February 2024. Newcastle-Under-Lyme. We arrived in Hanley, capital of That Stoke, and after only three (3) attempts managed to park outside the Premier Inn. Missing the car park is a family tradition. In November 2014 I walked from that hotel to Newcastle-u-L, as the kids call it, as the last leg of a step challenge.… Continue reading TAKE THE FIRST BUS TO NEWCASTLE (UNDER LYME)
Tag: Staffordshire
ONE BEER IS PLENTY, OFTEN MORE THAN ENOUGH
February 2024. Leek. An hour till Benks, my second Leek Guide debutant opened (hopefully), time to walk the bounds and take pictures of leaks in Leek. and recall the “Dick Southworth Cheese Incident” in the Wilkes Head, whose sign surely needs a trip to the Repair Workshop. Mrs RM needed a trip to the Repair… Continue reading ONE BEER IS PLENTY, OFTEN MORE THAN ENOUGH
A QUICK LEEK
February 2024. Leek. Back from a week in Waterbeach, Mrs RM joined me on a weekend taking advantage of bargain hotel prices. First up, Stoke, via breakfast at Hope’s Grasshopper cafe. May it be noted that Mrs RM resisted both the cakes, and the breakfast stout from the cans on the shelves. Quality sourdough nduja… Continue reading A QUICK LEEK
HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY. No. 39 – STAFFORDSHIRE
If memory serves me right, I declared Staffordshire our No.1 Midlands pub county recently. So it’s only fair picking half a dozen pubs should be tricky, and divide families. But here’s five pubs to give you a flavour of Staffordshire, a county of beautiful scenery, “challenging” post-industrial landscapes, oatcakes and Robbie Williams. I expect my… Continue reading HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY. No. 39 – STAFFORDSHIRE
AND THE BEST MIDLANDS COUNTY FOR PUBS IS…
Staffordshire, obviously. Well, Beermat did ask, and I’m always happy to provide the definitive answer. Of course, some will say I’m biased due to the brewery that produces this classic, but not at all. Leave the brewery counting to Norwich and Sheffield and look inside a pub like the Coachmakers in Hanley. Staffordshire has the… Continue reading AND THE BEST MIDLANDS COUNTY FOR PUBS IS…
DISPENSING CAREER ADVICE AT UTTOXETER STATION
July 2023. Uttoxeter. I consulted the bus timetable to return from Kingstone to Uttoxeter; it seemed to suggest I should have left the previous week. Still, the alternate walk back via Loxley was rather less stressful than the outward slog, helped by the armful of questionable toffees (top) grabbed from a jar as I left… Continue reading DISPENSING CAREER ADVICE AT UTTOXETER STATION
WELL, AT LEAST THE CHIPS WERE GOOD
July 2023. Uttoxeter. The Wikipedia entry for Kingstone is the dullest in the UK. But at least they have a “man of the people” as their Member of Parliament; I’m sorry if that photo is more scary than my ring finger. When you’ve walked four (4) miles out to a pub you really, really, want… Continue reading WELL, AT LEAST THE CHIPS WERE GOOD
FINDING MYSELF UNEXPECTEDLY IN UTTOXETER ON LADIES DAY
July 2023. Uttoxter. I’m singlehandedly propping up provincial rail companies as I forlornly tick straggling GBG pubs over summer. Another trip into Staffordshire via Derby (saving about a tenner) for a lone new Guide entry near Uttoxeter. At Derby’s Platform 4a it suddenly dawned on me I’d made a big mistake. Huge. I’d clearly picked… Continue reading FINDING MYSELF UNEXPECTEDLY IN UTTOXETER ON LADIES DAY
JOHNY, REMEMBERS ME
July 2023. Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Where were we ? Oh yes, Burslem market place. Johny of Johny’s micropub fame, remembering my earlier enquiry, had just messaged me saying he’d open up an hour earlier than planned. What a great chap. But what’s his pub like ? Well, a small pub, really. Cricket on the TV (“England… Continue reading JOHNY, REMEMBERS ME
TOP 100 PUBS – THE BULLS HEAD, BURSLEM
July 2023. Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Nice aerial shot of central Burslem for you, with our two GBG pubs in the bottom left. Used to be Guide pubs all over town. During lockdown I noted “Burslem is awash with small pubs now, called Ale House, Otter’s Tears, Hog Noggins, Johny’s Micro and Chilz“. Now, I’m not sure some… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE BULLS HEAD, BURSLEM
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