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
July 2026. Chesterfield. An aimless afternoon in Chesterfield, and there’s nothing wrong with aimless. Those two pints in the Rutland Arms and Royal Oak saw a town in rude health, and once it gets that museum open this year it’ll warrant...
July 2026. Chesterfield. “A Top 100 pub ! ANOTHER one ?“. Why not ? The Royal Oak was the highlight of July, a “Wow” moment that Thursday afternoon in floral Chesterfield. The Shambles may not have the fudge and Harry Potter tat of York,...
July 2026. Chesterfield. One more trip to write up and then I’ll do that July highlights post you’re all clamouring for. Mrs RM’s ongoing rehabilitation had meant a postponement of our Big (but largely sober) Trip to Chesterfield with...
July 2026. Newcastle. One thing about Tyneside; just like London or Genoa, you’ll always find something new on a trip. This time, it’s Pink Lane and the Catholic cathedral. St Mary’s is a NCSS 4 joy, the highlight the stained glass...
July 2026. Newcastle. A night out in Tyne & Wear, always a joy, but one where it’s easy to overdo it very quickly. With 3 hours till my £33 return back to Sheffield, I left the Posada till next time, saved the museums for a rainy day,...
July 2026. Newcastle. Not even lunchtime as I leave the Free Trade for the walk through Ouseburn back into Toon. Actually, a rare walk along a dried up river (I never knew that watercourse was actually called the Ouseburn till today), my...
July 2026. Ouseburn. Newcastle. Back from Cramlington by mid morning, with 5 hours till the bargain advance fare return to Sheffield. Not quite enough time to head west to Haltwhistle, or south to Seaton Carew, for another tick. But...
July 2026. Cramlington. Northumberland. When you say “Northumberland” these days you think Harry Potter, posh Cambridgeshire families at the beach, and a small island covered in bird muck. But there’s an awful lot of old mining towns...
July 2026. Newcastle. Trips to Newcastle produce a wealth of blog material, even when the pace of new pubs dry up and you start to feel you’ve seen Grey Street just a few too many times. That picture from the top of one of the UK’s great...
July 2026. Newcastle. Last week my son told me I had “mainstream music taste“. Let that sink in. “Matthew has to be contrary” says Mrs RM. “I suspect your son enjoys winding you up” says ChatGPT. And you can rely on ChatGPT, folks; it...
July 2026. Monkseaston. Tyne & Wear. Whitley Bay ticked, Spanish City gelato licked, I headed for the metro back to the Toon. It’s a problematic map, every stop the gateway to a classic pub that distracts you from culture. I really...
July 2026. Whitley Bay. Tyne and Wear ticked for another year, I thought I’d best visit the Bay bit of Whitley, as I seem to be the only person not heading to the coast this summer. Will the water be warm enough to swim in by September ?...
July 2026. Whitley Bay. A Monday night on the Toon gives an unencumbered man many options. Though not, sadly, the micro pub in Seaton Delavel, which would have been a nice tick on the Northumberland line if open. I drop my bag at the...
July 2026. Newcastle. Mrs RM’s sporting injury (pics only available to Patronised readers) precluding a return to the Cask Camino, I set off alone in search of blog material. You can get a return to Newcastle for £33 from Sheffield, and...
July 2026. Sheffield. I drove down with the boys to see Dad a week ago, and back the same day. Dad didn’t recognise us, but was enjoying the company and the fishcakes, which is what matters. Now Sunnyside is sold I’ve no need to stay in...