July 2023. Cheshire. Four new Guide pub ticks in 90 minutes; it was just like the old days. A motley crew, too. Brewery tap, two chain diners and a social club. Next up, after a trip through the rich pretty bit south of Frodsham was an ultra-rare Chef & Brewer in Sandiway (never heard of… Continue reading EVERYDAY SEXISM IN SANDIWAY
A CHESHIRE CHAPTER STARTS
July 2023. Cheshire. I had a good think about whether to lump loads of pubs together in this post and then thought “No, less is more, stick to one pub per post“. The Jesus & Mary Chain were always at their best when their live shows lasted 15 minutes rather than 90. Mrs RM had… Continue reading A CHESHIRE CHAPTER STARTS
DISPENSING CAREER ADVICE AT UTTOXETER STATION
July 2023. Uttoxeter. I consulted the bus timetable to return from Kingstone to Uttoxeter; it seemed to suggest I should have left the previous week. Still, the alternate walk back via Loxley was rather less stressful than the outward slog, helped by the armful of questionable toffees (top) grabbed from a jar as I left… Continue reading DISPENSING CAREER ADVICE AT UTTOXETER STATION
WELL, AT LEAST THE CHIPS WERE GOOD
July 2023. Uttoxeter. The Wikipedia entry for Kingstone is the dullest in the UK. But at least they have a “man of the people” as their Member of Parliament; I’m sorry if that photo is more scary than my ring finger. When you’ve walked four (4) miles out to a pub you really, really, want… Continue reading WELL, AT LEAST THE CHIPS WERE GOOD
FINDING MYSELF UNEXPECTEDLY IN UTTOXETER ON LADIES DAY
July 2023. Uttoxter. I’m singlehandedly propping up provincial rail companies as I forlornly tick straggling GBG pubs over summer. Another trip into Staffordshire via Derby (saving about a tenner) for a lone new Guide entry near Uttoxeter. At Derby’s Platform 4a it suddenly dawned on me I’d made a big mistake. Huge. I’d clearly picked… Continue reading FINDING MYSELF UNEXPECTEDLY IN UTTOXETER ON LADIES DAY
JULY ’23 HIGHLIGHTS + AUGUST PREVIEW
In 1975 the Indian cricket team, invited to chase an England total of 334 in 60 overs in the first World Cup match, said “Nah, no thanks“, and stoically dead-batted their way to 132 for 3 for the draw. Sadly, there’s no draw in limited overs matches. In similar fashion, I’d long ago given up… Continue reading JULY ’23 HIGHLIGHTS + AUGUST PREVIEW
A SAM SMITHS PUB RE-OPENS IN YORKSHIRE
July 2023. Sheffield. One of the big draws of a move to Yorkshire was the ferret racing Sam Smiths pubs. But no sooner than I arrive than Sir Humphrey started closing them, albeit for completely understandable reasons like “failure to serve Humphrey’s favourite pudding“. So imagine my delight to read better news in the Sheffield… Continue reading A SAM SMITHS PUB RE-OPENS IN YORKSHIRE
16:30, BOLD STREET
July 2023. Liverpool. The nice folk at Liverpool’s Z Hotel let us leave our bags in the lobby before our early evening departure from Lime Street, having let Mrs RM conduct a full afternoon’s meetings from the corner table. You need to get your money’s worth from your £40.50 room. You’ll be assuming that we… Continue reading 16:30, BOLD STREET
BASS ON THE WIRRAL
July 2023. New Brighton. A professional ticker would be never been revisit a pub, however good, while there were still new GBG pubs to be ticked. But I’m an amateur again, happy to be distracted by classics like the Magazine in New Brighton and genuinely intrigued to see if this “cult of Bass is a… Continue reading BASS ON THE WIRRAL
A WIRRAL WALK
July 2023. A serious GBG completist with an hour to spare on the Wirral would have headed straight back from the James Atherton to New Brighton station, changed trains in Birkenhead, and headed down to New Ferry for another tick. But when you’ve actually completed the Guide you’re free to do things you enjoy, like… Continue reading A WIRRAL WALK
retiredmartin 