tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-278328372024-03-18T15:47:44.295+00:00West Midlands ExplorationBuses and beer, railways and recollections, pubs and photography, canals and cricket:
The quest to discover and document the West Midlands and surrounding areas continues...West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.comBlogger1017125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-57192613129689526502024-03-17T10:13:00.006+00:002024-03-17T10:13:44.727+00:00Hub Marketing 2024: STONE<p><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>Canals, railways, brewery heritage and a selection of great pubs mean there's a lot to like about the Staffordshire market town of Stone. Secretary WME is certainly partial to the occasional visit there (especially in the month of March it seems), although this fourth Hub Marketing escapade of 2024 will be Chairman D9's first ever time setting foot in Stone - here comes the tale of the trip...</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPqjiLxIAbmAM0iAMIUAe994DDfagkhGSwGBcxadhbJdaM7hs7Id2sVLD-JynNcbI3vt1t1f48aOahBTLKtNcL_b5nZz03xTHyqHF5TQiCqI5bFELkoxHKTnREAD3ad5CuuTrO78cSlisND4nIHqR9Jza3IdVG3K4Ql7XXpW-eRF4zvom_MS4/s600/stone001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPqjiLxIAbmAM0iAMIUAe994DDfagkhGSwGBcxadhbJdaM7hs7Id2sVLD-JynNcbI3vt1t1f48aOahBTLKtNcL_b5nZz03xTHyqHF5TQiCqI5bFELkoxHKTnREAD3ad5CuuTrO78cSlisND4nIHqR9Jza3IdVG3K4Ql7XXpW-eRF4zvom_MS4/s320/stone001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- Grumpy D9 drives the 101 -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Friday 15th March 2024 and poor old D9 isn't having much luck with his transport options. A fracas aboard the Midland Metro tram delays his arrival at Wolverhampton railway station, meaning we miss one train and - after belatedly making it to Stafford - our intended onward connection has been cancelled. Even our contingency option of the number 101 bus tries to drive straight past us without stopping so it's little wonder that the Chairman displays a fixed frown when showcasing his steering prowess. His mood is probably not helped by the WME choice of silly song for this trip, namely 'Aries' from Harvey Sid Fisher's collection of zodiac tunes, complete with "I Am, I Am, I Am The Ram" chorus. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRe8EbUTqlX_2tGn7-Ddk2JXNiBNGWEwi6BVo0dUWEimpdhX2g9P5hbo8YrOukxthAHNwYC8fWDTF4amLPgGFPp2Hjle6apY0AV2kOxHEz9ozTCuI9xSmn4tMXmD984HBbvLdBOIuchk2g5Uqw1I3DoPB5gT5JcRMpVxUhyphenhyphen3IFlAZBiSHgRfS/s600/stone002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRe8EbUTqlX_2tGn7-Ddk2JXNiBNGWEwi6BVo0dUWEimpdhX2g9P5hbo8YrOukxthAHNwYC8fWDTF4amLPgGFPp2Hjle6apY0AV2kOxHEz9ozTCuI9xSmn4tMXmD984HBbvLdBOIuchk2g5Uqw1I3DoPB5gT5JcRMpVxUhyphenhyphen3IFlAZBiSHgRfS/s320/stone002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- A River Trent Vista -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The 101 is operated half hourly by First Potteries, linking Stafford and Hanley via Trentham Gardens and Newcastle under Lyme. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The route's approaches into Stone involve glimpses of Yarlet (noting the Greyhound as a roadside inn), a tour of an industrial estate and Tilling Drive past Walton Priory Middle School. We alight just beyond the Co-op on Eccleshall Road with a view to inspecting the Lamb Inn, a 1960s estate box boozer with a pitched roof, but it seems to vary its opening hours to suit the manager's daily whims. Walton is a sizeable community in its own right, separated from the main part of Stone by the A34 trunk road (The Fillybrooks) and the River Trent. Talking of which, the riverside meadow area is host to a canoe club, a leisure centre and Westbridge Park as well as offering options for scenic walks. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNj08neRpsbscFkYjqkqtHNc-AvITGnR4HaxSxSZg31v9DNEX67mkeaaCPh2a68vFoUfazj0Mb9Bm9XnVu2dthDpx3SrpaF56LCibV8rs65kDpTrFhzJrUIhgZ4EqZfLrZ4vKouh-2QWLVzz4Gj4LP-S88wB11K6-_QIcekfJUEJW3ZNfamO1/s600/stone003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNj08neRpsbscFkYjqkqtHNc-AvITGnR4HaxSxSZg31v9DNEX67mkeaaCPh2a68vFoUfazj0Mb9Bm9XnVu2dthDpx3SrpaF56LCibV8rs65kDpTrFhzJrUIhgZ4EqZfLrZ4vKouh-2QWLVzz4Gj4LP-S88wB11K6-_QIcekfJUEJW3ZNfamO1/s320/stone003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Welcoming Sight -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Proceeding from Walton into Stone proper, we are greeted by a welcome sign styled to look like a narrowboat named Rebekah. Secretary WME taps into his previous pub knowledge in seeking out two excellent establishments for initial ale sampling: the Swan is regularly in the running for CAMRA accolades and serves up a first class pint of Palmer's Poison from the Blythe Brewery, whereas the Royal Exchange is a Titanic tied house on Radford Street with an enviable range of Burslem-brewed beers. A quickfire tussle on the dartboard has WME Whirlwind prevailing by two legs to one, aided by no-nonsense 65 and 40 outshots.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcyu2coSmZsQNlBUg-ynuahlakx7iTdVRZxAX1pJP5dSUwKu9WELVP8B_DBsccGjoM5z7ApB8BoJxGR2yCmz-Ap8s5JAwaNLjN9Z-Bxg5l87Cav2FtTdtggBSMyX__ntQPRCpBtReaEh4HmQaLmn9gfmFBgL395Q3qBfn2ocgIRRqPD2AKrkA/s600/stone004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcyu2coSmZsQNlBUg-ynuahlakx7iTdVRZxAX1pJP5dSUwKu9WELVP8B_DBsccGjoM5z7ApB8BoJxGR2yCmz-Ap8s5JAwaNLjN9Z-Bxg5l87Cav2FtTdtggBSMyX__ntQPRCpBtReaEh4HmQaLmn9gfmFBgL395Q3qBfn2ocgIRRqPD2AKrkA/s320/stone004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Bridge beckons -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Heading into Stone's northern reaches involves a gentle wander along Old Road, noting the Bridge Inn with its curving corner frontage (this one spent a fair few years known as Langtry's) plus the Stonefield Fish Bar, although Mr D9's favourite find is the disused D.G. Brassington's newsagents shop which retains an advert for Wall's ice creams. It must be school hometime judging by the hordes of kids suddenly appearing as if out of nowhere so we decamp into the Pheasant, a traditional local on the junction with Mount Avenue. Purity's Mad Goose pairs well with horse racing action from the Cheltenham Festival although the only winners we're really interested in are the grated Red Leicester and onion cobs - that's lunch sorted!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_Wli6NLK_Sv7KL96fCrkMPvvoaBv1OQNRKl9hweT3VqyYN8ZCSqLAQ-FXJ89i0t7qN82xEtQ-As5EPN-CsvJ__c8r7JA0en81yEp7LaFSXqD6zbP5F_FkBOcxm3XZGaPi-ilT2HDvh7vwWNqjceDdOnTqxe3emsaDpWY3ZtGrJeUPN_BmdLk/s600/stone005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_Wli6NLK_Sv7KL96fCrkMPvvoaBv1OQNRKl9hweT3VqyYN8ZCSqLAQ-FXJ89i0t7qN82xEtQ-As5EPN-CsvJ__c8r7JA0en81yEp7LaFSXqD6zbP5F_FkBOcxm3XZGaPi-ilT2HDvh7vwWNqjceDdOnTqxe3emsaDpWY3ZtGrJeUPN_BmdLk/s320/stone005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Customary Closet Photocall -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stone was historically home to the Joules Brewery, the modern version of which has been keen to re-establish links with the town, but we should by no means overlook the presence of Lymestone Brewery based on the Mount Industrial Estate. Their taphouse is the Borehole, a converted office lodge which nowadays makes for a very relaxing setting in which to partake of brews such as Cherry Stone, Stone the Crows and Stone Cutter (no prizes for detecting a theme in how they name their creations). A further brewing name to throw into the mix would be Bent's who were actually based at this Mount Road site prior to ceasing production circa 1968 after becoming a victim of rationalisation by owners Bass Charrington. All this beery talk is enough to set a man's internal waterworks off so Mr D9 is grateful to find the Station Road public conveniences in full working order, sparing him any bladder distress. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXLypRiph2kvpXSczz-wBJFm70kfClXFAH8trnYM8vBvs0gJMf_ReRMzUSY7OSj5z13-tpEyAIcEfT9GCW3ro_JHfiMjjTdCq0Qzf5zp5BkmVnXaXAjlXcyGdlzTPEsC-_xiStXlmIMKr3QzwTTK8GEbQxRnlEsrYP5Cen6sAQsK2cihYC0va/s600/stone006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXLypRiph2kvpXSczz-wBJFm70kfClXFAH8trnYM8vBvs0gJMf_ReRMzUSY7OSj5z13-tpEyAIcEfT9GCW3ro_JHfiMjjTdCq0Qzf5zp5BkmVnXaXAjlXcyGdlzTPEsC-_xiStXlmIMKr3QzwTTK8GEbQxRnlEsrYP5Cen6sAQsK2cihYC0va/s320/stone006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- Granville Square Interrupted -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Having thus far skirted around the edges of the town centre, it's time we got right into the heart of Stone and that means Granville Square and High Street. The war memorial takes pride of place - when there isn't a bald spot trying to get in the way that is! - and we're hardly short of pubby possibilities either, what with Wetherspoons, the Crown & Anchor and the Wren all vying for our custom. The latter of the three gets the nod on this occasion, mainly because Secretary WME wants to check out their relocated premises following their move into a former branch of the NatWest bank. Upside down umbrellas and Burl Ives LPs ensure the quirkiness of their previous unit has not been diminished by upping sticks, while some Stone the Crows dark ale proves that their high standards for beer quality are equally as intact.