It’s always awkward when the truth undermines your underlying narrative, and I have to admit that beer quality in London has been decent in recent months (the financial heart apart). On the other hand, I’m always stressing my admiration for CAMRA branches and their ability to find the best beer for the Beer Guide, which… Continue reading BERMONDSEY RAILWAY ARCHES, ROTHERHITHE JETTY
THE BALD BUZZARD LIFTS LEIGHTON EVEN HIGHER
I doubt anyone took notice when I rated Leighton Buzzard my pub town of 2015. Nothing in Bedfordshire can be that good ? As BRAPA has discovered, the county has some gems, and any pub you fall asleep in is clearly worthy of merit. You’ll notice I visited a month after Simon but managed to hold my drink. Just… Continue reading THE BALD BUZZARD LIFTS LEIGHTON EVEN HIGHER
WEST KIRBY
Yesterday I couldn’t even remember to tell you the name of my GBG tick (it was the King’s Arms in Bethnal Green), so it’s back to basics today. But there’s a thread running between these posts. The star of Thursday night was Bill Ryder-Jones, late of Wirral popsters the Coral. He’s very proud of his Cheshire… Continue reading WEST KIRBY
END OF THE ROAD CHRISTMAS SHOW – THE FAIRYTALE OF SHOREDITCH
Barely back from Burton an hour, we had to shoot off to Shoreditch for the End of the Road Christmas show. This is typically a tiny show in a new east London club venue with decent sound; last year’s gig at Oslo had the best sound and most overpriced beer of the year. The last few… Continue reading END OF THE ROAD CHRISTMAS SHOW – THE FAIRYTALE OF SHOREDITCH
TOUGH CHOICES IN REPTON AND SWADLINCOTE
No new Beer Guide pubs in Burton this year, which means no trips to the spiritual home of Bass, run brilliantly by Joules. I’ll find an excuse. Some rare new ticks in the east though, and some good walking on the edge of the National Forest. The Forest is coming along nicely two decades in,… Continue reading TOUGH CHOICES IN REPTON AND SWADLINCOTE
TOP PRE-MATCH PUBS No.1 – THE PICCADILLY TAP
I was in the great city of Stoke as a cheap base for my latest trip to the Etihad, watching City reserves play that Glasgow team supported by professional drinkers. These days, it’s more a case of watching the day-trippers taking selfies and continually standing up to let latecomers take their seats. Having already ticked off… Continue reading TOP PRE-MATCH PUBS No.1 – THE PICCADILLY TAP
PENKHULL – YOU’RE MY HONEYWALL
I could have lumped my walk round Penkhull in with the post on Newcastle-under-Lyme, but it’s quite parochial round here. And while I wouldn’t call N-u-L posh, it positively flaunts its wealth at the townships down the A52. Even their Travelodge feels like The Carlyle when you’ve spent a night at Stoke’s top railway hotel. Rarely will… Continue reading PENKHULL – YOU’RE MY HONEYWALL
DOWN CASTLE DUCK !
The first rule of pub blogging is that you must nick other people’s ideas, but put a little link to their latest blog as a thank-you. So here’s Matthew Lawrenson’s quite brilliant review of Newcastle-upon-Lyme, which comes complete with music matching tips and psychedelic photography of an Ember Inn. I can’t compete with Matthew’s… Continue reading DOWN CASTLE DUCK !
LOVELY LYMESTONE
A very quick post from the Piccadilly Tap (updated in the North Staffs Hotel) to reassure our US readers I haven’t been murdered by Stokies furious at my choosing London murk over their Plum Porter on Saturday. I’m staying in Stoke, which is fun. Good train connections for Manchester and Stone, which has a rare… Continue reading LOVELY LYMESTONE
SURVIVING SOUTH-WEST LONDON PART 2 – TOOTING TO CLAPHAM
The No.44 dropped off us off at Tooting Broadway, allowing us half a mile walk along one of London’s most calorific streets. Yet another place Mrs RM has worked (St Georges) though she claimed to have resisted the lure of the barfi in Nirala back then. Asian sweets and cake shops all the way up to… Continue reading SURVIVING SOUTH-WEST LONDON PART 2 – TOOTING TO CLAPHAM
