A Double Dose of Mr D9

Maintaining my recent liking for 'buy one get one free' trip reports, this latest blogpost recounts back-to-back meetings of the Hub Marketing Board. Firstly the Chairman and the Secretary enjoyed an early evening sampling of Chapel Ash hostelries, then came a more in-depth raid upon Kingstanding and Streetly. Here is the tale of both outings...

- Cruzcampo in the Lupo Lounge -

Ever a slave to logic, let's start at the beginning which in this instance involves a Tuesday 15th May rendezvous in Wolverhampton. Chairman D9 has specifically requested we investigate Chapel Ash as it's been several years since we last ventured that way together, but he is not averse to having an opening drink somewhere in the centre of town - provided the Secretary is paying for it that is! Cue the Lupo Lounge, a bar/eaterie on pedestrianised Dudley Street where the Cruzcampo lager stings poor Mr WME to the tune of £5.30 a pint - ouch indeed. Admittedly the setting is a nice one with masses of portraiture and mirrors, not to mention a long speckled brown sofa that reminds me of the settee my Nan used to have in the 1980s.

- Crazy in the Clarendon? -

Chapel Ash is a busy little area just outside the city centre where the A41 (Tettenhall Road), A454 (Compton Road) and Merridale Road all fan out like spokes radiating away from the main Ring Road. Banks's Brewery is a major feature here so we're contractually obliged to visit their nominal brewery tap - the Clarendon Hotel - although we do go slightly rebellious when opting for the Brooklyn Lager rather than any Amber, Wainwright or Sunbeam. In some quarters this might be enough to warrant disciplinary proceedings so the Chairman tries to disguise himself with glasses, a hi-vis 'skirt' and some very strange facial expressions!!

- 'Spotted' by the former Eye Infirmary -

Besides the brewery, another important Chapel Ash landmark has to be the old Eye Infirmary. Opened in 1888, the building has seemingly been rotting for far too long after services were transferred to New Cross Hospital in 2006; there have been signs of progress in more recent months so hopefully the blight is merely temporary. A certain bald spot digests the scene then we complete our Chapel Ash crawl at three absolutely cracking boozers. The Combermere Arms is a gem of cottagey proportions, serving up a perfect glass of Twickenham Spring Ale while an elderly cat prowls around behind the bar; the Royal Oak on Compton Road is a red brick treat with a real community focus, unsurprisingly full even though it's just an ordinary Tuesday evening; and the Chindit is one of Secretary WME's all-time favourites, supplying Fixed Wheel's Top Ganna amongst a selection of blonde, pale and golden ales. Excellent!

- D9 drives the 5 through Scott Arms -

Whether we'll encounter quite the same quality come Friday 17th May remains to be seen but we'll give Kingstanding and Streetly a whirl regardless. A malfunctioning phone makes for a very stressful WME morning but the Secretary parks himself in the Wheatsheaf at West Brom hoping that the Chairman will have seen his scrambled messages; luckily Mr D9 is eventually present and correct having earlier attended the funeral of a bus driving colleague, so once the necessary Golden Glows are consumed we're all clear to proceed with our afternoon agenda. The number 5 towards Sutton Coldfield is the route we require, grunting up near Sandwell Valley Park and Hamstead to negotiate the notorious Scott Arms bottleneck crossroads.

- Mascot Moments in the (second) Kingstanding -

We alight just beyond Kingstanding Circle and intercept a helping hand 33 down to Warren Farm Road. Things have the potential to get confusing now because two of our target pubs have very similar names but we locate the Kingstanding Inn easily enough, overlooking the Conker Island play area amidst an oval of local amenities (a medical centre, primary school, Christ the King Catholic Church and so forth). The pub in this case used to be Kingstanding's Ex-Servicemen's Club so it still has the unmistakable air of a social club setting with its lobby area - it even seems to offer accommodation upstairs. M&B Mild is a Brummie throwback that seems suitable for the occasion, then we set off via Hurlingham Road so as to find our second Kingstanding-named watering hole in swift succession...

- Kingstanding Precinct -

Whereas Tuesday evening's silly songs were very safety conscious (Beverley Bunt telling us how to cross the road correctly on 'The Queen's Highway' for example), our Friday selection is more religious in tone with various Hallelujahs and Praise the Lords thrown in. Kingstanding Pub #2 is based in a function suite next to what used to be the local police station (but is now a Dominos Pizza outlet); from what we can gather, this bar effectively replaces the derelict boozer which burnt down on the other side of the Circle roundabout. Anyway, it's a very lively haunt with Aston Villa flags aplenty and sepia photos of the old Odeon cinema-turned-Mecca Bingo. A Carling each helps us blend in, mascot George makes the acquaintance of a rocking unicorn, and we can survey what's left of the boarded-up 1960s shopping precinct which is hopefully due to be replaced by a Lidl supermarket in the not-too-distant future. The sooner this happens the better really because the current mess doesn't do the area any favours.

