July 2023. Sheffield. When you’ve ticked all the pubs, thoughts naturally turn to ticking the other folk engaged in this most noble of callings. You’ll remember the first annual tickers conference in Chesterfield. Well, if you do, you’re doing better than us. Some tickers are aiming for GBG completion, some to do all the heritage… Continue reading TICKING THE TICKERS
That quick Sunday evening pint in the Blake Hotel
July 2023. Sheffield. The sun is back in Sheffield, just in times for Tramlines its annual celebration of middle-aged, middle-class nostalgia. Friday’s headliners are the bloke out of the Verve, Bloc Party, and MYQ Kaplan, who I’m convinced ran accountancy training in the ’80s. And the beer comes from Brew Dog. Oh dear. Tremendous fringe,… Continue reading That quick Sunday evening pint in the Blake Hotel
A RAINY SHEFFIELD SUNDAY AFTERNOON – EEL & IMPERIAL STOUT
July 2023. Sheffield. Summer brings with it showers, even on the righteous it seems, but that didn’t stop Mrs RM accompanying me on a 10k (steps) walk round Sheffield on Sunday lunchtime. We really want to explore south Sheffield, the bit not covered by trams with all the ethnic eateries, but only made it as… Continue reading A RAINY SHEFFIELD SUNDAY AFTERNOON – EEL & IMPERIAL STOUT
A START TO THE QUEST TO DO ALL THE SHAKESPEARES
July 2023. New Street Station, Birmingham. I can see how Simon gets so easily persuaded to do a seventh pint at the Parcel Yard when he does those long days by train via London. You’ve invested enough funds to feed Colin the Cauliflower for a month, dealt with the stress of that Kent pub you… Continue reading A START TO THE QUEST TO DO ALL THE SHAKESPEARES
NEW GBG PUB IN EAST BRUM ? SHIRLEY NOT !
July 2023. Shirley, Birmingham. My third and final new Guide tick on a dreich day in Birmingham took me out east to Shirley. I can only think of pub tickers visiting Shirley voluntarily, though of course big sister Solihull has been made into a major tourist destination by Life After Football‘s acclaimed series of blogs.… Continue reading NEW GBG PUB IN EAST BRUM ? SHIRLEY NOT !
HURRAH ! FOR HALTON TURNER
July 2023. Digbeth. Birmingham. Well, I think it’s Digbeth. I assume everything east of that Selfridges store (the one with the pink dots below) is Digbeth. Do feel free to correct me. Back at New Street/Grand Central from Bournville I finally found a bin for that Birmingham Brewery can, and set off aimlessly for another… Continue reading HURRAH ! FOR HALTON TURNER
BITTER BRUMMIE
July 2023. Birmingham. One down, three Brum GBG ticks to go. A paltry effort compared to Simon’s half-dozen in the Black Country that day, but those four were at opposite ends of the city, and the next one was a full 40 minutes away in Bournville. I spent my entire 10 minutes in the Ale… Continue reading BITTER BRUMMIE
THE SLOW TRAIN TO MERE GREEN, WHEREVER THAT IS
July 2023. Sheffield-Derby-Birmingham-New Street. I don’t know how Simon (and Daddy BRAPA) does it. Every Saturday without fail, up at 6am to catch the first train out of York station to the far corners of the kingdom to have a pint in six pubs with a cauliflower in tow. I wasn’t up and out till… Continue reading THE SLOW TRAIN TO MERE GREEN, WHEREVER THAT IS
MUSIC NIGHT AT THE WASHINGTON
July 2023. Sheffield. Please treat this as an experimental post. I want to know if it’s possible to do a 10 minute blog post after 4 pints in 90 minutes, when that 4th pint is Plum Porter in Spoons. On Thursday night I felt in urgent need of live music. If in doubt, try the… Continue reading MUSIC NIGHT AT THE WASHINGTON
Mrs RM’s resolve crumbles in The Old Shoe
July 2023. Sheffield. Mrs RM has a posh watch which “rewards” her, if a beep can be considered a reward, as she hits her 10k/15k/20k step targets. A walk from the Blind Monkey into central Sheffield is worth 10k, so Mrs RM decided to take back a pair of shoes she’d just bought. NEVER, NEVER… Continue reading Mrs RM’s resolve crumbles in The Old Shoe
