A second Staffs tick, and suddenly, it’s complete ! Look very closely and you’ll see a deeper shade of pale for those two most recent ticks. These things matter. Now, Hednesford is a surprising place. One of the string of Staffs mining towns north of Cannock that have added a gem of a micro to… Continue reading HANGING AROUND IN HEDNESFORD, HOPING
Tag: Staffordshire
BROCCOLI STEMS, LOVE & LIQUOR IN CODSALL
I didn’t expect to be heading back to Codsall so soon. In late 2019 this small Staffs village on the edge of Wolverhampton was the unlikely starting point for a memorable Old Codgers trip to Shifnal. One thing Old Codgers don’t do is search out artisan places for late lunch, but that was my priority… Continue reading BROCCOLI STEMS, LOVE & LIQUOR IN CODSALL
UNICORNS – ALMOST AS RARE AS DRAUGHT BASS
His look of sympathy was the one you’d give a child asking you if he could have a unicorn for Christmas. Second best, particularly if you’re six years old, but I could have a pint in THE Unicorn, one of the almost permanent Stoke GBG entries. Blimey, it’s even better than I remembered it (admittedly… Continue reading UNICORNS – ALMOST AS RARE AS DRAUGHT BASS
TOP 100 PUBS – THE COACHMAKERS ARMS, HANLEY, STOKE-ON-TRENT
In Stoke with a bed for the night, a Chinese takeaway selected, and my new GBG entry already ticked. But it’s barely evening. Let’s do the Hanley classics. And that’s the problem when you lack discipline as a ticker. You convince yourself that the Albion with its lone Pedi pump must be a pre-emptive chance.… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE COACHMAKERS ARMS, HANLEY, STOKE-ON-TRENT
….AND A NIGHT OUT IN STOKE
OK, OK, it’s really Hanley, but it’s slotted under a Stoke sub-heading in the GBG and that’s what counts. In 2014 we stayed in the Hanley Premier Inn and I walked to Newcastle-Under-Lyme to save the bus fare, so the mile from Stoke Station was a doddle. Hanley doesn’t have the greatest of reputations, despite… Continue reading ….AND A NIGHT OUT IN STOKE
BETWEEN BABYLON AND VENICE
Think of this as a short bonus post on a day when other news may take your attention from my blog. (Congratulations Carrie and Boris). On Sunday I became the first person ever (ever) to visit Cheadle, Staffs four (4) times in a calendar year. Even Mrs RM said “Cheadle? Not again !” and she… Continue reading BETWEEN BABYLON AND VENICE
MORE PRE-TRAIN DIVERSIONS IN BURTON
One left in Burton. As Matt says; there’s plenty of good pubs here, including The Dog. Not sure about the appeal of 11 handpulls, mind. I only saw one Pedi pump on the bars at the Leopard and the Anchor. Once I’m sure that Life After Football has been in I’ll do those next visit.… Continue reading MORE PRE-TRAIN DIVERSIONS IN BURTON
READ ALL ABOUT IT, BREWS OF THE WORLD
I still had 20 minutes till my second and final Burton GBG tick opened, 17 minutes before the train left for home, and you should NEVER walk past a new pub recommended by Life After Football. Particularly one like Brews of the World that bothers to be open, look inviting, and be full of Bass… Continue reading READ ALL ABOUT IT, BREWS OF THE WORLD
A PUB TEA AT THE OLD ROYAL OAK, BURTON
Right, let’s tick Burton. 2 minutes from The Crossing (not the Big Country album with the bagpipes) is the market square I never knew Burton had, and the pub I never knew existed. It’s very quiet, but to be honest so is Burton. There’s more folk in pubs than in shops, just as it should… Continue reading A PUB TEA AT THE OLD ROYAL OAK, BURTON
WHEN IN BURTON, A MAN SHOULD DRINK THE LOCAL BEER
That’s not me being sexist, by the way, I’m sure it’s a direct quote from Wordsworth. Or Burton Tourist Office. Women ARE allowed to drink Doom Bar rather than Babycham or Rochefort 10, even though Mrs RM turned down the amber nectar at Winchester in 2019. You left me at Henry’s Record Shop, having just… Continue reading WHEN IN BURTON, A MAN SHOULD DRINK THE LOCAL BEER
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