- Elephant Riders in the Brew House -

Satisfied with our Kingstanding endeavours, we'll now switch our attentions towards Streetly whereby the 935 bus can give us a handy link onto the Hundred Acre Estate (crossing from Birmingham territory into Walsall in the process). The block of shops on Boundary Road is home to the Brew House, a popular one-roomed micropub which has deservedly won the CAMRA 2024 Pub of the Year title for Lichfield, Sutton & Tamworth Branch's portion of the West Midlands (the exact geography of these things always confuses me). Anyway, up to four rotating cask ales are usually available, complemented by ciders and craft beers too; judging by the array of previous pumpclips on show, they've stocked a lot of ales the Secretary is very partial to which must bode well. Today's tipple is Elephant Riders by Fown'd, perched on a high stool munching cobs while one of the regulars receives some birthday gifts. Well worth seeking out, isn't it surprising what treasures you can find on an average housing estate?!

- Farmer Johns, Aldridge Road -

Part of the reason for the Brew House's popularity might be that the other alternatives nearby aren't especially exciting, although our commitment to the ale cause means we're going to try them just for the sake of completion. Saying that, the Foley Arms and Farmer Johns (both Marston's) plus the Queslett (Ember Inns) must all be doing something correctly because they're certainly pulling in the punters this evening - presumably the good folk who live along the Aldridge Road corridor enjoy going out for Friday meals. The Foley is probably the more down-to-earth of the three while Farmer Johns has more of a refined dining emphasis, and the Queslett is exactly what you'd expect of an Ember with a decent drop of Adnam's Ghost Ship.

- A Cat & Fiddle Nightcap -

Hitching a lift on an incoming 997 back through to Pheasey, we've just enough wriggle room for a box boozer nightcap. The Cat & Fiddle is a presentable enough Greene King effort which faces up Collingwood Drive from its position on Beacon Road, not far from the Barr Beacon nature reserve in fact. In keeping with several of today's establishments, this one is very full (the presence of black-tied mourners might explain the busyness here) but we can squeeze in for the briefest of Carlings near a Staff Champions noticeboard. With that, we make sure we're aboard the next 5 onwards to West Bromwich and for once the Chairman is home in line with his permitted curfew time. Two for the price of one? I think we got a pretty good deal there!

Lincolnshire Larks

Much as it did in both 2009 and 2014, the seaside resort of Skegness is beckoning to me with the prospect of making more priceless family holiday memories. The weather forecast looks very promising indeed so fingers crossed I'll be spending a few days enjoying the loveliness of Lincolnshire...

- Skegness Clock Tower -

Monday 6th May: we venture across to the East Coast on Bank Holiday Monday, enjoying a relatively trouble-free journey via the outskirts of Nottingham, Newark and Boston. Checking in at our caravan park around lunchtime, we're then free to reacquaint ourselves with Skegness itself from its 'Jolly Fisherman' mascot (inspired by the 'Skegness is so bracing' railway advert of 1908) to the Jubilee Clock Tower which forms a key focal point along Grand Parade. The town hasn't changed a great deal in the ten years since I was last here, and certainly seems very popular with young families making the most of the sunshine.

- The Red Lion -

Mingling among the Botton's Pleasure Beach crowds, we pause for a bargain ice cream (£2 with 99 flake) then wander over by the pier with its mixture of softplay, amusement arcades and bingo. Another busy Bank Holiday haunt is the Red Lion Wetherspoons on the corner of Lumley Road and Roman Bank, a building which dates from 1881. Many of the sunworshipper punters are sitting outside - some risking looking ever more like lobsters without sunscreen protection - so we stay indoors safely in the shade whilst partaking of Worthington's, wine or Hook Norton's Old Hooky. My liking for cask ale then has me seeking out one newer arrival in the form of the Crafty Little Ale House, a Lumley Avenue micropub which first opened last year. Magpie Best is a tasty 4.2% traditional bitter from a Nottingham-based brewery - nice!

- The Maud Foster Mill -

Tuesday 7th May: Skegness bearings re-established, it's time to concentrate on the wider delights of Lincolnshire. Boston is an hour's bus ride away (via Wainfleet and Old Leake on Stagecoach's Interconnect 57 route), and with single fares still capped at £2 per journey we really can't go wrong. There are several Brylaine vehicles on layover when we alight at the town's bus station before a Wetherspoon's breakfast fortifies me for the walking ahead. Top target is the Maud Foster Mill, seven storeys high and proudly stone-grinding flour since 1819 so it celebrated its 200th anniversary not too long ago. The windmill is situated on Willoughby Road beside the Maud Foster Drain and has five sails in full working order.

- York Street Football Ground -

Directly opposite the windmill - on the Horncastle Road side of the waterway - is a traditional pub called the Kings Arms. I developed a taste for Bateman's beers when visiting the brewery back in 2009 and this is one of their unspoiled tied houses so a swift pint of XB is necessary in unassuming surroundings. A nifty dose of sidestreet navigation then has me homing in on a sporting location which has sadly seen better days - Boston United's former footballing home at York Street. This has all the hallmarks of a classic old school ground with corrugated stands and proper floodlight stanchions - imagine watching a match here of a cold winter's evening. Boston relocated to a new edge-of-town stadium for the 2020/21 season, after which Railway Athletic played here but the site currently seems to be used as overspill fairground parking.

