May 2024. Walkley. Sheffield. It really is a mixed blessing living in Walkley; the lure of Kelham Island 10 minutes walk away and four Guide-worthy pubs on my doorstep. The Blake Hotel you know, the Blind Monkey has been swapping places with the Raven of late, and the “village” beer shop has just had one… Continue reading WALKLEY’S EMBARASSMENT OF RICHES
AVOIDING THE CUP FINAL
May 2024. Sheffield. Where are we now ? May 27th. Only five more posts and I’m up-to-date and we’ll get back to “Half a dozen pubs in every GBG county” and I know you can’t to see my Argyll picks. I know I should really be ploughing round the country like BRAPA, ticking the 300-odd… Continue reading AVOIDING THE CUP FINAL
ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – THE PICCADILLY TAP
May 2024. Manchester. “Doing the Manchester Beer Book” lacks the jeopardy of doing the GBG; it’s a static book, not one where you get 400 new entries each year. I reckon the Wickingman Bass list might be a harder ask. But there’s a joy about being forced to re-visit and re-evaluate the Eternal City, and… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – THE PICCADILLY TAP
ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – THE OLD MONKEY
May 2024. Manchester. There’s a parade in Manchester for City this evening, to celebrate the Blues brave performance in defeat at Wembley yesterday. 25 years ago we could only dream of going the distance with United in a cup final. I won’t be there tonight, I’m no glory hunter, oh no. But I did pop… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – THE OLD MONKEY
CALL THAT A PIZZA, SPOONS ?
May 2024. Witham. A bonus post for you from Witham, as I suddenly remember it’s nearly 10pm and I haven’t eaten. (In fairness the pub I was in served food till then but I reckoned an order of burger and fries at 9:50 might be pushing my luck). And Witham at 10pm on Thursday night… Continue reading CALL THAT A PIZZA, SPOONS ?
THE WHITE HART, WITHAM. “MAKING REAL ALE SEXY”.
May 2024. Witham. Essex. Staying in Waterbeach at least means a good base for a half-hearted assault on the GBG24 entries in East Angular, and Essex remains perhaps our most consistent county for pubby all-rounders (and good beer), even if I can’t name any absolute classic pubs. Anyhow, let’s have a tick “And a night… Continue reading THE WHITE HART, WITHAM. “MAKING REAL ALE SEXY”.
A QUICK GREEN DEVIL IN THE LIVE AND LET LIVE
May 2024. Cambridge. Sometimes I really think I really should slow down, like my mum keeps telling me to. But it’s the slowing down, and sitting down, that kills you, so keep moving. Actually, 2 snatched hours in Cambridge, 3.8 miles walked, some shopping at Sainsbury’s, a beer festival and two pubs (and missing last… Continue reading A QUICK GREEN DEVIL IN THE LIVE AND LET LIVE
THE FREE PRESS
May 2024. Cambridge. Sad to read via Phil Rodgers that one of Cambridge’s many legendary landlords has died. Lovely people, and particularly helpful when I took a crying James (he had an undiagnosed hernia) to the Cambridge Blue as a babe in arms after they moved there in 2000. I reckon Chris and Debbie Lloyd… Continue reading THE FREE PRESS
LAST ORDERS
I’ll keep the next place anonymous, I don’t like being the whining old bloke. But the calling of Last Orders in my target pub as I arrived at 9:41 pm did put a slight damper on my evening out after leaving a sodden and seatless local beer festival. Actually, I’ve no idea when last orders… Continue reading LAST ORDERS
BRAVING THE ELEMENTS – A TRIBUTE TO THE CAMBRIDGE BEER FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS
May 2024. Cambridge. You’ll know I’m not one for tradition, unless that tradition involves a crispy beef from Chung Hwa, and I’m certainly no fan of beer festivals, for reasons which became even more obvious at this year’s Cambridge Fest, one of the oldest/biggest/best in the country. But as I’m round Mum and Dads and… Continue reading BRAVING THE ELEMENTS – A TRIBUTE TO THE CAMBRIDGE BEER FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS
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