National Bass Day is on Saturday (16th). I shan’t be celebrating; it’s a callous and poorly conceived attempt to distract attention from my birthday (22 December) and of course Doom Bar Day. I didn’t find any Bass in Cumbria last week. No doubt someone will check the Wickingman’s master spreadsheet for me to find out… Continue reading THE SOUTH LAKES BASS REGULATIONS
Tag: Wellington
“Fancy a pint ?”
Yesterday afternoon I was feeling a bit down, by my usual permanently upbeat standards. Storm Eunice was heading to the same place as me (the Ibis Budget in Newport and then across the Severn to Bath) and as it turns out all Welsh trains were cancelled, so if I’d travelled I’d have been stuck for… Continue reading “Fancy a pint ?”
DOING THE SHEFFIELD CLASSICS – THE WELLINGTON
A big day for the pubs today, as En-ger-land kick off their 2020 Euros against someone, somewhere, sometime (which sounds like a Simple Minds track from when they were quite good). I shan’t be watching, and nor will Mrs RM, who I asked to name ONE (1) member of the England team. “Er, Gavin Southgate… Continue reading DOING THE SHEFFIELD CLASSICS – THE WELLINGTON
“Where’s the Shambles ?”
I really love walking with Matt. He’s fast, chatty and unlike Stafford Paul sometimes stops when the red man shows at the crossing. But I sometimes forget he’s only nnnnnn19, and doesn’t remember the 2 events that define modern Manchester. By which I mean the closure of Tommy Ducks and the 1996 bomb which forced… Continue reading “Where’s the Shambles ?”
ROSCOE
“The village used to be all one really needsNow it’s filled with hundreds and hundreds of chemicalsThat mostly surround you, you wish to fleeBut it’s not like you, so listen to me, listen to me” “Roscoe” – Midlake Happy Sunday 14th, or “retiredmartin vaccination day” as it will shortly be known. Before I set off… Continue reading ROSCOE
LEAVING THE BIG ISSUE IN THE WELLINGTON
Still in Ilfracombe. The Quay was TOO busy; the Old Town deserted. Cheered, I bought Big Issue for £3, Jarvis Cocker making his 317th appearance on the cover of that highly readable paper. For the first time, closed shops and pubs outnumbered the open ones. A shame, as Fore Street is marvellous, and I’m sure… Continue reading LEAVING THE BIG ISSUE IN THE WELLINGTON
WITHERING AT THE WREKIN
Welcome to the last post for my travels in July 2020, a tumultuous month of highs and highers. Expect a euphoric Review next up, unless I have to go into hiding after my infamous Daily Mail appearance on Monday. BRAPA may have endured 51 Surrey pubs last week, and now looks like my avatar, but… Continue reading WITHERING AT THE WREKIN
FESTIVE FELICITATIONS FROM GREAT ORTON
My second comfort break came an hour or so after my first, on the western outskirts of Carlisle. Ignore the blue line running through the city, it’s not the cask/keg divide. To be honest the Wellington in tiny Great Orton was experiencing a quiet lunchtime, away from the tourist honeypots of Carlisle and the stretch… Continue reading FESTIVE FELICITATIONS FROM GREAT ORTON
YOUR PRINT-OUT-AND-KEEP FELTWELL GUIDE
My options for easy ticks have long gone. As of today, my closest new Guide pub is a cricket club with one handpump in Yardley/Sheldon/Marlborough/East Brum, a mere 3hrs 38mins away on the train. Perhaps I should ask BeerMat to recommend some highlights of the Sheldon area (Andre Marriner was born there ?) and then… Continue reading YOUR PRINT-OUT-AND-KEEP FELTWELL GUIDE
WARMING UP IN PROUD PRESTON
“Are we in Preston yet ?” said the excited boy to his mum as the train passed Garstang, which really deserves its own stop now it’s got a new Guide entry. It was understandable that the young lad was in a state of frenzy as we pulled into the City of Dreams, even in the… Continue reading WARMING UP IN PROUD PRESTON