A night in the Norfolk Broads, one of the few bits of Britain I don’t get. Despites Bowie’s recommendation I’ve never felt the slightest inclination for a slow exploration of fields;a canal trip round the Black Country lockworks sounds much more appealing. It’s also very dull on the ground, which is why I so rarely seen any more… Continue reading RULE BRITANNIA IN THE NORFOLK BROADS
ANOTHER CHESTERFIELD CLASSIC
They may have a different view in Mansfield, of course, but Chesterfield really is one of the great small towns. Quirky, compact, cheap, great walks and (occasional) county cricket. Sadly, despite the sterling efforts of local CAMRA, it will never compete with Sheffield for pub tourists, but pound for pound it’s even better. And of course… Continue reading ANOTHER CHESTERFIELD CLASSIC
BUXTON’S TAP
Perhaps strangely, I prefer driving Mrs RM to drink rather than the other way round. Since she reads this, I’ll stop there. We had lunch at Buxton Brewery’s Tap, a place I’d wanted to visit for some time. Their apparent lack of commitment to cask has upset some, but they’ve produced some of my favourite bottled… Continue reading BUXTON’S TAP
SQUAWK
Mrs RM used to have Cheshire Building Society as a client, before they were taken over by Nationwide is a move seemingly designed to annoy Macclesfield Town. For a resident of Cambridge, she’s therefore more than usually familiar with East Cheshire’s underrated little towns and overrated hotels. Macclesfield and Congleton are still favourites of ours,… Continue reading SQUAWK
MIDDLEWICH – LOCKS AND LocALES
Pub Curmudgeon knows Cheshire much better than me, but I’m always struck by how many towns of similar size there are, Chester apart. They’re a mixed bunch as well, with towns a few miles apart providing sometimes startling contrasts. Folk in “Craft Central” Crewe often deny the existence of neighbouring Nantwich, a town surviving on… Continue reading MIDDLEWICH – LOCKS AND LocALES
BELGIAN BEER TASTING IN KNUTSFORD
I’ve still got a handful of this year’s Cheshire Beer Guide entries to do, so my trip to Knutsford last night wasn’t just for the pleasure of John Clarke‘s tutored beer tasting at Dexter & Jones, but that event certainly helped get Mrs RM involved. I enjoyed John’s session on IPAs at the Manchester Beer… Continue reading BELGIAN BEER TASTING IN KNUTSFORD
TOP 100 PUBS -THE YORK TAP
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
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