- Nechells Gas Holders -
Before riding off to Staffordshire there is however the small matter of a Brummie breakfast. The Chairman and the Secretary meet outside New Street just before 9am, and after a brief hello to Tony Hancock, Mr D9 is tasked with sniffing out a greasy spoon sleeve. He has just the place in mind so the 65 bus is requisitioned for a ride via Aston Cross to Cuckoo Road. Polly's Pantry is then revealed, a no frills cafe just the way we like them with the added bonus of gas holders on the horizon.
- Sapphire Steering on the 110 -
Back on the Lichfield Road, we lament the demolition of the King Edward VII pub while awaiting our intended 115 connection to Sutton Coldfield. The bus is a no-show so Salford Circus subways get us onto Gravelly Hill just in time to see the Arriva 110 emerging off the Expressway. I don't know how we did it, but somehow we managed to cross several lanes of traffic during a kamikaze sprint to the bus stop, breathlessly boarding the Sapphire-branded bus. The back seat allows a spell of rest and recovery punctuated by the customary (albeit tired) D9 driving demonstration.
- Fazeley War Memorial -
The 110 takes us on a tour of Erdington, Wylde Green and Sutton Coldfield before leaving the West Midlands via Whitehouse Common. Bassetts Pole looks like a candidate for an expensive D9 future round, although sadly Mile Oak no longer has its landmark pub with the distinctive bottle-shaped frontage; flats and a fish bar are the main features here now. A further ride down Watling Street and we alight at Fazeley Square, admiring the local war memorial, Parish Hall and historic Tolsons Mill.
- Bridge 77, Coventry Canal -
Fazeley has long been an important junction location on the canal network, with the old mill looking down on the point where the Coventry Canal meets the Birmingham & Fazeley. It's a relatively tranquil spot these days with kingfisher murals but you can still imagine it being a hive of activity here in its industrial heyday.
- Bird Bothering Baldness -
We investigate the canals briefly in each of the three directions available. Bridge 77 serves as the junction turnover crossing, so we peek towards Fradley (spotting the rear of the Three Tuns) then towards Coventry (discovering Bridge 76) followed by the Birmingham & Fazeley to Tolsons Footbridge. The Chairman also takes time to acquaint himself with the local waterfowl - the ducks wisely resisted any efforts to be photographed but the D9 bald spot wasn't quite as fortunate!
- Our Darts Destination -
Prior research suggested that a couple of Fazeley pubs would be well worth a visit. The first was the Three Tuns on Watling Street where we enjoyed some Wye Valley HPA and a game of darts. The Secretary was on good form here, nailing a 64 checkout and all but securing the title of 2014 Pub Games Champion in the process.
- Three Horseshoes -
Our second Fazeley pub was the Three Horseshoes, tucked away on New Street near the Fazeley Pharmacy and the local post office. This was an unspoilt traditional Mitchells & Butlers place with a long-serving landlady. We sampled some Marston's Pedigree and admired the tiled bar surround and vintage pub signs - an excellent find!
- Wilnecote Station Sign -
Watling Street now takes centre stage as we make our way to Wilnecote, perching on an old bridge for a look at the River Tame then getting a shot or two of the Bulls Head standing sentry at Two Gates crossroads. I was intrigued to see what Wilnecote Station might have to offer but as an unstaffed halt with standard metallic shelters there wasn't a lot to see. The same could be said for the nearby Railway Inn, sadly reduced to a few stumps of brickwork and a solemn stanchion minus a picture sign.
- 'Spotted' on Watling Street -
Better photographic pickings are to be pocketed courtesy of Wilnecote Parish Hall, then the village centre awaits on the other side of Marlborough Way/Ninian Way roundabout. Holy Trinity Church adds a sense of history while the Chairman's bald spot makes its presence felt after stocking up on supplies at a local shop.
- Feeling Festive -
The Secretary's sights were now firmly on The Globe, a gem of a Marston's pub recognised in the Good Beer Gudie for the quality of its Pedigree. The ale certainly lived up to such a lofty billing, and there were more darts to be played too once we'd properly got to grips with the electronic scoreboard. Further down the hill we sample a festive fireplace in the Queen's Head (complete with a perpetually 'snowing' Christmas tree) and then there is tarmac to be tasted in the Red Lion.
- The Kings Ditch -
For a supposed Tamworth trip we hadn't actually touched the town centre yet, so we corrected that by catching the number 9 circular. Despite the fading light, we still got a good view of the Belgrave estate along Birds Bush Road, not forgetting a Snow Dome sighting on the final approaches into town. The Chairman wasn't able to concentrate too much on the scenery though as he was in serious danger of a bladder calamity - thankfully the Robert Peel provided requisite relief so Mr D9 was spared any accidents (but only just!) The Secretary has something of a penchant for micropubs and was thus delighted to discover the newly-opened Kings Ditch, a simply-furnished converted cycle shop where some Burton Porter slipped down a treat.
- The Globe -
Virtually opposite the Kings Ditch is our second Globe of the day, Tamworth's example dating from 1901 with an interior that borders on opulent. Draught Bass is an enjoyable tipple here, and then we need to start thinking of heading home. D9's waterworks play havoc just as we're about to catch our return 110, so an emergency half in the Old Stone Cross is the result. Belatedly securing our Sapphire passage to Sutton Coldfield, we interchange onto the 5 and round off more magnificent marketing with a final nightcap in West Bromwich. Tamworth was terrific and there's still much of it we've yet to explore, so a return visit might well be in the offing at some point next year...
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