retiredmartin
THE 2016 REVIVAL CONTINUES APACE ! A £3 PINT IN A FLEETWOOD MICRO
TAKE THE FIRST TRAM TO FLEETWOOD
STEALING VEGAN BREAKFASTS IN CLEVELEYS SPOONS
BURNS NIGHT
“MEET ME AT THE FIFTEEN”
LACINGS IN LYTHAM. BASS LACINGS !
YOUR CUT-OUT-AND-KEEP GUIDE TO WATTON
BRECK BY BRECK. THE KINGS ARMS, WATTON
MRS RM’s DRYANUARY RUMBLES ON
BLUE MOON. RECOVERING IN THE KELHAM ISLAND TAVERN
RAISING A PINT (OR TWO) TO MUDGIE IN WIDNES
A FAREWELL TO MUDGIE
HOMEWARD BOUND
A MORNING IN LIVERPOOL
THE GRAPES. A GREAT PLACE TO WAIT FOR YOUR LIVERPOOL CHINESE TAKEAWAY
CHAT GPT FINDS ME A CHINESE TAKEAWAY IN LIVERPOOL
LAST 5 STANDING – ROSCOE HEAD, LIVERPOOL
HIGSONIANS
BEYOND THE ROPEWALKS
ST. PETERS TAVERN, LIVERPOOL. NBSS 3.5 FOR THE BEER, NPPSS 5 FOR THE PORK PIE
MAGICAL MERSEYSIDE MURK IN MOSSLEY HILL
NO LARKIN ABOUT, IT’S THE KENTISH HORSE, MARKBEECH
A MORE SOBER RETURN TO THE PIPEMAKERS
IS THERE MORE TO THREE OAKS THAN A PUB ?
AN AMATEUR ERROR IN EAST HOATHLY
PALACE MELTDOWN IN TULSE HILL
ANOTHER HOBGOBLIN IN STREATHAM
TIM TAYLOR TAKEOVER AT THE SUN
PORT STREET, TONY’S PIES AND A POINT
NEW IN MANCHESTER. THE HEAD OF STEAM
YOUR FRIEND IN DIFFICULT TIMES
TENTATIVELY INTO TENTERDEN
TAKING DOWN THE TREE
THE JENNY LIND SAYS “DO ONE, DRYANUARY”
PROPER PUBS SIGN ALERT. THE STAG, HASTINGS.
TOP 100 PUBS – CINQUE PORTS ARMS, HASTINGS
MRS RM SETTLES IN FOR THE BIG HASTINGS N/A BEER CRAWL
PELHAM PLACE
DRY JANUARY 1st IN CORBY GLEN
A NORTHERN HEAD ON THE ORVAL
NEW (AND GREAT) CASK IN SHEFFIELD. THE WOBBLY DAGGER
PINT, COB & CRISPS IN THE WELLINGTON. UNBEATABLE.
MY “GOLDEN PINT”. ACORN WINTER PALE AT THE ABBEY
“KLF, aha aha aha aha”. FIRST TRAIN TO KIRKSTALL FORGE
PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL
CHECKING WILL’S SHEFFIELD BEER SCORES
RETIRED MARTIN’S MARVELLOUS MUSICAL MELODIES FOR 2025
THE FEAST OF BOLSOVER
FISH BISCUITS IN BOLSOVER
THE RED SHED
RETIRED MARTIN’S CULINARY 2025
DECEMBER ’25 STOCKTAKE + JANUARY PREVIEW
TOP 100 PUBS – NAN MOOR’S, TODMORDEN
DISCUSSING “FAKE NEWS” IN THE FOX, TODMORDEN
WELCOME TO MIRFIELD
RETIRED MARTIN’S 2025 IN TRAVEL
BOXING DAY MEANS A SPOONS BREAKFAST
CHRISTMAS DAY DES
MOTHER AND CHILD REUNION. CHRISTMAS EVE, 2025.