- A Sighting of The Stump -

Wherever you go in Boston, one presence above all others seems inescapable - the towering magnificence that is St Botolph's Church, affectionately known as The Stump. It dominates the horizon for miles around and is a truly awe-inspiring example of C15th century ecclesiastical architecture so it'll come as no surprise that I attempt several pictures of it from a range of differing angles. Nestled on Wormgate barely a stone's throw from the main church door is Goodbarn's Yard, a Good Beer Guide-listed establishment that seems to have attracted the pensioner pound with its lunchtime menu. Wafts of scampi therefore accompany my imbibing of a pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord, pondering cobbled courtyards and life in general.

- Medium Haddock in Steel's Corner House -

Wednesday 8th May: the holiday has already supplied more than its fair share of highlights but a Wednesday visit to Cleethorpes might top the lot. We travel up the coast via Ingoldmells (a mass of holiday camps), Mablethorpe and Saltfleet to park up at Lakeside on the southern end of Kings Parade. The resultant seafront stroll is an expectant one because we know we're headed for Steel's Corner House, an absolute institution of a fish and chip restaurant which started trading in 1946. Mom and Dad have sampled their wares before so know about the treat which lies in store, namely a medium haddock platter for £13.45 complete with perfect chips, bread and butter, cups of tea and a generous dollop of tartare sauce. Fabric partitions screen off the tables and stained glass lampshades add a touch of elegance, I love it! 

- Cleethorpes Station Pub -

I didn't think Cleethorpes could get any better after Steel's but it certainly goes out on a limb to keep me transfixed. The town's railway station terminus offers not one but two excellent pub prospects - No 1 Pub (in the original main station building), and No 2 Refreshment Room as situated 'Under the Clock'. I can't do one without the other so I simply resign myself to a most contented hour of beer and railwayana heaven. Rudgate Ruby Mild and the sounds of Scott McKenzie are my reward in the Refreshment Rooms, whereas Horncastle's Dreadnought Porter is a steal at £2.50 a pint over in the 'Aleway' Station. I adore perusing the various fixtures and fittings, including the Watkin Room with full views over the adjacent platforms.

- The Signal Box Inn -

And if that isn't enough of a railway fix, there's just the tiny - but not insignificant - matter of the Signal Box Inn which proclaims itself to be (and I quote) "The smallest pub on the planet". I've simply got to check that out haven't I? Unlike its counterparts on the mainline station, this one is served by the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway which runs miniature trains from Kingsway to Lakeside and back. For sheer novelty value this is a lot of fun and you certainly wouldn't be able to swing the proverbial cat inside the bar area; there are however plenty of benches and tables on hand as part of the wider Lakeside station site, and a quick half of Cask Tetley's is sufficient to say I've checked it out. 

- The Horncastle Canal -

Thursday 9th May: with the excellent weather set to stick around for a good while longer yet, I'm blessed with even more blue skies when catching the InterConnect 56 service inland to the quaint market town of Horncastle. This is a place with a fine reputation for antiques shops although I'm more interested in exploring a stretch of the Horncastle Canal, a non-navigable waterway which nowadays forms a wildlife haven and leisure walkway out towards Tattershall. Wildflowers and birdsong add to the idyllic sense of springtime as I take a moment in nature to recharge my batteries, then it's back past the swimming pool and bowling club into the town centre again so that I can pick out more landmarks to photograph.

- St Mary's Church -

Landmarks don't come much more charming than St Mary's Church which is thought to have had Roman and Saxon predecessors, although the current edifice is C13th with considerable elements of Victorian restoration. The War Memorial Hospital and the Court House also catch my photographic eye, not forgetting the general Market Place vista, and then I satisfy my urge for more Bateman's beer by calling into the Kings Head on Bull Ring. Even without the lure of a pint of XXXB, this one would have enticed me anyway simply on account of its magnificent thatched roof and overall cottagey pinkness. I would have liked to have paired it with Old Nick's Tavern (no, it isn't named after our Warwickshire correspondent) as the Horncastle Brewery's taphouse but it doesn't open until 6pm.

- Sir John Franklin -

Instead I hop back aboard the bus and check out the nearby settlement of Spilsby, a small town known for being the birthplace of the Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin (1786 - 1847). His rather fine statue watches on from one end of the Market Square, joined by Timeless Interiors and an old-fashioned petrol garage. A selection of coaching inns includes the White Hart, the George Hotel and the Nelson Butt although I give my custom to the Red Lion, tempted in by a back-to-basics Bateman's interior. A final evening in Skegness involves one last seafront stroll, then on Friday 10th May its an early beat-the-traffic dart to get us home to the West Midlands. Great weather, great memories, Lincolnshire you didn't let me down!

An Early May Medley

After my varied April assortments, I now bring you a May montage being as the new month has already yielded a couple of local investigations - nothing too exciting, just solid exploring you understand with a focus on scrumptious cobs...

