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
PIE AND PEAS
March 2024. Sheffield. Our night in Rochdale was disturbed only by the scuttling of rats on the floor above. I confess, I hear nothing. A functional breakfast in a functional dining room. It won’t be troubling the GBG soon. I wanted a break from pubs. Mrs RM sent me this; I couldn’t resist the latest… Continue reading PIE AND PEAS
REVITALISING ROCHDALE
March 2024. Rochdale. I’ve blogged about the five pubs we did with Blackpool Jane, all good, and Brids Cross my beer of the night. Giving ourselves a full afternoon before the pubs was a good idea; we basically DID Rochdale, ticking everything on the town trail. As well as the historical plaques there’s some lovely… Continue reading REVITALISING ROCHDALE
THE FLYING HORSE – BASS, OF COURSE
Blimey, that rhymes. I’m a poet and I didn’t know it. I should write for a CAMRA branch magazine. March 2024. Rochdale. I love this little Rochdale pub crawl artisanal curated beer trail on a beer mat, and wish it all the best when it kicks off on Thursday. We did the town justice, but… Continue reading THE FLYING HORSE – BASS, OF COURSE
TOP 100 PUBS – THE BAUM, TOAD LANE, ROCHDALE
March 2024. Rochdale. Three unconventional pubs, time for a genuine classic now. The Baum is the first stop on the town’s upcoming beer trail; an actual National Pub of the Year, though perhaps not one mentioned in the same breath as the Kelham Island Tavern or Fat Cat. Mrs RM had been in awe of… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE BAUM, TOAD LANE, ROCHDALE
THE BAILLIE STREET BASS BUST-UP
March 2024. Rochdale. It’s so nice to be doing a mini (all halves) pub crawl with positive folk like Mrs RM and Blackpool Jane. Leaving Our Gracie’s we immediately found a gorgeous little alley to take us to our our 3rd pub, Rochdale having made a real effort to promote its heritage. What colours !… Continue reading THE BAILLIE STREET BASS BUST-UP
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