ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – THE CASTLE HOTEL

May 2025. Manchester. Leaving the Crown I was almost distracted by the siren call of Heaton Mersey’s Griffin, a favourite of Old Mudgie, who I was oddly reminded of by this; but I’d arranged to meet Matt in town for pre-match tea, and had to dash to the end of the Didsbury line to catch… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK – THE CASTLE HOTEL

HILLSBOROUGH – DINOSAURS, ROGER WHITTAKER AND WAINWRIGHT

August 2024. Sheffield. “Fancy a walk Mrs RM ?”. She’s currently obsessed with her Instagram (“Oooh, nearly 2,000 views on Ramsgate !“) but it’s distracting her from her blog and, more importantly, actually getting to Moldova to complete Europe. I picked a stroll that would tick the 10k (steps) box, give her an Instagram reel… Continue reading HILLSBOROUGH – DINOSAURS, ROGER WHITTAKER AND WAINWRIGHT

SHOULD I HAVE STUCK TO THE MILK IN ACCRINGTON RATHER THAN CHASING PRE-EMPTIVE TICKS ?

January 2024. Accrington. For the benefit of our less culturally aware US readers, here’s the reference. Never gets old. Stanley have thrived since that cruel 1989 advert, but at the time of of my first visit years later still languishing in the Northern League. Back in 1995, we rejected a night in a £33 Blackburn… Continue reading SHOULD I HAVE STUCK TO THE MILK IN ACCRINGTON RATHER THAN CHASING PRE-EMPTIVE TICKS ?

SHEFFIELD HATTER PUTS A COAT OVER THE SPEAKER IN THE CASTLE

December 2023. Macclesfield. A busy schedule for the Old Codgers trip to Macclesfield, so a good job for some that all the pubs were next door to each other. Actually, that was one of my minor issues with the day, no real chance to stretch the legs and visit the feral suburbs of Cheshire’s silk… Continue reading SHEFFIELD HATTER PUTS A COAT OVER THE SPEAKER IN THE CASTLE

NO BOOKING REQUIRED IN GEORGE NYMPTON

I know some of us are more naturally positive about the return of pubs than others, just as our views on Covid risks vary. BeerMat is always hopeful, and his latest piece is evidence that things are returning to some sort of normality; Note, however, that the scene above shows blokes drinking Carling. You might… Continue reading NO BOOKING REQUIRED IN GEORGE NYMPTON

GOOD BEER IN LONDON SHOCKER

Contrary to what you might think, I’ve nothing against London.  It’s one of the top ten cities in the South, with a musical heritage stretching from Adam Ant to Gary Glitter. Music drew me there on a super off-peak slow train on Sunday; a rare one-off gig by alt-country legend William Tyler and a very… Continue reading GOOD BEER IN LONDON SHOCKER