- Getting Desperate in the Pie Factory -
Saturday 12th December saw Roger and I embarking upon a tour of Tipton taverns in search of good old fashioned Black Country hospitality. We certainly weren't disappointed as firm favourites like the Fountain and the Noahs Ark were on hand to deliver some seasonal cheer. The Pie Factory allowed us to unleash our inner Desperate Dan while the Wagon & Horses presented a perky pub parrot and a cheap pint of Mild.
- Tipton Conservative Club -
A bonus entry on our reunion itinerary was the Tipton Conservative Club on Union Street, a place where Winston Churchill's portrait watched over us as we enjoyed a Prescott winter ale - Rog very much approves of the brewery's celebration of the golden age of motor racing, although we did speculate that it was strange to see the name Prescott in such Tory surroundings!
- Midland Metro at Bull Street -
Wednesday 16th December saw the Chip Foundation converging upon central Birmingham for a Cube rendezvous where a suited Stephen descended from the offices in readiness for a Craven Arms calendar unveiling. Five Ways chips also featured before a look at progress with the Midland Metro extension; trams no longer serve Snow Hill but are currently terminating at a new stop on Bull Street prior to the full link to New Street becoming operational.
- Grinning in the Gunmakers -
Two previously unexplored pubs made a good impression - the Trocadero on Temple Street with a beautiful tiled frontage and the Crown Hotel on Corporation Street where the ales included the cheekily-titled Hoof Hearted. However, our top target was the Gunmakers Arms on Bath Street which has recently been taken over by the Two Towers Brewery and served up a delicious drop of Bhacker Ackhams porter.
- Weston Station Sign -
My exploration endeavours for 2015 culminated with a couple of days in Somerset between Christmas and New Year. The seaside town of Weston-super-Mare was my base for some promenade pictures, notably focusing on the Winter Gardens Pavilion and the restored Grand Pier. I also made sure to investigate the town's railway station with its sprinkling of period GWR features.
- Birnbeck Pier -
Tuesday 29th December had me booked in for a day trip to Bath, but before boarding the coach I enjoyed a morning stroll that revealed the atmospheric remains of Birnbeck Pier. The structure is largely derelict having been closed to the public since 1994 and is now considered endangered, especially since storms and high winds the day after my visit caused part of the decking to collapse.
- Bath Locks -
And so to Bath on a sunny and unseasonably mild day, just ideal for a wander along the delightful Kennet & Avon Canal with the Bath lock flight providing oodles of photographic opportunity. Pulteney Bridge also proved utterly beguiling while a pint of Twelfth Night in the compact confines of the Couer de Lion (Bath's smallest pub) was a mighty fine manner in which to round off the year. Cheers!
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