Christmas Calling: The Kenilworth Festive Forage 2025

The Chip Foundation calendars have been presented, the Coventry Quiff has been unveiled and now it's time for the third of this December's Holy Trinity of special seasonal adventures. Festive Forages are an annual accomplishment with several years of contributions, dating back to the 2015 original involving Wellesbourne and Leek Wootton. This year we're aiming for lovely Kenilworth, following up on the Chip inspection we staged in September for Nick's birthday…

- HRH's School Stomping Ground -

Trip Log; Saturday 20th December 2025 and it's all about boosting our Kenilworth knowledge once I've travelled across via Coventry to meet His Royal Highness at 11:06 sharp. Nick has a long association with the town having spent most of his formative teenage years here, hence the first part of today’s trip will invoke much personal nostalgia for our regal correspondent. To start off with, we wander along Leyes Lane to see what has become of the Abbey High School site where he studied as a fresh-faced pupil. The buildings - along with those of the adjacent former Grammar School - are still standing, and were more recently partially used as a base for the Air Training Corps. The whole complex is however fenced off pending redevelopment after the replacement Kenilworth School was constructed off Glasshouse Drive.

- Antlers Away in the Tiltyard -

The expansion of housing here in the 1970s and 1980s resulted in the creation of a shopping precinct and flat-roofed pub, neither of which existed when Nick was at school. The parade has units for Tesco Express, Domino’s Pizza, the Bakers Dozen bread shop and a pharmacy, but it’s the Tiltyard we’re most interested in. Nick has done his research and knows this to be an 11 o’clock opener so we can maintain true Forage practice by undertaking some morning imbibings. Once inside, I’m immediately drawn to the Banks’s Traditional Ales glass panels neatly inserted above the bar counter whereas HRH instantly spots swords, shields and other dramatic items of weaponry so we’d best not get on the wrong side of the regulars! Draught Bass on good form is a commendable first drink of the day while we admire Nick's special swan jumper and peruse some vintage class photos from when he studied over the road.

- Kenilworth Common awaits -

The next part of Nick’s masterplan takes us onto the expanses of Kenilworth Common, albeit we stick to the tracks flanking the Finham Brook rather than venturing cross country into the wider spaces. Nature reserve orientation boards instruct us to look out for rare female lizards and Ugly Milkcap fungi, although we have more success spotting an 1884 potential pumping station. The railway line passes overhead and there are leisure walks marked out for getting to the University of Warwick and/or Burton Green; these could be worthy of further investigation. I’m also very taken with a watery ford crossing where the brook meanders past the bottom of Forge Road - pub number two is very close now…

- The Wyandotte Inn -

Said hostelry is the Engine on Mill End, a place packed to the rafters with Coventry City fans all avidly watching the lunchtime kickoff away at Southampton. We manage to elbow our way through to getting served, rewarded with excellent samplings of Wychwood B'ah Humbug and Ossett's Butterley respectively, but a Sky Blues sending off at St Mary's is our cue to depart. Things are slightly less feverish at the Wynadotte up on the corner of Park Road; there’s no escaping the festivities here, not with inflatable Santas huddled around the main corner door, one of which is seemingly trapped inside a Christmas tree. Inside the layout is much as we remember it except for the addition of a popular grotto guarded by gingerbread men and candy canes. Barmaid elves busily usher wide-eyed youngsters through to meet the big man himself, but instead we concentrate on a half apiece of Wainwright Gold whilst researching the meaning of Wyandotte - the name appears to relate to a Native American tribe albeit we also get educated about a sociable species of chicken which gets on very well with humans but bullies its own kind. Festive forages can be full of unexpected revelations!

- A Royal (Oak) Butty Bach -

We hadn’t anticipated pontificating about poultry today but there you go! Anyway, we press on via Manor Road, spotting allotments from on high where puffed-out scarecrows threaten to burst apart with escaping straw. Stop number four is the Royal Oak, situated midway along a cottagey terrace where it has been given a rather startling purple paint job. Wye Valley's Butty Bach is our go-to tipple amidst even more Sky Blues fans, these ones generally seem happy with a point away from home (the game ended in a 1-1 draw). Further up New Street is the Cross, a Michelin-starred gastropub where we're welcome to pause for a slurp of Genesis Bedford Stout accompanied by a fine selection of seasonal scatter cushions. Perhaps the penguins and snowflakes approve of the hammered copper tabletops and red berry vases? We resist the urge to dine at this point although the Cross showcases much refinement with which to entice the gracious gourmands of Warwickshire. 

