April 2024. Crewe. Yes, it’s back to Crewe for a penultimate GBG24 Cheshire tick. Not a difficult place to get to (40 minutes from Stockport), just an irritating one. Wednesday presented a 20:15 kick-off at the Etihad (WTF !); plenty of time for a detour to your favourite railway town and back. Two out of… Continue reading A TRAIN TO CREWE, A WALK IN CREWE, A PUB IN CREWE
ROADSTUNNER IN THE RHUBARB TRIANGLE
March 2024. Wrenthorpe. Wakefield. You can tell a good “community pub” a mile off. Their Facebook posts will alternate between live music, live football and live beer; and Wrenthorpe’s New Wheel, a Wakefield award winner (and therefore pre-emptive tip), is a classic of its kind. An ultra rare visit to Wakefield’s north-eastern suburbs, first since… Continue reading ROADSTUNNER IN THE RHUBARB TRIANGLE
ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – FIERCE BAR
March 2024. Manchester. Despite a disastrous season which has seen City 3 points from the top of the League, in the FA Cup semi-final and Champions League Quarter-Final and winning the World Cup and Super Cup, all while selling Asahi below £5 a pint at the Etihad, I renewed my season ticket for 2024-25. Price… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – FIERCE BAR
WHO MADE “DIXON’S OLD DIABOLICAL” ?
March 2024. Sheffield. A second pub on Sheffield’s Folk Weekend, though sadly/happily not in The Perch, which was completely packed for the Youth Sessions. And they say young people spend all their time playing Minecraft. The city was packed with folk carrying guitars and pushing suitcases, and I immediately knew I’d have a job getting… Continue reading WHO MADE “DIXON’S OLD DIABOLICAL” ?
NATIONAL BASS DAY 2024
March 2024. Sheffield. Ian had arranged National Bass Day for the 30th March, so it didn’t take the gloss of the Doom Bar celebrations two days later. Only one place in Sheffield, and by good fortune it coincided with the Folk Weekend. I guarantee you won’t find a better collection of pubs to hold a… Continue reading NATIONAL BASS DAY 2024
TOP 100 PUBS – THE LITTLE MAN, WETTENHALL
`March 2024. Wettenhall. Winsford. A second successive new GBG entry in a remote Cheshire village that I’d never heard of, and acquiring this new knowledge is what makes following the Guide the nation’s Number 1 social activity. Between the salt towns of Winsford and the rambling railway station of Crewe, Wettenhall (looks like Cholmondeston to… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE LITTLE MAN, WETTENHALL
THE WELL-HIDDEN JOYS OF THE UPMARKET CHESHIRE GASTROPUB
March 2024. Hankelow. Audlem. Three pubs in Audlem (pop. 1,991) and another one in tiny Hankelow, home to a rare new GBG tick for me as 2024 becomes a year of revisiting old classics. Hankelow feels a million miles from Nantwich Crewe to the north and Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke to the east, an area of farms… Continue reading THE WELL-HIDDEN JOYS OF THE UPMARKET CHESHIRE GASTROPUB
PRE-EMPTIVE AUDLEM – THE SHROPPIE FLY
March 2024. Audlem. An hour in Audlem before my bran’ new GBG opened a mile up the road, just time for a coffee, though that was harder than you’d think as a village of 1,991 souls apparently needs three (3) churches and two (2) funeral directors and one (1) karate instructor. Mrs RM had felt… Continue reading PRE-EMPTIVE AUDLEM – THE SHROPPIE FLY
So, Is Audlem Really The Start Of “The North” ?
March 2024. Audlem. I’ve been very lax in bringing you the best bits from Mumsnet; I see the perennial “Is it safe to move North” has come up again. ……. You could have predicted the first reply; ….. And no, that’s NOT an April Fools joke. If you think The North is bad, a reminder… Continue reading So, Is Audlem Really The Start Of “The North” ?
WINNING THE CASK LOTTERY AT THE SECOND ATTEMPT
March 2024. Newport. Salop. A last pub of the night in Newport. There’s more than 3 here, but 3 seemed plenty as we’re approaching middle age. “My pub is virtually next door” I called to Mrs RM, which was a bit of a lie as it was 200 yards and it wasn’t the Shakespeare even… Continue reading WINNING THE CASK LOTTERY AT THE SECOND ATTEMPT
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