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cf6M_tBkrCeHJ2qWQHOwRGZ7RHCsO1zGIGmO6BGKdoP6skukUQQb9DD9bSJqYa55xG8r6RprDm9BlBtRIBSxTF0zLJ6wZZVmgraTG5SBbp_6AKWcSyK1m5fsIWVGYcL5iHZXi8okngvQt1FPg2WNC5sJywmeYq4oRaYn_Y9A3UWzh2eUdoXe/s600/stone007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cf6M_tBkrCeHJ2qWQHOwRGZ7RHCsO1zGIGmO6BGKdoP6skukUQQb9DD9bSJqYa55xG8r6RprDm9BlBtRIBSxTF0zLJ6wZZVmgraTG5SBbp_6AKWcSyK1m5fsIWVGYcL5iHZXi8okngvQt1FPg2WNC5sJywmeYq4oRaYn_Y9A3UWzh2eUdoXe/s320/stone007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- Potent Stuff this Kriek!! -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our Stone sojourn is nearing its conclusion but there's time yet to seek out Ten Green Bottles, an off licence and gin emporium a few doors down from the Red Lion. They might not do cask ale but the selection of continental tipples is impressive, and it's fair to say the Secretary takes rather a shine to the Belgian Kriek with its cherry infusion. Bearing in mind we must catch the 19:06 train home, we squeeze in a speedy nightcap at the Butchers Block by Stone Station - if I remember correctly, this used to be known as the Talbot until a steakhouse emphasis was applied last year; either way it does the trick for a closing drop of Wadworth 6X and then our train awaits. We managed to cram in quite a crawl there and that's without covering several other worthy establishments, so Stone won't leave you disappointed. Cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-62164924852732666882024-03-06T07:33:00.002+00:002024-03-10T15:30:58.990+00:00Unicorn Fishing? You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!<p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-weight: 700; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The essence of Hub Marketing outings over the years has been a shared love of pubs, daft music and the potential for random acts of silliness, so although this evening bash around Bilston might only be a short session, it ticks all the right boxes…</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUFbAHkvQ8m6pvQe10rROsmNOmjVu9cdSOzLUNu8KSPHTqS-lEZVcl48jW1lofa8N2jvEFsEYC1bmG4AD8jXhrwhlyrCNtDMPF_Cntqdl8Cl904cVlT428pjjMk9rOYt3hn7Q_XF6jjuRMfxTeC07pn-A4rfzQR_4i2966O2mR0xfJVMDH3VI/s600/unic001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUFbAHkvQ8m6pvQe10rROsmNOmjVu9cdSOzLUNu8KSPHTqS-lEZVcl48jW1lofa8N2jvEFsEYC1bmG4AD8jXhrwhlyrCNtDMPF_Cntqdl8Cl904cVlT428pjjMk9rOYt3hn7Q_XF6jjuRMfxTeC07pn-A4rfzQR_4i2966O2mR0xfJVMDH3VI/s320/unic001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><b>- Drawing Inspiration -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Monday 4th March 2024 and - prior to any evening entertainments - Secretary WME spends his lunchtime perusing the latest exhibitions at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. These include a collection showcasing the urban sketches of local artist Ed Isaacs (complete with Heath Town cow depictions), as well as the British Museum's touring display titled 'Drawing Attention: emerging artists in dialogue' which has many thought-provoking contemporary pieces. The Secretary likes to visit the gallery every three months or so to keep abreast of what's new; the Glaze cafe comes highly recommended for coffee and cake too!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr_gKVbDguhjbj4EdmILmbGNRQXkQdoj9TwMfciOElbkM_R7Wf8ewSDy-EdhhPGDY6E-wIYwekJNM3msYxI5RKIumcxvxB15Lt5B31zGLcPla-lTE5-TVItTSLdKEjlif0xUhLPhoPANJzbS-L2gz1lO_0P-xMy5hvConOIE54FSEmqJ6CJuX/s600/unic002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr_gKVbDguhjbj4EdmILmbGNRQXkQdoj9TwMfciOElbkM_R7Wf8ewSDy-EdhhPGDY6E-wIYwekJNM3msYxI5RKIumcxvxB15Lt5B31zGLcPla-lTE5-TVItTSLdKEjlif0xUhLPhoPANJzbS-L2gz1lO_0P-xMy5hvConOIE54FSEmqJ6CJuX/s320/unic002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><b>- Rising Sun Baldness -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And so to the main event with members instructed to be at Coseley railway station come half past four. Chairman D9 must be eager because not only is he on time (maintaining a recent run of commendable punctuality) but then promptly marches along Havacre Lane anticipating our first pint of the day. His target is the Rising Sun on Darkhouse Lane, a former Banks's throwback which now operates as a Desi Bar and Grill. The surroundings are grimly industrial despite the building of a new estate comprising Cannon Park Way and Iron Foundry Drive - as you can see, the bald spot seems to be making itself at home!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHIlDnRWzZN5QsCFQyY28YYjQdKOeHPnr-EiVgcqk-Sw9Hr0RPA8xDg8bCe8KCiL2YiYqmhy7ZmYbdAcqHOZ3YCesxATaZcbgSartbXUaN-IZbrAcVkYozVG7ghmENGoUdTP7Wbua5TPZZUvNNv3h4mzo9rbU314t5mMSJoZiRMY3v4l-c0RA/s600/unic003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHIlDnRWzZN5QsCFQyY28YYjQdKOeHPnr-EiVgcqk-Sw9Hr0RPA8xDg8bCe8KCiL2YiYqmhy7ZmYbdAcqHOZ3YCesxATaZcbgSartbXUaN-IZbrAcVkYozVG7ghmENGoUdTP7Wbua5TPZZUvNNv3h4mzo9rbU314t5mMSJoZiRMY3v4l-c0RA/s320/unic003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Secretary samples the wares -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Although the Rising Sun has been given something of a style makeover, it's nevertheless still easy to imagine the place being frequented by scrapyard workers and foundrymen back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Our pangs of nostalgia are perhaps helped by the fact the big screen is showing reruns of Minder with Arthur Daley and Terry McCann in their pomp. Secretary WME is in the mood for some wheeler-dealing of his own by securing cheap pints of Carling, then we settle in the front bay window watching the world go by for a while. Glasses glugged, we venture via Siddons Road and Rainbow Street to join the Bradley Canal at Highfields Road. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHapcAvp3XPgGYs60CL_OcKcBqs8JgwxD3SNJpFTOZx5VQKy7NiJMjUJdl-sDm6_8CFHzpSMCs4ZqgHa-mPYQ-OvyNUJZNe9BJ-cuWZbOstPNt5JrFoAVr2LB1xhx0QqiGlXZbIC0IqAw2uvP02xLPCnBrgAOv848SNmnS578M6UY3dk2r_EL9/s600/unic004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHapcAvp3XPgGYs60CL_OcKcBqs8JgwxD3SNJpFTOZx5VQKy7NiJMjUJdl-sDm6_8CFHzpSMCs4ZqgHa-mPYQ-OvyNUJZNe9BJ-cuWZbOstPNt5JrFoAVr2LB1xhx0QqiGlXZbIC0IqAw2uvP02xLPCnBrgAOv848SNmnS578M6UY3dk2r_EL9/s320/unic004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><b>- Unicorn Rescue Unit at your service! -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Even the shortest Hub Marketing gatherings can produce moments of mayhem and things don't get much more surreal than fishing cuddly unicorns out of the canal like it's an everyday occurrence! The sight of the Chairman spreadeagled on the towpath attempting to reach the stricken toy with a discarded tree branch is not easily forgotten and would rival the Tividale Shark in our all-time silliness stakes. He's not a man to be denied though and the rescue is deemed a success once the plushy is plucked from the water, a mission we celebrate with a daft ditty in the form of Elke Sommer's 1961 recording 'Be Not Notty'.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GdooJyDSRBjI_ijqYpimFYfaUgTC_y3rqPoSINoRhFUwKc3revHKNmfZj4RksuxoVgG-eMY5iGk9vjF-zMf4JyU1sdPKX7Ew1RJVD-aVHoGVOLK7GKRZoJVUO56rnR-wmxr94-e66ddr7G_vukAYees2xLVVrud0C-VP_cCPwXcl962SpO5J/s600/unic005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GdooJyDSRBjI_ijqYpimFYfaUgTC_y3rqPoSINoRhFUwKc3revHKNmfZj4RksuxoVgG-eMY5iGk9vjF-zMf4JyU1sdPKX7Ew1RJVD-aVHoGVOLK7GKRZoJVUO56rnR-wmxr94-e66ddr7G_vukAYees2xLVVrud0C-VP_cCPwXcl962SpO5J/s320/unic005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><b>- Bert Turner Overdrive -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Running the gauntlet of geese at feeding time near Carder Crescent (we narrowly avoided a serious pecking), we proceed along Dudley Street into Bilston town centre. The Chairman has more music in mind when the presence of Bert Turner Boulevard prompts a rendition of 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet' - quite whether Bachman-Turner Overdrive would approve is another matter!! Bert and his brother Dennis were highly prominent in Bilston politics for decades, Bert serving as a councillor and Mayor of Wolverhampton whereas Dennis was a local MP; both men had campaigned tirelessly against the closure of Bilston Steelworks in the 1970s. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPQDSJfTIRqQy2Wp-w7pWFWIWS1plthv9lLghGEcIahoawTY62k6ZIGUXBH2ijI6HNSlSXDnIfKKXi7MjOWl_f_dFYKu3Buw3owI8gtPtmqm3QYZZyl90H2tToYvfhm5emDzvsUHEpcqEvKKNeJNu0xTjfm1V8l522G4LhrqbkZkKmID2eyYO/s600/unic006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPQDSJfTIRqQy2Wp-w7pWFWIWS1plthv9lLghGEcIahoawTY62k6ZIGUXBH2ijI6HNSlSXDnIfKKXi7MjOWl_f_dFYKu3Buw3owI8gtPtmqm3QYZZyl90H2tToYvfhm5emDzvsUHEpcqEvKKNeJNu0xTjfm1V8l522G4LhrqbkZkKmID2eyYO/s320/unic006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Tikka Tavern Tipple -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our Bilston pubbish finale involves a new find and an old favourite. First the newbie which sees us test out the Tikka Tavern on the corner of High Street and Dudley Street; admittedly this is predominantly a restaurant really but it is possible to call in for a drink - in our case of Cobra Lager - and the swish interior would make a nice spot to partake of a mixed grill. The jazzy environs of the Trumpet then bring the curtain down with legendary landlord Musti on hand to demonstrate his percussion prowess drumming along to Chuck Berry numbers. The Holden's Golden Glow hits all the right notes too although we must be grateful that Mr D9 didn't break into a rendition of 'Hello Dolly!' - thank goodness for that...</span></div><p></p>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-90333388285312207162024-03-03T12:32:00.000+00:002024-03-03T12:32:20.594+00:00Widney Manor and Monkspath<p><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b><span class="TextRun SCXO122007974 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Is this the very definition of madness? It's one thing for the weather to turn on you when you're already out and about, but quite another to go ahead with an outing if the forecast in advance is dire. Such is my wish to stretch my legs and clear away some cobwebs that I'm steering a course for soggy Solihull regardless of the elements...