Saturday night at the Byker & St. Peters Working Men's Social Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1973, photo by Homer Sykes.

Lager is beer.

This week in @thetimes.com I discuss what makes a perfect pub atmosphere and why some pubs get it wrong. Meanwhile in the comments, some bloke reads this and decides I only go to the pub for one pint once a month and expect pubs to survive on that. Yay! (paywall) www.thetimes.com/life-style/f...

Am at #PublicanAwards, a corporate gig hosted this year by Rylan. It is a little known fact that his veneers are so bright they are visible from the Great Wall of China.

Let’s run this up the flagpole and see who salutes it. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Just watched it and I’m going in the plus column. As a beer writer (bear with) I’ve seen how British beer styles are co-opted by the US, get bastardised (in a good way), come back over and take notes. US strategy - British execution. You don't have to choose one. Blended, they're awesome. This time.

Today's your last chance to vote for Cheryl Cade in Visit England’s Tourism Superstar 2026! Please vote for Cheryl - at first I thought she only did brilliant beer tours but she also does loads of stuff about Norfolk. And cheese. Here’s the link visitenglandawards.secure-platform.com/tourismsuper...

In @thetimes.com today: when you're in a pub and there’s nothing good on, do you leave, or… seek out the least shit of the shit mainstream brands? I ranked macro brands so you don't have to. 100s of people have commented without actually reading the piece (paywall) www.thetimes.com/life-style/f...

Also telling me that I “need to get outside the M25 more” when I was born in Barnsley and live in Norwich.

Just love all the old men in the comments section of my Sunday Times column mansplaining to me that I need to learn more about beer because I’ve referred to lagers as beers and lager is not beer.

Incredibly disappointed that the Guardian is repeatedly shilling for AI. Time for me to find another paper I think. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Trump does not think strategically, historically, geographically, or even rationally. He does not connect actions he takes on one day to events that occur weeks later. Allied leaders know that if they help him in the Gulf, he won't be grateful, or even remember www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Trump: “We no longer “need,” or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance – WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea” Then why did you ask for their help and why are you crying that you didn't get it? America, your senile, insane dictator is having a full-blown toddler tantrum.

Am on the Jeremy Vine show at 1.30ish today having an argument about queuing in pubs. It will be fun. Please do listen.

Next time someone tells you GenZ don’t drink, send that person to Liverpool on Paddy’s Day. I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. And we’re only just getting off the train here at lunchtime.

“Hel-lo. This is a very important message from Santander.” No it isn’t. If it was, a human being would have phoned me, not a reverse-answerphone.

Sometimes as a beer and pub writer, ordinary punters humble you. In a pub in Manchester this lunchtime (working) a bunch of old geezers who obviously gather there every day were discussing geopolitics, and sounding worried. “This is our bunker,” one said. And the conversation moved on.

I always used to wonder, in the abstract, which was worse: a politician who was awful because they were stupid and incompetent, or a politician who was genuinely, purely evil. Turns out you can be both.

The dumbest fuck on the planet is President of the United States.

Story behind the story: Bass is now brewed by Carlsberg (formerly Marstons). I got in touch with their press office to see if we could put a name to the unsung hero(es) who decided they were going to make Bass great again. They completely ignored me. (1/2)

Today in @thetimes.com - many beer fans have been noticing Bass being more visible, and loving it when they taste it. Here's the inside scoop: Bass is BACK, baby! (Paywall) www.thetimes.com/life-style/f...

Today’s portion of “Fuck you” goes to people who send you emails with titles like “This is your final chance to leave feedback for the Premier Inn Sheffield.” Oh no! Thank gods you gave me another chance! I was recently pestered to leave a review of a parking space, FFS.

Barnsley town centre. Pork pie, mushy peas, gravy and mint sauce. I feel sorry for you that you are not here with me.

This is quite astonishing. Can’t pretend I understand it all, and am not sure I 100% agree with conclusions, but a social studies academic analyses pub closures in a totally different way from anyone else ever has and comes up with some extraordinary insights. laurenleek.substack.com/p/britain-lo...

Shut up. Listen. Nothing you or I want to say is as urgent as what the Neutrinos have to say. Open a barrel-aged imperial stout and be quiet, you twat. Seriously. Shut up and listen. Don’t forget the imperial stout … wait… see, I told you, there it is. That bit. open.spotify.com/playlist/37i...

The Morning Advertiser asked me for an opinion on BrewDog. I turned to Tasting Notes for inspiration. www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2026...

Tom Lehrer said satire died when Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Piece Prize. What would he have made of a “Labour” minister of Asian descent being the most racist ever UK cabinet minister while DELIBERATELY cosplaying a Netflix Nazi?

UK Brewers! Anyone doing a spring seasonal ale? DM me if you are. Cheers!

Just been announced that Tilray Brands, currently the fourth-largest craft beer brewer in the US, has acquired the bulk of BrewDog, for circa £33m.

A week today it’s International Women’s Day. In @thetimes.com today, we spotlight six brilliant female brewers. (Paywall) www.thetimes.com/life-style/f...

I just feel like, ideally, the Labour response to yesterday's result would have tried to talk people *out* of detecting to the Greens, rather than, y'know, the opposite?

I say this with very heavy heart, and no joy whatsoever, but Keir Starmer is a loathsome fucking twat

Blimey. Seems inordinately stupid to me but what do I know?

Barnsley friends and family - in over twenty years of doing book events, I don't think I’ve ever done one in Barnsley. That *almost* changes tonight. Not quite in Tarn, but I’m doing my Clubland talk in Penistone. Please do come if you can. www.penistoneparamount.co.uk/news/21140

Isn’t that the whole point??

Corporations: We are collections of people & therefore deserve the civic rights afforded all people. Me: Ok. May I talk to a person? Corporation: No. Never again.

“Everyone.”

It’s rubbish having to work on a Sunday.

It’s a double-helping from me in @thetimes.com this weekend! In yesterday’s new review, I explored the rise of pint cans. www.thetimes.com/life-style/f... while in today’s mag I start a fight by trying to pick Bristol’s eight best pubs: www.thetimes.com/life-style/f... (paywall on both)

Can we put these people in charge of the world, please.

🙈🙈🙈

I mean, come on, why are people so MEAN towards profoundly corrupt, evil, lying, twisted millionaire paedophiles?

In his element 🤩 @petebrownbeer.bsky.social LOVES beer. We heard all about the taste, the feel and now the sound?! Music, #beer, good craic - and even a spot of mythbusting. Another great night at the Old Brewery Store. Cheers!

Well worth a watch! I mean the other three, of course.

Not just beer and books, but music too! Looking forward to chatting Tasting Notes with @henrygjeffreys.bsky.social tomorrow night!

Do you like #beer? Do you like #books? Do you like fun? Well you know where you need to be: FAVERSHAM! 🍺🍻📚

A long shot, this: do I know any publicans who are worried/concerned/pissed off about the growth of beer in pint (568ml) cans as another threat to the pub?