- Vine Sustenance -

Speaking of which, I must draw your attention to this mighty fine example which I procured from the Vine in Wednesfield on Friday 3rd May. A slab of cheese, your standard red onion and a generous side portion of black pudding rounds all matched with a crusty roll. As is often the case at the Vine, the cask ale was excellent too - I sampled both the Green Duck 'Murder She Oat' (a great name) and Mallinson's 'Jester', as fresh as you could wish for. Visiting duties at nearby New Cross Hospital meant I wasn't inclined to get too adventurous but chips with Mr B and a Cricket Club Quiz at Tettenhall made for a memorable evening; alas Team Bears finished a narrow second after an unfortunate wipeout involving Ursula von der Leyen!

- 172218 at Stourbridge Junction -

Merrily I'll hop forward a few hours into Saturday 4th May 2024 and a Stourbridge area outing with a penchant for Pedmore. Catching the train down from Smethwick Galton Bridge, I keep my eyes peeled for any sightings of George the Cat but he doesn't appear to be on desk duty. The platform is however populated by several anxious-looking Bluenoses nervously awaiting  their connection to St Andrews for the pivotal match against Norwich; sadly despite winning, Blues will be playing League One football next season. A handful of Class 172 train pictures get my camera into gear and then it's time for me to start walking...

- Pedmore High School -

Grange Road (past the Handy DIY store) and Grange Lane combine to lead me into Pedmore, a leafy district directly south-east of Stourbridge town centre. It's been a few years since I was last in this neck of the woods so it's good to get to grips with features such as the local High School (part of the Invictus Education Trust), not forgetting Ham Dingle Primary Academy. Pedmore forms the edges of the West Midlands before you reach Hagley and Worcestershire, with tempting footpaths across towards Wychbury Hill and its famous obelisk. The mysterious case of 'Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm' remains unsolved, referencing the 1940s discovery of a woman's dead body in nearby woodland. 

- Pointing to Pedmore -

Hoping to avoid any such grisly discoveries myself, I continue through Stourbridge suburbia for housing estate glimpses involving Old Ham Lane, Beckman Road and Pedmore Lane. The Saturday morning weather is much brighter than was originally forecast so I'm in my element, noting Ham Dingle's secluded trackways stretching off towards Wollescote or eyeing up any lingering bits of springtime blossom. Swindell Road offers a streetscape of tidy bungalows before the number 7 bus trundles past en route to Lye Cross and Dudley.

- St Peter's Church -

Further along Pedmore Lane is St Peter's Parish Church, a Grade II listed place of worship which is mostly C19th having been consecrated in 1871. The current building replaced an earlier church and there are still some intact aspects of Norman architecture, most notably a decorative semi-circular tympanum set into the stonework above the south doorway. Fluttering bunting brightens up the churchyard and I'm enchanted by the neighbouring cricket field which has its own gate in the perimeter wall. Pedmore Cricket Club currently play in the top division of the Worcestershire County League; their main access is off Pedmore Hall Lane.

- Ember Expectations at the Foley Arms -

In terms of pub possibilities, Pedmore's principal option is the Foley Arms overlooking the Hagley Road roundabout. An Ember Inns establishment, it is tastefully furnished and offers a decent range of cask ales from which I select Wiper & True's naturally hazy Kaleidoscope for a tangy taste of the tropics. Salopian and Timothy Taylor wares are also available while soft lighting plus toffee-toned seating adds a mellow upmarket ambience to proceedings. I can't deny I usually prefer more traditional pub settings but this is very acceptable indeed, and I've got my eye on a Bathams classic just down the road anyway.

- A Seven Stars Cob Specimen -

The Bird in Hand is the place in question, giving me an Oldswinford fix of my favourite Best Bitter beneath strung-out rows of Black Country chain flags. An Absolute Radio 1980s playlist has a Duran Duran fixation while the regulars include a group of cycling enthusiasts seeking refreshment after a lengthy bike ride. From here I'll wend my way back to Stourbridge Junction railway station, permitting myself just enough time for the Seven Stars (Black Country Ales) at the bottom of the station driveway. Homegrown Brummie whets my whistle as a vegan-friendly gluten free tipple but arguably gets upstaged by another example of cob excellence: ladies and gentlemen, I give you plentifully-filled egg mayonnaise and bacon deliciousness. Cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - April 2024

Can you believe we're a third of the way through 2024 already? April has brought its customary mixture of showers and blossoms with a fair amount of sunshine, and I'm pleased to say it's been a solid month in terms of photostream progress too. Here's what I've plucked from the potting shed over the last few weeks...

As was the case in March, our Head Gardener has been Exploration Extra although it hasn't quite managed to maintain its total stranglehold on my updates this time around. Among the prized blooms are a Kendal 2021 sequence of Ulverston mural snapshots, picking out illustrated extracts from the life of Sir John Barrow during his diplomatic career. Sizergh Castle sprouted up with prime topiary pyramids and an orchard view, not to mention some succulent lily pads, while Sedbergh had me trying to dodge stray cricket balls in the vicinity of Loftus Hill.

