retiredmartin
retiredmartin
Martin
Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.
Latest Posts
January 2026. Liverpool. My son Matthew has just had a curated exploration of Stockport’s superior public houses. Well, Runaway, the Crown and the Magnet, for a start. Sending me photos of him drinking Bass under the viaduct creates a...
January 2025. Liverpool. Ten minutes after leaving the Red Cat I was standing next to Sir Ken. Nothing brings happiness (geddit ?) like being in a great pub city with a £24.99 Travelodge booked and a Chinese takeaway recommendation from...
January 2026. Liverpool. I thought I’d have a night in Liverpool before Peter the Pub Curmudgeon’s funeral 2 stops away in Widnes on Friday. Normally one hour thirty-six to get to the edge of the Pool, say Google Maps. But this was far...
January 2026. Markbeech. Kent. A last new GBG entry ticked in Kent, not too far from either Kentish Paul or the in-laws. Sadly, a flying visit to the Kentish Horse at Markbeech, only a mile or so from the legendary Queen’s Arms at Cowden...
January 2025. Rye. The trains in Rye are fairly reliable; one an hour to Ashford or Eastbourne. Buses are less reliable (like I’m surprised); the number 313 back to our caravan timed to depart just before the train arrives, or not arrive...
January 2026. Three Oaks. East Sussex. Mrs RM has been manically “improving” her blog, waiting for the next parental crisis. She’s a perfectionist; I guess that why she chose me to marry. Monday saw me in need of fresh air and a pub...
January 2026. East Hoathly. East Sussex. We’ve finally shut down our caravan in Rye Harbour (Home 3) afer an extended winter stay. The water pipes had frozen over Christmas, but thankfully hadn’t burst. Sheffield gets the snow; Rye gets...
January 2026. Tulse Hill. London. Leaving Streatham Spoons I became aware of something big happening in the FA Cup. Macclesfield (no longer Robbie Savage’s Macc) of the 6th division had just taken a 2-nil lead against the Cup holders,...
January 2026. Streatham. London Dad got the full ambulance treatment on Friday night, but made such a miraculous recovery overnight that I felt confident about trekking back to Rye the next morning. 90 year olds have incredible...
January 2026. Waterbeach. Thursday brought the threat of snow to Sheffield, so after one night shivering (broken boiler) I was pleased to catch the first train back to Waterbeach to see Dad (not at his best), and do my bit in the fight...
January 2026. Manchester. A “dry” night in Manchester isn’t complete without a second pint on the way to the match, Port Street Beer House getting its annual visit on the basis you can see it from the Head of Steam. I really should like...
January 2025. Manchester. Wednesday brings a train from Rye to Ashford, and then to St Pancras (no pub stop), on to Sheffield (where the boiler has frozen), and off to Manchester for City v Brighton, whose fans have had a similar...
An excellent read, as always, from Boak and Bailey about the state of the pub this week. I recommend reading this BlueSky thread; A short thread on The Death of Pubs inspired by that post from @steveuntilnextyear.bsky.social 1. One of...
January 2026. Tenterden. I remembered it’s 2026 this time, after labelling the last one December ’25. Good job we don’t write cheques anymore. Mrs RM is busy “refining” her blog, but I did get her out from Rye (we’re attending to in-laws...
January 2026. Rye. Obligatory video, from the best Christmas album. I‘ve used this one, and the title before, (twice !) which is sort of self-plagiarism, no ? No decorations for us again this year, in Sheffield or Waterbeach or Rye....