A HATHERSAGE HOP

October 2023. Hathersage. Peak District. If there’s one thing that characterises the frustration of GBG ticking, it’s realising that the new Guide entry in a town you recently visited is literally the only pub you didn’t visit, despite scouring What Pub for pre-emptives. And more often than not that future GBG tick will have been… Continue reading A HATHERSAGE HOP

TOP 100 PUBS – THE CHESTERFIELD ARMS

September 2023. Chesterfield. A very inefficient start to the new GBG year, so it’s a good job I’m not a professional ticker anymore. My attempt on 3 Chesterfield pubs last Thursday was halted by the bloating “Chinese takeaway in the rain” and my conversion to “pints only” after completing the Guide. But there’s nothing worse… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE CHESTERFIELD ARMS

YOU “PHILTHY ANIMAL” ! CHINESE TAKEAWAY IN THE RAIN IN A CHESTERFIELD SUBURB

September 2023. Hasland, Chesterfield. My second “recommended pub” wasn’t in Chesterfield, it was in Hasland. But show me someone who doesn’t think Hasland is a suburb of that noble town and I’ll sell you a crooked spire. Leaving the Spread Eagle I’d already got my pre-emptive tick for the day, and I could relax and… Continue reading YOU “PHILTHY ANIMAL” ! CHINESE TAKEAWAY IN THE RAIN IN A CHESTERFIELD SUBURB

3 CHEERS FOR CHESTERFIELD

September 2023. Chesterfield. Another year, another Big Trip to Chesterfield, another three (3) recommended pubs to visit. Who are these people who recommend pubs. Why, they must remain mysterious. A fiver for the fifteen minute rail journey from Sheff, my 378th consecutive trip on a packed Northern journey. And folk tell you we don’t need… Continue reading 3 CHEERS FOR CHESTERFIELD

NEW MILLS, HANDY FOR THE PILs (PARENTS-IN-LAW)

May 2023. I’d made curated a beautiful list of Things To Do In And Around Sheffield That Aren’t The Blind Monkey for the in-laws ten (10) day visit, and a trip to New Mills was Number 1 on the schedule, if only to allow me to raid the Half Man Half Biscuit video store again;… Continue reading NEW MILLS, HANDY FOR THE PILs (PARENTS-IN-LAW)

HELD UP ON THE WAY TO THE PARWICH LEGION

4th February 2023. A first campervan outing of the year, and I remembered to take the 4 pint growler that previously held some cloud grapefruit DIPA acquired during lockdown. Oddly, and worryingly, that liquid looks indistinguishable from the contents on Sunday morning. We’d headed about an hour south on Saturday for that final Derbyshire tick,… Continue reading HELD UP ON THE WAY TO THE PARWICH LEGION

THE BRAMPTON MILE – PUB MASCOTS COLLIDE

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

GBG TICKERS AGM – WAITING FOR BRAPA IN THE RECTORY

30th December 2022. Unfortunately, due to Mrs RM’s belated shopping spree in Chesterfield, and my determination to get a shot of “the infant BRAPA” (not a Teesside micro), I arrived at the tickers AGM in the Rectory too late to give the keynote speech, or to buy everyone a pint. Never mind. As it was… Continue reading GBG TICKERS AGM – WAITING FOR BRAPA IN THE RECTORY