From the Lake District we'll progress northwards into Scotland where two albums have been lovingly tended to. Edinburgh 2017 receives an injection of Scottish banknotes plus a glimpse of Preston Tower (a historic Prestonpans landmark), whereas Southerness 2022 cultivates seafront stones with a lingering look at my favourite lighthouse muse. Back on English soil, Manchester 2021 nurtures some Navigation Road station seedlings with Metrolink branding and a platform exit sign. A Stretford Washeteria shopfront isn't the prettiest of sights but they all count. 

Still with Exploration Extra, we'll duck into our metaphorical greenhouse to grapple with budding growth from Northampton 2018. An All Saints Church clockface has taken root alongside some Wantage Road cricket stand action but I'm most taken with aspects of Monks Park Working Mens Club with its lovely corner lettering. Down in the South West, Brean 2022 has been boosted by the presence of Weston-super-Mare seal art, not forgetting an airing for the Old Colonial pub or Minehead's 'metal head' cast of characters (one coastguard creation thus far).

That's likely to be the last we'll hear of Exploration Extra for a little while as the focus switches once more to my main West Midlands galleries. These too have been getting green-fingered of late, especially WME Solihull which has propagated two Kingshurst bus pictures (the 54 at Fordbridge Road and the 71A by the shopping precinct). WME Birmingham mulches over to Albert's Schloss for hints of delectable Pilsner Urquell Czech lager, then WME Dudley sows the seeds of Amblecote pubbiness care of the Maverick and the Starving Rascal.

Elsewhere, WME Wolverhampton is not usually one to be overshadowed but contents itself with a spot of All Saints street sign pruning courtesy of Chain Gardens and Forge Road, part of the new estate off Steelhouse Lane. That just leaves us with the horticultural efforts of WME Telford which yields an Aqueduct pub interior (the Britannia) and a branch out of Bayley Lane from Arleston. The hosepipe and trowel are on standby for further gardening in May, so until then please enjoy the photos!

Another April Assortment

April 2024 seems to have developed a liking for double-header blog postings. With Perton and Pensnett already accounted for, I'll now combine two more outings into a single report so settle back and enjoy. First off is a Carling collision around Deansfield with Mr D9, followed by an Acocks Green assignment accompanying Nick and Ken...

- Sir Jack's Statue -

There hasn't been much scope for Hub Marketing action this month with the Chairman and the Secretary both having busy diaries, so squeezing in a quick evening catch-up is about all that we can muster. Tuesday 16th April is the agreed date whereby Mr WME manages some lunchtime photography in the vicinity of Molineux Stadium, home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers of course. Sir Jack Hayward was club owner and benefactor during the 1990s and early 2000s so a statue of him can be found close to the stand bearing his name; the design recreates Sir Jack's famous thumbs up pose which celebrated achieving promotion to the Premier League after the Play Off Final victory over Sheffield United in 2003. 

- Marston's Smooth in the Merry Boys -

To Hub Marketing matters and 529 buses from differing directions see members converging upon Deansfield shortly before 5pm. A mini Willenhall Road pubcrawl is in the offing, starting at the Merry Boys which is a fairly typical Banks's establishment on the junction with Deans Road. Secretary WME remembers having belly busting brunches here, as well as meeting up for lunches with ex-library colleagues, but today's visit concentrates on Marston's Smooth and some brightly patterned booth seating. Chairman D9 is in good form, regaling all with tales of timetable scheduling meetings and falling off stools in the Great Western.

- D9 'drives' the 529 -

Diagonally opposite the Merry Boys is where you'll find the Cleveland Arms, occupying the corner with Stowheath Lane. Well known as a sporting pub, the Cleveland regularly hosts event nights with personalities drawn from the worlds of football, darts and snooker - indeed, former Wolves midfielder Kevin McDonald is due to take to the stage here in a few days time. We partake of a swift Carling each whilst noting an impressive amount of dartboards and pool tables, then decamp back onto the 529 so that the Chairman can showcase more of his bus driving expertise. A short hop is all he needs to supply some steering action...

- It's A Lovely Day for a Bald Spot Sighting -

A two stop helping hand is all we require to get us to the Beehive, a Coventry Street contender drawn very much from the backstreet boozer category. More Carling here keeps us refreshed - once Mr D9 has figured out which door can get us inside - as we sit under the trophy shelf admiring their Beehive Wolves 1877 flag. A cheeky call into the Glassy Junction (formerly the Malt Shovel) completes proceedings amongst hi-vis workmen and woolly-coated grannies; for a Tuesday evening it's very lively, the curries being part of the attraction. There's just time for the bald spot to listen to some silly songs, including some German rapping nonsense from Die Woodies plus Renee and Renato warbling 'It's A Lovely Day', and the crawl is complete.

- Douglas Road Bird Art -

Three whole days later and Friday 19th April 2024 has Nick, Ken and I meeting up for a spot of Acocks Green reconnaissance. Our resident Bluenose Mr May used to live in the area prior to departing for Wolverhampton pastures in the 1980s, so this outing is dedicated to revisiting a few of his old stomping grounds. We therefore set forth from Acocks Green railway station shortly after half past ten, noting the closure of the Great Western pub (boarded up) and the lack of public helpdesk services at the nearby police station. Douglas Road yields a neat line in avian street art as Nick ponders whether to call in at Jess Phillips MP's constituency office, while Alexander Road offers a former Ken residence as well as a historic fire station premises.

