7th December 2022. I enjoyed Stafford, a lot. Ten (10) varied pubs, half of them new, and a sense of getting to grips with the town. The two Mudgies performed their sacred duty to CAMRA by declaring the Grapes cask-free, so we met up a minute away in the Sun. Now, pubs called the Sun… Continue reading A STAFFORD (IM)PERFECT 10
STAFFORD GOES ALL BLUEBERRY MARTINI SOUR
7th December 2022. It was all going swimmingly. Seven (7) pubs in 3.5 hours, some good beer, some bad beer, some lively debate. But now to the schism. Will and I wanted to visit the new craft bar Ship Aground, Peter and Paul said (figuratively) “Away from me, craft Devil” and opted to try out… Continue reading STAFFORD GOES ALL BLUEBERRY MARTINI SOUR
BEER v COMFORT
7th December 2022. It’s taking longer to write up Stafford than we actually spend in the town (about 4 hours). Here’s pubs 6 and 7. From the disappointing and empty Vine we crossed a couple of roads to the Rose & Crown, where Joules’s gleaming handpumps appealed, but not as much as the Old No.… Continue reading BEER v COMFORT
Sometimes, one beer is MORE than enough
7th December 2022. Pub No. 5 on the Great Stafford Winter Wander, which came after the massive disappointment for Paul that the brand new craft keg Empourium was shut. I look forward to Paul revisiting and giving his verdict on the games area; I really wanted to go in the Vine Hotel, rather than the… Continue reading Sometimes, one beer is MORE than enough
THE MARKET VAULTS – THE GOOD, THE DULL AND THE BONO
7th December 2022. Pub No. 3 (of 10) on the Stafford “pub crawl”, sorry tutored pub exploration, and one of the few places in town I hadn’t been in before. Actually, I didn’t think I’d been in the Market Vaults before, but now I see it used to be the Joxer Brady when it had… Continue reading THE MARKET VAULTS – THE GOOD, THE DULL AND THE BONO
STAFFORD CRAWLING PART 2
The Annual Awards post is always the hardest to compile; the fear of making it too long, or missing out something vital or witty. So I’m pleased to put that one to bed and get back to the diary, even if it returns us to, 7th December 2022. The number of pub visits ticked past… Continue reading STAFFORD CRAWLING PART 2
THE 2022 RETIRED MARTIN AWARDS ISSUE
As someone who treats every day as important as the next (except 22 December, obviously) you may be surprised I even recognise the end of the year as a thing. But the Awards issue is a contractual obligation, and you know how seriously I treat my obligations, particularly to Patronised reader who can view the… Continue reading THE 2022 RETIRED MARTIN AWARDS ISSUE
OFF TO STAFFORD TO MEET THE MUDG(I)ES
One more post, possibly a couple, before the Awards issue; you’ll need to be sitting down with your cocoa to find out which was my favourite pint of Doom Bar in 2022. 7th December 2022. A highlight of the year, as I make an overdue trip to meet up with Stafford’s Paul Mudge and Pub… Continue reading OFF TO STAFFORD TO MEET THE MUDG(I)ES
THE MAGIC OF MARHABA
5th December 2022. I spent the tram journey back from Radcliffe looking at a flurry of comments following the Telegraph article, none of which seemed to be actionable. Back in Manchester, I suddenly fancied a traditional Mancunian boozer. But instead ended up in Fierce, drinking a pint of something murky while I tried to read… Continue reading THE MAGIC OF MARHABA
THE BEST BEER, IN THE WORST SEATING, WITH THE MOST ECLECTIC SOUNDTRACK
Nearly missed this one, tucked away in the grim shopping centre in Prestwich. Keg, Cask Bottle was my third (3rd) Prestwich newbie, a bit of a contrast to the Holt and Hyde’s on the previous stop. It looked oddly familiar, but it wasn’t till I reached the bar I realised “I’ve been here before“. Only… Continue reading THE BEST BEER, IN THE WORST SEATING, WITH THE MOST ECLECTIC SOUNDTRACK
retiredmartin 