- A Clarendon Christmas Cracker -

Where next? Nick has his eye on the Clarendon Arms until we get waylaid by the Old Bakery, last mentioned in blog dispatches way back in 2012. We thought it had been turned into a hotel and whilst it does offer accommodation, the pub aspect is very much still functioning having earned Good Beer Guide recognition. Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby gets a kingly seal of approval whereas I opt for Donnington's Best Bitter from an old-fashioned brewery based in Stow-on-the-Wold. Space is at a premium so we briefly brave chilly December temperatures by sitting outside, then it's sensible to decamp belatedly to the Clarendon for the intended combination of narrow bar, Santa hats and Wye Valley's Christmas Cracker spiced ale.

- The Gauntlet -

Feeling appropriately reheated, we sup up and calculate how best to reach an outlying flight of fancy that’s been whispering to us from afar. True, we’re pushing the Festive Forage concept to its absolute limits by attempting something that would be much more suitable for a D9 Hub Marketing escapade, but Nick seems game having been emboldened by that Ruby Mild. We therefore chart a course along Brookside Avenue and Fishponds Road, marvelling at the lengths some front gardens go to with their Christmas lights. Caesar Road has the Clinton Primary School beckoning us up a slight hill towards a distinctly 1960s shopping complex, and what do the best precincts have next to them? A flat-roofed pub of course, hence the Gauntlet trying its best to look classy despite the disadvantages wrought by its limited architectural appeal. Abbot Ale whets the whistle in an establishment that proves very approachable, evidence that appearances can be deceptive. Much better than just a dive in the dark!

- Salem Dark Fruits Porter -

I must confess I loved the Gauntlet, both in terms of the fascinating exploring that led us there and the thrill of ticking off a pub that’s out of the way enough to require hunting down. We're only ten minutes stroll away from the main town centre, with dusky glimpses of Kenilworth Cemetery guiding us to Queens Road and thence Warwick Road once more. The Dictum of Kenilworth Wetherspoons reprises its food role from previous reportage - Korean chicken rice bowls meeting Cheese Meltdown burgers in this instance - before our curtain call comes at the Station House which has more signs of life than it did when we wanted to do it in September. When I say signs of life, what I really mean is a full-on open air extravaganza with street food stalls, a performance stage and lots of good natured revelry. Obtaining our closing halves of Proper Job in plastic glasses, we listen intently as one band reels off some blues-tinged tunes and I honestly couldn't think of a more perfect finale to a fantastic forage. Cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - December 2025

Merry Christmas one and all, let's hope the season of peace and goodwill brings all that you desire - and if what you desire are pictures of the West Midlands and surrounding areas you've come to the right place. The plates have been heated, the oven gloves are on standby, the carving knife has been sharpened so let's tuck into the pictorial feast that was December's photostream updates...

For those who enjoy piling the food high, WME Staffordshire has been our lead gallery these last few weeks (this after having a relatively quiet year up until this point). Sure it isn't quite turkey with all the trimmings but I can report tasty additions from Cheslyn Hay where the New Inns has been accompanied by the White Horse's dartboard. Burton bursts through laden with Coopers Arms treats - assuming you're not averse to Joules Brewery promotional woodwork - whereas Cannock snoozes contentedly having digested a NatWest bank branch along with the town's soldier and sailor war memorial. 

Maybe you're more of a roast beef persuasion (give or take a Yorkshire pudding, something I'm always in favour of), in which case WME Birmingham could be for you. Brum has been pleasingly active recently, amassing content including Charlotte Street, Ethel Street and the poignant remains of St Thomas's Church (where the main tower survived Blitz devastation). The Fox & Grapes pub formerly of Freeman Street is remembered, likewise the short-lived Sommar Bar in the City Centre, and there are reminders of Christmas past thanks to a woolly-wearing polar bear and a pet-themed penguin.

It isn't all about the meat of course. Many people love their vegetables, hence the selection supplied by WME Wolverhampton should be ample. Perhaps you'd care to crunch on Chapel Ash via the Attwood Building or a blue blob street art character? I wouldn't class Castlecroft's weak bridge as boiled cabbage but several of you might be partial to it, similarly some towpath tough love down at Cable Street. The much-anticipated roast potatoes meanwhile are being separately served by WME Telford which has concentrated on Coalport for sale item saggars and a China Museum workshop although you do get a dripping of Bucks Head turnstiles too.

