South-east London into Kent is now a journey via a sea of micropubs; three new ones in five miles along the A2 have entered the GBG this year, to join some impressive company. As always, the real joy of micros is in the exercise of self-control as you realise the published opening times are totally… Continue reading THE CRAYFORD TWINS
BEERMATS AND BBB HEAVEN ON DEVIL’S DYKE
Mrs RM is in training for a mammoth walk in Kerry at Easter; the Dublin trip last month will be sufficient training for the pubs. There’s not much opportunity for exertion in Cambridge; our castle mound stretches to 10 metres, though it compensates by proximity to pubs. The best the county has to offer is… Continue reading BEERMATS AND BBB HEAVEN ON DEVIL’S DYKE
STARED AT IN SITTINGBOURNE
The Good Beer Guide gets you out of your comfort zone; no other publication is going to persuade you to trek out to Sittingbourne at 8am on a drab February morning, is it ? But remember, the sun always shines on North Kent. Despite a prime location as a Gateway to Sheppey, Sittingbourne has failed… Continue reading STARED AT IN SITTINGBOURNE
RACE FOR THE PRIZE – GBG COMPLETION UPDATE
I’m delighted that Duncan Mackay has started a blog to record his adventures, including the completion of the Good Beer Guide pubs (see here). Duncan has the beating of me in sneaking in the back to pour his own pint stakes, though I can compete on the “gatecrashing a private function stakes“, having posed (unsuccessfully)… Continue reading RACE FOR THE PRIZE – GBG COMPLETION UPDATE
TOP 100 PUBS – THE RED DEER, SHEFFIELD
A fourth trip to Sheffield since August, and a second to the University, with an eldest one who seems quite taken with the place. That’s more to do with the computer facilities in The Triangle than the beauty of the architecture though. Or the pubs. Parents were given a handy little guide to the city, which pleasingly details… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE RED DEER, SHEFFIELD
INTO THE VALLEYS
I’m grateful to Swansea CAMRA for remind me to put my NBSS scores in. Remembering the beer names, when there’s so little consistency of range on the bar, is the hardest task. That reminded me I’ve a bit more of Gwent tell you about. The bit you’ve never been to. There’s nothing better than a clutch… Continue reading INTO THE VALLEYS
A PURPLE MOOSE IN FENSTANTON
I’m enjoying Pint & Pubs blog posts (here) detailing his almost daily visits to Cambridge’s pubs, which really get to the heart of 2017 pub life (often too quiet). Clearly a wise man, he often skips the slow moving cask for a Punk or a Pilsner, an option clearly not available to GBG tickers. I… Continue reading A PURPLE MOOSE IN FENSTANTON
THE THRILL OF PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUBS IN REDDITCH
From the Gower to Redditch, from a sea of Spoons to the classic Worcestershire Private Members Club. Only following the Good Beer Guide (and Mrs RM’s directions) can give you such a varied life. It was raining in Redditch, so you’re not getting much of my usual gush about street art and surprising C17th architecture,… Continue reading THE THRILL OF PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUBS IN REDDITCH
WELSH SPOONS
No trip to Wales is complete without a Sunday morning spent watching old boyos downing pints of lager. It’s easy to forget that this simple pleasure was denied to them before Wetherspoons crossed the Severn in the ’90s (and that’s before we get into the issue of Sunday licensing). My correspondent on minor sports tells… Continue reading WELSH SPOONS
SWANSEA ON THE RISE
The Gower has the sheep and traditional pubs, but Swansea has the vitality at the moment. Each trip reveals new regeneration projects, while the Swansea Bay lagoon will, reportedly, produce enough power to keep the floodlights on at the Vetch Liberty. Mind you, finishing 17th in the League probably earns you £1.3 billion these days. Talking… Continue reading SWANSEA ON THE RISE
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