- Summer House, Shaftmoor Lane -

The village centre in Acocks Green is clustered around the main island where Westley Road, Shirley Road and the A41 Warwick Road all intersect, although the Inn on the Green as was is now a Kabul restaurant. We peruse some of the local shops, noting the closure of Haynes Butchers (they had been trading since 1939) and weigh up our pub options which appear to amount to Wetherspoons or bust! We've earmarked Tim Martin's empire for food consumption later on so a ride on the 1 can get us to Shaftmoor Lane, technically crossing into Hall Green. The Shaftmoor pub has been renamed as the Summer House but is still a sprawling suburban edifice; it'll do us fine for respective glasses of Guinness and Worthingtons, trying not to get deafened by Dua Lipa songs being emitted at almost painful decibel levels.

- St John's, Sparkhill -

Needing to give our eardrums chance to recover, we continue along Shaftmoor Lane to the College Arms which remains a fine Stratford Road landmark even with some of its lettering falling off. Union Jack flags in the left hand bar offset some occasional drilling noises and we  rather like the traditional green leather upholstery provided Nick doesn't get swallowed by a devious dip. The Shire Country Park includes 'Blackberry Way', an almost unheralded River Cole footpath which may or may not have anything to do with The Move's number one hit of late 1968. Either way, we emerge via Percy Road into Sparkhill so as to track down another of Ken's previous addresses (32 Blackford Road). The Sparkhill area has become much more multicultural since the 1970s but St John's Parish Church has been a constant presence. 

- A 'Wow' Moment at No 1 DoveHouse Parade -

Sparkhill and neighbouring Sparkbrook are very much Muslim communities these days but do have longstanding associations with Birmingham's Irish population. McDwyers on the Warwick Road is something of a survivor given how many pubs have perished, and proves well worth a look with its redbrick terracotta clock turret not to mention some very creamy Guinness. We round things off with two altogether more modern establishments in Olton, namely Number 1 DoveHouse Parade (our setting for a very hoppy 'Wow' from the Silhill Brewery) and Platform Three (barely a minute's dash from Olton railway station). Cheers all and Happy Birthday Ken!

Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #34

Partly inspired by Pub Curmudgeon's Closed Pubs blog - which I always like to keep an eye on, especially for any West Midlands postings - I started my own series of archive extractions five years ago this month. Yes April 2019 is when the first 'Lost Pubs from the WME Archives' appeared, and I've sadly had enough material to keep the theme ticking over ever since. Here are another five casualties for us to ponder...

- The Linthouse -

Being a Wolverhampton lad, it pains me somewhat to note that every single one of this quintet is a pub from within the city's boundaries - in fact the first three all hail from the Wednesfield area, starting with the Linthouse on Linthouse Lane near Ashmore Park. Positioned next to a Jet garage with an alleyway through onto Shardlow Road, this place had a strong footballing allegiance to Wolverhampton Wanderers. I only remember going here once, for a family meal that involved steak and kidney suet puddings in the front bar. Houses now occupy the site. 

- Noah's Ark -

If you were to continue back along Linthouse Lane towards the Wood End roundabout, you'd soon reach our next bygone boozer. The Noah's Ark had a very typical 1960s Ansells design although the building we see above replaced an earlier inn circa 1964. Perched on Wood End Road close to Long Knowle Library, it would have been in direct competition with the grander Pheasant just down the road. Nowadays it has been converted into a One Stop convenience store with adjoining hairdressing salon.

- The Cross Guns -

The third of our Wednesfield trio is the Cross Guns on Lichfield Road, nestled between two blocks of shops that included stores such as Portland Eye Care, the Penguin Cafe and the much-missed Max Millward's Records. A fairly plain redbrick offering, I recall having Sunday roasts here on occasion with my Nan and Grandad, although curries are more likely to be on the menu in its current guise as the Masala Lounge Indian restaurant. 

- Staffordshire Volunteer -

I lived in Bushbury for the best part of thirty years and in that time the local pub scene was absolutely decimated, not that I can hold myself in anyway responsible you understand! One victim of this declining demand was the Staffordshire Volunteer on the Northwood Park estate, a box boozer which stood on Collingwood Road opposite the Broadway shopping parade. Known affectionately as the Vol, it too became a One Stop store after ceasing to trade.

- Fox Hotel -

Let's finish in Wolverhampton City Centre with reference to the Fox Hotel, a watering hole which would have been a noted landmark for anyone driving around the Ring Road (albeit any architectural appeal was distinctly dubious). It overlooked the Penn Road roundabout from the end of School Street at a time when the Indoor Markets would still have been operational, but is now just a car park space with little trace it was ever there. 

Perton then Pensnett

To steal a phrase from a famous advertising slogan... p-p-p-pick up a Perton, and whilst you're at it, p-p-p-pick up a Pensnett too. Biscuity chocolate bars might not otherwise be involved in this particular posting but you are getting two trips for the price of one as I attempt some Easter(ish) exploring...

