THE BEER GUIDE PUB OPEN FIVE (5) HOURS A WEEK

September 2026. North Hykeham. Lincolnshire. Friday was a perfect day, and not in a corny Lou Reed charity single way. I drove down to see Dad, who despite advancing dementia was as chatty as he’s been for many months, was eating well, and had somehow acquired the Russian resident’s hat. I stayed a couple of… Continue reading THE BEER GUIDE PUB OPEN FIVE (5) HOURS A WEEK

CHAT GPT DEFENDS URMSTON

September 2026. Urmston. Greater Manchester. Mrs RM will confirm that my brain is wired a bit differently from most of the population, and only works when fed new experiences on a daily basis. Last Tuesday, that experience was a tour of unsung Greater Manchester (Trafford, strictly) suburbs. Having hobbled to Flixton, I took a bus… Continue reading CHAT GPT DEFENDS URMSTON

TOP 100 PUBS – ROSE & CROWN, BRAMPTON, CHESTERFIELD

September 2026. Chesterfield. Having spent at least a tenner getting to the outer edge of Chesterfield for that Beer Guide newbie, and with the next nearest GBG tick a) an hour away or b) not open till Friday I decided to try an old favourite at random. One of the things you notice each September… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – ROSE & CROWN, BRAMPTON, CHESTERFIELD

A LIMPING RM HOBBLES TO THE ASAHI SELF-SERVICE MACHINE

September 2026. Manchester. Oh, Manchester, but it’s Goldthorpe with so much to answer for, as my post-pint dash through another South Yorkshire mining town ends with a pulled muscle (or something, I’m no medic) at the back of my leg. I really shouldn’t have taken the mick out of Mrs RM’s sporting injury. So Friday… Continue reading A LIMPING RM HOBBLES TO THE ASAHI SELF-SERVICE MACHINE

“Do you still sell Courage ?” THE WHITE HART, GODSTONE

September 2026. Godstone. Surrey. Three nights in Royal Tunbridge Wells looking after the in-laws, with only a tiny bit of exploration. A rare visit to mysterious Tandridge district; north of Gatwick, south of the Croydon suburbs, west of Churchill’s home and the National Trust parkland. Oh, and very close to Titsey. 5,949 commuters souls, clustered… Continue reading “Do you still sell Courage ?” THE WHITE HART, GODSTONE

CHAT GPT KEEPS ME OUT OF THE CRIME STATISTICS IN LAKESIDE THURROCK

September 2026. Lakeside Thurrock. One of the few selling points for the Ibis in Thurrock, apart from being handing for Dartford Bridge, was proximity to Lakeside shopping centre and its attendant railway station with half-hourly trips to the East End. Just as well, as it’s about as well-pubbed as Carluke. I hadn’t quite clocked that… Continue reading CHAT GPT KEEPS ME OUT OF THE CRIME STATISTICS IN LAKESIDE THURROCK