Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #37

With Storm Darragh wreaking much damage across the country with high winds and torrential rain, it's probably wise to stay at home in the warmth rather than risking any unnecessary December explorations. Instead I can bring further news of a longer-term form of destruction, i.e. that enacted upon pubs in the West Midlands...

- The Crown & Cushion -

We'll begin in Bradley, that locality due south of Bilston which always feels like a bona fide bit of the Black Country. This series has already accounted for the loss of the Britannia on Hall Green Street and now I acknowledge the Crown & Cushion, a Bank Street box boozer which stood opposite the block of flats which contains a small shopping parade. The pub had spells under both Holts and Ansells ownership but by 2012 its days were numbered; after demolition, the land remained derelict for several years although houses have now sprung up on the site.

- The Crown & Anchor -

From the Crown & Cushion to the Crown & Anchor as we weave our way to Walsall, or should I say Caldmore to be precise. Situated on West Bromwich Street with Little London's high rise flats for close company, this place always struck me as having an elegant appearance in what is an increasingly multicultural area. It's one-time handsome looks weren't enough to save it from closure though and the building has since become the PharmaCare chemists store.

- The Foresters Arms -

The Crown & Anchor suffered a prolonged period of closure before finding a new use and a similar fate is still afflicting the Foresters Arms on the edges of Wolverhampton city centre; in fact, I struggle to remember a time when it was actually trading, so long has it been stuck on the sidelines watching the world go by without serving any beer. Nevertheless it remains a familiar feature where Birmingham Road meets the Grove Street gyratory (just across from what used to be a West Midlands Police base). Rumours suggest it could become a Desi establishment but this would require some serious investment so we'll wait and see...

- The Jug of Ale -

After Birmingham Road comes a Birmingham suburb in the form of Moseley, wherein we find the Jug of Ale as seen awaiting demolition in 2011. Highly regarded for hosting live music, the Jug could boast performances from the likes of Oasis, Blur and Kasabian to name just a few, helping set those acts on the road to stardom. Long before any Britpop influence, the pub had been called the Regent but nowadays the premises operates as the Tipu Sultan restaurant.

- The Leathern Bottle -

And now for a Cresswell Crescent conclusion on the Mossley estate near Bloxwich. The pub stock here has been totally decimated due to the collective demise of the Sneyd, the Eagle and this one - the Leathern Bottle - which could formerly be found next to the shops. An M&B affair, this always looked grim whenever I used to go past during childhood trips visiting family nearby; the bulldozers put it out of its misery circa 2015/16 but the eyesore hoardings that replaced it do nothing to improve the area's aesthetic appeal.