</span><span class="EOP SCXO122007974 BCX0" color="windowtext" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokC-dTQPyJlPW-omEp_plvwPghPUp5Y5OJ3FJfarbcrf03RVgC-d_RTzMcEg02518Z8Pa75fBfM2Z1NJ-sDwYK4Xz_otHKdphLPMS3gqLXbqIkcluul883wg6gA3uBCm0XA7D411iLI3W538CxP2wPs3IeAxxRT63l1uS1AZmGZZKLaqqIU7H/s600/widn001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokC-dTQPyJlPW-omEp_plvwPghPUp5Y5OJ3FJfarbcrf03RVgC-d_RTzMcEg02518Z8Pa75fBfM2Z1NJ-sDwYK4Xz_otHKdphLPMS3gqLXbqIkcluul883wg6gA3uBCm0XA7D411iLI3W538CxP2wPs3IeAxxRT63l1uS1AZmGZZKLaqqIU7H/s320/widn001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Hawthorns -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Saturday 2nd March 2024 and I'm risking the wrath of the weather gods by pressing on anyway, although I'm already sensing that the rain isn't quite as heavy as predicted when I touch base at The Hawthorns. The mere mention of West Bromwich Albion usually brings me out in a rash but any Baggies-induced coughing fits are offset by the chance to have a mooch along Middlemore Road. The station was opened in 1995 as part of the Jewellery Line project which restored train services into Birmingham Snow Hill, hence the frontage design is similar in appearance to Jewellery Quarter and Smethwick Galton Bridge. Midland Metro trams also call here, and there are signs for segregating home and away supporters on matchdays. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZo4oUEw6sId5FaEsYMDN9VfQzAoYkdI9Qd4me2YBvDngOC7hMRSghOsbEcVL1DVobzGObboCVLpxIN3q9Htxt76yaOrLAehYsiA7cGs2JFyhdUjjWLXCsnfIZ5L8tU0mC7VXYI88xo6PLLn_YQg2dgQzzVVzmpYcgjR_4v3M-LDPCWjboh9a/s600/widn002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZo4oUEw6sId5FaEsYMDN9VfQzAoYkdI9Qd4me2YBvDngOC7hMRSghOsbEcVL1DVobzGObboCVLpxIN3q9Htxt76yaOrLAehYsiA7cGs2JFyhdUjjWLXCsnfIZ5L8tU0mC7VXYI88xo6PLLn_YQg2dgQzzVVzmpYcgjR_4v3M-LDPCWjboh9a/s320/widn002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- Widney Manor Station -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My sojourn near a certain football stadium is mercifully brief and I'm soon en route into Solihull territory. Widney Manor doesn't get as much WME attention as some stations despite being served by the number 5 bus and half-hourly trains between Birmingham, Dorridge and/or Stratford-upon-Avon. There has been a station on this site since 1899 although the current incumbent is a fairly functional modern rebuild that nevertheless does what it says on the tin. My initial photographic survey covers running boards, hooped noticeboards and the standard booking office (which is staffed most mornings of the week). </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiI4qyt7h_3VdcEFf7QNPybFle6ecAbs6fPdg0N_grVTUMWbCLlnnnSqup9jlHPZBYATYstopXWSYne0n9Py19iII603e_9ZPWw-KpON6Y4nx3-Wu0W4WNhl2-63TXdCUp5szkmGLjwYfRcB4hwkeFIxNj6-xnbWnEjUFGL-iRHCRWmxbZXRX/s600/widn003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiI4qyt7h_3VdcEFf7QNPybFle6ecAbs6fPdg0N_grVTUMWbCLlnnnSqup9jlHPZBYATYstopXWSYne0n9Py19iII603e_9ZPWw-KpON6Y4nx3-Wu0W4WNhl2-63TXdCUp5szkmGLjwYfRcB4hwkeFIxNj6-xnbWnEjUFGL-iRHCRWmxbZXRX/s320/widn003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- Hillfield Park -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Widney Lane and Monkspath Hall Road combine to lead me towards Monkspath, a former manorial settlement which was developed for overspill housing during the 1980s. Hillfield Park is the principal area of open space, comprising sports pitches, a local nature reserve, and an Armed Forces Community Garden designed to act as a 'healing habitat'. It's rather squelchy underfoot in places so I stick with the main pavement to reach a series of business parks and car dealerships; I'd know where to go if I wanted a Porsche or a Volkswagen, put it that way!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluklpLyw1BtyMsIDffTW4mWcpG8vQ_ULL5D-QDL2VTIOAQHFbiyZxcjz7reKmkQ_0hl29FCgPkgVppi26qG8zqMoYWBV3myntKU6sAR-nqTDRF8Hp3HDpc4dOWeAtwlI4VADKOVza8dbjns4SdCF-_Q9QSd2FXthtxHH9KWnDzA-IheOpABZl/s600/widn004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluklpLyw1BtyMsIDffTW4mWcpG8vQ_ULL5D-QDL2VTIOAQHFbiyZxcjz7reKmkQ_0hl29FCgPkgVppi26qG8zqMoYWBV3myntKU6sAR-nqTDRF8Hp3HDpc4dOWeAtwlI4VADKOVza8dbjns4SdCF-_Q9QSd2FXthtxHH9KWnDzA-IheOpABZl/s320/widn004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- Hillfield Farm -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ignoring the Stonegate and Pegasus offices, I take closer interest in the Hillfield Farm as an example of the Farmhouse Inns dining and carvery chain. The place has already been open a few hours supplying buffet breakfasts so they're just switching into afternoon carvery service when I pitch up circa midday. Whilst I can never get overly excited about these types of pub, having a swift pint here does tick another West Midlands watering hole off my wanted list. As you might expect, there are several families in attendance poring over the reasonably-priced menus but my choice of Carling isn't going to set the world on fire. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9TTrfd9Vw8gyIC74He0LTwS432nflOpTeW905wxehqyp-Zi43WRKvC4E1LHdj5U4uf99cj1UXIIlU3XCWQmL1_qf-ZbwiOk-AXL03PFRGxie2de9k22ho8GFo-xCWfqrNrCEGWWtESi196qGCyKRvhbXjK1qfIF4lbT-B390Mnn6N2FCoido/s600/widn005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9TTrfd9Vw8gyIC74He0LTwS432nflOpTeW905wxehqyp-Zi43WRKvC4E1LHdj5U4uf99cj1UXIIlU3XCWQmL1_qf-ZbwiOk-AXL03PFRGxie2de9k22ho8GFo-xCWfqrNrCEGWWtESi196qGCyKRvhbXjK1qfIF4lbT-B390Mnn6N2FCoido/s320/widn005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- Monkspath Family Centre -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Retracing my footsteps back along Monkspath Hall Road, I detour off via Hay Lane so as to investigate more amenities. Monkspath Family Centre is part of the Junior and Infant School complex off Farmhouse Way while there is a doctor's surgery and a community centre close at hand too. My second pub of the day is simply called The Farm but - unlike its business estate counterpart - this one has some age to it with the main Grade II-listed farmstead building said to date from the 16th century. First floor timbers look the part in harking back to the days when Shelly was a separate historical hamlet, while a neighbouring outhouse barn seems to focus on the restaurant side of the business. I stick with the public bar, lapping up a more than decent drop of Silhill Brewery's Blonde Star - I must admit I'm warming to Monkspath!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPYZe6Sw_oO_hOpqqQqOj6420j8Ur8E848jMEFcw4HshAQ2rCnN5H42uDMci00Lyb9mSIKb0me02vvRQgcBxFgSGMVUSNVHt8Rrd7ldcxo9DZ6QWQzmE0oPY_aA0K9B6jAamuuDLel8aSKwTCwiTtxQ0_3ycsNgjYmyc3gLdSt-o-j9HXN-r1/s600/widn006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPYZe6Sw_oO_hOpqqQqOj6420j8Ur8E848jMEFcw4HshAQ2rCnN5H42uDMci00Lyb9mSIKb0me02vvRQgcBxFgSGMVUSNVHt8Rrd7ldcxo9DZ6QWQzmE0oPY_aA0K9B6jAamuuDLel8aSKwTCwiTtxQ0_3ycsNgjYmyc3gLdSt-o-j9HXN-r1/s320/widn006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- Shelly Farm Shops -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Farm's tagline is 'No Bull' and they operate under the Lovely Pubs banner so I'm inclined to keep an eye out for other establishments within their portfolio; upmarket but welcoming with a neat line in cutlery-themed artworks. Practically next door is Shelly Farm shopping precinct complete with Co-op store, beauty salon and a takeaway (the Shelly Farm Fryer), although the post office seems to have closed down, possibly for refurbishment or relocation? Shelly Crescent is part of the number 5 bus route and backs onto the south-eastern reaches of Solihull Golf Club (otherwise accessed from Saintbury Drive). </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwUySl0u8ZyxLm39uXV-wqvHe6G3WeS9ZCoXuCcUtyQMk43g7e8tW5rjO-7v_xZvwpIHPoN7lVG40NHhAQzOKwIKPzvaxagt6qQhub-xKa2zVX600yewYKDAKgv9SulUsHGUJ2PWtFhQ9QyLgzBkD0hutoRgUgukvvw8_WScAfYZeCnGfEjtj/s600/widn007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwUySl0u8ZyxLm39uXV-wqvHe6G3WeS9ZCoXuCcUtyQMk43g7e8tW5rjO-7v_xZvwpIHPoN7lVG40NHhAQzOKwIKPzvaxagt6qQhub-xKa2zVX600yewYKDAKgv9SulUsHGUJ2PWtFhQ9QyLgzBkD0hutoRgUgukvvw8_WScAfYZeCnGfEjtj/s320/widn007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Fieldhouse -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My trio of agriculturally-titled taverns concludes with The Fieldhouse, an Ember Inns effort on Monkspath Hall Road. I came here with Nick some years ago and it hasn't changed much if at all; a dining emphasis is to be expected but they are proud of a cask ale repertoire which has earned Good Beer Guide recognition from Solihull's CAMRA branch. London Pride, Oakham Citra, Adnam's Ghost Ship and St Austell's Proper Job are all on show but my vote goes to the Birmingham Pale Brummie which is served perfectly fresh. Sitting outside in chilly March temperatures is a feat of endurance even with Hillfield Park vistas to admire, and I make it back to Widney Manor Station in time for the 14:36 train home. Cheers!</span></div><p></p>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-75515043005393128442024-03-01T08:30:00.001+00:002024-03-01T08:30:00.131+00:00WME Flickr Focus - February 2024<p><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: arial;"><b>Ah February, that month of romance... and pancakes! The West Midlands Exploration photostream doesn't usually concern itself with affairs of the heart (nor the frying pan!) so we'll simply concentrate on the usual tranche of newly-delivered pictures...