Decent WiFi in Dunkeld last night after a great haggis supper, so let’s crack on with my Friday night is music night trip to That There London. Just time before a remarkable gig by Amber Arcades at Oxford Circus to do my last two North London GBG20 ticks, which is paltry when you think about… Continue reading “She’s down in the dumps, she lives on Holloway Road”
“WE BUILT THIS CITY ON SAUSAGE ROLLS”
A sentimental return to Earl Shilton, and there’s not many contexts in which you read that. Last time here was in 1996, before the Internet and colour TV, and we used Alistair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay to book a night at Gary’s House in Elmesthorpe. The “Special” came from Gary’s collection of grass snakes,… Continue reading “WE BUILT THIS CITY ON SAUSAGE ROLLS”
ANGUISH IN ASHBOURNE
I don’t mean to moan. Goodness knows I’ve plenty to be joyful about; my youngest son even introduced me to his girlfriend in a Manchester pre-emptive tonight, and you know how much I love pre-emptives. And it only took me two seconds to click on the news headlines just now and realise the torment some… Continue reading ANGUISH IN ASHBOURNE
OATCAKES
I couldn’t leave Leek without some more culinary highlights, starting with breakfast at the Green Man. It really is staggering how readily Dick and Dave follow my lead; next year I’ll order a Phal (hot) in a Manchester curry house, washed down with conker milk DIPA. Over cheese and ham oatcakes from Leek Oatcakes round… Continue reading OATCAKES
THE WILKES HEAD CRACKER THIEVES
One more pub for the Southworths in Leek last Thursday, and one more for me before the obligatory curry. Across the road to the Wilkes Head, Paul Mudge’s pick. It looks inviting during the day, but comes into its own at dusk. A Proper Pub always has a raffle of some sort, even if this… Continue reading THE WILKES HEAD CRACKER THIEVES
A SENTIMENTAL BOLLOCK OF DE KONINCK
Feels like I’m picking on the Southworths as soon as they land back in the States, but I guess that’s what they read the blog for. Only one and a half more pubs in Leek on Thursday, and the pace was telling on our Pub Heroes as I caught up with them after checking in… Continue reading A SENTIMENTAL BOLLOCK OF DE KONINCK
EARL GREY
Oh dear, another pub, another paucity of notes. BRAPA would be ashamed. Anyway, I’ll make it up, as we approach the first of a trio of classic revisits. My only note says “Less hoppy in the mouth than on the nose” which we can only hope was something Dick was saying about Sherbert Dip Dabs… Continue reading EARL GREY
BLUE MUGGE, PINK TICK, LEEK STAR
One of the most iconic photos on my blog, as Dick (pink pen) and Dave (out of shot, MAGA hat) combine effortlessly to tick the Blue Mugge in Leek. A few months ago I was in the Ship in Shaftesbury with BRAPA, wondering how many other great pubs I’d still to discover for the first… Continue reading BLUE MUGGE, PINK TICK, LEEK STAR
SOAKED PHONES IN WOO WOO
Mrs RM is free to nick any of my photos from Winchester for her blog, for the usual fee. For such a posh town city, Winchester always delivers a decent night out. Perhaps because people do still go out, and not just at weekends. Loads of folk like us (old, careworn etc etc), young professionals… Continue reading SOAKED PHONES IN WOO WOO
TOP 5 DOOM BAR PUBS – ECLIPSE, WINCHESTER
Mrs RM is a world traveller these days. Greenwich, Brighton, Maidenhead, Aberdeen, Southend and now Winchester, the place England half-backs retire to run coffee shops and insurance brokers. BRAPA will hate and love Winch in equal measure. A snap decision; would I like to join her on Wednesday night ? My liver said no, my… Continue reading TOP 5 DOOM BAR PUBS – ECLIPSE, WINCHESTER
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