- Reunited -
It's Friday 24th January 2025 and my two erstwhile accomplices are instructed to converge upon the Jewellery Quarter railway station by midday. Knowing he would be receiving royal company, Chairman D9 is unusually punctual although the risk of a double cob penalty might also have deterred him from any lateness. We therefore rendezvous at twelve o'clock on the dot, getting reacquainted over talk of Lincolnshire hospitals and broken elbows. As is Vyse Street custom, we stage an essential photoshoot outside the Temple of Relief cast iron urinal with a certain balding gentleman lamenting the fact it isn't still operational for bladder respite.
- Chunky Cheddar -
We have a packed itinerary ahead whereby all manner of Jewellery Quarter watering holes could be on the agenda but we'll start with a firm favourite on the corner of Hockley Street and Spencer Street. Owned by Black Country Ales, the Jewellers Arms is a traditional tavern that specialises in real ales hence we all collectively partake of Felinfoel's Winter Warmer, copper in colour and Welsh in origin. I can never resist a cob at the best of times so there is no way I'm not having a slab of cheese and onion goodness today; sepia snapshots of Hockley's heritage adorn the walls, one photograph featuring a distinctive advert for Bovril.
- Indian Brewery Taproom -
Our second stop is a place I've really been looking forward to seeing, hence we make a beeline straight along Livery Street noting the terracotta frontage of the former Vaughton Works (nowadays used for hostel accommodation). The Indian Brewery Taproom can't quite match that for gothic script but is a handsome edifice in its own right, towering over the corner with Mary Ann Street. It only opened last December and proves a spectacular setting for the imbibing of Indian Summer, a 4% abv sessionable golden ale. We sit on a metallic gantry close to the dartboard, keeping an eye out for mounted elephants and a large yellow crane that has been retained from the building's previous guise as a welding and fabrication unit. One cheeky leg of darts sees D9 Destroyer prevail with a sneaky 18 checkout - I'll get my revenge later - until staff inform us that the dartboard needs to be booked in advance.
- 'Spotted' at St Paul's Square -
Venturing further along Mary Ann Street, we arrive at St Paul's Square where the local church has been a beacon of worship since Georgian times. The elegant architecture is rather spoiled by bald spot intrusion but otherwise there are townhouses to admire while Birmingham City University have their School of Jewellery based here, keeping alive the historic trade whilst educating the jewellers and silversmiths of the future. Ludgate Hill offers the opportunity of a swift half in the Actress & Bishop where our resident royal instantly avails himself of a hooded throne armchair. Draught Bass drinks nicely here and they have a performance stage used for hosting regular live music sessions every Friday and Saturday evening.
- Two Hobgoblins in Tandem -
Nibbling around the edges of the churchyard, we relocate across the square to Saint Paul's House (previously known as The Ropewalk). This is a rather fancy establishment with fake flowers massed around the front door. The Chairman is fearing the worst being as it is his round although three halves of Hobgoblin IPA won't cause the D9 wallet too much damage. Soft sofas and the scent of salmon fishcakes add an air of refinement far removed from the spit and sawdust haunts we tend to prefer, albeit orders for coffee easily outnumber those for beer. Another noticeable quirk is the amount of people using their laptops - this must be the place where Hockley folk assemble if working from home!
- Connect 4 Concentration -
Saint Paul's House had been included as a filler prior to 4pm opening at the Barrel Store, Attic Brewery's second Birmingham outlet. Intriguingly located in a Water Street railway arch, they have an excellent range of craft brews from which we're drawn to the Ten Acres Stout. A fun selection of board games is likewise on hand, hence the Secretary seizing the chance to get his own back for that earlier darting defeat. Connect 4 takes Mr WME back to his childhood and he duly reels off an impressive seven wins via a mixture of cunning strategy and good fortune - no wonder Nick and Andy look so concerned on the photo above!
- Rocking and Rolling with a Jambeerlaya -
We really liked the Barrel Store, although whether we'd feel comfortable hanging around late at night is another matter. Chairman D9 is still trying his best Flanagan & Allen 'Underneath the Arches' impression (he needs to learn more of the lyrics methinks) when we make tracks for the Rock & Roll Brewhouse on Hall Street. An almost unheralded doorway has treasure within, not least an Elvis cardboard cut-out waiting to greet you at the bottom of the stairs. Ignoring the No Riff Raff missive, we proceed into the upper bar room and pick from a trio of vegan-friendly ales - Jambeerlaya, Brew Springsteen and Voodoo Mild. Everything is brewed on site and the decor has a distinct 1960s flower power inspiration, highly memorable stuff.
- A Royal and A Beast? -
Time is ticking on and we want to squeeze every last drop out of the HRH/D9 reunion. The Rolling Mill is a wildcard entry, built in 2021/22 on the site of a tatty maintenance compound; Purity's Session IPA is on the expensive side but not as extortionate as having to pay £30 minimum for a dartboard reservation. Silly songs involving Cilla Black and Billy Connolly ('In The Brownies') are duly declared, then we round off proceedings at the Indian Brewery's other outlet down by Snow Hill Station. A beer called Royal Beast is the obvious nightcap tipple as if it was named partially in honour of the Chairman and partly as a nod to His Majesty Nick. With that our homeward steeds beckon - hopefully it won't be three more years til we next all meet.
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