Hockley and Kenrick Park

Day two of the joint SBI/WME exploration festival saw Rog and myself venturing across to the Jewellery Quarter to undertake a Birmingham and Sandwell local outing...

• After yesterday's exploits, we reconvene at Stourbridge only for the heavens to open. Seeking refuge in a bacon sandwich, we decide to abandon our planned Cookley walk and proceed with a rain-dodging West Midlands local instead.
• We therefore try out the Parry's People Mover before taking a train across to the Jewellery Quarter. With Roger's bladder already causing trouble, we find the Woodman pub in Hockley where we sample some M&B Mild and have a chat with the landlord about auctions and eBay.
• The Hockley investigations continue with a look at Hockley Circus, complete with subways, underpasses and a police escort (albeit they were on bicycles).
• A brief flirtation with the 74 bus brings us to Handsworth, where I take advantage of some belated bright sunshine to get photos of an impressive council building along with the Flighted Horse and Pump Tavern pubs.
• Time for some lunch, so we catch the Metro from Booth Street to Kenrick Park in order to track down the Vine on Roebuck Street. The pub has a growing reputation for its speciality Indian-style cuisine and was certainly busy when we called in. Our food arrived almost instantly, and I certainly enjoyed my samosas and chicken tikka. A return visit could well be in order whenever we're in the West Bromwich area.
• We follow lunch with a closer look at Kenrick Park, allowing me the chance for some autumnal views of the park itself complete with high-rise tower backdrop.
• Back on the Metro, its off to Dartmouth Street where we try to locate our next suitable pub (Rog's bladder being once more in need of some urgent attention). We find our way into the Old Crown on Sandwell Road, where we sample some Dizzy Blonde and resurrect our pool tradition. With two frames played, the score is tied at 1-1, Rog claiming the first game comfortably before I mounted a stunning comeback with a lethal pot on the black, even if I do say so myself!
• Pride intact, we work our way across to Wolverhampton via a quick call at Bilston. Our Wolverhampton target this time is the Posada pub on Lichfield Street, where we enjoy the old fashioned ambience armed with a swig of Reverend James. Rog then tempts me into a final drink in the Giffard (mainly so that he could get Metallica on the jukebox), and we just have time to debate the merits of Moomins before Rog catches his 256 bus home.

Two days down, plenty of exploring to come - I wonder what Wednesday might bring?