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There has been a ding-dong battle for the chief contributor's crown this month with WMEs Wolverhampton and Staffordshire locked in a prolonged bout of arm-wrestling. True to form, it's <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">WME Wolverhampton </span></b>which emerges supreme, triumphing thanks to balance beams galore on the Birmingham Main Line Canal (Locks 18, 19, 20 and 21 all accounted for). The city's Art Gallery procures us various puppets from a 2017 exhibition - dogs, birds and even a tufted camel - while Jay's Cafe is a Stafford Street greasy spoon I wish was still trading.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">WME Staffordshire</span></b> might have missed out on victory but a very solid second place showing is not to be sniffed at. Wombourne was almost exclusively responsible for its recent glut of arrivals, rustling up scout hut signage and 'Watch Your Speed' warnings from a policewoman character. Add in a shrine sighting from St Bernadette's Catholic Church plus some general Wom Brook greenery and it all amounts to pleasing progress even if I say so myself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Overshadowed but nevertheless quietly beavering away is <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">WME Worcestershire</span></b> which gains its first additions of 2024. Worcester itself wangles a newsagents shop, a former pub doorway (the Barley Mow's in fact, complete with added circus posters) and a vintage Heineken advert, then it's over to Wythall for a clay post directional arrow opposite the railway station. It partially points the way to <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">WME Birmingham</span></b> where a Church Road street sign gets Yardley on the move again; <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">WME Dudley</span> </b>meanwhile gains a double dose of Wordsley Junction's fingerpost.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Elsewhere, I can report a sprinkling of odds and ends for the following galleries: <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">WME Walsall</span></b> (Covid-related graffiti on the Walsall Canal), <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">WME Sandwell </span></b>(two West Bromwich pub sign pictures for the Flower Pot and the Merry Go Round), <span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b>WME Telford</b> </span>(hints of Wellington's Church Walk and a James Rollason metal merchants board), and <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">WME Warwickshire</span></b> (for Whitnash News and the Woodloes Tavern).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ordinarily that would be enough for most months, but I'm hearing of sleepy stirrings involving <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Exploration Extra</span></b> - yes it's waking up from a near yearlong hibernation. Altrincham additions have helped end the slumber, hence glimpses of Moss Lane, the Old Roebuck and the Bee-Bop-A-Raver bee sculpture, then there is Carlisle content in the form of Bitts Park planting and the Carlisle United club shop. I have a feeling that Exploration Extra is going to dominate matters for the foreseeable future so watch this space!</span></p>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-68640275331255394832024-02-25T14:24:00.000+00:002024-02-25T14:24:14.148+00:00Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #33<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>I started my Lost Pubs series of blogposts nearly five years ago and here we are 33 episodes in with still enough material to keep me occupied for several more yet. Our first archive dip of 2024 brings back memories of bygone boozers from Birmingham, Coventry, Burton and Herefordshire...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1urRMWNOwhFfN-lrzCJD9NWG7GBspCDa8Ev6OqScR9bffApeQ5rcMIhGsX4zLsO0EP8T75QmSdWShFBgOnvWhbzr7qCUBGOGNgy8_ov7_rJEGWV5Rf0pcynOZs7PsTeAcmQyGnyw8Jw5UWE03bgWFFs3xclWJ14FIi5_oUYoGPlTeDkqzzRQT/s600/BLOGbrumstags.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1urRMWNOwhFfN-lrzCJD9NWG7GBspCDa8Ev6OqScR9bffApeQ5rcMIhGsX4zLsO0EP8T75QmSdWShFBgOnvWhbzr7qCUBGOGNgy8_ov7_rJEGWV5Rf0pcynOZs7PsTeAcmQyGnyw8Jw5UWE03bgWFFs3xclWJ14FIi5_oUYoGPlTeDkqzzRQT/s320/BLOGbrumstags.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Stags Head -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We'll start this selection on Summer Lane in Birmingham where there used to be a fair few pubs on the run up into Newtown. The Barrel Bar & Grill has survived (at time of writing) but the Stags Head on the corner of Brearley Street has fallen by the wayside. The building is admittedly still standing but is becoming an eyesore with exposed brickwork and some very unsightly metal shutters; I don't know what further use the owners may have in mind for it. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rBJV27eweC5CCZ472Ly9N00wke19T2pz0fYeL1zN060xOCaAc0eOBFYO1_5TmNBz0F3jX2RdHJ1zLEPvSVYMO-DZbrR0VZziKksfmq6YELFmncJj0lnSHlU8opJHuTTA580nnpz6BEf3XnFng77LFXTCPZqz_87wFXJuutY1sHUTkEJDJqay/s600/BLOGcovrocket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rBJV27eweC5CCZ472Ly9N00wke19T2pz0fYeL1zN060xOCaAc0eOBFYO1_5TmNBz0F3jX2RdHJ1zLEPvSVYMO-DZbrR0VZziKksfmq6YELFmncJj0lnSHlU8opJHuTTA580nnpz6BEf3XnFng77LFXTCPZqz_87wFXJuutY1sHUTkEJDJqay/s320/BLOGcovrocket.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Rocket -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I never had the pleasure - or otherwise - of frequenting the Stags Head although I did venture into the Rocket on one occasion (with Mr D9 during the Hub Marketing Board's 2013 Coventry Caper). Very handy for the railway station, this Warwick Road watering hole was a sports bar in the main and not especially memorable at the time of our visit; it did however have history as a meeting place for 2-Tone artists such as the Specials and the Selecter who would have recorded at the Horizon Studios over the road. Demolition was the ultimate fate here, the Rocket finding itself razed to facilitate a new station frontage. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eETrwZyc9xrX2qo8-G2XZLr965sFjt_otez6QpV2R2qy8nv7rS8BYCbrLVW3W_UJAqiw9vmfm6PrtE36OyZ1xwbdjTqDMgOBX_AcBcQxcVBSg_t8oUkMJN0GVp4_F-7fMYkj40jrlvF36Znabyl4ZUL9-JuoCadP5P4D_InPM3IobVfAqj5h/s600/BLOGhighcroft.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eETrwZyc9xrX2qo8-G2XZLr965sFjt_otez6QpV2R2qy8nv7rS8BYCbrLVW3W_UJAqiw9vmfm6PrtE36OyZ1xwbdjTqDMgOBX_AcBcQxcVBSg_t8oUkMJN0GVp4_F-7fMYkj40jrlvF36Znabyl4ZUL9-JuoCadP5P4D_InPM3IobVfAqj5h/s320/BLOGhighcroft.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- The New Highcroft -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now here's a place I well remember from childhood, although I hardly ever ventured inside. The (New) Highcroft stood on Old Fallings Lane at the top of Whitgreave Avenue, from where it served the residents of Bushbury Hill and Fallings Park. Living not too far away, many is the time I would have gone past on foot or during car journeys and it was a definitive landmark for the local area. If I remember correctly, it had a short-lived spell as a Wetherspoons (the Moon Under Water) before reverting to the Highcroft moniker and then making way for a care home. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORG2XycwqyR6QFZkMKRJuG6Scvz706dPGDE_P5zE5sNQvO8NjL2ERt92mDroEcFplUFBjL28AkFri5JgOfXbwoIfn9s7DfM3_0eE8kU3zUf6w44Bn7p-M2pWbI5ICjN_hyJO6O0zXN1gW_1lq-vAlSwOGilS71owE2xqNYNahIVh1w7oVvsQN/s600/BLOGhorninglion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORG2XycwqyR6QFZkMKRJuG6Scvz706dPGDE_P5zE5sNQvO8NjL2ERt92mDroEcFplUFBjL28AkFri5JgOfXbwoIfn9s7DfM3_0eE8kU3zUf6w44Bn7p-M2pWbI5ICjN_hyJO6O0zXN1gW_1lq-vAlSwOGilS71owE2xqNYNahIVh1w7oVvsQN/s320/BLOGhorninglion.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Red Lion -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From Wolverhampton's far north to the eastern edges of Burton upon Trent now as we pause to ponder what became of the Red Lion in Horninglow. A reasonably handsome property in its heyday, it could be found opposite the little parade of shops at Horninglow Green but looked depressingly derelict when I took this picture back in September 2018. As with many in the vicinity, this was a Marston's tied house but has since been turned into a community centre.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeZNPgdIlRFPOkxXlTquWtYmvL_l23hQkC1k0bEJXRqmun37K9Yp2FiFGXQiJ50ZzvAe7C7kqkMHn7KcBbNkEjxpkrh3yBhkYv3ryiHUiv3ze1nUH7WEm8Kmdqsk3xLrI2hRdH026xsWykmxkVUo86BhUaBec1tB3uGWZHQivY82W5zEKbnP1/s600/BLOGledburybells.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeZNPgdIlRFPOkxXlTquWtYmvL_l23hQkC1k0bEJXRqmun37K9Yp2FiFGXQiJ50ZzvAe7C7kqkMHn7KcBbNkEjxpkrh3yBhkYv3ryiHUiv3ze1nUH7WEm8Kmdqsk3xLrI2hRdH026xsWykmxkVUo86BhUaBec1tB3uGWZHQivY82W5zEKbnP1/s320/BLOGledburybells.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- Ring of Bells -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Last but not least comes an example from lovely Ledbury, that charming Herefordshire market town which is noted for its Tudor-styled timber architecture. The Ring of Bells on New Street doesn't quite reach those levels of constructional quaintness and had already closed down by the time of this April 2011 photograph. The premises has latterly been converted for residential use with the sloping side portion removed in order to squeeze in more housing.