30th December 2022. Possibly THE iconic pub photo of 2022. Baa Baa Toure, Alfie the Alpaca and Colin the Cauliflower fighting over a pint of Abbeydale’s “Through The Hophead Galaxy” in Chesterfield’s Anchor, cheered on by Mrs RM and Eddie, who had finally removd his Hi-Vis jacket. Simon messaged us to say he’d gone straight… Continue reading THE BRAMPTON MILE – PUB MASCOTS COLLIDE
Tag: Anchor
MAGGIE MAY BE CLOSED, CAN I CONQUER CHESTERFIELD ?
Enough of the Retired Martin love-in, let’s get back to the hard yards of Retired Martin travelling to unassuming Northern* towns and finding pubs unexpectedly closed. 27th October 2022. Proving Chesterfield‘s northerness, they don’t yet have parchment, and have maps painted on the side of the houses leading west towards Chatsworth House, which is where… Continue reading MAGGIE MAY BE CLOSED, CAN I CONQUER CHESTERFIELD ?
HOPS ON THE CEILING, HARVEY’S ON THE BAR
There’s an assumption that the annual 500 or so new GBG entries are all micropubs and brewery taps inaccessible by public transport and never open, and of course there’s some truth in that. But not a lot. My final batch of Kent ticks comprised one micro that was really a social pub, a young people’s… Continue reading HOPS ON THE CEILING, HARVEY’S ON THE BAR
SEA SHANTIES IN SALWAYASH
I’ll stick with Dorset and Devon. It does get better. You can find Salwayash yourself though. Mrs RM has stolen my mouse and it’s tough doing map extracts without a mouse. Think “rural Bridport” but without pashminas and you’ve got the Anchor. There’s a piglet on the door to ward off evil spirits in 4x4s.… Continue reading SEA SHANTIES IN SALWAYASH
PIPE CLEANING IN THE VALE OF BELVOIR
Worryingly, it’s now Saturday and I’m giving you diary entries from Tuesday. Poor, poor blogging form. The only answer is four posts a day (or to stop visiting pubs, I guess). I’d like to give you some action photos from my Huddersfield Guest House/pub, where on the Monday I failed to make an early night… Continue reading PIPE CLEANING IN THE VALE OF BELVOIR
SUNSET ON COWES
Two more to finish off my first successful incursion into the Isle of Wight since 2008, fact fans. I’m claiming ten ticks, as I actually touched the King’s Head, even though it was closed. With its windy little streets and cosy pubs, it’s easy to see why Queen Victoria warmed to Cowes, turning her back… Continue reading SUNSET ON COWES
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM : CUT THE BEER RANGE
Good Bass, bad Bass. That’s the problem in the age of the cask lottery. The next day Bass popped up again in Bourne, of all places. What is this witchcraft, is Bass suddenly fashionable ?* Bourne isn’t fashionable. Even with the giants of Stamford and Spalding either side. A town that’s basically a busy bit… Continue reading THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM : CUT THE BEER RANGE
DIG THE NEW BREED (OF DIGBETH PUBS)
“In the (Birmingham) City there’s a thousand words (OK 342) I wanna say to you“. Yes, one for Beer Mat now as we finally enter some Digbeth pubs you’ll all have heard of, even if you’ve never been further out of Brum than the funny bull statue. It’s the Anchor ! It must be 17… Continue reading DIG THE NEW BREED (OF DIGBETH PUBS)
CHERRY TREE MEMORIES IN TINTERN
It was typical that my phone battery would die just as I reached one of the most attractive places on earth, Tintern Abbey. Mrs RM will sort me out once she’s ridiculed me, and made me switch it on and off for a 100th time (that didn’t work). I could have used my laptop for… Continue reading CHERRY TREE MEMORIES IN TINTERN
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
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