CHECKING-IN AT THE PETERSGATE TAP

February 2025. Stockport. Actually, a very long last day of February, a day that had started out all cultural before going all wobbly as Jane, Karen and Mrs RM decided that stopping at every pub in Stockport was the best idea, rather than following a curated cask exploration. Fair to say this would NOT have… Continue reading CHECKING-IN AT THE PETERSGATE TAP

THE VIEW FROM MY TRAVELODGE WINDOW

February 2025. Stockport. A cultural day in the Pride of Cheshire deserves a cultural hotel. £44.99 your Friday night Travelodge. Look at these views. That’s your actual brewery tap beer garden visible from your unopenable window. I knew Jane would need to visit Runaway, and equally I knew the trestle table with pizza oven formula… Continue reading THE VIEW FROM MY TRAVELODGE WINDOW

NO BATHAM’S IN THE MAGNET ? IT’LL HAVE TO BE THE APPLE, BLUEBERRY AND MAPLE PASTRY STOUT, THEN

February 2025. Stockport. Happy International Women’s Day, and a post where an Old Bloke mansplains Stockport to three women who really aren’t interested in the town’s crumbling facades, or the niche appeal of Redrock’s entertainment complex. home to that tribute to legendary Sufragette Elsie Plant. Wikipedia says that a century ago “Marie Stopes arranged for… Continue reading NO BATHAM’S IN THE MAGNET ? IT’LL HAVE TO BE THE APPLE, BLUEBERRY AND MAPLE PASTRY STOUT, THEN

ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK. THE SWAN WITH TWO NECKS, STOCKPORT

February 2025. Stockport. Cheshire. A day of culture with Blackpool Jane, Aberdeen Karen and itinerant Mrs RM, a day when the sun shone on the righteous (Me !), and Stockport’s visitor attractions looked the real deal. Unlike some recent flagship openings like the V & A in Dundee, the HatWorks, town museum and adjacent Staircase… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK. THE SWAN WITH TWO NECKS, STOCKPORT

MORE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR SUB-PAR GBG ENTRIES

February 2025. Sheffield. “This Conference instructs the National Executive to reduce the number of pubs in the Good Beer Guide from the 2027 edition onwards, to ensure only quality pubs are featured.” Well, it’ll be worth going to Torquay next month for the big CAMRA shindig to hear that motion debated. There’s been a good… Continue reading MORE DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR SUB-PAR GBG ENTRIES

THE KIVETON TAP. 8% PASTRY STOUTS AND ALL

February 2025. Kiveton. The big trend in Sheffield isn’t hitherto undiscovered Victorian boozers, it’s suburban craft bars open from Thursday to Sunday. Kiveton Tap is one of a dozen Sheffield/Rotherham micros to emerge in post COVID and stake a GBG claim. Kiveton itself has pleasantly repurposed the old mining grounds. 20 years ago we dragged… Continue reading THE KIVETON TAP. 8% PASTRY STOUTS AND ALL