For the vegan and vegetarian contingent, a most moreish nut roast is wafting past in the form of WME Walsall; the Chuckery takes centre stage here, flecked with Tantarra Street and the Spring Cottage pub. Those with a sweet tooth have been waiting all along for WME Dudley to drizzle Coalbourn Lane and the Buckpool Nature Reserve with brandy sauce, and if you're not totally full up by now, WME Coventry comes carrying mince pies or rather a Byatt's Brewery tea cosy challenge. Whatever you're up to this festive season, I genuinely hope you have a wonderful time. See you in 2026 with more photographic presents...

The Coventry Quiffmas (2025)

Atrocious weather and the Chairman's heavy cold meant the Hub Marketing Board couldn't stage their annual Coventry Caper as planned in November, but fear not - this just gives us a perfect excuse to go in December instead. What's more, we can make this an all-out Quiffmas adventure with a new Rock & Roll headpiece about to make its long-awaited debut. Let's jingle all the way with Messrs D9 and WME....

- Windrush Baldness at Coventry Station -

Trip Log: Friday 12th December 2025 and the day gets off to a dicey start when the Chairman times his arrival too close for comfort, resulting in a switch of intended train departures. This does have the positive effect of allowing a brief Birmingham New Street interlude for reindeer rustling ('Dasher' being positioned on the station's main concourse), and we're not running too far behind schedule once we touch down at Coventry where a platform display about the city's notable Windrush arrivals has the bald spot reading intently. It's a damp grey morning but we plod on via Warwick Road to witness significant developments underway. Firstly, the disused former NCP multistorey car park on New Union Street has been demolished, taking with it the classic closet signage we'd homaged in 2023. Arguably even more dramatic than that is the sight of Bull Yard all fenced off, and most of the Hertford Street precinct walkway too, as yet more of the city’s 1960s brutalism gradually gets dismantled.

- The 2025 Quiff is a Conical Contender -

This is the twelfth Hub Marketing visit to Coventry and a recurring theme right from the very start has been the tribute quiff to Rockin’ Ron West. Tradition dictates that the latest creation gets unveiled on the first bus ride of the day, hence it’s the number 20 to Nuneaton which gets awarded that high honour this year. D9 has been busy with the sellotape again and the 2025 version looks like an enhanced take on the 2017 equivalent (a mass of black paper but even more cone-shaped and pointy this time around). The route runs very regularly with shorter variations serving Walsgrave Hospital, Old Church Road or Longford Square (the 20B). We therefore grunt straight up the Foleshill Road amazed by the sheer amount of Turkish barber shops in such a dense area. Eagle Street, Lockhurst Lane and the old Courtaulds works (now simply called Tower Court) all resonate from previous journeys, likewise the Foleshill Gas Club is a reminder of the once-prevalent local gasworks.

- The New Stadium Cafe, Longford -

All good Coventry outings require a greasy spoon breakfast and this will be no exception, hence we ding the bell to alight in Longford one stop after the Arena Tesco turn. The New Stadium Cafe instantly looks the part and boasts an extensive menu from which the £9 Gut Buster is our pick for having two of everything (believe it or not there are even bigger options should you want them). Bacon, sausage, egg, hash browns, black pudding all slathered in HP brown sauce, plus thickly sliced toast and a cup of tea or coffee - you simply can't go wrong. It all gets polished off without undue delay as we keep a close watch on passing traffic while the rain steadily falls. We don't want to risk getting drenched unnecessarily so catching the 3 up to Hen Lane is a sensible decision rather than sploshing all the way to Whitmore Park on foot.

- Secretarial Smiles at The Hub -

When planning for today’s trip, the Chairman requested one thing as non-negotiable: that we finally gain entry to possibly the one pub above all others that we were invented so as to visit. The Hub on Whitmore Park has been on our radar for absolutely ages hence it is bordering on becoming a dereliction of Hub Marketing duty that we’ve never claimed it. All the hallmarks of a proper estate boozer are here with a public bar to the front, populated by Coventry City 'Play Up Sky Blues' flags mingled with two tone references. A Khushi restaurant occupies the far room but we settle in over a couple of Carlings to watch the World Darts from Ally Pally. The £3.50 lager pricetag earns the Secretary a devious discount although the WME wallet won't be exempted from suffering the pain of expensive rounds later on...

