July 2025. Newcastle upon Tyne. Having sprinted back to Chillingham Road Metro after finishing Tyne & Wear to ensure I’d be back for that 21:15 train with 44 seconds to spare, I find LNER is, inevitably, running six minutes late. Hey ! Six minutes ? What can you do in six minutes ? (no, not… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE BODEGA, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Tag: Two by Two
MY “FAVOURITE” NEWCASTLE PUB
June 2025. Newcastle upon Tyne. A good start to our Newcastle crawl; a station bar, crafty lunch and the gorgeous old classic. I had a bit of paper with scribbles saying “Gateshead micro triangle”, “Ouseburn, Free Trade view”, “Wylam brewery”, “chips in Whitley Bay”, “remember to drink water” etc. etc. There was also a trio… Continue reading MY “FAVOURITE” NEWCASTLE PUB
NO BATHAM’S IN THE MAGNET ? IT’LL HAVE TO BE THE APPLE, BLUEBERRY AND MAPLE PASTRY STOUT, THEN
February 2025. Stockport. Happy International Women’s Day, and a post where an Old Bloke mansplains Stockport to three women who really aren’t interested in the town’s crumbling facades, or the niche appeal of Redrock’s entertainment complex. home to that tribute to legendary Sufragette Elsie Plant. Wikipedia says that a century ago “Marie Stopes arranged for… Continue reading NO BATHAM’S IN THE MAGNET ? IT’LL HAVE TO BE THE APPLE, BLUEBERRY AND MAPLE PASTRY STOUT, THEN
VAN DE GRAAF GENERATOR IN YORK’S HOUSE OF THE TREMBLING MADNESS
February 2025. York. Monday morning in York. Almond croissant – tick. Big church – tick. Shop selling relics of famed War of the Roses protagonist Oliver Bonas, No, give that a miss. Mrs RM, having decided the queue in the Minster too long, needed a comfort break, and I reckoned the (original, Stonegate) House of… Continue reading VAN DE GRAAF GENERATOR IN YORK’S HOUSE OF THE TREMBLING MADNESS
A BURNING SKY IN WALKLEY BEER CO.
January 2025. Walkley. Sheffield. Bonus mini post, highlighting just how good Sheffield is outside the GBG. 2 minutes walk up Walkley’s main drag on a rare Friday night at home. The eponymous off -licence with a communal drinking table was my first real introduction to Walkley back in James’s fresher year at Sheffield Uni. A… Continue reading A BURNING SKY IN WALKLEY BEER CO.
A PORK PIE IN BROADSTAIRS
August 2024. Broadstairs. Just the two pubs to finish the Kent chapter of the Guide for a 12th successive year, but disaster strikes as I walk up to the door of the quaintly named “Pub” on Ramsgate High Street. In honesty, it feels ages since I’d last had a “micro fail”, and I’d quite missed… Continue reading A PORK PIE IN BROADSTAIRS
SMALL BEER, GOOD BEER IN CROUCH END
December 2023. Crouch End. London. I’d got a spreadsheet extract showing the London pubs I needed on my phone. I know you lot love spreadsheets. Pleasingly, I was about to complete that Top 4 (FIFA haven’t agreed a 5th place so that Lower Edmonton one will have to wait) at Small Beer in Crouch End.… Continue reading SMALL BEER, GOOD BEER IN CROUCH END
TOP 100 PUBS – BRIDGE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
October 2023. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We crossed the High Level Bridge from the Microbus into the Toon, the opposite journey to the one we’d managed with my in-laws in June, a stark reminder of how far octogenarians can manage when there’s beer and cake at the end of a long walk. Even better views today, but I… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – BRIDGE HOTEL, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
MURKY MARVELS AT HILLSBOROUGH INTERCHANGE
July 2023. Hillsborough. Sheffield. Music lovers descend on Hillsborough today for the annual celebration of mediocrity (sponsored by Brew Dog) that is Tramlines. Mrs RM just asked “Is Sophie Ellis-Bextor on again ?“. (No). Once they’re behind the fences at Hillsborough Park they won’t be allowed out, so no chance to explore the thriving ale… Continue reading MURKY MARVELS AT HILLSBOROUGH INTERCHANGE