</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-12037154507882928612024-02-18T10:19:00.000+00:002024-02-18T10:19:33.807+00:00Caunsall, Cookley and Kinver<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>Cask ales, canals and some rather special cobs are all on the menu when Nick and I delve into the underrated area where South Staffordshire meets Worcestershire - there is even a seriously sizeable serving of side salad!</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUO5A_QDCcN3sAX_6N6GmMH01W8e0Lq8AkGeWMCljqpB_JsCd5rf2RhNyOcbXQh60pSwYks3o6ItvLoy2cbnOgV07HVhpAOq4OtDAv2qY-pljXFuj-FXzmtD60xBlToxTdGgduLlX_McGmUFllFReR8zmrX_q9G0_lNNPVXkpteYF0KA03Cvg/s600/kinv001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUO5A_QDCcN3sAX_6N6GmMH01W8e0Lq8AkGeWMCljqpB_JsCd5rf2RhNyOcbXQh60pSwYks3o6ItvLoy2cbnOgV07HVhpAOq4OtDAv2qY-pljXFuj-FXzmtD60xBlToxTdGgduLlX_McGmUFllFReR8zmrX_q9G0_lNNPVXkpteYF0KA03Cvg/s320/kinv001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Stained Glass at St Thomas's -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Saturday 17th February 2024, mild but overcast as I board the number 16 bus opposite Penn Library. The journey to Stourbridge is one I used to make quite frequently back in the day, so the likes of Wombourne, Swindon, Wall Heath and Kingswinford form a roll call of familiar friends before Stourbridge Interchange hovers on the horizon at nearly 10 o'clock. Nick is already in attendance having utilised the 'Dodger' shuttle train down from Stourbridge Junction and we've a few spare minutes for a spot of Stourbridge sight-seeing, hence nosing around inside St Thomas's Parish Church. This Grade I-listed Georgian gem features many interesting details, not least of which are an elaborate barrel-vaulted ceiling and some very fine stained glass (the latter produced by Chance Brothers of Smethwick).</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohjPfRSMvWeOWi-nm1NeN9aYAp_mYQdhjofVeEvtbI_picqNfS3fnfPYC6rliqkhD9vA3SO0cByhP1Ye3wpXZrD1o_PZ441DRb9Q1ufI1DZMfhIa1cU1Us1kVymMulGcJVvI4jPRhGg-2WP4SvzwY7ifnJ5akqSnZjuGNUQwzt2Wi-DAEpmgr/s600/kinv002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohjPfRSMvWeOWi-nm1NeN9aYAp_mYQdhjofVeEvtbI_picqNfS3fnfPYC6rliqkhD9vA3SO0cByhP1Ye3wpXZrD1o_PZ441DRb9Q1ufI1DZMfhIa1cU1Us1kVymMulGcJVvI4jPRhGg-2WP4SvzwY7ifnJ5akqSnZjuGNUQwzt2Wi-DAEpmgr/s320/kinv002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Stourbridge Town Hall -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Stourbridge's architectural treats also include the Town Hall further along Market Street, a venue Nick and I know well from the times when it hosted the local beer festival. Red brick in appearance and constructed in a Renaissance style to designs by Thomas Robinson, it was built in 1887 and funded by public subscription in honour of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Our bus connection to Kinver is the 242 route, departing at 10:40 and currently operated by Select Bus Services of Penkridge. A trundle along Enville Street to Wollaston Junction is followed by a circuit of Hyperion Road (an ordinary Stourton housing estate), a glimpse of Stourbridge Rugby Club and a reminder of the Stewponey, a massive roadhouse pub which was demolished circa 2004 and replaced with apartment living. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTSW0iUN3lHj1G3a9PNcu-SQHJcjibdz8gr83MbM5NdVAzizNyRDnTjm5LGKa31rCJFunh5QXL-8CkImB9Po0muYTG0PiybgFj-_MMfJrNMAG-2EKYLe8VkMZcIIR9P3Vvx0wvz16sdTzQO67VWfgiCvQgozVvzS6eJc39giIJEb2_i0KGs2e/s600/kinv003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTSW0iUN3lHj1G3a9PNcu-SQHJcjibdz8gr83MbM5NdVAzizNyRDnTjm5LGKa31rCJFunh5QXL-8CkImB9Po0muYTG0PiybgFj-_MMfJrNMAG-2EKYLe8VkMZcIIR9P3Vvx0wvz16sdTzQO67VWfgiCvQgozVvzS6eJc39giIJEb2_i0KGs2e/s320/kinv003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Snuggly Buggly on the Staffs & Worcs -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dunsley Road wiggles its way towards Kinver and we hop off as soon as we see the Vine Inn so as to join the Staffs & Worcs Canal at Kinver Lock. Hyde Lock and Dunsley Tunnel would await were we to head north but on this occasion we're aiming south in the general direction of Caunsall and Cookley. Despite recent downpours, the towpath isn't overly muddy and there are cottage gardens on the far bank for us to admire (with chimpanzee and parrot ornaments). Narrowboats including 'Little Grebe' and 'Snuggly Buggly' are moored up as we take our time, leisurely reaching Whittington Horse Bridge with the River Stour for close company.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4Ch169cJurcTFbi1vbx6JDaRWLjvxol9yUPmaXQ28uYQdnJ6UP78Nkfv0PiG5yVfqgkEvQdGYgQR4GAjYk-Gjftu6VTzV1ygyq03wLNp70FleUzkVcCQQfN8DmMtF-l5IL5d6qKF6XtA3nwFeldfLeqWn1KUuJpD7-xiUmfdLOYFDs8epuD2/s600/kinv004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4Ch169cJurcTFbi1vbx6JDaRWLjvxol9yUPmaXQ28uYQdnJ6UP78Nkfv0PiG5yVfqgkEvQdGYgQR4GAjYk-Gjftu6VTzV1ygyq03wLNp70FleUzkVcCQQfN8DmMtF-l5IL5d6qKF6XtA3nwFeldfLeqWn1KUuJpD7-xiUmfdLOYFDs8epuD2/s320/kinv004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Whittington Lock -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A little more strolling brings us next to Whittington Lock, accompanied by a creamy yellow keeper's house where the canal ducks below Windsor Holloway. You feel like you are getting away from it all here, a scene that won't have changed much over the centuries except maybe for the distant traffic churn of the A449. We're crossing into Worcestershire by this stage and the sight of Caunsall Bridge prompts us to exit the canal in favour of hamlet exploration. There isn't very much to Caunsall in truth, a cluster of houses and barns with an excitable barking Alsatian guarding one goose-focused smallholding. There is however one more item of note...</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjBugPjcKQK_1oQeo3fW_TjeEWh049Hbflt4SBwY4TPmp3KWXO4nrZABvqmbyhg0V0FonvgrQUXtI083aZVDcHwEtsIf6V_ABFP_G71gEmIPbNqfBhyl3QYadtxCVabyxfTK68OJyjmph3Q7HPico1tb9uOx9NlDX6jz65z_65TLIMiQOlQuv/s600/kinv005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjBugPjcKQK_1oQeo3fW_TjeEWh049Hbflt4SBwY4TPmp3KWXO4nrZABvqmbyhg0V0FonvgrQUXtI083aZVDcHwEtsIf6V_ABFP_G71gEmIPbNqfBhyl3QYadtxCVabyxfTK68OJyjmph3Q7HPico1tb9uOx9NlDX6jz65z_65TLIMiQOlQuv/s320/kinv005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Ludlow Gold in the Anchor -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ah, that'll be the Anchor with its Mitchells & Butlers lamp over the front door. It's been over ten years since I last had the pleasure of coming here yet it hasn't altered one jot, from the snug with its horse racing illustrations to the main bar alive with that peculiar burr of Black Country accents mixed with a Worcestershire twang. It seems an anachronism in the modern age to say that a pub can survive merely by selling cobs but the ones on offer at the Anchor are the stuff of legend; we opt for the cheese variety, getting a solid slab of cheddar and a generous plateful of salad ingredients (onion, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, as fresh as you could want) - all for the princely sum of £3, goodness gracious! The drinks are equally exceptional with me savouring a Ludlow Gold while Nick is drawn towards the Barbourne scrumpy cider, perfect!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUzri_ORnlBanAACAMPM3e4pmHtTjydUk8pTvOvBvrbxbAFiiQQKe1bfavnpGAZ69Ngln_YACqC8jHivphEoPg5EEWSEV47m0c4PgFW6sb4z_ZySo7B9aiI-t5PMngejKCOgEJBTfH5OZPvB5MF4E2RAifbabizJMo6WMdGkg7eyqYdPnXuuu/s600/kinv006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUzri_ORnlBanAACAMPM3e4pmHtTjydUk8pTvOvBvrbxbAFiiQQKe1bfavnpGAZ69Ngln_YACqC8jHivphEoPg5EEWSEV47m0c4PgFW6sb4z_ZySo7B9aiI-t5PMngejKCOgEJBTfH5OZPvB5MF4E2RAifbabizJMo6WMdGkg7eyqYdPnXuuu/s320/kinv006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Cookley Tunnel -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Conscious of tight timings because the last bus back from Kinver is ridiculously scheduled for quarter past three, we continue along the lane into nearby Cookley but do detour to the canal again briefly so as to see Cookley Tunnel. Otherwise referenced as Staffs & Worcs Bridge No. 23, the tunnel burrows 65 yards through a sandstone ridge with a row of houses on high. Up on the lane once more, we nip into the Bulls Head for your standard Marston's experience - cue a swift half of Banks's Amber sitting in a lounge furnished with baby toys and high chairs. The barmaid here is something of a character with a booming voice that would put many a foghorn to shame, making Nick want to adjust his hearing aids pronto!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ_ZxNZZJNj62lscHUlGb4CuzoyzWXM0vSal7MYvHJw6xA8YwAT9t_-cWvARbfnosLWgqIHnaZu-IJToOyOfvEx6zsh9wOpnPU245za6BtKPlPLAYJVDZ98IkbbazBFh8HKYPVyqFE7CW50P3uQnDjRlvSUbTHvNUHSS4RP_Ka-5mJkVW_pBe/s600/kinv007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ_ZxNZZJNj62lscHUlGb4CuzoyzWXM0vSal7MYvHJw6xA8YwAT9t_-cWvARbfnosLWgqIHnaZu-IJToOyOfvEx6zsh9wOpnPU245za6BtKPlPLAYJVDZ98IkbbazBFh8HKYPVyqFE7CW50P3uQnDjRlvSUbTHvNUHSS4RP_Ka-5mJkVW_pBe/s320/kinv007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Kinver Constitutional Club -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cookley Lane takes the strain for the return leg to Kinver, spotting St Peter's Church on the skyline to reassure us we're going the right way. Having been spoiled for cask quality at the Anchor earlier, we'd like to try somewhere with similar levels of ale excellence and the Kinver Constitutional Club will be that place. A longstanding entrant in the Good Beer Guide, the club is often in the running for CAMRA awards and can serve up to a dozen tempting beers mostly from local breweries. As a case in point, we plump for pints of Kinver Noble (a moreish 4.5% pale bitter) and sit in a plush bay window keeping half an eye on any High Street happenings. Clubs such as this offer that additional level of comfort compared to what you might get in a normal pub, so it's a relief when we're buzzed through and welcomed inside.