January 2024. Preston. We (finally left) the Black Horse for our gig in Preston’s student-land, relatively bright and breezy as well as full of pastry, gelatinous jelly, pork and chilli jam. Even the Old Black Bull looks appealing after an hour on the Old Tom. Duncan had been recently and described the Chain House tap… Continue reading THE CHAIN HOUSE, PRESTON
Tag: Lancashire
NEVER MIX BEER WITH WINE. ESPECIALLY SERBIAN MARMALADE ORANGE WINE.
January 2024. Preston. The train back from Accrington arrived at Preston station at 16:38. I really should have stopped off in Blackburn and taken pictures of the modern cathedral, you’d love it, but I was missing Mrs RM. Our big gig at the Ferret started in less than 3 hours; what could possibly go wrong… Continue reading NEVER MIX BEER WITH WINE. ESPECIALLY SERBIAN MARMALADE ORANGE WINE.
TICKING ACCRINGTON LIKE A TROOPER
January 2024. Accrington. A night in Preston, but still 5 hours till our gig. Exactly the wrong amount of time, really. Despite the station’s perfect positioning, there’s insufficient time to reach a place with more than a lone pub to tick (that would be Carlisle or Glasgow). It’s too late to get to a football… Continue reading TICKING ACCRINGTON LIKE A TROOPER
WELCOME TO PRESTON
January 2024. Preston. On the Friday Blackpool Jane had bravely visited Preston properly for the very first time, and lived to tell the tale (just about). We arrived just after lunch the next day ahead of a gig that evening at the Ferret, and without a clue how to spend the next 7 hours, but… Continue reading WELCOME TO PRESTON
APPLEJACKS – ALL YOU NEED IN LONGRIDGE
January 2024. Longridge. Perhaps the shortest post* since the Golden days of 2015, as I nip in a Lancashire micro for a quick half. Just like in 2022 when I was frantically finishing the Guide. The West Lancs small pubs, in particular, are virtually indistinguishable from each other in style and I don’t say that… Continue reading APPLEJACKS – ALL YOU NEED IN LONGRIDGE
HOP SHOPPE – RESIST THE TASTERS ! RESIST !
January 2024. St Annes. I took Mrs RM back her bag of Maltesers from the Travelodge vending machine (£1.30, inflation), and headed straight out to my second tick. A word on St. Annes (is there a full stop after the St. ? Never know). You can trust a place whose sports shop has more City… Continue reading HOP SHOPPE – RESIST THE TASTERS ! RESIST !
HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY COUNTY. No. 19 – LANCASHIRE
Getting these “best of” posts out before midnight every day, on top of my incredibly busy days, is so stressful. I almost just picked five from Preston tonight; Black Horse, Old Vic, New Conti (for music), Vinyl Tap, Blue Bell, before remembering that Blackpool Jane would never speak to me again, But I will start… Continue reading HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY COUNTY. No. 19 – LANCASHIRE
“Are ya CAMRA ?”
January 2024 (though I fear I’ll be writing 2023 till at least the 12th so good job we don’t use cheques anymore). Chorley. I very nearly skipped the Flat Iron, as it used to be the Market Tavern, and professional tickers would consider it poor form to revisit a pub just because it had changed… Continue reading “Are ya CAMRA ?”
CHORLEY NOT ?
January 2024. Chorley. January is always a tricky month for pub tickers. Obviously there’s the temptations of Dryanuary and the desire to proclaim your worthiness with photos of yourself at home in Wakefield with a nice cup of cocoa. And if you do bin off Dryanuary, will the weather, rail unions, and micro opening times play… Continue reading CHORLEY NOT ?
TOO MUCH FIZZ
August 2023. Lancaster. Mrs RM had been badgering me to accompany me to see Barbie for a fortnight; apparently it shows you’ve smashed the patriarchy if you can get your “Ken* ” to watch a film about smashing the patriarchy with you. My concerns were two-fold. Would we get those £4.99 seats ?, and would… Continue reading TOO MUCH FIZZ
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