THE 2025 RETIRED MARTIN PUB AWARDS
BASS CLICKBAIT AT THE DOLPHIN
THE STADE
TURKISH DELIGHT
HARVEY’S CHRISTMAS ALE
ON THE BEACH
NO PLACE ELSE I’D RATHER BE (ON MY BIRTHDAY) THAN ST LEONARDS ON SEA
A DASH FROM ASHFORD INTERNATIONAL
TOP PUBS FOR WHEN YOU’RE STUCK AT KING’S CROSS FOR HALF AN HOUR. No. 2 – THE KING CHARLES I
STEELFISH BREWERY – COME FOR THE HAZY PALE, COME FOR THE COB
FLAT TRACK BULLIES
“BY ‘ECK IT’S GORGEOUS”. THE STEELWORKS, BREDBURY.
THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY
RESISTING THE 10% JAIPUR X IN THE HALLAMSHIRE HOUSE
CHRISTMAS JUMPERS
IS THE BATH HOTEL GOING GASTRO?
A QUIET START TO BLACK EYE FRIDAY AT THE FARGATE
BEER TASTES BETTER IN A PROPER GLASS Pt. 244
MRS RM’S BRITHDAY SOUP AND A PINT. THE SHIPWRIGHT’S ARMS, HOLLOWSHORE
UP THE CREEK
MRS RM CAN’T WALK PAST THE ELEPHANT
PERSEVERING WITH MASTER BREW IN THE SUN, FAVERSHAM
THE PUB, HERNE BAY. GOOD NAME, GOOD PUB
A HERNE BAY DELAY
OYSTERS IN WHITSTABLE
FABULOUS FAVERSHAM FRONTAGES
FABULOUS FAVERSHAM PART 1
ANOTHER NBSS 4.5 !!! THE WATERWORKS, RYE
ALL THE PUBS IN HASTINGS NEW TOWN. No. 2 – THE SEADOG
ALL THE PUBS IN HASTINGS NEW TOWN. No. 1 – THE JOHN LOGIE BAIRD
BOTTLES IT IS THEN
PASTY AND PASTORE
THE TRUE START OF CHRISTMAS
A DIVERSION TO GRAVESEND
IS SPOONS CASK QUALITY GETTING BETTER ? BEXHILL THINKS SO
TOP 100 PUBS. THE RUDDY DUCK, BEXHILL-on-SEA
THE ALBATROSS
FUTURE FOLKESTONE FROLICS
FINALLY ! AN UNSCUFFED HARVEY’S GLASS. THE MARINER, FOLKESTONE
WHY DID NO-ONE TELL MRS RM ABOUT FOLKESTONE HARBOUR ARM
“FOLKESTONE IS AN ART SCHOOL”
THE TOILET AT THE BURGESS HILL SIGNALBOX
“Lower your expectations”. ChatGPT prepares me for bucolic Burgess Hill.
TOAD IN THE HOLE AT BN6 CRAFT BAR
IS KEYMER PART OF HASSOCKS, OR VICE VERSA ?
THE JOY OF BURGESS HILL SPOONS
WHY, WIVELSFIELD ?
A PINT FOR MUDGIE
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FRIENDS. NOW, MORE THAN EVER
REINDEERS AT THE CAMBRIDGE BLUE
MILL ROAD WINTER FAIR
NATIVITY
PUTTING UP THE TREE IN OLD HARLOW
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE IN TANKERTON
OYSTER BEDS
SUNSET OVER THE OLD NEPTUNE
MRS RM SITS OUT SITTINGBOURNE IN SPOONS
THE PARK TAVERN, SITTINGBOURNE. AN OLD MUDGIE SORT OF PUB
PETER
ALL SHIP SHAPE AT THE SHIP CENTURION
TOP 100 PUBS – THE FOUNTAIN, WHITSTABLE
TANKERTON SLOPES
THE WAITING ROOM
MURK, MATES, MANCHESTER
PRAY TELL, IS THE CASK DRINKING WELL IN SALE ?
THE 18:48 FROM RYE IS CANCELLED
A TRIP DOWN LITTLE TRODGERS LANE. MAGICAL MAYFIELD.
