A year ago I spent the night before my 54th (which some people would have you believe is extreme old age) in Barrow-in-Furness on Black Eye Friday, to be woken by all of Ulverston at 2.30am by oiks singing “Let It Go”. Memorable times. The temptation was strong to go one better in 2019 and… Continue reading WET IN WORKINGTON…..
A JENNINGS IN COCKERMOUTH
I’ll take a short break from reviewing the best of the blogs to make some more progress on my own pre-Christmas trip. You can probably guess what highlights are still to come. A reminder of the Grand Tour. I was going to bring you a short report on GBG pub free Wigton but I… Continue reading A JENNINGS IN COCKERMOUTH
ONE PAUL BAILEY,THERE’S ONLY ONE PAUL BAILEY
The enforced absence from GBG pubs* (enforced by the need to give my body a break as much as the closure of pubs themselves) has given me chance to re-read some of my favourite bloggers and bring you a highlights package. In 2019 Paul Bailey’s blog could be summed up as Brexit, breakfasts and builders… Continue reading ONE PAUL BAILEY,THERE’S ONLY ONE PAUL BAILEY
YOUR BOXING DAY MUDGIE MAGIC
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
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