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQoDcKB191jzBGBbHZ6AkSfTYdGZrmdNzmvQzMv_RltkdXkHfkJeOVAXzjx6LCzaVsjHFr7Vn8H_I4ENZHTxkLPX6s9ixVlaQofq6F5cRLTgbkmLcXKBfbE_qssGyRpdP8v83st5wAx5_6G47OzB0E7rqzWVxJXQfFZjyjbPlvxAhG60j5ADk/s600/kinv008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQoDcKB191jzBGBbHZ6AkSfTYdGZrmdNzmvQzMv_RltkdXkHfkJeOVAXzjx6LCzaVsjHFr7Vn8H_I4ENZHTxkLPX6s9ixVlaQofq6F5cRLTgbkmLcXKBfbE_qssGyRpdP8v83st5wAx5_6G47OzB0E7rqzWVxJXQfFZjyjbPlvxAhG60j5ADk/s320/kinv008.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Bathams Bitter in the Unicorn -</b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Catching that 15:13 242 as planned, we stop off in Wollaston where the ever-beguiling Unicorn has lost none of its Bathams beauty - Best Bitter, textured walls, carved pews and good conversation is all you can ask for really. The Kingsbridge has more of a coffee shop vibe by contrast but there's no disputing their Wye Valley Butty Bach is in good condition and news that Wolves are winning at Tottenham further embellishes my good mood. Acting on a recommendation from a bloke we'd chatted to on the bus, we finish up in Stourbridge courtesy of the Crafty Jar, a newish venture on Lower High Street which specialises in craft beer. Purity Bunny Hop scores highly here then it's a nightcap task of squeezing in at a busy Duke of William on Coventry Street to round things off over a Ludlow Black Knight. Cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-85864744054828235712024-02-10T13:29:00.009+00:002024-02-10T13:29:54.916+00:00Mopping Up Around Old Hill and Cradley Heath<p><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b><span class="TextRun SCXO108171500 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The Hub Marketing Board have been very thorough over the years when it comes to amassing our West Midlands pub repertoire, meaning our recent trips have tended to become mopping up exercises plugging any lingering holes. Chairman D9 has now earmarked Cradley Heath and Old Hill as areas in need of some additional attention, and with the forecast set for rain, rain and more rain we might be mopping in more ways than one!</span></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBp2wjFnzidxYAuvp13tU-mRU6-ZpqQOrs-fyL1_W2g6Z3iqS1wBIhfXehgGmhVdyguYcLY1QPCWh09-q7Jp_2uBTYzCmTrDbvWx3AFRYJTroE1poF72e4-54RPBR8inXzdsSGaeMbfskJmdBYLWgFBmxFXVi0sIwJwXRar_RcN4JF-r7yeBl/s600/crad001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBp2wjFnzidxYAuvp13tU-mRU6-ZpqQOrs-fyL1_W2g6Z3iqS1wBIhfXehgGmhVdyguYcLY1QPCWh09-q7Jp_2uBTYzCmTrDbvWx3AFRYJTroE1poF72e4-54RPBR8inXzdsSGaeMbfskJmdBYLWgFBmxFXVi0sIwJwXRar_RcN4JF-r7yeBl/s320/crad001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>- Route 1 at Dudley (Tower Street) -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Friday 9th February 2024 and the weather is already drab and dreary as Hub Marketing members descend upon Dudley for an 11:45am rendezvous. The closure and demolition of Dudley Bus Station means that bus services are terminating at various stops across the town centre, including at Coronation Gardens, Priory Road and Tower Street - the latter location is where the number 1 terminates (at the end stand opposite the Malt Shovel) so the Secretary lands here after journeying across from Tettenhall Wood. A new £24 million interchange is due to open in 2025 (all being well) with modern passenger provision to replace the 1986 facility.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFgnA6df92kS7BICfFpftV379FXHzRXm4s0O9oMbdQA1ZCU48iRyUhGReHU_wNA1TLJQtkWkcNwb7C5zIfchcJwyG9EMQs4tJ8IzULj7UcRirX0x2NadesDGM9v9qdXpOjozE-Alkeb7I0yn0JyWVWG4-AxvIxLIsG2RV2dV9NpzGo-IyKIJX/s600/crad002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFgnA6df92kS7BICfFpftV379FXHzRXm4s0O9oMbdQA1ZCU48iRyUhGReHU_wNA1TLJQtkWkcNwb7C5zIfchcJwyG9EMQs4tJ8IzULj7UcRirX0x2NadesDGM9v9qdXpOjozE-Alkeb7I0yn0JyWVWG4-AxvIxLIsG2RV2dV9NpzGo-IyKIJX/s320/crad002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>- Theakston's Tarmac in Ella's Bar -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dodging persistent drizzle, we board the 19 bound for our opening destination of the day - Netherton. Regular readers would at this point be expecting us to beat a path straight to Ma Pardoe's front door but no! In an almost sacrilegious turn of events, we instead target Ella's Bar further along Halesowen Road. This used to be the local Labour Club and defies our dive predictions by being reasonably smart and comfortable inside (external appearances are still a little off-putting mind). Bottletop and penny coin tables, a stage area and panda artworks add to the intrigue as we try to avoid watching 'Loose Women' over our opening pints of Carling and Theakston's Mild respectively. Swerving the Old Swan? Well I never...</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_NxouVhQ-_nNLiUv4DDjqR1PAFiRQNO3W7ws6e6AKWRQrdvqdZk_e_LfZvLaNQMpHC-oKAHWLiQSp7HVuVs6-Yi3TWkd3t3mlb2-hb5_UvORTCmo66T7FrjdXbq_OmzS5rYwybnajr7s1rgc3kgZM8z1GXmTZsNRFe9X4VyaLpq-j8BD_rSs/s600/crad003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_NxouVhQ-_nNLiUv4DDjqR1PAFiRQNO3W7ws6e6AKWRQrdvqdZk_e_LfZvLaNQMpHC-oKAHWLiQSp7HVuVs6-Yi3TWkd3t3mlb2-hb5_UvORTCmo66T7FrjdXbq_OmzS5rYwybnajr7s1rgc3kgZM8z1GXmTZsNRFe9X4VyaLpq-j8BD_rSs/s320/crad003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Charts Are Revealed -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mr D9 fancies a Darby End detour for his next trick but things don't quite work out as planned because both the Gate Hangs Well and the Red Lion are closed of a Friday lunchtime. Maybe we're just being unlucky with our timings so a stomp up Gawne Lane gets us back on track, passing the White Lion pub-turned-cafe in the process. Powke Lane is subjected to the upper echelons of the 2023 Pick of the Pops chart; we'd started the countdown in Telford last time but DJ Hubbacini got too distracted by his beer and forgot to announce the top five. Happily we can now confirm that 'We All Love Tiny Tim' claimed the number one position as Silly Song of the Year, a revelation we mark over a hefty cob and celebratory glass of Elephant Riders Pale Ale at the Old Bush Revived. Black Country Ales have kept the place pleasingly traditional since taking it on from Banks's, well worth climbing the steep hill for. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b2N-97S5R4JlyaCSGuTL1RLzf4pIO1baepzlRz4OZiRb08NIarpvBJSk9lWonodz615gGGtrlY573v4tDk4niQDtRZ8Es8ZFs-QvZbQafhoZ8yyGinGZESz66XuOUSuDXHVEqzhhYsjcRVjCR9vA3Ipq4bdTJl4d_JplPZnEf0ndepS_nCcy/s600/crad004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b2N-97S5R4JlyaCSGuTL1RLzf4pIO1baepzlRz4OZiRb08NIarpvBJSk9lWonodz615gGGtrlY573v4tDk4niQDtRZ8Es8ZFs-QvZbQafhoZ8yyGinGZESz66XuOUSuDXHVEqzhhYsjcRVjCR9vA3Ipq4bdTJl4d_JplPZnEf0ndepS_nCcy/s320/crad004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>- Spring Meadow Signage -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thankfully for the Chairman's lungs, it's downhill next all the way into Old Hill as we continue to compile our list of 2024 Silly Song candidates. This trip's contributors will be Bruce Forsyth ('My Little Budgie', as awful as you might imagine) and Stephen Lewis (yes him again, this time with 'Tickets Please'). Our eardrums have only marginally recovered by the time we reach Halesowen Road and swoop upon the Spring Meadow, tastefully refurbished after a catastrophic fire a few years ago. Glossing over the beer choice (John Smiths vs Doom Bar), we admire the heritage pictures dotted around the walls including recalling the heyday of the Old Hill Plaza, an important venue in the formation of Led Zeppelin no less!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2vxPoeIviwa6t0Hguabmc-MggibkcstTs7pTl_jWMoz84FHDdAihhd_cBP3M3PmbsExQTuMf2ZF_zJzMymDpj-2L8Uj-srLsRedCz7QlM4VbMAgS9aTNU8N4U8XXkxKi3pqkvvW2SbG5hmwN4yXVlNRd8el0FnTLVO5DqUDBaZBeIybNSX73/s600/crad005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2vxPoeIviwa6t0Hguabmc-MggibkcstTs7pTl_jWMoz84FHDdAihhd_cBP3M3PmbsExQTuMf2ZF_zJzMymDpj-2L8Uj-srLsRedCz7QlM4VbMAgS9aTNU8N4U8XXkxKi3pqkvvW2SbG5hmwN4yXVlNRd8el0FnTLVO5DqUDBaZBeIybNSX73/s320/crad005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Sighting of Satchmo?! -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While it is heartening that the Spring Meadow has been able to survive and indeed thrive despite such a significant setback, other Old Hill watering holes haven't been so resilient. Satchmo's (historically the George) has been turned into a pharmacy although you can still detect a portrait of the great Louis Armstrong outside; the Cooksey expired several years back, and news now reaches us that the Riddins Tavern on Mossvale Close has shut down and is unlikely to ever trade again. Another backstreet Banks's boozer gone for good?</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZwGkwNVuoz1ckRqk2mSreFNYo3TzMbbOfKC2ojax6aSdn6kU90jFEXF3dpR4OqcbmkdVTYGe_lH3RV1t1wVsKBfqx99SwlD2cw4sL3o4fth0PUO_JYn9eW5KMpO9gpg7WNHAtHBqoKI3Zvulm2gmH5z7FInpJiE08q15DOrrS9ehgreZKFP1/s600/crad006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZwGkwNVuoz1ckRqk2mSreFNYo3TzMbbOfKC2ojax6aSdn6kU90jFEXF3dpR4OqcbmkdVTYGe_lH3RV1t1wVsKBfqx99SwlD2cw4sL3o4fth0PUO_JYn9eW5KMpO9gpg7WNHAtHBqoKI3Zvulm2gmH5z7FInpJiE08q15DOrrS9ehgreZKFP1/s320/crad006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>- D9 Destroyed in the Cottage Spring -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One relatively recent arrival to offset these casualties is of course Wheelie Thirsty, Fixed Wheel's micropub as situated in a former bank/pizza takeaway. Wheelie Pale is crystal clear nectar when paired with a tiger roll and a packet of scratchings - their meal deal is very good value we think - plus we like the various cycling-related illustrations on display. Things are arguably less cultured however at the Cottage Spring off Bowling Green Road, an average estate affair which apparently serves up carvery roast dinners. We decide to make this our darting starter for 2024, occupying the oche across four not-very-clinical legs which WME Whirlwind edges by a 3-1 scoreline; perhaps D9 Destroyer was getting befuddled by his Beardsmore bleach or an entourage of children playing pool nearby. