I love a two day trip up to the north west of England. Cheshire and Greater Manchester have a strong line up of top breweries. The Good Beer Guide 2027 is our companion. As a newly paid up member of CAMRA I get my grubby hands on the latest edition and plan an itinerary for our next outing.
Tony Mac is tucked away in a corner of Nottingham Railway station, warming his hands on a cappuccino. There's always nervousness and anxiety on whether an EMR train will actually rock up at the station or run on time. Last weekend they plummeted to an all time low, posting an early morning tweet to say due to staff sickness their customer service line would be closed. Andy Burnham, please brandish a Red card.
The 7.45 Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street train runs without any drama. There is a 'safety inspection' on our connecting train from Manchester Oxford Road to Urmston, a town in Trafford. It's where Coronation Street actress Eileen Derbyshire was born. For over 45 years she played the character Emily Bishop in the soap opera. She celebrated her 95th birthday last week.
A large Wetherspoon breakfast is taken at Tim Bobbin, a pub named after an English caricaturist, who used to travel around local pubs drawing pictures of families and charging them per head to appear in each portrait.
The Cheshire town of Warrington is only a short train ride away. A cheery and chatty landlord pours a Jericho Blonde from Settle Brewery. On the Saturday morning of 20th March, 1993, two bombs, planted by the IRA in litter bins, in Warrington town centre, exploded within minutes of each other. Three year old Johnathan Ball, who was shopping for a Mother's Day card with his babysitter, died at the scene. The life support machine of 12 year old Tim Parry was switched off, five days later. He'd nipped into town to buy a pair of Everton football shorts. 54 people were injured. The bombs were placed in cast iron litter bins which caused large amounts of shrapnel.
It's my first time in Warrington for over 13 years. The town centre renovation in Time Square is impressive. The award-winning market is a gem of a place. The two storey building has 50 independent traders selling amongst other produce: meat, fish, cheese, pies, fruit, jewellery and perfume. It has two bars and food outlets with a choice of Thai and Chinese dishes as well as Italian delicacies and burger joints. We enjoy some beer at Hop Emporium and Costello's.
There is an incident on our return to Greater Manchester. The beer guide says that Flixton Conservative Club is open at 2 pm. We both wouldn't be seen dead at any Tory institute, but sadly drop our pants at a book tick off. There are people playing bowls behind the club and lights are on in the bar with movement behind the beer pumps. Despite banging on the windows and knocking on the front door, at well past 2 pm there's Bob Hope of getting in. I'll leave a review on Google when I've calmed down.
We spend the rest of the day jumping on trams and trains, with the odd UBER getting us back on track. There are two 'pub of the day' contenders. The Grade II listed Lamb Hotel, in Eccles, with its carved oak traditional bar, green tiles and grand staircase is jaw dropping. But we finish the night in the outstanding Magnet, in Stockport. It has recently been named in the Telegraph's publication 'Top 500 Pubs in England.' I finish with a half pint of Milson from Manchester brewery Sureshot.
God knows why, but I have a restless night's sleep. It's very strange as I've plenty to look forward to. Is it the different surroundings or just too many varieties of beer? The overhead lines in the Stockport area have taken a battering during the early hours of the morning. Luckily our journey to Poynton, in Cheshire is unaffected. It's another 'Spoons breakfast to set us up for the day.
Just around the corner from the pub is St George's Church. Laid to rest there is one of the most influential figures in the history of Manchester United Football Club. The Welshman, Jimmy Murphy, was assistant manager to Matt Busby in the late 1950s. He didn't travel with the rest of the United team for their European Cup tie versus Red Star Belgrade in February 1958. The plane, full of players, staff and journalists crashed on the Munich runway after a failed take-off. 23 passengers died.
Jimmy Murphy stayed at home. He was also the manager of Wales, who had a game the same night. Busby told him to lead his country. Murphy, a humble man, rebuilt the club in Busby's absence. He was an amazing human being. He attended all the funerals and comforted all the bereaved. At his request, shortly before his death he asked that no mention of Manchester United be written upon his grave. He wanted to be remembered, just like anybody else, as a family man, a working class man. I remove my hat in the pouring rain as we both pay our respects to one of Manchester United's greatest ever legends.
We race around Cheshire before returning to Withington in the city centre. Just around the corner from a Hydes establishment called Victoria Inn is the Marcus Rashford mural. I'm a big fan of the man and the footballer. I hope he gets his career back on track and that he starts to wear a smile on his face again.
Before returning to Stockport, to catch our train home, we call by Burnage. It's where the Gallagher brothers grew up. There are three murals of Liam and Noel painted on the wall of Sifter Records, on Fog Street.
It's 4 a.m. on Saturday. I throw back the duvet and gingerly move my weary body from my bed. I've had just a few hours kip. We visited 27 pubs (half pints in most) and walked 15 miles. I work at the shop with MSR legend Dayne until midday. Ms Moon picks me up and we head north towards the M1.
We dine at a gastropub called the Hunloke Arms in the village of Wingerworth, just outside Chesterfield. The snap is spot on. Ms Moon has a fillet steak sandwich soaked in a Gorgonzola sauce. I settle for a Cajun chicken burger. I stick to a soft drink after overindulging in the last few days.
We take a wander around Alfreton. I clock a micropub, but I'm more taken aback with a wonderful War Memorial in the Market Square. I buy a copy of Arthur Lowe's autobiography from a startled indoor market trader.
We're sat behind the Bury dugout five minutes before kick off. The Shakers fans have arrived in large numbers. We're always amused by the antics of their manager Anthony Johnson, who we followed during his time at the helm with Salford, alongside his pal Bernard Morley.
Alfreton fall behind after a good start. The goalkeeper is duped and wrong-footed by a daisy cutter of a free kick. They are all at sea when conceding a penalty five minutes later. The Alfreton full back lumps a ball forward, it's latched onto by the hard working Siyabonga Ligendza. He finishes with aplomb. Johnson will be stripping the paint off the walls of the away changing room, after Bury switch off so late in the half.
The DJ plays a belter at the break. 'Bus Stop' by Herman's Hermits reminds me of happy times when Mum and Dad were alive and we had a record player in the front room.
Alfreton are fired up and set about Bury. They deserve their equaliser with a brilliant goal, again coming from success down the right hand side. There's a melee right in front of us. A beer-swilling, chain-smoking idiot,who has stood throughout the game in a 'no standing' area, hurls abuse at the Bury players and officials. I would have pulled the clown up, but didn't want to embarrass Ms Moon.
Substitute, DJ Pedro, spins his marker with minutes remaining. He hits a delicious volley with the ball on the up, it dips under the crossbar and into the corner of the net. He runs the whole length of the pitch to celebrate with the ecstatic away following. I can't 'arf pick 'em.
Attendance: 982
Player of the Match: Siyabonga Ligendza
Real Ale of the Week: Long Hop, Bollington Brewery
Pub of the Week: Lamb Hotel, Eccles
Best Record Heard on the Radio: Stain, by Lemonsuckr
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