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
ALTON SOURS
Well, we got some nice photos, anyway. And a decent title. It’s a start. I’ve always wondered why the Staffordshire Moorlands between Stoke, Uttoxeter and Ashbourne is so poorly represented in the Beer Guide, bar the Yew Tree of course. There’s plenty of pubs, 5 in Alton alone, so I guess it all comes down… Continue reading ALTON SOURS
BLYTHE SPIRIT
I could tell you this was the 27th micro pub I’ve visited this Guide year, and you’d believe me. Russ wouldn’t. He’s checked and it’s the 28th. What an exciting place Blythe Bridge is. Home to a steam railway with a recent Beer Guide entry, one of four recent GBG entries if I generously count… Continue reading BLYTHE SPIRIT
MORE CASTLE, M’DUCK
A return to Newcastle-under-Lyme can mean only one thing. Underpass street art. Folk fuss about Bristol and Manchester, but N-u-L is the place to go to see images of people you actually recognise. The tourist office (is there one ?) should do a leaflet showing these artistic high points, interspersed with Oatcake shops and micro… Continue reading MORE CASTLE, M’DUCK
BEARTOWN GETS A JOULE
Mrs RM is working up near Melrose at the moment. This is her office; Some exciting “Tales From the Borders” coming up, though I suspect stories of General Ledger Upgrades and Password approval protocols would be more exciting to you. 20 years ago Mrs RM was staying in Eaton, just outside Congleton, and drinking pints… Continue reading BEARTOWN GETS A JOULE
A LITTLE HUG FOR NEWTON GRANGE
One commentor in particular on my blog has it in for those lovely Marstons people. I‘m quite happy for my beer to be produced in a giant beer factory in Wolverhampton, though actually their brands are still produced petty much where they always were. I’m also aware many folk don’t rate Marston’s dining pubs that… Continue reading A LITTLE HUG FOR NEWTON GRANGE
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