- Ash Green Quiffy Action -

This may have been billed as a Coventry jaunt but we're not averse to drifting over the border into Warwickshire if the chance arises. Wheelwright Lane reaches into Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough territory when encroaching upon Ash Green, a small settlement that just so happens to have its own boozer. The Bull & Anchor might only be standard Greene King fare but it has entered into the Christmas spirit with a multitude of highly decorated trees, and the Quiffed One certainly seems happy enough being able to quaff more Carling. Elsewhere, the village has a couple of primary schools, a post office and a car repairs garage, then Burbages Lane has the task of conveying us back into the West Midlands via sightings of the Coventry Welsh Rugby Club driveway followed by the abandoned and overgrown Rowley's Green WMC.

- Coventry Building Society Arena -

Aside from sampling the Hub and grabbing a greasy Full English, Secretary WME has also set his heart on exploring the Coventry Building Society Arena, thus adding to his West Midlands football grounds repertoire. Alas he never got chance to visit Highfield Road before that got flattened and this purpose-built replacement has had a chequered existence, with Coventry City being homeless for a few years due to ownership disputes which are seemingly happily resolved. Our survey starts at the West Stand where the CCFC Superstore and Ticket Office are located; a Wall of Fame along the South and East Stands features club legends such as Bobby Gould, Steve Ogrizovic and Brian Kilcline while a statue shows an iconic 1987 FA Cup winners pose, the likeness for John Sillett being surprisingly accurate. Talking of statues, the piece de resistance is that depicting Jimmy Hill in all his big-chinned glory, honouring the pioneering manager and broadcaster in a very fitting and affectionate way.

- Anecdote Affirmations -

Mr Hill’s distinct resemblance is stationed outside our third drinking port of call, whereby the Secretary's meticulous planning comes unstuck in the sense that it’s his round again. The Anecdote is a modern stadium bar, fairly fancy and still feeling reasonably new despite the heavy workload it presumably has to bear on matchdays. We duck inside to find it almost entirely deserted but a member of staff belatedly appears to dispense our chosen San Miguel (which at £6.70 for the privilege means Mr WME probably won't be hurrying to repeat such an outlay). The all-in-one room has a loosely elliptical layout as a curved feature wall lights up with the tagline “To go forwards you must go backwards”. Sports screens and shuffleboard tables add to the effect so the football fans seem well catered for.

- Rock & Roll Singalong on the Coventry Canal -

 Three drinks down and it’s time for a ferret, hopefully making the most of the now-obliging brightness before the sun disappears once more. Judd’s Lane draws to a halt at a luxury sportscar painting premises but we can press on ahead over the railway to reach Bridge 9 on the Coventry Canal. The relative seclusion here is ideal for donning the quiff and staging our annual Rock & Roll singalong, for which Mr D9 has curated a short but entertaining playlist comprising ‘Blue Moon’, ‘Keep A Knocking’, ‘Pretty Little Angel Eyes’ and ‘Poetry in Motion’. Bearing north-eastwards towards Longford, we get fully immersed in our Teddy Boy brief, even resorting to Twisting underneath the M6 with 'Chubby Chairman'. Every year we say the same thing but it’s true, this is the stuff that makes Hub Marketing so much fun!

- The Longford Look? -

With our third rendition of ‘Who Put The Bomp’ resounding around Hawkesbury, we leave the towpath at Bridge 11 (Coney Lane) and aim to collect another Warwickshire watering hole in the form of the Boat on Black Horse Road. We merely have to set foot through the side door to know we’ve struck gold, the musty aroma and traditional brown tables telling me we’re in the inviting embrace of an unspoiled wonder. One snug is adorned with newspaper cuttings and memorabilia recalling the career of Bedworth boxer Les Allen, a noted personality who fought professional bouts during the 1940s and 1950s. We then decamp back into Coventry for the combination of the Longford Engine and the Coach & Horses; the former sees us chatting to an old Irish gent about his thoughts on the city's pub provision - he prefers Nuneaton as his drinking destination these days - whereas the latter is subjected to comedy reindeer antlers with the Chairman trying to extract every last photo opportunity from a quiff threatening to burst apart at the seams. We like the old green banquette leather seating in this one.

