A second interesting post by Pub Curmudgeon today, with some reflections on the qualities of “Ordinary Bitters“. I take the view that almost any of the established Boring Bitters, Brown or otherwise, can veer toward greatness when expertly kept and served. I’ve never had a great pint of Everards though. Or a bad one. The Original… Continue reading EVERARDS IN THE LAND OF HAPPINESS STAN
GBG SELECTION & READING ESTATE PUBS
I recommend you start the day with Pub Curmudgeon’s new post on beer quality. It’s a great summary of a complex issue, and a reminder of how easy it is for cask to lose ground on the bar, even when served competently. Mrs RM has converted to the higher strength KeyKeg and keg craft on our… Continue reading GBG SELECTION & READING ESTATE PUBS
GIVE SLOUGH A CHANCE
There is little better in life than planning a Monday pub visit, particularly one that includes black pudding and poached egg. Unfortunately, Eton‘s posh-looking George had clearly had enough of commoners ticking pubs and had closed especially for me. No warning on the web, no Twitter account, no Times announcement. I’ll be back, disguised like… Continue reading GIVE SLOUGH A CHANCE
TO BE FAIR TO BARNET…
Speaking of High Barnet, as I was, it does have one pub gem, and some decent parkland beneath the M25. Sadly its classic sloping pitch at Underhill was vacated a few years ago in favour of a dull modern ground in Edgware. Some people never learn from Yeovil. The tube at High Barnet is probably… Continue reading TO BE FAIR TO BARNET…
LAURA J MARTIN @ THE HARRISON, KING’S CROSS
More bargain music from folk not recycling their past glories on Wednesday night, and a rare London gig that isn’t in Hackney. I even got Mrs RM to accompany me to see Laura J Martin, whose genius is well suited to intimate venues like The Harrison, five minutes from Kings Cross station. The offer of tapas… Continue reading LAURA J MARTIN @ THE HARRISON, KING’S CROSS
A MIRACLE IN WELWYN GARDEN CITY
As a former resident of North Hertfordshire (Letchworth and Hitchin), I’m legally entitled to make fun of the area, but also to defend Stevenage if I want to. Stevenage is still a better pub town than the two Garden City monstrosities, who feature extensively in this classic picture; Mrs RM does her mystical “computer stuff”… Continue reading A MIRACLE IN WELWYN GARDEN CITY
AN IMITATION OF SPOONS IN STOURPORT
We stopped in Stourport to assess its suitability for Charles’s Curry Night Status. Apart from the fact the cheapest B&B was £80, it looked pretty promising. If we get bored we can always gatecrash the funfair. The town lacked a bit of its summery shine in damp January, but it now has an Heron Foods, so… Continue reading AN IMITATION OF SPOONS IN STOURPORT
WEAVING THRU’ KIDDERMINSTER
Mrs RM joined my monthly Midlands pub crawl with Charles in Kidderminster, adding a further boost to their Monday night economy. Our B&B owner (Bewdley Hill,very clean) was rather astonished that 3 people would drive from East Anglia to Kiddy and not look at the steam trains, but the Guest Book in the room suggested… Continue reading WEAVING THRU’ KIDDERMINSTER
ENVILLE IN THE ROBIN HOOD, DRAYTON
You don’t need an OS Explorer map to work out when you’ve left Birmingham for Worcestershire; the pubs take on a different character as you drop below the A456. Redditch & Bromsgrove CAMRA have some underrated country pubs, including the Swan and a trio of decent GBG pubs I’ve visited in posh Belbroughton recently. The Guide newbie, and… Continue reading ENVILLE IN THE ROBIN HOOD, DRAYTON
IN THE LICKEY HILLS -CHIP TANKS AND EMBER GRANNIES
Back down to earth after Dulwich, with a night out in Worcestershire. This did give us the chance to visit some more exciting suburbs of south Birmingham, with Barnt Greens’s attractive roadworks meaning a half hour journey to a pub two miles off the M42. I know Mrs RM had been looking forward to a hike… Continue reading IN THE LICKEY HILLS -CHIP TANKS AND EMBER GRANNIES
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