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisauiT3hgt0EIp6dY_F4PFhvu7oFVjFAEQrqggCdrjs-oz3-yCqKpLQPFWdAOPEonK767qzFQO0BFHEJlSKtVCc5du3uYp26S0BytYAZoNrr6ERK0zz2K9BJn5Qo3A2jZCFBeppYP6nHJ8dV0n2QJxQ06Cs-Az5WRdYWJGZbfHkOJaPNPcY0uK/s600/crad007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisauiT3hgt0EIp6dY_F4PFhvu7oFVjFAEQrqggCdrjs-oz3-yCqKpLQPFWdAOPEonK767qzFQO0BFHEJlSKtVCc5du3uYp26S0BytYAZoNrr6ERK0zz2K9BJn5Qo3A2jZCFBeppYP6nHJ8dV0n2QJxQ06Cs-Az5WRdYWJGZbfHkOJaPNPcY0uK/s320/crad007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Holly Bush Bald Spot -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Progressing deeper into Cradley Heath, we ponder the Holly Bush on Newtown Lane where the bald spot is interested in the idea of Thursday night comedy clubs. There isn't any sign of life there on a Friday evening though so we relocate to the Cherrywood Smokehouse over on Graingers Lane which acts as our second ex-Labour Club of the day as well as seeing us gatecrashing another wake too, not that the Chairman is successful in his attempts to grab any buffet leftovers! Nepalese and Indian food is their stock-in trade so we make a mental note to visit for a mixed grill on a future expedition when we're not so stuffed with cobs. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD2BfVMDnTZVeANexFV1Q85WPbagQNy5Td7n5ls29dgWyh0l0Hppe2OhsLb5EO25e0l1-edaEqC0E6KbF9ut0S26DEbKZeboplKBAHQ4CSADQSAW8wNj23jefDxFvV3h2eituvRiN2uQhJ_iRr6RWHr_8Fnoj6fDFr9jX6H_Ht9oAG4lH4gaU/s600/crad008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYD2BfVMDnTZVeANexFV1Q85WPbagQNy5Td7n5ls29dgWyh0l0Hppe2OhsLb5EO25e0l1-edaEqC0E6KbF9ut0S26DEbKZeboplKBAHQ4CSADQSAW8wNj23jefDxFvV3h2eituvRiN2uQhJ_iRr6RWHr_8Fnoj6fDFr9jX6H_Ht9oAG4lH4gaU/s320/crad008.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>- Home D9 and Don't Spare the Horses! -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our final slice of mopping up activities brings us neatly into Quarry Bank because Mr D9 has yet to have the pleasure of the Old Liberal or the Beer Bank. Secretary WME rates them both very highly and is pleased that they are as lively as when he visited with HRH last November; perhaps in honour of Nick, we partake of halves of Royal Beast in the latter (albeit minus any free mince pies) and even check out their padded throne, not quite as thorny as the seat in Wolverhampton's Giffard Arms but you can't have everything. A quick shuffle up towards The Delph yields a HPA nightcap in the Brickmakers Arms before the number 8 bus drops nicely for a D9 driving-infused journey home. Much mopping was thus achieved - cheers!</span></div><p></p>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-47419168433421112912024-02-04T13:16:00.005+00:002024-02-04T13:16:32.401+00:00Waterways Walks: Wightwick to Wombourne<p><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>It's Saturday 3rd February 2024 and another round of train strikes mean I'm not inclined to be relying on public transport during my next spot of explorational exercise. The towpath of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal seems more enticing instead, giving me chance to file my first Waterways Walk posting of the year...</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-3Tw7ZYWhoPtElrPNfXBv-9vT4dRnzhzATvcjGZ4IA5TALixbH3Nv3NWIJuQF0l-u6Eorb-mzxDfE6zjouDujQotp62HtQXhnZKcoCKJBpdE1ie-EtiRtHLsghZddngIwrcBEl_L16arU3KPt0_IMsHRXbmQFGVveEBRSqXUwuXZZ-jPSN6B/s600/womb001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-3Tw7ZYWhoPtElrPNfXBv-9vT4dRnzhzATvcjGZ4IA5TALixbH3Nv3NWIJuQF0l-u6Eorb-mzxDfE6zjouDujQotp62HtQXhnZKcoCKJBpdE1ie-EtiRtHLsghZddngIwrcBEl_L16arU3KPt0_IMsHRXbmQFGVveEBRSqXUwuXZZ-jPSN6B/s320/womb001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Near Castlecroft Bridge -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Much of what I'll be covering this trip is very familiar territory, although sometimes it's simply nice to get out of the house and put some miles into your legs. Picking my way along nature reserve paths through Smestow Valley, I join the Staffs & Worcs at Wightwick Mill Lock a little west of Compton. The playing fields of Smestow Academy hug the far bank as I proceed in turn past Wightwick Lock and Wightwick Bridge (Windmill Lane) to enter South Staffordshire countryside beyond the Mermaid moorings base. Faint wisps of blue sky gradually get edged out by cloud but it's pleasantly mild for the time of year, making for good walking weather as Castlecroft and Mops Farm Bridges are next for my attentions. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FZ51AdkvoXvkzPyoKc22jSHlMtu-wE3O5-5Qtf_OIU6qZvxik3qyFS04-p5jnqt_ePL94xtJiKUUQpFi51wu6xX7HBukkVrUKYcsU9STd9fviEIGTeyf7Yb5HChZ1ttS2PqI1lAjzdYwV3QPuqjFhM91dMfhlXIZ2Ua8ghyroy0pey691uFf/s600/womb002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FZ51AdkvoXvkzPyoKc22jSHlMtu-wE3O5-5Qtf_OIU6qZvxik3qyFS04-p5jnqt_ePL94xtJiKUUQpFi51wu6xX7HBukkVrUKYcsU9STd9fviEIGTeyf7Yb5HChZ1ttS2PqI1lAjzdYwV3QPuqjFhM91dMfhlXIZ2Ua8ghyroy0pey691uFf/s320/womb002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Something Stumpish at Dimmingsdale -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bidding good morning to the usual mix of dog walkers and cyclists, I arrive at Dimmingsdale where any lock happenings are studiously scrutinised by one of those stump characters you see dotted all along the towpath here. Dimmingsdale Bridge appears to be undergoing yet more repairs so I wonder if it has suffered from another traffic collision - it always seems so susceptible to having its brickwork part-demolished by careless drivers! Sankey's fishing pool and Ebstree Lock offer additional camera opportunities before I reacquaint myself with Awbridge Lock not far from Trysull - alas I won't be sampling The Bell today.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-sUdzaL6fEXEKy5bjWUsHrnQEtIU89Ce8vvdAlrmBs52mL7SJ4NDTYeansKmYmW3r2jGiWoB42H4vkoKxpjGGZSYqwJoNilffyXnGoyaUNPGNlytMSxZknCrQ6HVgPFrVI0M49A063d-W5XUHc-TFFoKYstaFiEs6ihyOKcrL-3htmQu-7QQ/s600/womb003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-sUdzaL6fEXEKy5bjWUsHrnQEtIU89Ce8vvdAlrmBs52mL7SJ4NDTYeansKmYmW3r2jGiWoB42H4vkoKxpjGGZSYqwJoNilffyXnGoyaUNPGNlytMSxZknCrQ6HVgPFrVI0M49A063d-W5XUHc-TFFoKYstaFiEs6ihyOKcrL-3htmQu-7QQ/s320/womb003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Bratch Top Lock Cottage -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am however intending on fully inspecting one of my favourite canal locations anywhere in the country, namely the staircase sequence that is Bratch Locks. Three conjoined chambers make for an ingenious example of James Brindley's engineering that has served as something of a tourist attraction visited by Black Country folk over the centuries. Top Lock has a charming cottage for company then Middle Lock is topped by a distinctive octagonal tollhouse complete with semi-circular arched windows. The canal first opened in 1772 while the tollhouse itself dates from about 1800, meaning you've easily got 200+ years of history at your disposal. Bratch Pumping Station is beguiling in its own right, built by the Bilston Corporation in a fairytale ornate Gothic fashion and currently owned (if not used) by Severn Trent Water. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLj4fu1O1rX-n7PjSjJvyDMf-vii_171ix5gZyGCoaTX8Phd-4KvDaAZxcKLbosZ62B6CemfqaTLMwSRKVHOqfcZpXT-7-U-CfqrEIKsPs3s0N_ILeoXhhMWzveqBPEjgA515IX3IsvhZ4zIALjQNcZOfnF58fTgFtrOBOFn4Bskp_oTs73d-/s600/womb004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLj4fu1O1rX-n7PjSjJvyDMf-vii_171ix5gZyGCoaTX8Phd-4KvDaAZxcKLbosZ62B6CemfqaTLMwSRKVHOqfcZpXT-7-U-CfqrEIKsPs3s0N_ILeoXhhMWzveqBPEjgA515IX3IsvhZ4zIALjQNcZOfnF58fTgFtrOBOFn4Bskp_oTs73d-/s320/womb004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Bumblehole Lock -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beyond The Bratch the canal hugs Wombourne's western extremities via Bumblehole Lock (with steep slanted parapet and well-worn whitewashed keeper's house) and Houndel Bridge (which stands beside the Round Oak pub). Giggetty Wharf is my prompt to exit the towpath in readiness for some village investigations although the Wom Brook is in the vicinity too for fans of watercourses in general. I reckon I've walked just shy of five miles so far, taking me two and a bit hours although you'd have to factor frequent photo stops into the timings there.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8purPmmG07AE8rqx9muZNPmx_w5aMHxTkopW_boHmXnObOtOb7eQ1e5CSC2MljHqsg-WZjHjIKGXtJtOvmcGeAmg4cM9mkgn0h8aRqi9emrqzLP2OUWVitqh-f6lO84pp3ZvzXnbMZ84rtG0C2396OdXohNVwwP7HUJxqYHK476TChR9VmOU/s600/womb005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8purPmmG07AE8rqx9muZNPmx_w5aMHxTkopW_boHmXnObOtOb7eQ1e5CSC2MljHqsg-WZjHjIKGXtJtOvmcGeAmg4cM9mkgn0h8aRqi9emrqzLP2OUWVitqh-f6lO84pp3ZvzXnbMZ84rtG0C2396OdXohNVwwP7HUJxqYHK476TChR9VmOU/s320/womb005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Church of the Venerable Bede -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I know Wombourne pretty well thanks to several previous forays but there are undiscovered aspects for me to get to grips with. The Church of the Venerable Bede is a good case in point, based on Giggetty Lane in a building that dates to 1957 (hence being much younger than its sister church St Benedict Biscop). A block of shops on Common Road corner include Bromley Butchers and a Boots Pharmacy, then Sytch Lane has a lawn cemetery and Blakeley Heath Primary School, neither of which I can remember ever noticing until now. Greenhill combines with Rookery Road as I home in on Battlefield Hill which may or may not be the site where the 910 AD Battle of Tettenhall took place - its exact location is subject to much conjecture!