February 2026. Sheffield. One of the best things about retirement, and goodness knows it’s been epic, has been getting to meet nice people over a pint in comfy pubs. And so it was that I finally met one of the many nice guys from Yorkshire, Rockin Rich(ard) Clark from Harrogate. He’d been trying to arrange… Continue reading RETIRED MARTIN MEETS ROCKIN’ RICH
Tag: Thornbridge
MRS RM’s DRYANUARY RUMBLES ON
January 2026. Sheffield. Enough of me, I’m sure you’re all keen to know how Mrs RM is getting on with her 0.0 January. Well, she holds on to the lie that alcohol-free beer tastes just like the real thing, and was ready to have temptation placed in her way with a Sunday in Kelham Island.… Continue reading MRS RM’s DRYANUARY RUMBLES ON
THE JENNY LIND SAYS “DO ONE, DRYANUARY”
I’m very pleased with that pic above, touch of Dylan album cover I reckon. If Bob had recorded his sophomore album in Hastings 60 years later. January 2025. Hastings. The three pubs on gorgeous All Saints Street in the bag (though not in the GBG), we reached the eponymous church, and the actual hotel that… Continue reading THE JENNY LIND SAYS “DO ONE, DRYANUARY”
RESISTING THE 10% JAIPUR X IN THE HALLAMSHIRE HOUSE
December 2025. Sheffield. Leg 4 (of 5) of my attempt to get to the heart of Black Eye Friday in my own city. But first ! I nip into Marks & Spencer’s, ignoring the lure of Alpine Bar, a Top 100 pub as recently as 2021 but which may lose that status as I need… Continue reading RESISTING THE 10% JAIPUR X IN THE HALLAMSHIRE HOUSE
A QUIET START TO BLACK EYE FRIDAY AT THE FARGATE
December 2025. Sheffield. I’d left Mrs RM in Rye (Home 3) to keep an eye on her parents while I popped back on the train to check on Dad and Sunnyside (Home 2). But I also needed to make sure our actual home in Sheffield (Home 1) was still standing and pick up post, so… Continue reading A QUIET START TO BLACK EYE FRIDAY AT THE FARGATE
CONCESSIONARY YORK
February 2025. York. Last musings from our mini break in York, which proved the UK tourist industry is in rude health in 2025, folk desperate to bask in our tropical temperatures and pay a tenner to see a load of reconstituted timber. 14th century Barley Hall was “rediscovered” in the 1980s by the York Architectural… Continue reading CONCESSIONARY YORK
A JAIPUR IN L***S
January 2025. Leeds. After a Wednesday spent driving 6 hours from Tunbridge Wells to Sheffield, battling A14 closures and football crowds, punctuated by long calls to the Medical Examiner and Coroner, we needed a break on the Thursday. Why on earth did we choose Leeds ? Well, it was the first train leaving Sheffield station,… Continue reading A JAIPUR IN L***S
“BACK TO THE 80s” AT THE THORNBRIDGE TAP
April 2024. Bakewell. On rare occasions I judge it prudent to comply with Mrs RM’s arduous demands, which I think is a line from a play based at Chatsworth House. I knew she’d want to visit a new pub in this part of the Peak after walking the Chatsworth estate, and I knew the hotels,… Continue reading “BACK TO THE 80s” AT THE THORNBRIDGE TAP
WEDNESDAY ON A TUESDAY
March 2024. Hillsborough. Americans may not be aware that there are two (2) sorts of football (“soccer” if you must). There’s the game played by Manchester City, Luton Town, and whoever else is in the Premier League these days, and another version known as “grassroots football” played by everyone else without access to the miracle… Continue reading WEDNESDAY ON A TUESDAY
BACK TO THE OLD (HALLAMSHIRE) HOUSE
5th March 2023. Not enough/too much Smiths references on this blog. I’ve been coaxing Mrs RM out of the house for strenuous walks around Sheffield. As some of you will know, if you don’t keep active in your 50s everything stops working at 60. The walk from the Blind Monkey up to Crookes is Lincoln… Continue reading BACK TO THE OLD (HALLAMSHIRE) HOUSE
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