Or Opening Times (2). I knew it wouldn’t be long. Two weeks into the new Beer Guide cycle and my first pub that wasn’t open when all indications were that it would be. Beer Guide says Wednesday Open 12-2 WhatPub says Wednesday Open 12-2 Their own website says Wednesday Open 12-2 The sign in the… Continue reading I DON’T BELIEEEVE IT !!
IF THE BEER’S GOOD, SAY SO
I’m making a special effort to tell the folk behind the bar when their beer is really good. It goes down well, even in that London (OK, only had to do that once there this month). Simon mentioned some weird looks he’s had when complimenting the beer, but that’s more to do with the notebook in his hand… Continue reading IF THE BEER’S GOOD, SAY SO
HOLMES CHAPEL GETS THE EMBER INN IT DESERVES
You’ll know I’ve not overjoyed about the growing numbers of Ember Inns in the Guide. I’m not the only pub tourist with that view. It does seem that Wetherspoons get a lot more flak for running identikit dining places than Ember, Marstons and Greene King, and I generally find Spoons have a lot more of… Continue reading HOLMES CHAPEL GETS THE EMBER INN IT DESERVES
MANCHESTER – ALWAYS CHANGING, ALWAYS THE SAME
Richard Coldwell contemplates the title of City of Beer in his excellent blog. It’s a timeless debate that provides easy copy for lazy journalists who are happy to confuse the number of breweries or handpumps with beer quality or pub character. At the CAMRA Revitalisation meeting in July the one moment of friction came when… Continue reading MANCHESTER – ALWAYS CHANGING, ALWAYS THE SAME
JOHN MURRY, GULLIVERS & THE £16 PINT
A few short posts while I try to sort out internet. Mrs RM has been “upgrading” our internet at home. My eldest son can’t play Oculus Rift or whatever he does, which is apparently a disaster. On Friday night, ahead of City’s “match” against Bournemouth, I saw John Murry (no “a”) at Gullivers. Manchester is… Continue reading JOHN MURRY, GULLIVERS & THE £16 PINT
HOLTS MILD IN SUNNY SALFORD
There’s been an interesting discussion on Twitter, sparked by Pub Curmudgeon’s blog, about the worth of the Beer Guide in attracting extra business. That issue might get lost among the fish bladders though. Inclusion in the Guide feels more like a badge of honour than a licence to print money, and I guess there won’t be… Continue reading HOLTS MILD IN SUNNY SALFORD
ON THERFIELD HEATH
I haven’t been particularly fulsome in my praise of South Cambridgeshire, and there’s no new village pubs around there in the Guide, for the 24th year in a row. Just across the border, little change in Hertfordshire and still no GBG pubs in Royston, a town famous only for a hole in the ground*. QUIZ… Continue reading ON THERFIELD HEATH
THE KING’S ARMS, BEDFORD – THE BEER GUIDE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
Fortuitously I was in Bedford yesterday as the launch of the new Beer Guide sent shares in fish bladders plummeting, and able to sample the first new entry you’ll come across in the Guide. The nice man at CAMRA books had asked me to take a photo of his former home, and I always accept requests… Continue reading THE KING’S ARMS, BEDFORD – THE BEER GUIDE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
GOOD BEER GUIDE 2017 – THE LONG AND MICROPUBBED ROAD
Well the Beer Guide is out now so there won’t be any knocks on the door from CAMRA Books if I tell you that the Tandle Hill Tavern is back in the Guide. Hurrah for that. Astonishingly, that Marstons 2-for-1 pub I wrote about yesterday is in, proving that its not all Taps and tasters in… Continue reading GOOD BEER GUIDE 2017 – THE LONG AND MICROPUBBED ROAD
CONTRASTS IN RUTLAND
Rutland is within range of our Campervan, so I expect we’ll be wobbling round the pond there quite a bit. We might even visit all the pubs in the “county”, and there’s bigger hardships in life. There’s a stereotypical Rutland pub with ivy on the walls, hunting pictures and Barbour-jacketed diners, but Oakham’s newest pub… Continue reading CONTRASTS IN RUTLAND
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