MAYFIELD’S ROSE & CROWN. A WEALD PUB
T’OTHER BATEMAN’S. DON’T ASK FORE AN XB
MRS RM IS UNABLE TO WALK PAST RYE’S QUEEN’S HEAD. IT’S A GOOD DECISION
NOVEMBER ’25 STOCKTAKE + DECEMBER PREVIEW
ALL THE PUBS IN RYE. THE GLOBE INN MARSH
SIMPLE PLEASURES. THE TRAFFORD ARMS, NORWICH
NEW IN NORWICH. THE HOP ROCKET
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN NORWICH
PLATFORM 1b, SHEFFIELD STATION
ANNAHSTASIA AT THE BRUDENELL. AND THE PROBLEM WITH Chat GPT
TALKING TIDES. FROM MARSKE-ON-SEA TO LEEDS
ANOTHER LEEDS SATELLITE TOWN, ANOTHER WOBBLY BOB AND SPICE BAG. NO. 2 – PUDSEY
NO WAKE AT THE HEREWARD FOR THE REV
WHEN A CARLSBERG WILL HAVE TO DO
CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS, NORTH WALSHAM (NCSS 3.5)
TOP 100 PUBS – THE PEASANTS’ TAVERN, NORTH WALSHAM
NEXT STOP, NORTH WALSHAM
19 MINUTES BETWEEN TRAINS AT NORWICH STATION ? COACH & HORSES THEN…
ALL THE CHINESE TAKEAWAYS IN CAMBRIDGE No. 1 – LAN HONG HOUSE
TOWN OR GOWN ? THE CHAMPION OF THE THAMES
THE HANDSOME PRINCE, CAMBRIDGE
SUPPING SUSSEX IN THE SWAN
A HARVEY’S OLD IN NEWHAVEN
A FAREWELL TO GRUBBS
PUBLIC BAR, THE GREAT EASTERN
BRIGHTON, WITHOUT THE SPOONS VOUCHERS (but Jaipur still only £2.25 a pint)
A MODERATE MASTER BREW IN RYE HARBOUR
“Are you joining us for lunch ? Fabulous !”
SISSINGHURST
RYE HARBOUR. LIVING IN THE PLASTIC AGE
MEAT RAFFLE, 10 PINTS OF FOSTERS, BABIES AND OLD BOYS, A STONE ROSES OBSESSION. LYDD’S FIRST GBG ENTRY WANTS TO BE ADORED
THE DELICIOUS CLAM
FATHER TO SON, HEART TO HEART
SHEFFIELD’S CASTLEGATE
THE KINGS ROAD, ST LEONARDS
SUSSEX BY THE SEA. EASTBOURNE PIER IN AUTUMN
THE JOY OF EASTBOURNE SPOONS
LEFFE AND SPICE BAG
MAN OF KENT. OR KENTISH MAN ?
GATECRASHING A 60th BIRTHDAY IN TONBRIDGE
THE UBIQUITOUS HARVEY’S
BACK IN RYE, STRAIGHT TO THE YPRES CASTLE
LURCHERS AND CHESTERFIELDS. THE BLACK HORSE, THURNHAM
WOBBLY DAGGER REVISITED
ROSIE AT THE GRACE
PUB DOGS OF HAMPSTEAD HEATH
LADYBARN SOCIAL CLUB
“BRING YOUR OWN VINYL”. THE STATION HOP, LEVENSHULME
STATION TO STATION. HEATON CHAPEL TO LEVENSHULME
CHOICES, CHOICES. 🔺 TICKING IN TICKNALL
CALKE AND THE MILKING PARLOUR
JIMMY EAT WORLD, RETIRED MARTIN EATS AT THE GLOBE
IN SEARCH OF KINGS (AND CAR PARKS)
LEICESTER CASTLE
LOOK UP !
INEVITABLY, THE ALE WAGON
BACK ON THE DESI TRAIL. THE BLUE PETER, LEICESTER
SOARING – LEICESTER STREET ART
HIGH TABLES, LOW TABLES. THE CLARENDON, LEICESTER
36 HOURS IN LEICESTER.
A JUG OF PRIDE IN BOROUGH’S TRINITY
LINING THEM UP IN ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
THE OLD SHADES, SW1
TOURIST PUB, TRAFALGAR SQUARE
WALKING IN LONDON
OCTOBER ’25 STOCKTAKE + NOVEMBER PREVIEW
AN ANGEL IN YARWELL
A LOOSE CANNON IN NEWARK
A BASS AND POPPADOMS HALT IN CHADDESDEN
TUTBURY TICKING
WHEN YOU JUST NEED AN ORVAL
THE VIEW FROM THE BLAKE
A RARE STOP ON THE GREAT NORTH ROAD. YE OLDE BELL IN BARNBY MOOR
A RAINY NIGHT IN ST ALBANS
THE FUSSPOT OF FANCOTT
TODDINGTON PUTS THE BANNERS OUT
SHEFFIELD BEER FESTIVAL (NBSS 3.72).
