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
TRAPPER’S HAT
July 2023. New Brighton. I had a vague recollection of the James Atherton in the heart of New Brighton’s youthful Victoria Road back in December 2019 (you’ll know the date), a fun pub alongside the two crafty micros across the road. A little while later it gained some national notoriety during lockdown for its rebrand.… Continue reading TRAPPER’S HAT
NEW BRIGHTON STREET ART SPECIAL
July 2023. New Brighton. After that traumatic surgical procedure I needed a beer. Mrs RM needed to join a meeting about account codes. So I took the Mersey line for an increasingly rare new GBG tick across the water. Nothing much new in Birkenhead by the look of it, but New Brighton looked transformed since… Continue reading NEW BRIGHTON STREET ART SPECIAL
AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE IN LIVERPOOL
July 2023. Liverpool. WARNING : CONTAINS SURGICAL PROCEDURAL DETAIL. Tuesday morning started with Bubble and Squeak and Eggs Royale round the corner on Dale Street. The Moose Coffee in Manchester is always packed, as was this one, as we Brits love our authentic American cuisine. Perhaps your best place to get “grits” and “potato hash”,… Continue reading AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE IN LIVERPOOL
BACK TO THE BALTIC
July 2023. Liverpool. I reckon we’d been to Liverpool at least annually over the last 30 years but I couldn’t ever remember staying in the centre*. Is that possible ? I’d even stayed 3 miles out beyond Bootle and walked in recently. Chris Dyson’s post on Dale Street pubs the other week had prompted me… Continue reading BACK TO THE BALTIC
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