“In the City there’s a thousand pubs but I only need two”

16th November 2022. A second City pub in quick succession, after silently cursing (“Oh, tasters !”) I couldn’t do the Olde Mitre. Honestly, there was no need for London to erect this statue of me with the Good Beer Guide Completion trophy, something Messi will never hold. I thought I’d have visited the Inn of… Continue reading “In the City there’s a thousand pubs but I only need two”

GUESS THE PUB SAYS “THE PRIDE IS DRINKING WELL”

This morning you get a “Guess the Pub” by request. An interesting concept, you’d think, giving the requestor a mild advantage. But he (or she, sexist) is sworn to secrecy on pain of excommunication from retiredmartin.com. It might be a doddle, as this pub is world famous as the boozer featured in Series 2 of… Continue reading GUESS THE PUB SAYS “THE PRIDE IS DRINKING WELL”

THAT UNWISE FINAL PINT OF ESB IN THE PARCEL YARD

We are all BRAPA. Thankfully, we’re not, or waiting on railway platforms would be a messy affair. I managed to make it back from the Jackalope to King’s Cross, which does have loos, only stopping to admire the Green Man (now renamed Greene Man to cash in on Graham Greene craze sweeping the nation). And… Continue reading THAT UNWISE FINAL PINT OF ESB IN THE PARCEL YARD

FULLERS TAKE THE BRASS, BRASS CASTLE TAKE THE PLAUDITS AT MANC FEST ’19

I’m no great fan of beer festivals, and not just because they take people out of pubs (I know, I know). And writing about them is much harder than writing about pubs. But Manchester Fest is always great fun, the beer is cool (in both senses), and being Northern people sometimes speak to you rather… Continue reading FULLERS TAKE THE BRASS, BRASS CASTLE TAKE THE PLAUDITS AT MANC FEST ’19

OH FOR THE WINGS OF A DOVE (TO ESCAPE TO A DRINKERS’ PUB)

Christmas is marked by the first appearance of the Winter edition of Ullage, your favourite West Berkshire beer and pubs magazine (edging out the Hungerford Horse & Jockey Weeekly for the third consecutive year). Newbury Tim is always great company, finding me a wealth of new art, bands and pubs to explore, and we met… Continue reading OH FOR THE WINGS OF A DOVE (TO ESCAPE TO A DRINKERS’ PUB)