That’s supposed to rhyme, by the way. Finally in Altrincham, and just to prove we do visit pubs that aren’t in the Beer Guide, we visited Sam Smiths’ Malt Shovels. Mainly because it gave us an excuse to admire the Alty treasure that is the “Informed Solutions of Manchester” HQ. And the equally wonderful duo… Continue reading SUCCUMBING TO SAM IN ALTRINCHAM
THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE ALTY
I’m starting to catch up a bit now. Back in Manchester, and a metro trip to Altrincham, the Chorlton of the South. I’m a bit nervous saying this the day before the derby, but the tram was full of youngsters with City shirts. Travelling to Altrincham, The city is ours. What an excellent sense of… Continue reading THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE ALTY
THE GREAT OXON PUB SIGN ATROCITIES
Odd to say, but I’m glad to have a break from telling you how good Sheffield is (and it is) and get back to moaning about the state of beer and pubs in Oxon on a weekend. But first, in response to countless requests, here’s that Banbury tart from the Chipping Norton post. I had… Continue reading THE GREAT OXON PUB SIGN ATROCITIES
MRS RM BLOGS FROM THE OXFORD BAR
Today the post comes courtesy of Mrs RM. A precondition of being allowed to live at retiredmartin Towers is that you produce a blog. Son 2 makes an occasional update to his metalcore site, but Son 1 has been forced to leave the house in disgrace following his failure to even start a blog… Continue reading MRS RM BLOGS FROM THE OXFORD BAR
THE VALLEY (OF BEER) RUNS DEEP
A short post on the rest of Tuesday’s return to the Valley of Beer, which proved a few points; You can get high quality beer in pubs on a Tuesday afternoon CAMRA get 92.7% of their Beer Guide selections right Sheffield is a wise choice for your University That orange scarf suits Simon The… Continue reading THE VALLEY (OF BEER) RUNS DEEP
FAT CAT, COOL FOR CATS ?
Having started writing-up Sheffield yesterday, I may as well finish it before it becomes a distant memory (by Friday). A Tuesday afternoon in Sheffield’s Valley of Beer with Roger Protz, BRAPA and Beer Leeds, followed by a Dad/Son curry near the Uni. And a £30 IBIS room near the Arena. What’s not to like… Continue reading FAT CAT, COOL FOR CATS ?
TOP 100 PUBS – RUTLAND ARMS, SHEFFIELD
I take a short break from “Midsomer Murders* land” to give you an instant review of the last pub I went in. Possibly the last pub I’ll ever go to if I have the Little Earth Project 10.5% Stock Ale again. This was the Rutland Arms, the last pub of an afternoon with the legends… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – RUTLAND ARMS, SHEFFIELD
WHO ARE YOU, CHIPPING NORTON ?
The blog titles don’t get any better from now till Christmas, when I should receive some new ones from Santa. On to the Crown & Cushion, a rare old-fashioned small hotel bar in the Guide, in the resolutely old-fashioned Chipping Norton, which I often write as Chipping Sodbury to annoy them both. An easy Chipping… Continue reading WHO ARE YOU, CHIPPING NORTON ?
WHAT HAVE YOU DUN TEWS ME ?
The annual trip west of the M40 into Cherwell, the unexceptional but cosy area between Banbury and Oxford. An area lacking tourist clout but full of posh villages like Duns Tew, making a first appearance in the Guide since the Iron Age. There’s been some good pubs round here over the years; the Crown… Continue reading WHAT HAVE YOU DUN TEWS ME ?
A BIT OF A BLUR (JUST GIVE ME COFFEE & TV)
Even a Blur style robot for this one, a final post from the great city of Nottingham. OK, I may be getting my Blur mixed up with the miserablists from Oxford now. Being unable to locate the Olde Trip, we popped in to the Crafty Crow, a personal favourite, on the way to catch… Continue reading A BIT OF A BLUR (JUST GIVE ME COFFEE & TV)
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