I left you in the bar at the Petersgate Tap on Thursday night (25/1), two great pints of Draught Bass down in 20 minutes, wondering if I should ask for the flat version again. But I figured a great night in Stockport needed a Chinese takeaway. I stuck out a tweet and waited for… Continue reading PORTWOOD PERFECTION
“BLESSINGS ON YOUR TAP, YOU SERVE GOOD BASS”
Coming almost up to date with this weekend’s (26-27/1/18) trip to Stockport, surely the Vegas of Cheshire. No football, but Manchester Beer Fest, a crawl round Levenshulme and a Bass challenge on the “To Do” list. Trivelles Mayfair is the unlikely name of my regular hotel for trips into Manchester*, ideally placed for trains… Continue reading “BLESSINGS ON YOUR TAP, YOU SERVE GOOD BASS”
SWINTON SWAGGER
After Bolton, just enough time before City’s late kick off v Newcastle (20/1/18) for a detour to Swinton, and who can resist Swinton ? I’d forgotten how long the walk was from station to the clutch of “improved” pubs along Worsley Road, which compare sharply with the more basic (and interesting) fare to the… Continue reading SWINTON SWAGGER
MORE BOLTON – FINDING BUNBURY’S
I left Great Ale at the Vaults last Saturday (20/1/18) greatly cheered by new Bolton. The Market Place shopping centre, helped by flashy cinema, seemed a lot more youthful than Bolton normally does. Stopfordians should visit and see what they could have had. Saying that, central Bolton is still definitely a “work-in-progress“. The indoor market… Continue reading MORE BOLTON – FINDING BUNBURY’S
BOLTON – INTO THE VAULTS
More from last weekend (19-20 Jan), with a trip to beautiful Bolton, always good for a GBG surprise or two. The walk from the station to my new pub is a story of continued decline, with a string of boarded shops on and off Bradshawgate, and some tired looking recent GBG pubs (sadly, Sparkles isn’t… Continue reading BOLTON – INTO THE VAULTS
WAITING IN WORSLEY
I’ve been asked to date these reports, which makes sense. This was last weekend 19-20 Jan). I’m still a week behind with posts, but catching up slowly. More of Salford, technically, though Worsley is a bit of a posh anomaly on the edge of that great City. Beer Guide entries over recent years have included… Continue reading WAITING IN WORSLEY
FRIDAY NIGHT IN SALFORD
This blog might turn into an ongoing ad for the British pub, Pipers and Trivelles hotels, a small chain of clean, cheap and enterprisingly located boltholes. Such as this one opposite Salford University. £30 a night, decent WiFI and a McDonalds over the road for my double espresso. My car was still there in the… Continue reading FRIDAY NIGHT IN SALFORD
MORE STOKE LEGENDS
Say what you like about Stoke; they know how to get a basic Bass pub in the Guide. But the Olde Bull & Bush is a new one on me, though the Chinese takeaway looks vaguely familiar. Reassuringly, someone else has a pint of Bass in front of them, so mine won’t be the first… Continue reading MORE STOKE LEGENDS
BLUES & BOOZE IN THE BOOTHEN END
I intrude quite literally onto LifeAfterFootball territory here, with a couple of Midlands pubs within a cultured Ian Clarkson hoof* of the old Stoke City ground when he donned the famous red and white jersey. Stoke, the town rather than the city, is a convenient train ride from Manchester, which meant I didn’t need to… Continue reading BLUES & BOOZE IN THE BOOTHEN END
HIT THE NORTH – MISSING MARK E. SMITH
I’ve thought hard about commenting on the demise of Mark E. Smith, as I have little truck with folk reminiscing about the dead. Sorry, and all that. I’m sure BRAPA will arrange a suitable pisstake on his next blog. But after 3 pints in Stockport tonight, and noticing the sad closure of Winters, I relented.… Continue reading HIT THE NORTH – MISSING MARK E. SMITH
