The Rugby Revellers

The Warwickshire market town of Rugby is steeped in sporting history having given its name to a global sport which revolves around tries, scrums and oval-shaped balls. As such, the Chip Foundation might need to be on the lookout for hookers, looseheads and flankers when the looming prospect of my 40-somethingth birthday brings about an end of May excursion...

- Mr B with a Big Ball -

It's Friday 30th May 2025 and Episode 87 of the Chip Foundation Chronicles commences with me joining Messrs Beardsmore and May for the journey across via Birmingham New Street and Coventry. Along the way we peruse an archive programme for an Adam Faith production at Margate's Winter Gardens; dating from 1964 it mentions beauty pageants, cigarettes sales and exotic jungle animal exhibitions - it's like a window into a different world. Rugby railway station is its usual interesting self (complete with 2019 World Cup commemorative sculpture outside), and we pass the Stagecoach bus depot along Railway Terrace en route to meeting His Royal Majesty Nick.

- The Webb Ellis Trophy? -

With the whole gang together again, we set about surveying some of Rugby's most important landmarks. The Market Place Clock Tower for example dates from 1887 when it was erected to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, while the Rugby School is a famous educational institution where the game of rugby is said to have originated. Legend suggests that William Webb Ellis, a young scholar at the time, caught the ball and ran with it during a match in 1823 although the story is mostly thought to be apocryphal. Whether or not you subscribe to its veracity, the World Cup trophy is named in his honour so an artistic representation of said silverware can be found at the top end of Dunchurch Road.

- Ruminating in the Raglan Arms -

Also awaiting our Dunchurch Road discernments is the Raglan Arms, our first inn of the day and one of two Black Country Ales tied houses we intend on sampling. This place already had a robust reputation for beer quality during its days as an independent pub so its encouraging that these lofty standards have been upheld. Salopian's Dark Shadow Stout is on excellent form as we settle in, enjoying The Doors 'Riders on the Storm' as part of the playlist whilst Nick gleefully flicks through the 2025 Good Beer Guide for further Warwickshire inspiration. The far games corner houses a throwback bar skittles table (complete with background netting) so Ken and I take it in turns to topple a few pins using the trio of hefty cheeses.

- Bygone Balls in the Webb Ellis Museum -

One drink down and it's time to immerse ourselves in the annals of rugger courtesy of the Webb Ellis Museum on St Matthew's Street. Dedicated to recording the game in all its glory, this attraction is attached to the neighbouring sports shop and features a breadth of display cabinets detailing rugby's origins. We learn about the manufacture of the distinctively-shaped ball - with Gilbert's being a fine exponent of the art - and admire fixture pennants from major matches throughout history. Stephen was a tighthead prop during his school days and can fully appreciate the art of the scrum whereas Nick winces at the thought of muscular contact.

- Cappuccino Stout in the Windmill Inn -

Resuming our pubcrawl, we take in a trio of fine establishments with tour guide HRH keen to showcase the best the town has to offer. Naturally the Merchants Inn on Little Church Street simply has to feature - the ale range here is exceptional, and that's without the treasure trove of brewery artefacts generating endless fascination. Nethergate's Suffolk County chestnut bitter goes down a treat, followed by Grainstore's Rutland Beast at the Rupert Brooke, the local Wetherspoons having been named after the famous Great War poet who composed sonnets including 'The Dead' and 'The Soldier'. Next up comes the second of our Black Country Ales visitations with the Windmill Inn purveying lovely Titanic Cappuccino Stout.

- A Lot of Leg! -

Desiring a further cultural interlude, we call in at the Rugby Library and Art Gallery on Little Elborow Street. This modern purpose-built facility replaced an earlier library in 2000 and has a series of interesting galleries spread across two floors. We particularly enjoy the Local History display with its velocipede contraption (like a bicycle but minus gears and brakes), plus there's an Archaeology exhibition (with mock fly-strewn hunks of meat) and space for Warwickshire artists to promote their work. The main Art Gallery has themed sections on Animals, Heads and Bodies, hence the curious rotating legs installation which really catches our imagination!

- Archival Assignations in the Rugby Tap -

Two more ports of call will bring our tally to a neat half dozen for the day so we decamp to the William Webb Ellis, a Marston's townhouse boozer on Warwick Street. Given the overarching theme of the day this needed to be done although our halves of Pedigree are average at best; the pub does embrace the sporting heritage though with Twickenham squad photos and an amusing selection of framed cartoons. A few doors along is the Rugby Tap, the current and highly deserving local CAMRA Pub of the Year which finishes things on an undoubted high. Church End are well represented so we partake of Irish Coffee and Goats Milk (both superb) then get all archival reminiscing about the 1980 Good Beer Guide; many of the places listed are no longer trading so its a reminder that nothing stands still in the pub world. Our bus and train connections home now sadly await but Rugby you've been remarkable - cheers!