October 2025. Sheffield. It’s approaching five years since we escaped Cambridgeshire for The North, only to spend every week since driving back. That first six months in Lockdown Sheffield was spent gazing longingly at the Blake and Blind Monkey, impatient for their reopening. In 2020 the Blake was as famous as the Tap and the … Continue reading THE VIEW FROM THE BLAKE
Tag: Blake
BACK TO BLAKE
April (still !) 2024. Sheffield. One of the great lines, from one of the great songs, from one of the great bands; “And as her kissing got worseoh, her paintings improvedbut what does that prove?It proves nothing“ Well, as my GBG ticking gets worse, so my pubbing improves, and back in Sheffield I decided I… Continue reading BACK TO BLAKE
THE VIEW FROM THE BLAKE
December 2023. Sheffield. Winter came early to Walkley, a layer of snow on Sunday scuppering any exciting travel plans we might have had (though oddly Manchester had escaped). The snow, which never seems to last long here (good), was clearing on Monday before I could emulate the Tynemouth Lodge’s Bass Snowman. By 4pm I’d done… Continue reading THE VIEW FROM THE BLAKE
That quick Sunday evening pint in the Blake Hotel
July 2023. Sheffield. The sun is back in Sheffield, just in times for Tramlines its annual celebration of middle-aged, middle-class nostalgia. Friday’s headliners are the bloke out of the Verve, Bloc Party, and MYQ Kaplan, who I’m convinced ran accountancy training in the ’80s. And the beer comes from Brew Dog. Oh dear. Tremendous fringe,… Continue reading That quick Sunday evening pint in the Blake Hotel
THE 2023 CAMRA AGM FRINGE PUB CRAWL
April 2023. Notice how Mrs RM hangs on Paul’s every word. If only she gave me that much rapt attention*. We had the pleasure of Paul’s company during the CAMRA AGM, which started at Sheffield Uni where Paul was able to add a goodie bag I may well have filled myself that week. Now I… Continue reading THE 2023 CAMRA AGM FRINGE PUB CRAWL