- Spring has sprung on Redhouse Road -

Let's begin with Easter Tuesday (is that even a thing?) - also known as the 2nd April 2024 - and a terrific Tettenhall morning en route to Perton. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and I've got the whole day all to myself for indulging in photography plus a couple of pints. Woodfield Heights has an alleyway link onto College Road comprising several sets of steps before Tettenhall Library and the Peter James estate agents earn their latest archive snaps. I'm rather taken with a ceremonial water fountain I don't think I'd ever captured on camera previously; it is late Victorian in origin and has a prime spot overlooking Upper Green. By contrast, I'm always partial to getting pictures of blossoms so the white-petalled specimens awaiting me on Redhouse Road and Wrottesley Road West are duly documented, lovely.

- A Perton Pony -

After a Cranmere Avenue detour just to satisfy a lingering curiosity, I take Westcroft Road and the crusty old tracks of Dippons Lane to edge closer to Perton, a 1970s overspill settlement built on what used to be the RAF Perton airbase (mainly operational during the Second World War). Pony paddocks give me a rare slice of wildlife action, not that the steeds concerned look remotely impressed by me showering them with attention, then Mercia Drive spits me out onto The Parkway which effectively functions as the estate's main loop road. Two lakes, a selection of schools and a flatpack church are among the various amenities while Sainsburys are the anchor supermarket within the Anders Square shopping precinct. 

- The Pear & Partridge -

In terms of Perton pub provision, I've mentioned both the Pear & Partridge (Greene King) and the Wrottesley Arms (Marston's) on earlier bloggings, although it's encouraging that both are still very much trading and seemingly enticing in grey pound lunchtime diners on a Tuesday afternoon. This established duo has latterly been complemented by the Ale Hub as situated within an Anders Square shopfront; as with the similar outlets at Mere Green, Shirley and Dickens Heath, it offers real ales, craft beer and select spirits in welcoming surroundings. Green Duck's Session Pale is in fine fettle as I relax in a comfortable sofa below 'It's Gin O'Clock' stencillings. Steering clear of mother's ruin myself, I stick around to partake of a Moreton Mild (North Cotswold Brewery, very nice) before catching the number 10 home.

- St Mark's Church -

Fast forward three days to Friday 5th April and my second 'P' destination of the week will be the Dudley district of Pensnett. Again I'm blessed with agreeable weather (give or take some blustery gusts) as the 15 bus deposits me on Tiled House Lane just shy of the busy High Oak crossroads. The local High Street has a derelict relic of a chemists store - H.L. Myers, sadly shorn of its vintage Max Factor appendage - followed by St Mark's C of E Primary School as linked to the parish church of the same name. A funeral service is just drawing to a close when I venture along Vicarage Road but I can nip respectfully through the churchyard to inspect the 1849 cruciform architecture complete with proud clock tower. 

- Barrow Hill Cross -

Vicarage Road also serves as my access point for the Barrow Hill Nature Reserve, one of Dudley's most significant areas of grassland and ancient woodland in terms of geology and biodiversity. Apparently part of the site was once an active volcano so I'm hoping to steer clear of any eruptions today! Burial chambers thought to date back to the Bronze Age help give the reserve its name, and a large metallic cross helps emphasise this resting place provenance as well as marking the hill's summit. On clear days such as this, there are impressive panoramas to enjoy looking out towards The Wrekin, Worcestershire, the Clent Hills and Brown Clee.

- Russells Hall Shops -

Proceeding further along the Barrow Hill footpaths, I emerge into Russells Hall via Merryfield Road. Although I know the estate quite well from rides on the former 222 bus route down the years, it had largely escaped my camera's gaze until now. Making up for lost time, I pounce upon the main block of shops on Middlepark Road corner, noting a Spar store, a post office and Taylor's family butchers (not forgetting the Living Hope Church, previously known as St Barnabas's). Further shops - including the Blue Submarine Fish Bar - can be found at the junction with Overfield Road beyond some playing fields and a nursing home.

- A Feathery Co-op? -

Russells Hall used to be served by two watering holes, neither of which have survived. On Corbyn Road there used to be the Old Park with its very triangular pointy roof but that got replaced by apartments, whereas Overfield Road opposite the primary school is where you would have found the Plume of Feathers. This latter establishment is at least still standing, nowadays fulfilling a communal function as a Co-op store albeit with a shape that very much has the hallmarks of a lost Banks's boozer. 

- Pens Ale Prospects -

Any quest for pints in the vicinity must therefore bring me back to Pensnett, where that trusty favourite the Fox & Grapes once again delivers on my Bathams Bitter + cheese and onion cob remit. I park myself in the main bar for a change, thinking it quite quiet early doors until some hi-vis workmen claim their regular positions and get the banter properly flowing - Friday pm knocking-off time, you can't beat it! The Pens Ale micropub at 81a High Street (next door to the chip shop that used to be the Four Furnaces) has earned Good Beer Guide recognition in recent years, so the slightest hint that my intended Holden's Golden Glow is off means I'm swiftly furnished with an impeccable Oakham Inferno replacement. Cheers!