- Dhillon's Brewery, Rowley's Green -

Onwards, and the Secretary's research delivers a double dose of Dhillon's with which to finish the day in fine style. Brewery taps on trading estates can take some finding even in daylight hours but we’ve got to get to Rowley’s Green in the dark. Sydnal Road (passing Oban Road bus terminus) and Woodshires Road oblige as our approach method, so providing we avoid getting tripped up by hard-to-spot speedbumps we can weave our way into Unit 14a on the Hales Industrial Park, home to the Dhillon's Brewery tap. It’s a smart setup, smack bang on craft trends with Mariah Carey screens filling an entire wall and Sky Blue Fan Zones ready to welcome celebrating supporters after a Coventry home win. Fair Lady in plastic glasses goes down smoothly, which is just as well given we have to sprint for the number 3 bus or risk an angry D9 dragon. A neat nightcap comes courtesy of the Spire Bar on New Union Street, atmospherically housed in the old Christchurch Spire (the rest of the church being another casualty of Blitz bombing raids), and then we head home delighted at another Coventry cracker. Fingers crossed we'll be back with further quiffed mayhem near the end of 2026!

The Chip Foundation Calendar Crawl

The festive season is all about traditions - Christmas trees, crackers, roast turkey, sprouts - and one of my personal favourite customs is the annual presentation of Chip Foundation calendars at the Great Western, my way of saying thank you to Stephen and Nick for putting up with my photo requests over the preceding twelve months. As has been the case in the last few years, we make a little trip out of the occasion so here's a quick summary of what we got up to...

Mr B and I meet at midday for the number 1 bus across to Sedgley where Nick is already warmly ensconced within the bosom of the Beacon Hotel having maintained his preferred trick of being there bang on opening time. A couple of things have changed since we last came in April, namely that the conservatory has been refitted into more of a drinking zone, and a small room off the main corridor has likewise been brought into public use having previously always been a staff quarters - I guess the pub has become so popular now they need all the space they can muster. The famed Dark Ruby Mild is as good as ever, washed down with an essential and highly drinkable 8% Sarah Hughes half of Snowflake which definitely warms the back of one’s throat! His Majesty meanwhile gallantly does battle with a huge cheese and onion cob so big it takes him ages to eat until it succumbs to inevitable consumption eventually. Stephen is still traumatised by the latest Ashes and Wolves defeats so we avoid sporting topics in favour of more cheerful discussions about political ineptitude and the prospects of war.

- Beacon Hotel Sign -

Onwards and we’ve business in mind in Upper Gornal where a new micropub (the Stripey Oss) has recently opened on Kent Street precinct, just across the road from the Spills Meadow. A willing 1 gets us there easily enough and we locate the arcade unit which used to be a painting and decorating supplies store. The name alone is a novelty - referencing the Black Country dialect's description for a zebra - so some of the incumbent artwork references said animal, as do posters seeking to set up darts and poker teams. They’ve not been going all that long (I think it first launched in mid-October) so there’s a whiff of fresh paint and DIY to contend with. Cask ales mainly get delivered in readiness for the weekend so although they have an Ickle Brewery clip on show we have to make do with the craft keg stuff this time around, Salt’s Alpacalypse being an amusing take on a sessionable pale ale.

- The Stripey Oss -

A few doors up the road is our old friend the Britannia, purveyor of Bathams beers which means Nick and I might get chance to sample the special XXX beer that eluded us at the Lamp Tavern recently. The longed-for dark bull pumpclip is indeed on display so we linger for a relaxed half, recalling fond memories of our first joint Christmas trip back in 2010 when we took up station in the Games Room. Fifteen whole years on, we’re back once more only this time around we prefer to sit in Sally’s Parlour, a classic unspoiled realm of mottled green leather, framed family portraits and antique cash registers. A sprinkling of festive decorations - an elf on a shelf, a toy workshop, tinsel around the carriage clock - gives a yuletide flavour to make the setting seem even more special.

- Pork Crunch in the Parlour -

Catching the bus back to Wolverhampton, I’m keen to pay an inaugural visit to PACK on Queen Square but it isn't open (their trading hours will apparently settle down once more staff are recruited). The Lych Gate Tavern thus gets summoned from the substitutes bench to fill the void. It’s never a hardship coming here regardless, Nick being eager to give it a whirl especially when we realise the dark ales have Saltaire’s Montezuma Triple Choc Stout among their number. A downstairs seat among the tartan upholstery over on the left works well, it not being overly busy although there are a few folks about. Mr Beardsmore leads us on a Review of the Year, reflecting back on notable events and happenings, including his season-long commitment to watching Warwickshire here there and everywhere.

