Mrs RM was determined to get her money’s worth from the Day Trip to Sudbury, urging me to pop in to an attractive looking place by the river (the Angel I think). “But it’s only got Landlord & Adnams on !” “Go on, live a little” she urged. “Get out of your comfort zone for once”… Continue reading BACK TO THE ’80s IN GAINSBOROUGH LAND
SUPPING IN SUDBURY – VOLUME I
A first new Guide pub in many years in Rugby, followed by an overdue newbie in Sudbury. Which is possibly the only thing those two towns have in common, unless you know better. There’s a temptation to make this post about opening hours, or more specifically the display of opening hours, but I know… Continue reading SUPPING IN SUDBURY – VOLUME I
WILD MEN IN THE WILD CAT OF STIRCHLEY
I left the highlight of my recent Brum Boozer Bonanza ’till last. A trip to the home of top Midlands photographer Peter Allen to tick the Wildcat Tap in Stirchley. In a rare moment of fallibility, the Beer Guide map places Stirchley pretty much where Sandwell starts. It would also have been a rare moment of GBG… Continue reading WILD MEN IN THE WILD CAT OF STIRCHLEY
“LONDON CALLING”, RUGBY
There can surely be no better place to complete Warwickshire GBG entries than the fine town of Rugby. Except possibly Atherstone. And what better way to complete any county than in a modern music bar, as the sole customer treated to Taylor Swift videos played on every wall, drinking a Church End beer in a… Continue reading “LONDON CALLING”, RUGBY
A “SIGN OF THE TIMES” IN REDDITCH
About time I started a post with a photo of beer barrels used as urinals. On to Redditch, the town famous for having more roundabouts than Milton Keynes (don’t check that) and producing Steph from Big Brother, amongst lesser known stars. I also know people who live there, so I’m on best behaviour. Rather like “The… Continue reading A “SIGN OF THE TIMES” IN REDDITCH
BIZARRE BROMSGROVE BOOZERS
Apart from opening times (or lack of them), my biggest gripe with the Beer Guide is geographical inconsistency. A bit rich coming from a man who gets east (window) and west (door) mixed up, perhaps. But pubs shoot around between headings in the Beer Guide, making life hard for the completist. “Oh, I’ve done the Printer’s… Continue reading BIZARRE BROMSGROVE BOOZERS
THE LANDLORD TEST
What a place Bewdley is. But what a shambolic report from it these posts are, the result of (I presume) losing my notes at the bottom of the Severn, to be poured over by aliens at the End of Time like that scene in A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Dick and Dave had had quite enough beer,… Continue reading THE LANDLORD TEST
HUNTING HIGH AND LOW (FOR DICK & DAVE IN BEWDLEY)
A post for two-thirds of my American readers. And all of my A-Ha fans. I should like to see the Venn Diagram for those two populations. I pursued Dick and Dave to the George in Bewdley, hoping in vain to use up some of my Quarter 4 Spoons Vouchers. Even the appeal of Tally Ho… Continue reading HUNTING HIGH AND LOW (FOR DICK & DAVE IN BEWDLEY)
KIDDY KOMPLETE
Lots of people are boring on about the best pubs in real ale honeypots like Stockport, Berlin, Nottingham and, of course, Newbury. Not much yet from the smaller pub towns which often provide the best pub crawls. Places like Nuneaton, March or Kidderminster, whose Beer Guide collection I finished off last week. On the day Robert… Continue reading KIDDY KOMPLETE
DEFYING GENTRIFICATION IN IPSWICH
Boak & Bailey ask today how you’d respond to a request from a stranger for local pub recommendations. The obvious answer is, of course, go in the pub with mobility scooters outside. Unless it has Arsenal livery. Last year in Ipswich, Mrs RM and I found a pub scene apparently in the throes of craft… Continue reading DEFYING GENTRIFICATION IN IPSWICH