A Good Friday for the Chip Foundation!

Anyone up for some Easter exploring? Believe it or not, it's approaching ten years since Nick, Stephen and I left the public library scene for pastures new. Back in 2014, we celebrated Nick's retirement with a special pubcrawl visiting some of his favourite hostelries and now - a whole decade later - we're going to stage a similar trip in order to mark this notable anniversary...

- Bantock Park Magnolia -

Good Friday (29th March 2024) is close enough to the exact date of Nick's escape from working life that it fits well for meeting up, and what's more I can indulge in some springtime photography en route to joining the chaps in Wolverhampton. Bantock Park looks especially pretty with pathside daffodils and magnolia trees in full bloom, and its heartening to hear the bumblebees buzzing around in search of pollen and nectar. Bantock House and surrounding grounds were bequeathed to Wolverhampton Council on the death of Albert Baldwin Bantock in 1938, with the main house subsequently becoming a museum. 

- Mr Beardsmore points the way from Sedgley Beacon -

Nick and Stephen are ready and waiting for me near Wolverhampton railway station so we can easily hop aboard the number 1 bus bound for Sedgley. An invigorating stroll should get us in the mood for the ales to follow, and the bracing winds up on Sedgley Beacon certainly help to clear any lingering cobwebs. One of the highest points in the Black Country, you can spot numerous West Midlands landmarks from such a lofty elevation including BT Tower, the Bond Wolfe block in West Bromwich, plus Wolverhampton's Mander House with Victoria Halls. One particularly strong gust almost sends the Beardsmore baseball cap spiralling off towards Ettingshall Park Farm but Stephen nimbly retrieves his miscreant headwear from the gorse.

- Dark Ruby Mild? Don't mind if we do... -

Keen that Stephen should not risk losing any more items of apparel, we dodge beneath the Beacon Tower (erected in 1846) and into the Beacon Hotel, home of Sarah Hughes Brewery and their prized Dark Ruby Mild. Intercepting Ken on the doorstep, we've timed our arrival not long after midday opening and yet the place is already very full with Bank Holiday merriment. Dimpled glasses and Taddy Lager beermats add to the effect as we commandeer the far table in the smoke room, always an evocative space in which to imbibe of 6% gorgeousness. Alas the special barrel of Snowflake winter ale has quickly sold out so the still-excellent Sedgley Surprise steps in for my follow-up half while conversation covers recent holidays in Cromer, Exmouth, Scarborough and Great Yarmouth.

- The Classic Beardsmore Chip Picture -

The 229 bus is due straight outside the pub at 14:03 and arrives promptly to whisk us off to Bilston, where we've time for a legendary chip shop lunch before Stephen has to leave us. Major's on Church Street has been a renowned local institution for nigh on fifty years, and although the business changed hands in 2023, they still serve the bright orange battered chips for which Bilston has become famous. Mr B gives them his special seal of approval albeit we have to scamper for the shelter of the bus station when a nasty shower sets in.

- Remembering Reg in the Trumpet -

As the rain relents and our resident Beardsmore bids us farewell by catching his 25 bus link into Wednesfield, the rest of us have a date with another Bilston mainstay. The Trumpet is a wonderful Holden's boozer which specialises in live jazz under the stewardship of Musti and Diane; many is the evening we've spent here over the years, listening to the likes of Patsy Gamble, Sheila Waterfield, Henry Newman and the much-missed Reg Keirle. Claiming our Golden Glows and Holden's Bitters respectively, we nudge below framed portraits of Tommy Burton and Louis Armstrong to chat about music, politics and travel in the time-honoured way. I particularly like the caricature sketches of the various musicians who've graced the stage here down the decades, not to mention a wide array of musical trinkets and figurines.

- Grinning with Glow in the Great Western -

Two pubs done with two more to come so we'd best get heading back to Wolverhampton. The number 82 bus offers a helping hand via Portobello (Moseley Road) and Deansfield, then we soon find ourselves descending the distinctive Corn Hill cobbles to reach the Great Western, nostalgically framed by its railway bridge approaches. An all-time classic, this pub is another of Holden's finest establishments with a neat line in railwayana, cobs and coal fires. Claiming our customary seats in the conservatory, we account for more Glow, Bitter and Woodsetton Pale Ale as the whole place seems alive with good natured Bank Holiday banter. 

- The Lych Gate Tavern Finale -

The fourth of our intended quartet sees us finishing off exactly as we did in 2014, by pitching into the Lych Gate Tavern just off Wolverhampton's Queen Square. Black Country Ales are the custodians here having brought the historic beamed interior back into public use in 2012; it had been an office space prior to that so it's good that the timber elements can now be fully appreciated again. Beartown's Creme Bearlee battles Birmingham's Stout Brummie in our darker ale affections albeit Ken takes a trip along memory lane by opting for Brew XI, the Midlands brew he forged his beery tastebuds on. The only things missing are the Catholic priests who kindly wished Nick all the best on his retirement ten years ago, but we've had a cracking afternoon with or without any such ecclesiastical interventions. Cheers!