- Holden's Old Ale -

And finally to the Great Western main event, once I’ve snuck into work to retrieve the all-important calendars from my locker. Ken has been in touch and is joining us after playing whist in Harborne - he certainly gets around does our Mr May - so we find him at the kitchen hatch table just inside the conservatory extension. Following on from Snowflake and the Bathams XXX, I complete the Holy Trinity of local heavy hitters by procuring a pint of treacly deep Holden’s Old Ale (£4.95 a pint and worth every penny) - we’re so lucky to have such notable yuletide brews produced on our doorstep. Various Christmas cards are exchanged and now comes the big moment itself. Stephen first had one of my calendars in 2010 with Nick getting one the year after, so the handover has been a seminal gathering for well over a decade. The 2026 editions feature Mr B flanked by Hove deckchairs, red-nosed Rudolphs and recreating his Friar Tuck role at White Ladies Priory whereas His Highness has Jane frickles, Kenilworth sword poses and bits of bellringing to adorn his wall next year. Cheers!

Dudley Winter Ales Fayre 2025

Surely it can't be the end of November already? I triple check the calendar and there's no getting away from the fact that 2025 is fast vanishing, but this time of year always carries certain compensations in the form of the Dudley Winter Ales Fayre. This staple of the West Midlands beer festival scene has become an absolutely essential event - I've attended every one they've staged since 2010 - and the latest edition promises to be a bonanza of beer, grey peas and crackling company...

- Town Hall Temptations -

Trip Log: 28th November 2025 and our preferred Friday afternoon slot at Dudley Town Hall has been lined up for weeks if not months. Jane and I make the journey over from Tettenhall Wood aboard the number 1 bus whereas Nick travels from in Warwick via the 87, giving him a tour of Smethwick and Oldbury he could probably have done without. One way or another, we all converge upon St James Road at around half past eleven, greeted by the now-familiar CAMRA banner with its approximations of prickly holly leaves. £12 entry gets me my kit of tokens, glass and programme so let's see what's up for sampling this year...

- Serious about Snowflake -

No sooner have we set foot inside than Jane strides straight to the cider stand eager to get the lowdown on which from the sixteen offerings best fits her personal tastes - Snails Bank Fruit Bat is a sensible start with combinations of berry fruit. Nick is already circling, armed with his Loch Lomond Silkie Stout so I join him on the dark side courtesy of Northdown's Tidal Moon Stout, a Margate-based brew described as "brimming with dark chocolate, boozy cherry and a hint of vanilla tannins" - I don't disagree with that assessment. The chance to try some special heavyweight ales which are only brewed in anticipation of the festive period is part of Dudley's attraction, hence Nick makes sure to garner a glug of Sarah Hughes Snowflake barley wine before dwindling stocks run out completely. His eyebrows confirm that he likes it rather a lot!

- A Trip to Valhalla? -

Other favourites in line for royal reacquaintance include Enville's Gothic Ginger and Holden's Old Ale, a treacly treat he always likes to seek out. I'm experimenting with a varied selection of stuff I've never tried before; Ickle's Purple therefore carries notes of Vimto - I kid you not - then Cult of Oak's 1138 Matildine Mild delivers a "smooth, malty depth that evokes the defiance of Empress Matilda’s forces during the 1138 Siege of Dudley" (quite how they know these things is questionable but my besieged tastebuds aren't objecting to the spicy clove-laden mixture). Our cider correspondent Jane has taken it upon herself to alternate between lower and higher strength tipples, with locally-produced Mousesweet Valhalla vying with Oak & Axe for her affections - she's a woman not to be messed with if dangerous weaponry is present!

- Hearty Sustenance -

Collectively we've taken up residence in the Tommy Mundon Lounge where we can witness first hand how popular the Little Devils food menu is proving. Every year I look forward to the snacks almost as much as the beer, such is the enjoyment to be gained by gorging on Black Country delicacies. The menu involves simple good grub, from huge cobs to tubs of faggots, mash and mushy peas, or cottage pie with a cheesy topping, not forgetting burly bricks of bread pudding you could use as doorstops if you chose not to eat them. For me however it has to be the grey peas and bacon accompanied by a buttered slice, a dish of delight if ever there was one! Miss Woolf meanwhile gets her wish for a roast pork bap, using all her powers of persuasion to secure the biggest bits of crackling available!

