July 2026. Kelham. Sheffield. I know jealousy is a terrible thing, but I really am jealous of Simon’s frenetic progress towards completion of the Beer Guide. It’s not always fun, and BRAPA has the really scary stuff still to come (probably in a boat in a storm near Sark), but nothing gives you that adrenaline… Continue reading GOING LOW IN NEEPSEND SOCIAL CLUB
Tag: food
YE OLDE MUSTARD POT, MIDHOPESTONES
July 2026. Midhopestones. Sheffield. The Number 57 from the bottom of our hill (doesn’t really narrow it down) terminates at Unsliven Bridge 49 minutes later. I had no idea what Unsliven Bridge was, apart from a sense it was beyond the darkest recesses of Stocksbridge, a Sheffield suburb I’ve barely touched and for good reason.… Continue reading YE OLDE MUSTARD POT, MIDHOPESTONES
THAT 18 MINUTES IN GRANTHAM SPOONS IN FULL
July 2026. Grantham. From Sheffield to Waterbeach to see Dad and back in the same day isn’t ideal. But I don’t really want to be hanging around in Cambridge when I could be back with Mrs RM, planning the next leg of our epic Cask Camino (which hit a slight big snag this afternoon). Life… Continue reading THAT 18 MINUTES IN GRANTHAM SPOONS IN FULL
A ROTHERHAM DAY
July 2026. Rotherham. Visiting Dad yesterday a long-term aquaintance said to me “You must enjoy sitting around relaxing at home“. I was speechless. I’m aware some folk do like spending time at home, but 4 years after completing the Beer Guide I’m still not one of them. More than a day in Sheffield and I… Continue reading A ROTHERHAM DAY
TOO HOT FOR PUB GARDENS, TOO HOT FOR CASK ?
July 2026. Sheffield. It’s that time of year again, when local newspapers, even the subscription ones without clickbait, send reporters out to find your city’s top beer gardens, and invite comments from folk who like to reminisce about “The Good Old Days“. I subscribe to Sheffield’s Tribune, which has good if often grim journalism, and… Continue reading TOO HOT FOR PUB GARDENS, TOO HOT FOR CASK ?
SCOUSE
July 2026. Liverpool. Since we got back from all that foreign muck in Armenia you’ve had a string of classic UK pubs. The Harp, the Cock, the Rutland, the New Barrack, the KIT, the Tunbridge Wells Spoons…. And a trip to Liverpool on Thursday to see long-term RM favourite Julia Jacklin preview her upcoming 4th… Continue reading SCOUSE
“THE LOWEST PUB IN THE BRITISH ISLES”
June 2026. Holme. Cambridgeshire. We popped down early on Tuesday to see Dad on his 91st birthday with card and chocolate. He barely stirred from sleep, at least until the Salvation Army band turned up after lunch to play for him. I couldn’t face staying down in Cambridge, so we came straight back. Finding an… Continue reading “THE LOWEST PUB IN THE BRITISH ISLES”
THE DARGETT TAP AND KOND PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL
June 2026. Yereven. This is Mrs RM’s tick list for essential sites in the Armenian capital, denoted by camels. Reader, I saw zero camels in Armenia. These mini-posts are mainly to jog Mrs RM’s memory of an epic Yerevan mop-up day last Sunday, though if I do get some Armenian views I’ll be delighted, as… Continue reading THE DARGETT TAP AND KOND PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL
THE PROBLEM WITH TOMATO GOSE
June 2026. Yerevan. Armenia. Just the hour late, our tour bus returned to its slot opposite the Yerevan Opera House just past 7, and we turned down tickets for Sleeping Beauty just to bring you reports on the craft bar scene. We’ve found clusters of “authentic” craft beer bars all over eastern Europe and into… Continue reading THE PROBLEM WITH TOMATO GOSE
AN EPIC TREK TO THE UNOFFICIAL GYUMRI BREWERY TAP
June 2026. Gyumri. Armenia. Too hot to blog last night, a week ago in northern Armenia it was too hot to go trudging round back streets and scrubland in 33 degrees, but I always accept a challenge from my mate ChatGPT. “Given your track record, I wouldn’t be surprised if by Thursday you’re telling me… Continue reading AN EPIC TREK TO THE UNOFFICIAL GYUMRI BREWERY TAP