Mrs RM put the Christmas tree up on 30 November. You can imagine how thrilled I am about that, but I put the figures into my “Quiet Life Model” and it told me to live with it. At least she didn’t ask me to help. I haven’t bought a present for 25 years, and that… Continue reading USING UP THE SPOONS VOUCHERS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
NOVEMBER STOCKTAKE
NOVEMBER REVIEW 57 new Beer Guide pubs in November, in 24 different counties, a geographic high. Some very consistent beer quality in month, with one notable exception. More importantly, it was a month I had some decent beer in that London for a change. Plenty of evidence that CAMRA branches get GBG selection right most… Continue reading NOVEMBER STOCKTAKE
GBG DESPAIR IN WARE
It may be cold but it’s also crisp which is ideal for a walk round East Hertfordshire‘s lethal ‘hoods before ticking off my last Guide entry for the year in Ware. Much Hadham promises much, with my OS Map showing “Winding Hill“, “Palace” and “Waltons“. The latter left for Virginia a century ago, which just… Continue reading GBG DESPAIR IN WARE
HOPE FOR HARROW
Regular readers will know my opinions on the area known in the Beer Guide as North-West London, or “most of Middlesex” to you and me. Flat, intermittently interesting and short of great pubs (never mind beer), with a few exceptions. Back in the ’90s my job took me to such exotic locations as Eastcote, Neasden and… Continue reading HOPE FOR HARROW
STEPPIN’ OUT IN PORTSMOUTH
There’s no shortage of obvious headlines for a trip to Pompey in November; half an hour spent in Fratton’s Spoons provided no end of witticisms, most unrepeatable. Always safest to use the tried-and-tested Joe Jackson one. Wetherspoons seem to fall into two camps now. OAP and family dining (e.g. St Neots), and male dominated cheap… Continue reading STEPPIN’ OUT IN PORTSMOUTH
HALF-PINTS IN CHICHESTER
I’ve been in Fratton for the annual big Pompey GBG tick-off, and took the rattling train to Chichester to say hello to one of our correspondents. John has interesting tales to tell, having been a founder member of Depeche Mode in their formative pub-rock days in Basildon in the late ’70s*. His knowledge of Newark and… Continue reading HALF-PINTS IN CHICHESTER
TAKING YOUR PINT BACK – A WARNING
A rare pub visit where there is little exciting to tell you about the surrounding area, so I won’t. In fact this would have been consigned to the bin if not for the unfortunate mini-trauma of asking for a pint to be changed. I won’t name the GBG pub, and don’t go looking in the photos… Continue reading TAKING YOUR PINT BACK – A WARNING
CHEAP AS CHIPS IN CHESLYN HAY
Staffordshire is in my Top 3 counties for proper pubs; traditional seating, old codgers drinking Bass and Pedi, a lack of pretension. It’s also one of the cheapest counties, producing that virtuous circle of high turnover, high quality and low waste. That applies as much to food as beer. I’ll wager few folk outside of South… Continue reading CHEAP AS CHIPS IN CHESLYN HAY
BRIDGNORTH – NEARLY PERFECT
Some folk seem to think I have a nice life, travelling round the country visiting pubs and listening to female folk singers. Don’t be fooled. My good friend Charles gets to stay in the Black Country a night or two a week, have a curry with me, and go to Audit Comittees. That’s livin’ alreet,… Continue reading BRIDGNORTH – NEARLY PERFECT
BANKS’S AT SOURCE
The demise of Boring Brown Bitters, replaced by a sea of exotic craft, is much overstated. Particularly in the suburbs of the Black Country. What Oxley lacks in architectural interest it makes up for with an ability to get you lost, always a bonus. The Claregate is right on the border with Staffordshire, except of course… Continue reading BANKS’S AT SOURCE
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