It was good to see a vaccinated BRAPA so cheery at getting his first Beer Guide ticks since April, and I was happy to attempt a risky 3rd run tick at Hanging Heaton Cricket Club on the way home. Si was in that cheery mood that differentiates Pub Men from Beer Bores, and proved great… Continue reading THE SUN SHINES ON HANGING HEATON
JIMMY RIDDLESDEN
If you’re stuck for which photo to lead with on your blog post, ALWAYS go with the pub cate. I assume this is the house cat for Riddlesden’s Willow Tree, she certainly seemed at home (pub cats are always girls, aren’t they ?). I’d phoned ahead, breaking one of my main rules of pubbing, to… Continue reading JIMMY RIDDLESDEN
OTLEY APP-ENINGS
You left me admiring Simon’s certificate of vaccination, which will allow him to jump the queue to get in Surrey’s micropubs, ahead of all those 20-somethings who throng Haslemere Hop Haus and Dorking Draft Dorm on a Saturday night. Surrey can wait, on Monday I was “Taxi for BRAPA“, taking the great man round the… Continue reading OTLEY APP-ENINGS
GERMAN KEBABS & PISTACHIO ICES – BRADFORD PART II
You left me in Bradford, my dreams of pre-BRAPA curry dashed, and feeling suddenly famished as 2pm came and went. Still found time to admire the art in Little Germany though. I was looking for something local, so I popped in the new German Doner Kebab in the Broadway shops. Now, I’d normally avoid these… Continue reading GERMAN KEBABS & PISTACHIO ICES – BRADFORD PART II
TO BRATFUD IN SEARCH OF BRAPA (AND CURRY)
Late on Sunday The Pub Ticking Phenomenon Known As BRAPA asked about catching up the next day to tick Sheffield. 7 hours spent checking Facebook, Twitter and the Micropub Almanac revealed that ALL 3 of Si’s targets were likely to be shut, so I suggested being DES on a tour of West Yorkshire. “Could we… Continue reading TO BRATFUD IN SEARCH OF BRAPA (AND CURRY)
TAKING A PUNT
“Do you miss Cambridge ?” they all ask. Well, no, clearly not, or I wouldn’t have left. Duh. But the city does have its appeal, and despite it being the obvious touristy thing to do, taking a punt along the backs is the second thing I’d recommend after 5 pints in the Blue. In typical… Continue reading TAKING A PUNT
FUELLING THE CAMBRIDGE TOURIST BOOM
My trips back “home” to check on Mum and Dad are weekly events, so expect some exciting blogging on Cambridge’s famous Doom Bar and John Smiths Smooth outlets over the summer. Our visit at the weekend coincided with the climax of the fun fair. Note the extensive Covid precautions. It’s probable Covid is scared off… Continue reading FUELLING THE CAMBRIDGE TOURIST BOOM
SHIPPING CONTAINER CHIC
Both our lads came over to Sheffield on Friday night. We’re seeing more of them both than we have for years, which is nice, but a bit surprising. It must be because they’re hungry. Mrs RM was keen to show off her considerable cooking skills, but the lads were keener to revive the local economy… Continue reading SHIPPING CONTAINER CHIC
THE BLAKE
A quick pint on the way into town. It is possible, sort of. The walk down through Ruskin Park from the Blind Monkey to the Blake Hotel ought to be immortalised in song by Van Morrison but he’s too busy wittering on about lockdown these days. ALL THE PUBS IN SHEFFIELD ON FOOT No. 15… Continue reading THE BLAKE
PREPARING TO VOTE
I mentioned earlier about the challenges of settling into Sheffield during Lockdown, and how we’ll need pubs and gigs and football before we’ll really feel like it’s home. But meeting the lovely Sheffield Hatter and Co. (milliners of distinction) on his home turf has made us more at home, and I feel like I personally… Continue reading PREPARING TO VOTE
retiredmartin 