Our barfly takes off to an unexpected destination – for him. Then he takes off on one Let’s get the first edition of Cheers 2012 off in suitably uplifting style with a review of one of my favourite pubs. But it’s a favourite of mine for reasons different to those for which I normally grant … read more
How long have you been in the pub trade and how long have you been at The Olde Ship Inn? I started at the age of 14 as a bottle boy at The Olde Ship and I’m still here today, 32 years later. What made you do it in the first place? Pocket money followed by a … read more
In wine company, the most Frequently Asked Question – FAQ – is “how long will wine last in the bottle before it should be drunk?” The answer is Pretty Damned Quick (PDQ). There is a myth that most wines will improve with age. Not so, most wine will last only about two years in a … read more
This issue of Cheers is our biggest yet – 36 pages of pub life, great beer, affordable wines and terrific food. We’ve expanded our coverage no end since the magazine first saw the light of day in July (was it only July?) and extended distribution as we try to keep up with the demand from … read more
On the third issue of Cheers North East and with summer receding, it’s perhaps time to reflect on a hectic few months. Cheers has lived up to our expectations and in many areas, exceeded them. The support and goodwill from the licensed trade and the general public has been tremendous and heartwarming and we will … read more
One of the things that helped me make up my mind when choosing whisky over wine as a specialist subject was that my whisky customers always seemed a little more open to new ideas. There seemed to be less “snobbery” and more focus on enjoyment rather than getting too bogged down in preconceptions and focusing … read more
So there we are, minding our own business in a very pleasant beer garden somewhere close to Scotland, when a funny-looking chap sporting a clump of red fur on top of his head comes striding over, muttering darkly about Border Reivers, or some such. This is a breed with which I am unfamiliar, but as … read more
For those of us of a certain age, our introduction to wine might well have been of the rosé variety and the bottle from Portugal that still attracts huge sales. indeed, Mateus rosé, known as “wine in a scent bottle” was probably holding the candle in a bistro you visited recently. Mateus Rosé still achieves … read more
Now don’t get me wrong, I am a staunch whisky drinker of the most dedicated variety. I make no apology for this. however, when the tarmac is melting and the heat of the sun threatens to weld my (remaining) hair to my head, my resolve is tested when it comes to what to drink on … read more
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