For my first significant slice of 2025 exploration, let's track down more of Birmingham's festive reindeer trail and throw in a trio of Harborne watering holes just to be sociable...
- Blitzen -
It's Saturday 4th January 2025 and the West Midlands is preparing itself for heavy snowfall, albeit the forecast suggests the white stuff won't arrive until evening so Stephen and I should be all clear for a bracing bout of Birmingham beforehand. Our immediate mission is to locate more of the 'Reindeer Rescue' sculptures which collectively are aiming to raise money for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity. Upon arrival at New Street railway station, we head straight up the Grand Central escalators to meet Blitzen in tones of sky blue and yellow.
- Mr B meets Paddington -
Venturing into the Bull Ring shopping malls (which are surprisingly quiet given the promise of January sales), we scour around Selfridges hoping to garner further reindeer reinforcements. Rudolph is lurking by a returns desk and boasts a particularly glittery red nose, although he is perhaps upstaged by the presence of a certain Paddington Bear sitting on a bench munching marmalade sandwiches. Birmingham's bear arrival is one of 23 that have cropped up across the length and breadth of the country, part of a promotional campaign marking the release of the Paddington in Peru movie last November.
- Vixen -
Back to the reindeer and next up is Vixen, keeping out of the cold by lurking inside the Cass Fine Art shop on Corporation Street. Multicoloured floral patternings make for a very vibrant design and it seems sensible to position the sculptures indoors if possible so as to offset any damage from the vagaries of wintry weather. The Frankfurt Christmas Market has packed away for another year so New Street is much calmer than it was in December.
- Comet -
Piccadilly Arcade is often chosen as a suitable sculptural setting and for this iteration it plays host to Comet, an all-over blue reindeer with two cheeky cartoon elves plus a rocket-powered Santa Claus. Prancer was positioned on Victoria Square but we think has relocated into the Town Hall Foyer, meaning Dasher at Centenary Square is our final find keeping watch over the temporary skating rink and big wheel attractions.
- Gloucester Gold in the Bell -
Happy with that reindeer haul, we hustle into Harborne care of the number 23 bus via Broad Street, Five Ways and Westbourne Road. Alighting by the still-charred remains of the Royalty Bingo - a building I'd love to see being restored but I fear the damage is too great - we make a beeline along St Peter's Road and reacquaint ourselves with the Bell. It must have been ten years or more since I last set foot inside this one but it has lost none of its timeless charm, memorably standing cheek-by-jowel next to the parish church. With three cask ales and a bowling green out the back, there's a lot to like; I sample some Gloucester Gold from the confines of the snug whilst comparing Christmas television notes with Stephen.
- The White Horse -
Following the churchyard path which bisects two cricket pitches, we join Vivian Road in order to check out the New Inn. Previously owned by M&B and then Banks's, this longserving pub was purchased by Joules last year and might be in line for one of their makeovers at some point. As it is, it's a nice enough place to natter away over a pint of Old Acquaintance Winter Warmer, although we are the only customers when we first arrive. The same can not be said as regards the White Horse on York Road, an Ostler's Urban Ale Venue which is packed out with Saturday topers watching Spurs losing to Newcastle. Church End's Stout Coffin is an excellent note on which to round off a successful January excursion. Cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment