You can’t begin to imagine how excited I was to be given a visit to Daventry by the new Beer Guide. It’s at least 15 years since the Dun Cow and Coach & Horses bounded hand-in-hand into the GBG and stayed there togetherfor ever, at least until they both dropped out a little while back. … Continue reading EARLY DOORS IN DAVENTRY
HOTCAKES & FISH BISCUITS IN MERRIE ALTOFTS
Hard to believe, but Mrs RM and I spent a fair few of our early mini-breaks in Wakefield. This was in the days before the internet, when we would find hotels by driving slowly past them, reversing, and asking about rooms. That worked until we got stranded near Skegness one time (ask Mrs RM). The St Pierre in… Continue reading HOTCAKES & FISH BISCUITS IN MERRIE ALTOFTS
JANUARY STOCKTAKE
A month that started in Leigh and ended in Dublin is quite hard to sum up. Just the paltry 35 new Beer Guide pubs, though at least I’ve cleared most of London now. I lost one week to the after-effects of the Manchester Beer Festival, and another to Dublin, whose best pubs really ought to be… Continue reading JANUARY STOCKTAKE
MONDAY, MONDAY
There’s only one thing better than a trip away exploring cobbled streets, ticking pubs and tasting takeaways. And that’s reading about my fellow GBG completists disasters. It’s like the joy you get from confirmation of an Arsenal defeat to a tiny team like Watford. So my recommended reading is Simon’s report from just outside Drax Power Station,… Continue reading MONDAY, MONDAY
REAL DALESMEN, REAL PUBS
When you think you’ve seen it all, along comes Simon Everitt with a January Sunday night in a Croydon Travelodge. But as a base to do visit rural pubs in Buckinghamshire. Really, my admiration knows no bounds. I can’t even pretend that a crafty night in Swaledale can compete with Penge and Chorleywood, but if… Continue reading REAL DALESMEN, REAL PUBS
SAM SMITHS – QUALITY IN CLIFFORD
It’s always good to sample Sam Smiths OBB close to source, and the Old Star in Clifford is about as close as you can get without braving Tadcasters dead-end (bridge re-opening next week I hear). I was visiting fellow blogger Richard Coldwell (Ouhouse), who knows about quality beer judging by the Clifford Beer Fest (Sat… Continue reading SAM SMITHS – QUALITY IN CLIFFORD
CRAFT, HIDDEN CASK, & GETTING LOST IN A DUBLIN LINGERIE DEPARTMENT
Blame Mrs RM for that title by the way, a unique Clash/Father Ted mash-up probably. We didn’t come to Dublin for the pubs, of course, and seven pints in three days is probably below the minimum acceptable level. But we did walk 25 miles, with just one mild argument in the lingerie department at Dunnes… Continue reading CRAFT, HIDDEN CASK, & GETTING LOST IN A DUBLIN LINGERIE DEPARTMENT
MARIA McKEE @ ST. PATRICK’S
Life-changing gigs don’t come much bigger than Maria McKee and Lone Justice at the Marquee back in early ’87. If you were there you’d know. Perhaps a shame that we stayed in the Ship * that night ’till a quarter to ten, thereby missing all but a transcendent passage of “Wheels”, “You are the Light” and… Continue reading MARIA McKEE @ ST. PATRICK’S
DUBLIN – ONE PUMP PUBS, POWER-WALKS & TIN WHISTLES
What excellent windows Dublin has. I stopped to look at a dozen, at least, yesterday morning while Mrs RM’s coffee needs grew greater. We must have passed a gazillion Starbucks, Costas and Harris + Hoole variants before settling on Clement & Pekoe, whose excellent filter wins a point for being hot. Mrs RM put milk in… Continue reading DUBLIN – ONE PUMP PUBS, POWER-WALKS & TIN WHISTLES
TWO TOURISTS AVOIDING CRAFT IN DUBLIN
Dublin isn’t all cask and craft, of course, although following the helpful advice of the Beer Nut might give that impression. His helpful link to Irish craft beer is here. We’re primarily here for the traditional music festival around Temple Bar, which is better than you might believe if you’ve ever spent a lost weekend there. Last… Continue reading TWO TOURISTS AVOIDING CRAFT IN DUBLIN
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