Opinion
Topical articles and pieces from a personal point of view.
Manchester happening
Manchester felt like it could be the centre of the universe this summer. Thousands of tourists flocked to the city largely to witness and celebrate on...
Mild’s stronger than you think
On my first trip to the Beacon Hotel in Sedgley I found a visitor from Japan in one of small rooms supplied by the central bar. When I asked him what...
The Firkin Saga goes on
The Firkin Saga by David Bruce, Right Book Press, ÂŁ18.99 In July 1979, when David Bruce transformed the boarded-up Duke of York under a railway arch i...
Best bitter ploughman’s
I am writing this as the UK basks in another heatwave, whilst a good few of you may have been sat sipping a refreshing pint or two in a bucolic countr...
Alcohol free: situation normal?
Like the introduction of an official CAMRA keg bar in 2019, this year has seen a momentous evolution at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF). A form...
A festival for all?
There was a palpable sense of anticipation ahead of the announcement of this year's Champion Beer of Britain. As the clock ticked closer to 4pm, vario...
Pubs should be parent and child friendly
It was the loneliest I’d ever been. A few years ago, I took parental leave when our first-born was still a baby and found myself with days in front of...
Return of an old friend
The first time I drank Boddingtons Bitter I refused to leave the pub. I was in Hyde on the edge of Manchester, en route for a meeting with the graphic...
The gastropub lives
I’ve been organising my thoughts on the gastropub concept ever since I read the wonderful Katie Mather’s thoughts on the subject in her excellent news...
Visiting the AI pub
I like to try and keep abreast of the news, particularly as it pertains to beer and pubs. This morning, my feed was assaulted with the same cookie cut...
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