October 2025. Tutbury. As BRAPA will tell you, half the fun of GBG ticking is sitting down with the new Guide and working out legal routes to get to an isolated village by public transport. Then giving up and getting your dad to drive you. I’d forgotten Tutbury (& Hatton) had a station, just one… Continue reading TUTBURY TICKING
Tag: Black Country Ales
TIME FOR A COB…
April 2025. Wolverhampton. While our group of #PubMen mused on the disappointment of a closed Combermere Arms, I joined Paul Mudge on a brisk walk back to central Wolves. Paul pauses for no-one in his pub pursuit, not even pics of porcelain cats, and was in and out of the Clarendon in 10 seconds, 10… Continue reading TIME FOR A COB…
ELECTION DAY, TENBURY WELLS
May 2024. Tenbury Wells. Election morning in Ludlow, where I almost overslept the free period in the car park and then nipped out to get the shot of the famous Feathers Hotel, which has seemingly ditched cask and converted its bar to a Starbucks, so lose/lose. We sleep surprisingly well in the campervan, as long… Continue reading ELECTION DAY, TENBURY WELLS
WINNING THE CASK LOTTERY AT THE SECOND ATTEMPT
March 2024. Newport. Salop. A last pub of the night in Newport. There’s more than 3 here, but 3 seemed plenty as we’re approaching middle age. “My pub is virtually next door” I called to Mrs RM, which was a bit of a lie as it was 200 yards and it wasn’t the Shakespeare even… Continue reading WINNING THE CASK LOTTERY AT THE SECOND ATTEMPT
BAPS IN BROMSGROVE
May 2023. Cobs in Cannock, Barms in Brownhills, Sandwiches in Sutton etc etc. Mrs RM went into crisis mode as late May brought a visit of the in-laws for ten (10) nights and I was tasked (ugh) to sort out the garden. I still have no idea what this device does; But my efforts seemed… Continue reading BAPS IN BROMSGROVE
A GOLDEN GLOW IN THE WELLINGTON
20th March 2023. If I was really going to get full value from my rail ticket(s) to Brum that Monday I’d have visited the wonderful Art Gallery, but as you’ll know it’s closed for a while, and I’d had liver and onions so a Balti in Sparkbrook wasn’t an option, either. So a last pub… Continue reading A GOLDEN GLOW IN THE WELLINGTON
I AM OLDSWINFORD’S ONLY BEER TOURIST
20th March 2023. I’m making terribly slow progress towards completing GBG23 (IF I’m actually doing it), which I know will disappoint those of you who had a tenner on me at 18/1 to repeat my GBG22 triumph (what happened to the film starring Emma Stone by the way ?). In truth I’m waiting for the… Continue reading I AM OLDSWINFORD’S ONLY BEER TOURIST
COB, PINT OF MILD, FIRE
Yes, more Stafford, it never ends. Next we did the cultural bit. For a bit, anyway. Oh, yes, the Hovis street, I wanted Will to see that. “What’s keeping you ?” said Paul, who’d made the Bird In Hand half an hour before. His pace is undiminished in 18 months. Now this was Black Country… Continue reading COB, PINT OF MILD, FIRE
HE’S BACK ! (FROM OUTER STAFFORD)
For many, including the inmates of HMP Stafford*, 2021 has been a tough year. Personally, I’ve loved the freedom to travel and visit pubs since April/May/July (delete as appropriate) and there’s been a real sense that the folk in pubs are those who really want to be there. And the return of Proper Days Out… Continue reading HE’S BACK ! (FROM OUTER STAFFORD)
AND SO IT BEGINS….MY FIRST GBG22 TICK, IN RUGBY
Call off the search; it’s arrived. See the excitement on Baa Baa’s little face. I hope he’s rested and ready to start the Big Pink, which you always thought was an album by The Band. My first tick in the new Guide, prompted by whippet from a PO Box in Newmarket, came in Rugby. It… Continue reading AND SO IT BEGINS….MY FIRST GBG22 TICK, IN RUGBY
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