October 2026. Tonbridge. I decided to let the train take the strain from Sheffield to Tonbridge; at £29.60 advance it was probably cheaper with diesel over £2 a pint or whatever they sell it in. Sheff-St Pancras, quick dash, St Pancras-London Bridge, quick dash, London Bridge to Tonbridge. I just wish it was easy to… Continue reading SINKING SHEPS
Tag: Pubs
DRAUGHT BASS AT THE FLOWERPOT
October 2026. Derby. Rushing out of the Tiny Tap to avoid the strains of the debut Duran Duran single I find myself at the Darley bus stop with a (late) bus called either 9.1 the nines, 6X the sixes or the comet approaching. I try to pay on my phone. It fails, the driver taps… Continue reading DRAUGHT BASS AT THE FLOWERPOT
DERBY’S ODD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEER GUIDE
October 2026. Derby. Mrs RM has been down in RTW, as the kidz call it, arranging care packages for my father-in-law. Just because it’s been on the horizon for ages doesn’t make it less draining. I’d had to take the morning train (like Sheena Easton) back to Sheffield to get the boiler serviced, clear out… Continue reading DERBY’S ODD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEER GUIDE
A WORD TO THE WISE. MORLEY’S SEVEN HILLS IS A CLASSIC
October 2026. Morley. West Yorkshire. Dave “US” Southworth often asks which places surprised me. A good question, which today gets “Morley, West Yorkshire” added to the answers. Wiki says “Morley is a market town and a civil parish within the City of Leeds metropolitan borough; the largest town (pop 44,440) in the borough after Leeds… Continue reading A WORD TO THE WISE. MORLEY’S SEVEN HILLS IS A CLASSIC
SEPTEMBER ’26 STOCKTAKE + OCTOBER PREVIEW
Right, now I’ve reached the end of September I can bring you the highlights; none of this posting a summary two (2) days early nonsense. Nothing particularly startling about the travel map; but September 2026 was a notable month for good and bad reasons. Beginning with the privilege of taking James and Matt and Emma… Continue reading SEPTEMBER ’26 STOCKTAKE + OCTOBER PREVIEW
THE BEER GUIDE PUB OPEN FIVE (5) HOURS A WEEK
September 2026. North Hykeham. Lincolnshire. Friday was a perfect day, and not in a corny Lou Reed charity single way. I drove down to see Dad, who despite advancing dementia was as chatty as he’s been for many months, was eating well, and had somehow acquired the Russian resident’s hat. I stayed a couple of… Continue reading THE BEER GUIDE PUB OPEN FIVE (5) HOURS A WEEK
ADMIRING PUB AI IN SOUTH ANSTON
September 2026. South Anston. South Yorkshire. Obviously I’m not actually aiming to complete the Beer Guide again; not sure I could afford all those helicopter flights and ferries in the final year anymore, never mind the stress. But I’m still visiting as many new Guide pubs as I can, and a bit more conscientous about… Continue reading ADMIRING PUB AI IN SOUTH ANSTON
TAKE THE STRAIGHT LINE TO HEADCORN
September 2026. Headcorn. Kent. We settled my father-in-law at the Queen Vic Hospital, the most notable thing about East Grinstead, in a room decorated with this painting of a cricket ground with the shortest boundary in Kent. Just as I always tell you that young people are great, and CAMRA does a marvellous job (but… Continue reading TAKE THE STRAIGHT LINE TO HEADCORN
“Do you still sell Courage ?” THE WHITE HART, GODSTONE
September 2026. Godstone. Surrey. Three nights in Royal Tunbridge Wells looking after the in-laws, with only a tiny bit of exploration. A rare visit to mysterious Tandridge district; north of Gatwick, south of the Croydon suburbs, west of Churchill’s home and the National Trust parkland. Oh, and very close to Titsey. 5,949 commuters souls, clustered… Continue reading “Do you still sell Courage ?” THE WHITE HART, GODSTONE
TOP 100 PUBS – WEST RIDING REFRESHMENT ROOMS, DEWSBURY STATION
September 2026. Dewsbury. A Top 100 pub, but also a Top 5 “hour spent in the pub”, except it was probably only 37 minutes. Yes, it’s Dewbury, the land that time forgot, tucked away in that triangle formed by the M62 and the M1, outshone by the honeypots of Liversedge, Ossett and a mysterous place… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – WEST RIDING REFRESHMENT ROOMS, DEWSBURY STATION