WATERBEACH OR BRADFORD ? WHICH IS THE CAPITAL OF CURRY ?
A SURPRISE GBG WINNER IN COVENT GARDEN
THE GENTLE CHARM OF THE LADY OTTOLINE
“A SYMPHONY IN BROWN”. THE DUKE, BLOOMSBURY, LONDON
HOMEBREW OR BASS ? A MOOT POINT IN MATLOCK
IS THIS THE REAL LIFE ? IS THIS JUST FANTASY ? THE REMARKABLE HARE, MATLOCK
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FRIENDS. AN ALTERNATIVE SHEFFIELD PUB CRAWL
NEW AND SHINY IN SHEFF. THE FARGATE
MEANWHILE, BACK IN WATERBEACH…
FINALLY ! YOUR AUTHENTIC TRANSYLVANIAN CASTLE
A NERVOUS PINT IN GASTHAUS ALTEPOST
Top 5 Transylvanian Bed & Breakfasts – Casa Cositorarului, Sighisoara
A rainy night in Sighișoara
CONTRADICTORY ADVICE ON SURVIVING A BEAR ATTACK
BEANS IN BREAD AT LA CEAUN
TOP 100 PUBS – SZIMPLA, SFANTU GHEORGHE, ROMANIA
Fonts, Ferenc Puskas and flying coffee cups. The mysteries of Sfântu Gheorghe
THE JOY OF GETTING YOUR NAME ON THE UNTAPPD SCREEN IN AFTAR STUBE, BRASOV
BEAUTIFUL BRASOV
CASUAL SEXISM IN SUBURBAN BUCHAREST
ADMISSION : I ACCEPTED A TASTER AT HOP HOOLIGANS
Bucharest Café society
BUCHAREST’S IRONIC TAPROOM
TURNING STRAWBERRIES INTO BEARS. TICKING BUCHAREST
Caru’ cu Bere. Your must visit for pork knuckle in Bucharest.
MEETING YOUNG BOYS (BERN) AT GROUND ZERO
GOLDEN BATHROOMS AND PARLIAMENTARY WHITE ELEPHANTS. A TOURIST DAY IN BUCHAREST
Grand Café Van Gogh, Bucharest
THE SHEFFIELD HALF PINT MARATHON. A BIT OF A SPRINT AT THE END
TO CASTLETON, IN HOPE RATHER THAN EXPECTATION
YOUR CLOSEST GBG PUB TO THE CAMBRIDGE PUNTS
ATHERSTONE – A SLIGHT RETURN. (iii) HAUTE CUISINE
ATHERSTONE – A SLIGHT RETURN. (ii) MAID OF THE MILL
ATHERSTONE – A SLIGHT RETURN. (i) HERITAGE
MUSICAL DIFFERENCES
PIE NIGHT 🥧 AT THE PUNCH BOWL
INTO BATLEY
GATECRASHING BIRTHDAY PARTIES IN THE PETERBOROUGH SUBURBS
HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF THE “C” WORD YET ?
AN NBSS 4 GREENE KING IPA (HONEST). THE MASONS ARMS, BURY ST EDMUNDS
NETHERGATE GET A FOOTHOLD IN BURY ST EDMUNDS
CHRISTIE GOES TO BRINKLEY
BODDIES v BASS. WHO WEARS THE CROWN IN STOCKPORT ?
GETTING TO THE SOUL OF SALE
LOUNGE-ING AROUND
A DEE-DAR IN ROTHERHAM
PSALTER LANE
SEPTEMBER ’25 STOCKTAKE + OCTOBER PREVIEW
FIRST TICK IN THE NEW GBG. ITCHY PIG (2), SHEFFIELD
THE SUN SETS IN WATERBEACH
ELY GOES “CRAFT AND BURGERS”
TOP 100 PUBS – THE MASONS ARMS, TEDDINGTON