Few photos sum up my pub year as well as this shot of The Great Mudgie looking sternly at me in a Proper Pub (White Hart in Shifnal) while a guy wearing a cap inside admires the lacings on a pint of Enville. The mobility scooter is out of shot. That Shifnal trip was a… Continue reading YOUR BOXING DAY MUDGIE MAGIC
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL’S LUSCIOUS LACINGS
LifeAfterFootball remained the go-to blog for post-punk musical references, a haven from B****t debate, and the UK’s definitive source of inspiration for those seeking out East Midlands estate boozers. LAF aka BeerMat aka Lord Coalville visited about 180 boozers in 2019 (and the Pint Shop in Brum). I’d never heard of most of them, let… Continue reading LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL’S LUSCIOUS LACINGS
PUBMEISTER’S TOP 10 PUBS SIGNS OF (SOME OF) 2019
GET UP ! With at least a day at home before the travels restart, I’m determined to bring you the best bits from my favourite blogs. Unfortunately, that means actually reading all 237,142 words of BRAPA, so I’ll start with Pubmeister, who knows a thing about brevity. By coincidence, 237,142 is almost exactly the number… Continue reading PUBMEISTER’S TOP 10 PUBS SIGNS OF (SOME OF) 2019
“It’s all a dream, an illusion now” – The Wonder of Wallasey
I’m home from my epic crawl round the UK now. The new A14 bypass did the job. After a week away, even Mrs RM may be pleased to see me (EDIT : She is, I brought flowers). Matt is cutting James’ hair in the kitchen, all is peace and harmony. I bet you’re expecting me… Continue reading “It’s all a dream, an illusion now” – The Wonder of Wallasey
FESTIVE FELICITATIONS FROM GREAT ORTON
My second comfort break came an hour or so after my first, on the western outskirts of Carlisle. Ignore the blue line running through the city, it’s not the cask/keg divide. To be honest the Wellington in tiny Great Orton was experiencing a quiet lunchtime, away from the tourist honeypots of Carlisle and the stretch… Continue reading FESTIVE FELICITATIONS FROM GREAT ORTON
OVER THE (HADRIAN’S) WALL
I plotted my big pre Christmas tour on Bing Maps last night. If you look at it with a squint you can imagine it clearly resembles BRAPA taking a leak at Newark station. From Durham I said hello to the Angel, and whizzed along the A69 towards the Wall. Or as Simon calls it, the… Continue reading OVER THE (HADRIAN’S) WALL
DOUBLE MAXIM, A SINGLE IN DURHAM
The plan after Swalwell had been to jump off in Chester-le-Street and tick the irritating Masonic Club with its 7.30pm opening and initiation rules. But some trains from Newcastle neglect C-l-S, pronounced Le Street, and I cut my losses at 10. Durham is marvellous, isn’t it? My niece’s boyfriend is doing a Post Grad there,… Continue reading DOUBLE MAXIM, A SINGLE IN DURHAM
ALL’S NOT WELL IN SWALWELL (LOST IN A SUPERMARKET)
Greetings from the most chaotic Starbucks in the UK, one of New Brighton’s most exciting features. At least the WiFi signal will hold up long enough to do this short post to complete Tyne & Wear in the picturesque Gateshead suburb of Swalwell. Picturesque compared to the Gomorrah of the Metrocentre, where hordes of late… Continue reading ALL’S NOT WELL IN SWALWELL (LOST IN A SUPERMARKET)
I’m gonna leave old Durham Town. When I’ve finished my Landlord.
Well, it’s been a great birthday (did I mention it) so far and I haven’t been stabbed in New Brighton yet. Can I sneak a Chinese takeaway back to my £18.94 room? There has been Bass. Just in case you wondered, this is the itinerary for The Birthday Week, so far. Wednesday – Durham Thursday… Continue reading I’m gonna leave old Durham Town. When I’ve finished my Landlord.
SUPER SOUTH SHIELDS
Happy Birthday to me! I get to do 10 minute posts in Starbucks near St Asaphs. Back to the Grand Tour of the North. You can just about see South Shields in the top right hand corner of the map I used last time, so it’ll do again. A quick search of my own blog… Continue reading SUPER SOUTH SHIELDS
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