DOES ANYTHING BEAT A PLUM PORTER AND THE BUGGLES IN THE BLACK HORSE ?

11th February 2023. Apart from being good company, Preston’s Matthew Lawrenson has the rare quality of being able to walk at my pace. So we arrived in the heart of Preston before the North End fans returned from their hammering at Burnley, before the pubs got too lively. Last time here with Matthew I’d forgot… Continue reading DOES ANYTHING BEAT A PLUM PORTER AND THE BUGGLES IN THE BLACK HORSE ?

WELL, I STILL LOVE THE CITY ARMS

23rd December 2022. Mrs RM eventually turned up at Manchester’s library (the central one, rather than Rylands or Chetham’s), and thankfully hadn’t bought me a Christmas jumper from Primark. Because she’d lost her purse (left it in the car, detail fans). Matt was just about to finish his last cut; Mrs RM had mysteriously lost… Continue reading WELL, I STILL LOVE THE CITY ARMS

TAKE THE FIRST TRAIN FROM LIME STREET

Back from Aigburth to Liverpool Central, to admire the station’s collection of independent stores and liver bird. With Merseyside ticked and half an hour till I could escape to Manchester, I contemplated which classic Liverpool pub I could nip in for a quick half. The blokes were at Anfield, and despite the drizzle the centre… Continue reading TAKE THE FIRST TRAIN FROM LIME STREET