- Station Temptation -
Saturday 5th November and despite it being Bonfire Night later on we're aiming to keep any fireworks to a minimum with a relaxing roam around Albrighton. The village is only ten minutes or so on the train out of Wolverhampton but feels altogether more sedate than its urban near-neighbour. Albrighton's railway station has proven photographically enticing over the years (especially the Grade II listed footbridge and main station house) but its allure has recently been enhanced by the opening of a new micropub - more about that later...
- This way to the pub! -
A Shaw Lane stroll has us on target for our opening pub, passing St Mary's primary school and then the Albrighton medical centre. The walk allows for some in-depth engineering conversation whereby the term 'versatility matrix' makes its first appearance in the Chip Foundation lexicon. We are belatedly celebrating Stephen's birthday today (decorum dictates that I won't declare his precise age but he is not too far off Joe Root's test match batting average) so many happy returns Mr B!
- A Harp Hotel half -
Pub 1: The Harp Hotel has the honour of opening our ale account on this occasion, the pub being situated on Albrighton High Street overlooking the leafy green and a sequence of local shops. We actually came here during our Wellington outing last year so this revisit sees us reclaim our adopted corner with the wicker coffee table and stapled frieze of brewing pictures. The Harp operates as an outlet for Wiltshire's Hop Back Brewery so it's only appropriate to try some of their Entire Stout and very nice it was too, malty and deep. Three Tuns XXX and Clerics Cure were also available as we learned the finer points of engine manufacture from Mr WME Senior.
- The Crown awaits -
Pub 2: Our second stop is an upmarket Marston's experience courtesy of the Crown, a landmark inn situated at the main village crossroads. A half of Thwaites Lancaster Bomber is our choice of tipple here, picking up on the aviation theme whereby the pub makes reference to nearby RAF Cosford - it's not too often you find a vintage ordnance survey map reproduced on a ceiling! Attention quickly turns to dissecting the food menu as we ponder the merits or otherwise of "BBQ Brisket Burnt Ends", a delicacy that somehow didn't appeal to us although it must be presumably popular among folk who have a gluten intolerance.
- The Old Bush -
Pub 3: Just the other side of the afore-mentioned crossroads lurks the Old Bush, a basic Banks's boozer in some ways but with some impressive traditional detailing (give me a couple of etched windows and some bits of old stained glass and I'm instantly a fan). This pub could almost have been transplanted straight out of the Black Country and would look equally at home in a Bilston or a Cradley Heath say, but it serves as a pleasing counterpoint to the food-focused approach elsewhere. The Wainwright is the obvious ale choice here as we watch a bit of rugby action and discuss the forthcoming American presidential election.
- The Shrewsbury Arms -
Pub 4: I am only prepared to let Donald Trump intrude so far into proceedings so we soon make tracks for the top end of the High Street where the Shrewsbury Arms stands opposite the Church of St Mary Magdalene. Both are handsome buildings, the pub being half-timbered in places with beams and sandstone elements. There are some interesting artefacts waiting to be discovered inside including a mounted gun that Nick soon takes a shine to.
- Deep in Discussion -
We set up base by a hearth with a spinning wheel where Stephen takes us through his pictures from a recent visit to the Swiss city of Basel. Our selected beer is Sadler's Worcester Sorcerer, a golden Best Bitter that goes down nicely when admiring several shots of the River Rhine. We're into the evening now and the illuminated village clock shimmers in the encroaching darkness as we wander on down Station Road to our final port of call.
- Platform Ale House once more -
Pub 5: and so we've come full circle back to the railway station where we succumb to the temptations of the Platform Ale House. The micropub has brought the station's disused former booking hall back to life, a development that definitely deserves to be celebrated as we also raise a closing toast to Stephen's birthday. Some Little Fox from Newbridge (a Bilston-based microbrewery) accompanies a flickering coal fire while Nick takes a bite out of a Vampire Rye Ale. This is an ideal place to while away the time until your train is due, and as 18:21 approaches it's a simple case of switching platforms for our homeward connection. The stopper service from Shrewsbury arrives right on cue, thus concluding another chapter from the Chip Foundation Chronicles. Cheers!
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