ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK. THE SWAN WITH TWO NECKS, STOCKPORT

February 2025. Stockport. Cheshire. A day of culture with Blackpool Jane, Aberdeen Karen and itinerant Mrs RM, a day when the sun shone on the righteous (Me !), and Stockport’s visitor attractions looked the real deal. Unlike some recent flagship openings like the V & A in Dundee, the HatWorks, town museum and adjacent Staircase… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN THE MANCHESTER BEER BOOK. THE SWAN WITH TWO NECKS, STOCKPORT

I’m Sawley tempted, but Mrs RM succumbs to the Unicorn

August 2023. Sawley, Bowland. As you can tell, my stint at the BRAPA course on witty blog titles wasn’t a great success and I want my money back. The problem with Sawley is you’re almost obliged to have “Sawley tempted” in the title; it’s a bit like Sexual Ealing. Anyway, two hour via Bradford on… Continue reading I’m Sawley tempted, but Mrs RM succumbs to the Unicorn

SHROPSHIRE HAS FALLEN….A (HAMPTON) LOADE OFF MY MIND

A few miles downstream of Bridgnorth lies Hampton Loade, home to my final Salopian tick of GBG22. Hampton Loade sounds like a posh bit of south Shropshire, doesn’t it, and I vaguely recall the station as a stop on the Thomas the Tank Engine steam train (32 guineas each way, I believe). The route down… Continue reading SHROPSHIRE HAS FALLEN….A (HAMPTON) LOADE OFF MY MIND

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 – SWAN WITH TWO NECKS, STOCKPORT

A reminder that if you can’t be bothered to read my report look at my photos from the Stockport crawl you could always go straight to the more concise posts from Pub Curmudgeon (here), Kentish Paul Bailey (here) and Brummie Pete (here). I suspect Cheshire Life had a reporter there too. Stockport had anticipated our… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – SWAN WITH TWO NECKS, STOCKPORT

“THIS is what beer should taste like, son”

“I’m famished” said Matt. Yes, it would have been a good idea to eat before starting a session. But as Pub Curmudgeon has noted before, Stockport is a bit lacking in culinary options (particularly on a Monday with the outside dining only restrictions), and top cafe Where The Light Gets In was unexpectedly closed following… Continue reading “THIS is what beer should taste like, son”

WORKSOP – LIQUORICE, LACINGS & FRENCH HORN

Makes Worksop sound exotic, doesn’t it ?  And if you live in South Anston, it probably is. Sadly, the gorgeous tiling often adorns closed or keg pubs, making Worksop the Rotherham or Woolwich orPoole of the Midlands, My route to Sheffield to see my lad often flies past the edge of Worksop, though I reckon… Continue reading WORKSOP – LIQUORICE, LACINGS & FRENCH HORN