June 2025. Gathurst. Greater Manchester. 20 minutes walk back to Gathurst Station from my final Mancunian GBG tick of the year, with half an hour to kill before off-peak fares kicked in again at 18:30. Is it worth hanging about in Gathurst to save £3.75 ? Well, obviously, £3.75 is a pint around Wigan (London… Continue reading GATHURST STATION BAR – A SPECULATIVE PRE-EMPTIVE TICK
Tag: Wigan
GREAT PUBS REVISITED No. 2 – WIGAN CENTRAL
If you’re wondering where “Half a dozen pubs…” has got to, the next edition is Staffordshire, the toughest so far, and I’m absolutely terrified of upsetting Stafford Paul so I’m planning to be in hiding for a few days after that post comes out later. Before that, the second in my award winning Pub Revisit… Continue reading GREAT PUBS REVISITED No. 2 – WIGAN CENTRAL
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SHAKIN’ STEVENS AND CAROL DECKER ?
May 2023. My last Greater Manchester GBG tick didn’t come till May, which is poor form. But at least it gave me a rare trip into Woolyback country, and a chance to admire the flashy new Newton-le-Willows station. When you live in the scary lands between Warrington and Wigan you get your excitement from new… Continue reading WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SHAKIN’ STEVENS AND CAROL DECKER ?
REAL CRAFTY – BLIMEY, IS IT A 5 ?
On to my second tick in Wigan, sadly nowhere near the pier. All the hot GBG action these days takes place in the cobbled streets east of Mesnes Park, which means a trip through the deserted centre. The pubs look lively, though. Ah, it’s Chelsea v Man U on the telly. The Swan & Railway… Continue reading REAL CRAFTY – BLIMEY, IS IT A 5 ?
WIGAN WINNERS – THE SWAN & RAILWAY
My “Proper” readers will recall I was only in That Wigan a couple of months ago, finding it sadly a bit scruffy. Now I was back, just making the 16:48 from Piccadilly after a check-in at Ibis that took longer than the 30 seconds I allow. I remember the golden days when Travelodge just wordlessly… Continue reading WIGAN WINNERS – THE SWAN & RAILWAY
FACEBOOK FARCE IN MESNES
Pubs have been through hell in the last 18 months, and I’m delighted (though surprised) that so many of them seem to have survived into the Autumn of 2021. Of my GBG targets so far, only one (Urmston) hasn’t yet re-opened, and that’s more due to growth than decline. So I remain positive about pubs,… Continue reading FACEBOOK FARCE IN MESNES
DALSTON IN WIGAN
Part II of the Great Wigan Wobble, which somehow squeezes 3 posts out of a lone half pint. In 1937 George Arthur Blair wrote a piece that so infuriated Wigan folk that he had to change his name before releasing that dreadful Eurythmics record nearly 5 decades later. And George didn’t have micropub opening times… Continue reading DALSTON IN WIGAN
A WIGAN WANDER
With Mrs RM wardrobe restored, I could refocus on my day job of finishing GBG counties, starting with Greater Manchester’s hipster central. Yes, it’s Wigan, innit. I SHOULD have popped in the newly-reopened Swan & Railway, shouldn’t I ? But despite it being gorgeous, and selling pies (what else in Wigan) and possibly even Bass,… Continue reading A WIGAN WANDER
WIGAN – MORE THAN PIES
Yes, it’s a barm ! Today we move to the pie capital of England (I’ve since learnt that Scottish non-league football is the best place for pies). No idea why I’ve kept this programme for 40+ years, something to do with the fascination of clubs joining and leaving the League. Wigan lost at tiny Birmingham… Continue reading WIGAN – MORE THAN PIES
WAITING FOR A TRAIN
I feel I’ve neglected Mark Crilley of late by forgetting to add videos of classic 1983 UK pop hits. Here’s one I’d long forgotten from our Antipodean convicts cousins. I had 12 minutes to wait for the 19:08 from Wigan North Western to Bolton, scene of my final tick. Time for a quick half in… Continue reading WAITING FOR A TRAIN
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