Real Ale, Real Music

I visited a few different places on a visit to Manchester last weekend, including an excellent place a little off the beaten track.... I was in Manchester because one of my work colleagues had organised a leaving do before she headed off for a new job in Amsterdam, and so I decided to go over a bit earlier, check out HMV - sadly Fopp Records on Brown Street was closed as part of the same deal that saved HMV* - and visit Cask, situated by the canal in New Islington, just beyond Ancoats. I caught the fast train from Huddersfield to Victoria - 27 minutes station-to-station - and waded through the sea of Saturday shoppers to the Arndale Centre. I normally avoid such places like the plague at weekends, so it was helpful reminder as to why. Still, my efforts were rewarded with a copy of Led Zeppelin 4 on vinyl at a bargain (for nowadays) price of £14.99, and a copy of the new Stealing Sheep album 'Big Wows' on CD. I made my way to the Northern Quarter, and decided to pop into

Incredibly, we are now in the middle of May, with the year just whizzing by. And it has been a busy month so far with plenty going on in and around Halifax and Calderdale..... It doesn't seem two weeks since I was watching The Orielles playing a hometown gig at The Square Chapel in Halifax. The band are simply getting better all the time, their timeless indie-pop now being enhanced by the permanent addition of keyboard player Alex and an increasingly funky tightness, as evidenced on their most recent single, Bobbi's 2nd World . Lead guitarist Henry is playing with a growing confidence, with almost Hendrix-esque flourishes at times. The band were excellent, starting off with Old Stuff, New Stuff and over the next hour or so they took us through another 12 of their tunes finishing up with Sugar Tastes Like Salt. Included in the set was one of their earlier singles, Let Your Dogtooth Grow , and for those that wanted the full evening's entertainment, there had been a sho

A second report from Derby, focussing mainly on just one pub. But what a pub it is.... I was up quite early, and so decided to go for a walk and find the Britannia cafe that the couple in the Exeter Arms  had mentioned last night and get some breakfast. I found it easily enough, it was down a narrow street near the bus station. I walked in to a bustling scene, most tables were occupied by a mix of workmen, office types, families, and the odd tourist, always a good sign that the food will be pretty decent. Full English and a pot of tea was just over the £6 mark, and it made a good start to the day. Thanks to the couple from the Exeter in the unlikely event you get to read this! Derby Cathedral I then went for a wander. Derby is a mix of old and new, some lovely historic buildings and modern monstrosities, but overall it has quite a pleasant city centre with some attractive areas, especially around the cathedral, which overlooks one of the many green spaces that occupy the c

I visited Derby recently, a trip that gave me a chance to try out a number of excellent places in a city that punches well above its weight in terms of decent pubs.... I had got my ticket out in readiness for the guard to check it. I was on the 15.11 out of Leeds, due into Derby at 16.24, the 4th stop of 24 on a marathon journey for the train  that wasn't due into Penzance until 22.43. As the guard approached and checked the tickets, he advised every customer what time they were due at their destination - so  Totnes 20.17, Birmingham New Street 17.07, Bristol Parkway   18.29 - a constant refrain. And a few words of caution - Are you sure? Have you ever been to Tamworth in daylight hours before? Advice - You're on the wrong train,   love,  c hange at Derby, usually Platform 2, the London St Pancras will be about 10 minutes after we arrive.  And the frustrations of his employment - I'm getting too old for this job. When I said I wanted to retire, they said you can't, K