I must stop banging on about how far behind I am on this blog. But for context, I think they were still ducking witches when I made this trip to Clitheroe. For evidence of the antiquity of this post, just see the spelling of “bollack” on the town’s official graffiti wall. Clitheroe and the Forest… Continue reading CLITHEROE REDEMPTION
BOWLAND – 41 HANDPUMPS, WHAT CAN GO WRONG ?
I’d been expecting to visit Bowland Brewery last year. But oddly, a brewery bar with more than 40 handpumps inexplicably failed to be fast-tracked into GBG 19. After all, choice ? Isn’t that what we want from our pubs in 2019 ? Anyway, I was thrilled to be finally making a return to old-fashioned Clitheroe,… Continue reading BOWLAND – 41 HANDPUMPS, WHAT CAN GO WRONG ?
“DON’T SHOOT VINNIE !”
Yes, I’m really that far behind, and have no idea whether City will escape relegation this season. The whole day of the Leicester game was one of the most nervous I’ve ever been, 13.5.12 included, which I know will sound daft to football philistines. The prospect of jubilant Scousers if we mucked it up was… Continue reading “DON’T SHOOT VINNIE !”
SUFFERING IN SALFORD QUAYS
I’m getting quite addicted to my little hotel in Weaste, the rough bit of Elegant Eccles. Four stays in 3 months, AND they give me a 5% loyalty discount, so I only paid £27 the other Sunday. H & C in all rooms. As you can see, I took the lesser-known tourist trail from… Continue reading SUFFERING IN SALFORD QUAYS
WHERE THE HECK IS WIMBOLDSLEY ?
Yes, almost a Crewe post ! After the joys of finishing craft bar Stafford, it’s back to the slog of twee gastro Cheshire, which is even less satisfying in lots of ways. Not that the Verdin Arms is twee. But it’s very hard to find Wimboldsley on my Philip Navigator, which tends to go down… Continue reading WHERE THE HECK IS WIMBOLDSLEY ?
WELLER, WELLER, WELLER
Yes, I know that’s not Weller. That’s not how this blog works. My last Staffordshire tick should always be in Newcastle-u-Lyme, one-time home to legends. A great county for pubs, but sadly this year’s crop is a bit micro/craft bar heavy. I guess it’s hard to build an original Victorian three room boozer from scratch… Continue reading WELLER, WELLER, WELLER
NO SANCTUARY IN THE POTTERIES
On the home run in Staffs now, and still with one great pub to come (where great is a term loosely applied). It’s not this one, though. Yes, spot the GBG pub. Sanctuary Ale House is the one with the smoker outside, of course. In the absence of signs with King’s Heads on them, or… Continue reading NO SANCTUARY IN THE POTTERIES
LEAVING UTTOXETER CLEAR FOR A DAY OF BASS
Back to the hard slog of pub ticking earlier this month, and a first trip in many years to Uttoxeter, or Greater Alton Towers as the TIC has probably rebranded it. The hardened members of the Beer & Pubs Forum will be visiting the town’s famous Bass & Pedi pubs on June 14th. Unlike Burton,… Continue reading LEAVING UTTOXETER CLEAR FOR A DAY OF BASS
THE RITES OF SPRING – CAMBRIDGE BEER FESTIVAL 2019
Leaving strict chronology for a moment, I bring you my annual trip to the Cambridge Beer Festival, the UK’s most pashmina-friendly fest. It’s a compulsory trip, whatever I say about fests. No Mrs RM (she’s in Pasmina Peckham), and no Simon or Kevin, workmates I’ve been bumping into since this was at the old Cambridge… Continue reading THE RITES OF SPRING – CAMBRIDGE BEER FESTIVAL 2019
COME AND GET ‘EM, SOUTHWORTHS
Yes, it’s the highlight of Mrs RM’s housecleaning year as the the Southworth clan set off from Chicago and Minneapolis, preparing mentally to take back duff pints in Pembroke and be told “It’s real ale. Its supposed to taste like that.” I’m sure they’ll find good pubs in West Wales, which I believe may have… Continue reading COME AND GET ‘EM, SOUTHWORTHS
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