Quite a lot of posts from Northumberland now, courtesy of Mrs RM’s faultless driving and the fact you can at least rely on pubs to be open on Sundays. First stop Stamfordham, in the wilderness between posh Ponteland and posher Corbridge, and a couple of miles from Hadrian’s Wall (which one day I’ll walk). The… Continue reading CYCLIST STAMINA IN STAMFORDHAM
IMPOSSIBLE JIGSAWS IN DURHAM MICRO PUBS
The big news in Durham is the closure of Bella Pasta, or whatever it was called this year. This was the poshest place we’d ever been to when we first visited the city in ’96, memorable for the £12.99 chocolate fondue and the view of the castle. The “Closed” signs were a hammer blow… Continue reading IMPOSSIBLE JIGSAWS IN DURHAM MICRO PUBS
THE LAMBTON WORM
An overnight stop in Chester-le-Street, chosen only because every hotel with running water in Durham itself cost over £100, and Mrs RM wasn’t prepared to sleep in the car. I do like the town, though the Beer Guide pickings are meagre, and if I ever get up here for cricket at the Riverside I’ll give… Continue reading THE LAMBTON WORM
CLEANING UP AFTER BRAPA
Oh look, it’s those nice Banks’s people again. I must say, they (a.k.a. Marston’s) did come back very quickly and politely to confirm Pedi is made in Burton. “Pedigree has to brewed through the Burton Union system, which only exists here in the Burton brewery. It’s also the only beer we put through the Unions.”… Continue reading CLEANING UP AFTER BRAPA
NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL SERVICE
Back to Northallerton, and the Oddfellow’s Arms. Pleasingly, it didn’t scream “gastro“, but the sign saying “Lunch served 12-2” was even scarier. “We too late for food then ?” “I’ll see what we can rustle up” Now that’s service for you. Compare with this. Mrs RM asked for the strongest beer (they weren’t that strong,… Continue reading NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL SERVICE
NORTH BY NORTHALLERTON – THE LITTLE TANNER
At the weekend I drove Mrs RM up to her office near Melrose. I dare say this is the equivalent of the journey Russ makes to buy milk, and is certainly less than some people’s daily commute from Kettering to Cambridge along the A14. I drove the stretch to lovely Chester-Le-Street, Mrs RM kindly… Continue reading NORTH BY NORTHALLERTON – THE LITTLE TANNER
STRAIGHT OR HANDLE ? SPARKLED OR FLAT ?
Yes, life’s big questions. Apart from “Was that referee at Stamford Bridge last night really Delia Smith in disguise“. Today I say “Thank you, Derby CAMRA” for picking GBG pubs on the basis of beer quality, and giving us the White Swan in Littleover. a village-cum-suburb that BeerMat brings us regular reports from. It looks… Continue reading STRAIGHT OR HANDLE ? SPARKLED OR FLAT ?
3 BORED BILLS OUTSIDE THE A601 RING ROAD, DERBY
Only the very best cultural references for you on this site (though I clearly can’t compete with Si on the latest BRAPA ). And one of the best films I’ll ever see, too. Three new pubs in Derby in GBG18, and some stragglers nearby, means an overnighter close to Alan Winfield’s favourite ground. The only… Continue reading 3 BORED BILLS OUTSIDE THE A601 RING ROAD, DERBY
LONG EATON – BAPS & BEER OFF THE BRIAN CLOUGH WAY
I know for a fact that there are people who read this blog purely for the pictures of cheese and onion rolls in old pubs. This is for them. A trip underneath the A52 to Long Eaton, a town that thinks it’s in Notts but is clearly in Derbyshire, judging by the cobs in … Continue reading LONG EATON – BAPS & BEER OFF THE BRIAN CLOUGH WAY
ROCKIN’ RUSHCLIFFE STICKS IT TO DRYANUARY
More good pubs, more excellent beer. Dryanuary seems to be a roaring success so far. Rushcliffe is one of those boroughs that exist for the sole purpose of confusion when Members of Parliament have their constituencies flashed up on PMQs. See also: Haltemprice and Spen I’d call it posh Notts, but there’s plenty of plain… Continue reading ROCKIN’ RUSHCLIFFE STICKS IT TO DRYANUARY
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