only served quiche, but the pub there only offered real ale in summer, and we’d already had summer last Thursday. The Black Bull seems to be… Continue reading WOOLER, WOOLER, WOOLER, UH (REMIX)

July 2024. Alnwick. I’d left Mrs RM at the eastern entrance to Alnwick gardens, with clear instructions to leave by the town exit so she could visit the Tenantry Column, and Barter Books. Press PLAY to see the main attraction of Barter Books. A rare example of a station waiting room not being converted into… Continue reading A POTTER AROUND ALNWICK

July 2024. Alnwick. I’d been putting off an assault on Northumbria’s new pubs for a while since The Great Completion, didn’t do any north of Newcastle in GBG23, but everything fell in our favour for a rare weekend of ticking excess last weekend. Two to come at our stop for the stop for the night… Continue reading ANARCHY IN ALNWICK

July 2024. Morpeth. Mrs RM was already in a mood when we reached Northumberland. Just up the road from that rowing club newbie is Barnacre Alpacas, and Mrs RM had her heart set on saying hello to this little newbie. But, having driven to a remote location near Hadrian’s Wall, we find no alpacas on… Continue reading IN WHICH MRS RM SEEKS TO HUMILIATE MR RM IN MORPETH