March 2024. Cannock. One new GBG pub in Cannock ticked, the Arcade didn’t open till 5, a very uncivilised time. That meant 90 minutes finding something interesting to say about a town notably coy about its treasures. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with Cannock; a lively town with a bowling green in the… Continue reading USING UP THE LAST OF THE 2023 SPOONS VOUCHERS IN CANNOCK
A PROPER JOB IN CANNOCK
March 2024. Cannock. Big drama on CAMRA Discourse this morning as I’m accused of disrespecting Harlow, just imagine ME slagging off any of our UK towns. But I notice last time in Cannock I did compare it to Harlow, so I’ve got my work out bigging up Stafford’s most unsung town now. They’ve made a… Continue reading A PROPER JOB IN CANNOCK
CHASED OFF TO CANNOCK
March 2024. Cannock. 3 days in Waterbeach with my parents (they’re fine, helped Mum in the garden for 5 minutes, took Dad to Quy Mill for coffee and cake), and I come home to this; Eight (cans) of Brew Dog non-alcoholic filth consumed in two nights while Mrs RM painted the stairs. Has she no… Continue reading CHASED OFF TO CANNOCK
HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY COUNTY No. 51- SOUTH YORKSHIRE Part 2. SHEFFIELD
I left “Half a dozen pubs…” in a bit of limbo, giving you a blog’s worth of South Yorkshire WITHOUT Sheffield, and then forgot about it, or thought it was too difficult my new home to less than a dozen. But at some point I need to move on to West Yorkshire, and Gwent, and… Continue reading HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY COUNTY No. 51- SOUTH YORKSHIRE Part 2. SHEFFIELD
TOP 100 PUBS – THE BRUNSWICK, DERBY
March 2024. Derby. On the homeward leg from the Black Country now, three great heritage pubs and some even better company, and I had the free entertainment of a zealous inspector telling two bemused girls they shouldn’t be using the Transport for Wales. “It might only be 5 or 10p difference but rules are rules;… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE BRUNSWICK, DERBY
BBB – BORING BUT BRILLIANT IN THE POSADA
March 2024. Wolverhampton. A hotchpotch of a day in the Black Country, where I’d caught up with The Two Pauls on their Big Black Country Day Out, but after pints in the wonderful Old Swan and Beacon I’d had enough of waiting for Dudley buses, and had a plan to get back to Sheffield for… Continue reading BBB – BORING BUT BRILLIANT IN THE POSADA
SECURING SARAH HUGHES. A MAD DASH TO THE BEACON HOTEL.
March 2024. Sedgley. Dudley. Two Pauls and a Retired Martin do the Black Country ctd. I knew we were cutting it fine to catch last orders at the Beacon, with its Old Skool 3pm close. So many great photos in the Old Swan, and then 5 minutes negotiating the maze to get from the old… Continue reading SECURING SARAH HUGHES. A MAD DASH TO THE BEACON HOTEL.
MA PARDOE’S
March 2024. Old Swan. Netherton. Dudley. (Part 2 of 2) I’d gate-crashed (if you can gate-crash something you’re invited to) The Two Pauls Black Country Crawl in Netherton, fearlessly taking on the torture of two hours on the top deck of Dudley buses. Convinced I’d beaten them into the Old Swan (aka Ma Pardoe’s) I’d… Continue reading MA PARDOE’S
TOP 100 PUBS – OLD SWAN, NETHERTON. PART 1 of 2.
March 2024. Netherton. Dudley. A 2 parter. I’d like to tell you it’s because it’s a cliffhanger but in all honesty it’s because I’m soaked and typing this on a phone in a pub in Newport (Salop). Stafford Paul will know which pub. He’s a Joules expert. You left me in Wolverhampton, contemplating culture and… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – OLD SWAN, NETHERTON. PART 1 of 2.
WOLVERHAMPTON IN MINIATURE
March 2024. Wolverhampton. I’ve been making appalling progress with ticking new entries in GBG24. Things are rather more impressive on the classic pub revisit front, and Friday saw a long, long overdue return to the Black Country in top Pub Man company. Kentish Paul has the details here. I’d planned to stick the campervan in… Continue reading WOLVERHAMPTON IN MINIATURE
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