retiredmartin

Unless you’re a GBG ticker or actually live there, I’ll bet you’ve never heard of High Spen, home of my last Tyne & Wear tick for 2019. Tyne & Wear is basically 90% Newcastle and Sunderland, but the micro explosion means you get one newbie in the middle of nowhere each year. The best I… Continue reading SIBLING DISPUTES IN HIGH SPEN

And so, after a night at my regular Durham bolthole in Le Street, on to my final tick in that wonderful county. I’m obliged to tell you that the best beer is to be found in the Station House in Durham, but frankly I don’t recall any cask calamities this year. And the Baa bar… Continue reading SETTING A HIGH BAA IN EDMUNDBYERS

  The last few months have been a bit of a revelation in terms of rediscovering my own country. Given my obsession with visiting every inch of the Navigator map over many years, it may seem unlikely I’d find anything new, but two months ago I hadn’t seen Bowes, or Loftus, or Cardigan. Or High… Continue reading HIGH FORCE

A few days recovery, then back on the chain gang, as someone once sang. This is that time of year, with the odd pub in Durham, Tyne & Wear and North Yorkshire to visit, that I feel like just moving up to Scotch Corner and being done with it. The micro in Barnard Castle had… Continue reading FINDING FIRKIN ALLEY

My last GBG pub in Plymouth (and there’s thirteen of them this year) was the one that sounded most interesting in the Guide, “mixed clientele and University staff” and all. And it’s certainly the most (mildly) gentrified of the Guide pubs, in a way that’ll be familiar to anyone who’s been to the other Bread… Continue reading SKIFFLE/VESSEL

  Closing in on the end of the Devon trip now, you’ll be delighted to hear. Two last pubs in studentville on Saturday, and the answer to the eternal question; “Is Armada Way the ugliest main shopping street in England” Possibly, though Durham High Street runs it close. That photo was taking at 9.35am on… Continue reading USE IT OR LOSE IT

Thank you to all of you who answered my question; “Should I go to the Great British Beer Festival ?” 100% of you who responded said “NO” If only I’d known what I’d be missing today…. It’s all kicking off in @gbbf Discovery Zone with @Harveys1790 Miles Jenner & @CharlesFaram & @CrispMalt pic.twitter.com/91EZcCtqR8 — Alex… Continue reading BEST BASS IN PLYMOUTH ?

  How exciting. A free chain ferry (for foot passengers) across the Tamar to Torpoint, and a rare Cornwall GBG tick. I might only manage one new bit of Kernow pinking this Guide year ((15/9 – ?/9) but it’s all progress, and I like to do at least one tick in every GBG chapter annually.… Continue reading A TORPOINT SORE POINT

Cornwall looks so close as you walk down from St Budeaux toward the Ferry House on the banks of the Tamar. If there’d been a little ferry boat I may have been tempted to make a return visit to the distinctive pub across the water, despite my strong aversion to all flags.  See if you… Continue reading A VIEW TO THE UNION

Saturday was my big “Greater Plymouth” exploration day. A walk to St Budeaux, a train to Bere Ferrers, a ferry to Wilcove and a hop round Plymouth suburbs to make some serious (pink) dents into Page 116 of the Guide. So what of St Budeaux, I hear you ask ? Not a lot.  Quite floral,… Continue reading A TRAIN ACROSS THE TAVY