The lack of Cloudwater at the Old Bicycle Shop hit particularly hard as the memory of their Bitter at the York Tap was so fresh. Saturday’s visit was my third, and the first one that’s convinced. This place has a mighty reputation among beer tourists, and the reliable Mr Everitt had recently chided me for… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS -THE YORK TAP
CAMBRIDGE’S OLD BICYCLE SHOP
Another year, another new pub opens in Cambridge, lucky us. And it’s another craft bar, or at least what Mrs RM would recognise as craft having been to both the Waterloo Tap and the Emigration in the same month. At least the welcome in Offerton was craft. Yes, white tiling and metal taps on the… Continue reading CAMBRIDGE’S OLD BICYCLE SHOP
OSSETT IN YORK
I’ve been a fan of Ossett beers since enjoying them in the Brewer’s Pride in the early 2000s. They’ve grown their own estate of pubs organically since then, with their houses in Liversedge and Marsden really standing out. A high turnover of a tight but distinctive range might the secret to their success, rather like… Continue reading OSSETT IN YORK
LAURA J MARTIN AT FULFORD ARMS, YORK
With Simon Everitt in Saddleworth it was safe to venture up to York last night, without the risk of my shirt buttons, accent or pint grip being observed and slated on BRAPA. York isn’t a mainstay of my gigging year, posh students preferring their performances of “Troilus and Cressida” and “What ho !, Mr Jeeves”… Continue reading LAURA J MARTIN AT FULFORD ARMS, YORK
TADCASTER AFTER THE FLOODS
I stopped at Tadcaster on the way to my gig in York, to see how they’re getting on with replacing the bridge that’s cut off east from west. Slowly is the answer. If you remember what market towns were like in the 1870s, before motor cars and wifi, you’ll find Tadcaster familar. On Saturday afternoon,… Continue reading TADCASTER AFTER THE FLOODS
A REASSURING SIGHT BACK IN BLIGHTY
Enough of Franconia, until I read Ron Pattinson’s articles on Forcheim pubs and head back there on my own. You’ll know by now how much I love home comforts and the joys of routine, and my regular Thursday trip to St Neots got me back in touch with England’s glories very quickly. Little Paxton is… Continue reading A REASSURING SIGHT BACK IN BLIGHTY
LANDBIERPARADIES -NUREMBURG’S GEMS
I cannot tell a lie. The highlight of our Nuremberg trip was the sensational “craft” ice-cream in the street below, which is one of my favourite in the world. As is the city, which is firmly in my Top 5 (with Manc, Genoa, Ghent & Berlin). Nuremberg’s neighbourhoods/suburbs can’t rival those in Berlin yet, but they do… Continue reading LANDBIERPARADIES -NUREMBURG’S GEMS
MAY STOCKTAKE
A decent month, with 33 new Beer Guide pubs in 13 counties, and Northants and Staffordshire completed for the year. No new Guide pubs since 21 May though, with Cambridge Beer Fest and a trip to Nuremberg intervening, so Simon may well be catching me up now he’s discovered walking as a travel option. It… Continue reading MAY STOCKTAKE
ERLANGEN – AN UNDISCOVERED BOOZER
After a sobering morning walking round the old Nazi marching grounds, inadvertently intruding on the Rock in the Park site, we needed something a bit uplifting. Erlangen seemed the ideal lunchspot. A university town the size of Cambridge, whose most famous resident seems to have a love-hate relationship with his home, rather like myself. I… Continue reading ERLANGEN – AN UNDISCOVERED BOOZER
VORSPRUND DURCH WOOLWORTHS IN INGOLSTADT
The object of this trip to Bavaria was to see as many new places as possible without really annoying my son Matthew. I’ve always wanted to go to tiny Ingolstadt, at least since 2015 when they somehow made it into the Bundesliga with a 15,000 seat stadium. Their finish of 11th this season must be the football… Continue reading VORSPRUND DURCH WOOLWORTHS IN INGOLSTADT
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