13th February 2023. I’d only been back from Manchester 12 hours and I was back again, along with James, for the Weyes Blood gig at the Ritz. Whether you can pronounce Weyes correctly* determines which century you live in, musically. Sheffield may have all the best pubs, but Manchester still gets the top gigs, and… Continue reading BAO BUNS OFF OXFORD ROAD
Tag: Cloudwater
MANCHESTER IS BLUE
You thought I’d forgotten, didn’t you ? 22 May 2022. The day we stopped the Scouse winning the league, to the jubilation of the rest of England (Liverpool is a separate country).. Colin would have been proud. I nearly didn’t go the Villa game; I’ve been too nervous of late and Matt and James have… Continue reading MANCHESTER IS BLUE
“We never win at home and we never win away…”
Still 90 minutes till the late kick-off at the Etihad; the weather in Manchester had improved since I’d arrived (funny that) as I left the Lass O’ Gowrie for student-land. There are approximately 37,577 different routes to take to get to the Etihad, and I chose the one that went past the famous Vimto statue.… Continue reading “We never win at home and we never win away…”
SMELLS LIKE ARMPIT
Mrs RM is very keen for you to know the house is looking better than it did a week ago; By the time the pubs open, it might be habitable, which is ironic as I shall be out at the pub, shan’t I ? She’s particularly pleased with her work on the fireplace; In case… Continue reading SMELLS LIKE ARMPIT
SUNSET OVER WHITSTABLE
12th January 2020 If Whitstable was in Suffolk I’d hate it and make rude pashmina jokes about the wrong sort of Joules. Last time here I did a couple of micropubs whose owners convinced of their sides chances in the last cup match. West Ham beat Man United but the Black Dog and Handsome Sam… Continue reading SUNSET OVER WHITSTABLE
NOW, EVEN CREWE GOES CRAFT
Back at Crewe station at 7pm, I really should have gone to bed with a Chinese takeaway after that mammoth Stafford session. But that’s not how life works, is it ? “Oooh, I wonder what’s in Crewe” “You know exactly what’s in Crewe, retiredmartin. Hops and Borough Arms, same as every year since 2004″ “Yeah,… Continue reading NOW, EVEN CREWE GOES CRAFT
ROYALS IN WYCOMBE
Having taken the mick (he’s my uncle) out of Norwich all week it was obvious they’d beat City on Saturday in what has variously been described as “The biggest shock in Premier League history” (Norwich FM) and “A good day out on the p**s ” (City fans). Many of those City fans seem to have… Continue reading ROYALS IN WYCOMBE
THE NEWTON ABBOT HABIT
Back to mid-July in Devon, and the centrepiece of my 3 days in Plymouth. Yes, I caught the train back up the line to Teignmouth via Newton Abbot. 20 new GBG pubs within easy reach by train from Plymouth, which is as good a reason as any to live there, I guess. And you won’t… Continue reading THE NEWTON ABBOT HABIT
CLOUDWATER COMES TO STOCKTON
WARNING: Contains trip to Stockton-on-Tees without a visit here; No banked Bass, but another day to admire the ongoing revitalisation of Darlington’s hitherto scruffy sister. Goodness me, Stockton is scrubbing up well. The big project is the refurb of the Globe Theatre, which once played host to the Beatles in the days before Lennon switched… Continue reading CLOUDWATER COMES TO STOCKTON
CASK IN ANCOATS, CACK AT THE ETIHAD
Am I allowed to use the word “cack” ? My mum says cack-handed, so must be OK. Into Manchester, having narrowly avoided being lynched for missing the second “k” out of Kirkby Lonsdale (thanks Russ). Or more properly, into Salford, where I was spending a night in romantic Weaste. Never been before, a semi-mythical place… Continue reading CASK IN ANCOATS, CACK AT THE ETIHAD