You’ve joined me on my near week long pre-Christmas crawl round The North (and Wales), getting pubs done before they shut for the whole of January to combat Dry****** or because snow makes them inaccessible. I start on the edge of Sunderland with a confession. Ryhope has a world-renowned Engines Museum that I know you’d… Continue reading AFTERWORK PERK IN RYHOPE
A STOKE STUMBLE
Enough of the recent present, here’s the recent past. It’s Stoke ! The Beer and Pubs Forum have been at their AGM in Maidenhead debating future Proper Days Out. Newcastle-under-Lyme has everything to commend it apart from a train station, something we can’t blame entirely on former resident M, Lawrenson. I suggested walking from Stoke… Continue reading A STOKE STUMBLE
(ALMOST) LIVE BLOGGING FROM THE GOYT ON BLACK EYE FRIDAY
Back in January reader Fred (not Flintstone) asked for a live blog. I definitely did one, but I can’t remember what it was, which suggests it was rubbish. But never give up. Here’s a nearly live blog from my last Derbyshire GBG tick in the Goyt valley this evening. I couldn’t post it in the… Continue reading (ALMOST) LIVE BLOGGING FROM THE GOYT ON BLACK EYE FRIDAY
HORSLEY SAYS DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
The Good Beer Guide taketh, the Good Beer Guide giveth. For every identikit modern beerbarmicrotap in a run of dull shops there’s an unexpected Proper Pub in wonderful Amber Valley countryside. Horsley Woodhouse has given us the wondrous Old Oak,where Si went a bit maudlin on me this year. Not much chance of being maudlin… Continue reading HORSLEY SAYS DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
ASHBOURNE – 3rd TIME LUCKY
Just a few more posts and you’ll have caught up with me, suffering for you in a £24 Guest House with faulty locks in Workington. In complete contrast to Workington, here’s a pashmina craft bar in Ashbourne. I’d attempted Maison du Biere TWICE already, the first causing some anguish. The second visit, which I won’t… Continue reading ASHBOURNE – 3rd TIME LUCKY
PERRY BARR – BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE
You left me admiring the loos in the Barton’s Arms, wondering about the merits of pressing onto Perry Barr on foot. No, best not risk it. I’m not scared of anything except not having a loo stop within 5 minutes walk. Si knows how I feel. On the bus I had time for the quiet… Continue reading PERRY BARR – BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE
AN ELEGANT LOO STOP
Three glossy pubs safely ticked in central Brum. It was time for Perry Barr. I decided to walk. Now some folk have got scared walking north of glossy Brum to cosmopolitan Aston and Lozells, but I have zero self-awareness, as Mrs RM will tell you ad nauseum. I was quite safe walking round that… Continue reading AN ELEGANT LOO STOP
BAVARIAN CRAFT IN BRUM
You left me in the posh bit of Birmingham with a combination of fried onions, mustard and ketchup oozing down the front of my fleece (a Christmas present from 2004). I’d just been the tardiest person in Pint Shop, and now it was time to repeat the trick in Head of Steam, which was clearly… Continue reading BAVARIAN CRAFT IN BRUM
DROPPING THE BRATWURST IN BRUM
I do hope that’s not a euphemism. If there is one, Curry Charles will find it. More to the point, should there be an umlaut in Brum ? Just like that, I’m up to yesterday (Monday 16th) with the blog. And it’s the Birmingham German Christmas Market, second only on Trip Advisor to rough backstreet… Continue reading DROPPING THE BRATWURST IN BRUM
DORDON-ZOLA
More exciting micropubs in Midlands mining villages for you, and a cultural reference for the ages. As you’ll know, Émile Zola wrote J’Accuse, and many accuse micropubs of being run purely for the benefit of middle-aged mates of the Landlord. Not this one. Where is Dordon ?, you ask. The Wiki page for Dordon is… Continue reading DORDON-ZOLA
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