- Chancing the Charlton House -

Back with the booze, Jane is persuaded to try a Pear & Chilli perry (she declares herself partial to this once it is confirmed that the heat isn't overpowering) whereas I spend up on a Cinder Toffee Stout that fuses the taste of charcoal ash with Crunchie bars. The festival fun may be now done and dusted but we maintain tradition by embarking upon a little pubcrawl. Our old standby the Courthouse is currently closed after Black Country Ales chose to divest themselves of the premises, so we're grateful that Bathams' Lamp Tavern is still as good as ever at the top of Blowers Green Road. Here, rear lounge musings on the state of the Higher Education sector are accompanied by wonky picture frames and ornamental zebras, then we relocate to my wildcard choice of the Charlton House on Priory Street. An elegant townhouse facade belies a relatively plain interior with down-to-earth regulars seeming mostly friendly. Guiness suffices in the side room as a young pushchair-wielding couple play darts.

- A.I. Moments in the Malt Shovel -

Whether a respectable royal such as Nick ever wants to be seen in the Charlton House again is a matter for debate, but it's safe to say he'd have no aversion to revisiting the Malt Shovel. This Dudley town centre gem has retained its berth in the Good Beer Guide and demonstrates why with an immaculate serving of Titanic Plum Porter Grand Reserve; conversation turns to the daunting topic of artificial intelligence whereby His Majesty and Jane ponder the possibiity of sentient computer entities ever turning on their human masters. Should the machines one day succeed in achieving world domination, I hope they leave us in peace to enjoy Dudley Winter Ales for many more years to come. Cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - November 2025

Over in Australia, the grunt and thrust of The Ashes cricket is underway as old rivals slug it out over a small but symbolic urn. Nothing quite so dramatic can be detected on the West Midlands Exploration photostream however, even though various galleries have been peacably updated...

Howzat!! First out to bat for this monthly update is - somewhat unusually - WME Shropshire, which more often than not counts itself right among the tail-enders but has been inexplicably promoted to open the innings. Why should this be the case I hear you speculate? Bridgnorth is almost entirely responsible for this turn of events, supplying a dozen new arrivals including the Northgate Museum, the New Inn and the instantly recognisable Ridleys Seeds lettering. The town's Severn Valley Railway Station ambles up to the crease too, yielding footbridge safety directives and a vintage advertisement for Morris Lubricants.

Also willing to weigh in with some serious strokeplay is WME Dudley, boosted by bits and pieces from Brierley Hill and Blowers Green. The Jones Brothers clock has been a favoured timepiece on Brierley Hill High Street for many a year so it's nice to give that the recognition it deserves, albeit you'll have to decide whether Adelaide Street and Link 51 are as worthy of attention. Black Delph Bridge and the Moor Centre swell the run-rate a little, then you get the customary dash of street signage thanks to Fox Foot Drive or Blowers Green Road.

The middle order engine room is populated by the redoutable pair of WME Birmingham and WME Wolverhampton. Brum takes on some Commonwealth Games deliveries courtesy of Perry the bull mascot, aided by Brasshouse pub lettering and the gilded bronze of Boulton, Watt and Murdoch's statue. Oakham Brewery beermats in Boldmere plus the sad Hodge Hill remnants of the demolished Comet pub also punctuate the scorecard, whereas the power hitting from Wolverhampton is mostly reserved for Bradmore's selection of street signs.

Fancying a role as a demon spinner, WME Worcestershire tantalisingly twirls its way to a trio of Bromsgrove additions (namely St Godwalds Road and some railway station orientation materials). It is joined in the slow bowling stakes by the irrepressible WME Walsall with Bloxwich offbreaks related to the Old Hall Trading Estate and a High Street cafe. The pace unit meanwhile numbers WME Telford (with Blists Hill coal lumps), WME Sandwell (Cyder and Cobb making a second Blackheath appearance) and WME Coventry (the lowest-scoring player of the lot, earning just its third picture of the year in the form of empty beer casks at the Broomfield Tavern). That completes our batting card - until next month, enjoy the pictures!