We pressed on, past a sea of closed pubs (Rising Sun, Nag’s Head) up into Deansgate, a journey rarely made by heritage pub pilgrims. Stopping only in the Lost Dene for a comfort break, we finally found some real heritage. You may mock, but the Moon Under Water was once the biggest British pub IN… Continue reading THE LAST ONES OUT OF SPOONS
ALL IS QUIET ON NEW YEAR’S DAY, A PUB CRAWL IN MANC GETS UNDERWAY
It’s 35 years since I played “New Year’s Day” by U2, and I still can’t be sure about the apostrophe in Year’s. Russ will correct it now I’ve given him editing rights on the blog. I tipped up in Heaton Chapel on Tuesday afternoon having barely had a drop for 5 days, and therefore feeling… Continue reading ALL IS QUIET ON NEW YEAR’S DAY, A PUB CRAWL IN MANC GETS UNDERWAY
NEW YEAR, SAME LINCOLNSHIRE
By my reckoning the earliest you could have had a new GBG tick in 2019 was at the Sandpiper, Paisley/Glasgow Airport, mere miles from the Pubmeister’s moth collection. If I could have been there for the 5am opening, I would have been. Perhaps I will, someday. Instead, It Begins In Lincolnshire, which sounds like… Continue reading NEW YEAR, SAME LINCOLNSHIRE
ANNUAL RETIRED MARTIN AWARDS 2018
A year of joy and sadness, of tears and laughter. And 532 new Beer Guide pubs visited. Some poorly kept soup throughout the Long Hot Summer, some frankly marvellous cask in the autumn. By year-end I was up to 82% completion of the GBG, though a little over-focused on the low-hanging fruit; HIGHLIGHTS OF THE… Continue reading ANNUAL RETIRED MARTIN AWARDS 2018
DECEMBER ’18 STOCKTAKE
I am so proud to have finally caught up with my posts, I can overlook the mild complication of having a dozen Manchester pubs to write up tomorrow. December is a complex month, when some pubs aim to sabotage my ticking by being closed on the 25th as a prelude to shutting for the whole… Continue reading DECEMBER ’18 STOCKTAKE
PUB PHOTOS OF 2018
Golden Pints ? What’s all that about then ? Here, in no order at all, are some pictures of pubs that I found in half an hour skimming through blogs I read last year. Starting with the man who takes more photos than me (mostly of himself) BRAPA . It took me ages to… Continue reading PUB PHOTOS OF 2018
THE ONLY WAY TO END 2018
Yes, I’m in a rush to finish the 2018 blogging so I can get on to my “Best Of” posts. Will that Milton Keynes Ember Inn make the cut ? Last beer of the year, from rural South Leicestershire. Bass lives here. The Railway in Countesthorpe was closed at 3pm when the GBG said it… Continue reading THE ONLY WAY TO END 2018
LUTTERWORTH LESSONS
A year ago I wouldn’t have bothered blogging on the Real Ale Classroom in Lutterworth, but I expect there’s a Beer & Pubs craft faction that might find it useful. Really, there’s only one reason to visit Lutterworth. Bass in the Unicorn. A town to live in, rather than visit, I always think. A bit… Continue reading LUTTERWORTH LESSONS
ALIVE & KICKING AT THE RUGBY TOWN & COUNTY CLUB
Almost an Associates reference there, which will mean nothing to you lot. Note how I drag you in with a bit of Donnington, too, perhaps leading you to expect another trashing of the Cotswold cod liver oil they call beer. But no, this was a Saturday lunchtime in Rugby, buying those little leads that go… Continue reading ALIVE & KICKING AT THE RUGBY TOWN & COUNTY CLUB
RUISLIP – A CROCK OF GOLD
One to go to complete the set for “improving” London, and how appropriate to finish it at the Hop & Vine in Ruislip. Or Greater Slough as its residents like to call it. Ruislip is a challenge to get to know, with two parallel high streets, only one of which (served by Manor) has the… Continue reading RUISLIP – A CROCK OF GOLD
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