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-26VCulWpbf64ZYExuFmy4SUmVRRTsEA6UnWF0xZujMch0vGRlRmCrl4-pVCZB-AgWaSiLADqNhBzhIyQ7vkve7MaKa5QG57PNadGJik1sntByn71m-s9XQofmR1hHqpoM-1ISaImir2_7TJjyS8eXWhUh-9lyuV5qw2Eo1EyKhjqADrx98vw/s600/womb006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-26VCulWpbf64ZYExuFmy4SUmVRRTsEA6UnWF0xZujMch0vGRlRmCrl4-pVCZB-AgWaSiLADqNhBzhIyQ7vkve7MaKa5QG57PNadGJik1sntByn71m-s9XQofmR1hHqpoM-1ISaImir2_7TJjyS8eXWhUh-9lyuV5qw2Eo1EyKhjqADrx98vw/s320/womb006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Old Bush -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm in the market for a pint or two to ward off the risk of feeling thirsty, albeit my initial target (the Red Lion) isn't open yet. Not to worry, the Old Bush is only around the corner so I'll be able to assess what Black Country Ales have done with the place. At first glance it doesn't look too different from its years under Banks's stewardship, but I think they've opened it out more inside and the range of real ales stocked has increased significantly. I obtain a Little Eaton Old Mill Stout then struggle to find a spare table - it appears that the whole world and his wife have made this their Saturday lunchtime Wombourne watering hole of choice. A stool by a shelf comes to my rescue so I've somewhere to park my gigantic cob (cheese and onion with a healthy slathering of mustard), listen to Lonnie Donegan's 'Cumberland Gap' and polish off a second ale in the form of Beowulf's Chasewater Pale Bitter. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iO7tmkmCf1in1an1Ehl72OZr6os7lHFAKTg5BJbeXpxJYXhIZG4W_US9s2-WTNfn3RG6zi1TR5LQYyhPYhLN2xFX3g7h0xmoXvM2ItnxwF72u3HN7DMGHAt0DQjU0JEKCDzXz5KU3IARqjTyow5tB1xUVPMFfKkw00LUsF5Gug3ALxqrss4i/s600/womb007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1iO7tmkmCf1in1an1Ehl72OZr6os7lHFAKTg5BJbeXpxJYXhIZG4W_US9s2-WTNfn3RG6zi1TR5LQYyhPYhLN2xFX3g7h0xmoXvM2ItnxwF72u3HN7DMGHAt0DQjU0JEKCDzXz5KU3IARqjTyow5tB1xUVPMFfKkw00LUsF5Gug3ALxqrss4i/s320/womb007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Enville Excellence at the Red Lion -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Judging by the sheer amount of custom, the Old Bush is definitely a hit and come 2pm the Red Lion should have unbolted its doors - oh good, it has! Nestled almost unnoticed below the A449 dual carriageway, I've had a soft spot for this old inn ever since Nick and I dropped by years ago for a high class slurp of Enville Ginger. The homeliness makes it in my eyes, helped by a 60s Soul soundtrack and the prospect of Bostin' Scratchuns for a tasty treat - one of the Lion's regular canine visitors seems equally as enthused about the scratchings, cue much whimpering. Enville Ale (minus any gingery flavourings) is spot on this time around so I account for a couple of those prior to a number 16 bus ride home. Cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-20355173589108785252024-02-01T08:30:00.001+00:002024-02-01T08:30:00.139+00:00A Weymouth Winter Holiday<p><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>January probably isn't the best month of the year for planning getaways but the chance to celebrate my Grandad's birthday with a Daish's coach holiday in Dorset was not one to turn down. It had been years since I last visited Weymouth so provided the winter weather is kind, we should be in for a good few days...</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15dMf0qcpVTvj0PWcFmyxQfzyCKClVuQK8T6tArySg0biMh-hsKIvPU4NnfVpFg9BonajZxiUzp_3K-W4MEe0mmyDhn7kFHv-PJFM2Vqap9y4NfzY0sYO3d61KXrAK-3Lid4dr0MhdGxZYgeL3LSeubt_hlXEG5cEOLeUGD0O4rEeCq2TNCwb/s600/wey001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15dMf0qcpVTvj0PWcFmyxQfzyCKClVuQK8T6tArySg0biMh-hsKIvPU4NnfVpFg9BonajZxiUzp_3K-W4MEe0mmyDhn7kFHv-PJFM2Vqap9y4NfzY0sYO3d61KXrAK-3Lid4dr0MhdGxZYgeL3LSeubt_hlXEG5cEOLeUGD0O4rEeCq2TNCwb/s320/wey001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Weymouth Harbour -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The break begins on Tuesday 23rd January with our journey down to the south coast via the M5 motorway, Yeovil and the A37 trunk road. Yes I am the youngest person on the coach by some distance but with three generations of the WME family aboard I am in good company, and we check in at the Russell Hotel at around half past two (Daish's also own the Prince Regent next door). Getting reacquainted with Weymouth again initially involves the historic harbour - still home to a working fleet of fishing boats such as Sarah Louise above - and calling into the William Henry Wetherspoons for a relaxing pint or two. An evening meal followed by live entertainment back at the hotel then helps us settle in even more.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmnMZkIStSDM4RTIfdok7Mh3HLXs7MbgLn3TBCTMRGvJ0SO7B6SO1olB070jkw8N6TOpvmJjDAAG5PgYMh2f7r01y2YQIAS2-GsP64e_KQnVmJqAKXb_IiBRoHfII6TzJb2UmJtWQQbPQJkVRw6EaLITAhjBmsZoiMTihb0Yw9KxAEoKLBP9I/s600/wey002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmnMZkIStSDM4RTIfdok7Mh3HLXs7MbgLn3TBCTMRGvJ0SO7B6SO1olB070jkw8N6TOpvmJjDAAG5PgYMh2f7r01y2YQIAS2-GsP64e_KQnVmJqAKXb_IiBRoHfII6TzJb2UmJtWQQbPQJkVRw6EaLITAhjBmsZoiMTihb0Yw9KxAEoKLBP9I/s320/wey002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Maumbury Rings -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wednesday 24th January is dedicated to all things Dorchester, with Grandad particularly keen to sample the county town's famous weekly market; judging by how packed out the number 10 bus is, plenty of other folk have had the same idea! Whilst he browses the stalls in search of bargains, I stage a cultural interlude courtesy of Maumbury Rings, the preserved earthworks of what is purported to have been a Neolithic henge, Roman amphitheatre and a Civil War artillery fort over the course of its long history. I traverse the mounds for photographic purposes just as the morning murk starts to lift.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix65Gln9jZi1wMcTZxiFoNR5Vckev3vhsaof2_zs2fkn3_wtFh9ZXEBt2r3BWf_JjPCPj6q-bWClNIDKOhsdm6ZslGNrA9njWzK3CBW6SYWZWyzbkvTayYvJNmp7Ss-eYagDeH89DiLp-KtyG6ABC3r0ahkSYmoEucBts4gklleQ90phALBhL/s600/wey003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix65Gln9jZi1wMcTZxiFoNR5Vckev3vhsaof2_zs2fkn3_wtFh9ZXEBt2r3BWf_JjPCPj6q-bWClNIDKOhsdm6ZslGNrA9njWzK3CBW6SYWZWyzbkvTayYvJNmp7Ss-eYagDeH89DiLp-KtyG6ABC3r0ahkSYmoEucBts4gklleQ90phALBhL/s320/wey003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Dorchester West Station -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dorchester is served by two railway stations - Dorchester South (overlooked by the impressive Brewery Square redevelopment which has brought the vast Eldridge Pope headquarters back into public use) and Dorchester West (an unstaffed halt partially redeployed as a Domino's Pizza outlet). My camera-toting circuit also covers the Shire Hall, the Borough Gardens - complete with ornamental clock tower donated to the town by magistrate and benefactor Charles Hansford in 1905 - and the former Lott & Walne Limited foundry beside the River Frome at Fordington. Naturally one of my favourite finds is a pub, in this case the Convivial Rabbit which lurks almost secretively down a Trinity Street alleyway. A devilishly decadent Chocolate Stout is an ideal accompaniment to perusing their bookshelf of walking literature. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEGa_-EcjLlydJNMLFQggeq9Y0rf00hZJA_Dv_6KoIMTdU_Oeq7SWP-nzQfXBW2vdJ0ljdqDj16z18T-AI423CjFjfppMmgTWCiPHJPz57HfYRiwVzeSXmv-RmCFli3kOZhaLdJI5TJ7TII8ekhuO6ntN5xeIEqli7t46ViB43J15zRvaloiH/s600/wey004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEGa_-EcjLlydJNMLFQggeq9Y0rf00hZJA_Dv_6KoIMTdU_Oeq7SWP-nzQfXBW2vdJ0ljdqDj16z18T-AI423CjFjfppMmgTWCiPHJPz57HfYRiwVzeSXmv-RmCFli3kOZhaLdJI5TJ7TII8ekhuO6ntN5xeIEqli7t46ViB43J15zRvaloiH/s320/wey004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Weymouth Promenade -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wednesday evening at the Russell was most definitely Elvis Night with tribute artist Barry Paull doing a fine job of belting out the King's greatest hits - Grandad even wore his 'Hound Dog' shirt specially for the occasion. I've only just about recovered come Thursday morning when another early harbour stroll gets me thoroughly energised again; it's a joy to see the promenade and quayside when things are quiet, witnessing the gentle comings and goings as the town slowly springs to life. Other landmarks on my photographic hitlist include the Royal Hotel (with its notable Free Renaissance-styled frontage), the King's Statue (marking George III's Golden Jubilee in 1809), and Rossi's Ices as an unspoiled 1930s ice cream parlour.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UrrJXsyTKrm2kkITnwU9qzSNfthEqmFTV3zNvWC1W1pw700CaEGBkRJJXhkeH7KO40nsr2uONm1c0wBOdWOcFQ1lwlvwC_6dgX6jsRxc5yEaRPJJoBeg8B1xwr0iHbwQulTEmyF4DHYxpBgqy8Yprq3SdxVSd7b7alTq8ywSmfzMGq53Ne73/s600/wey005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UrrJXsyTKrm2kkITnwU9qzSNfthEqmFTV3zNvWC1W1pw700CaEGBkRJJXhkeH7KO40nsr2uONm1c0wBOdWOcFQ1lwlvwC_6dgX6jsRxc5yEaRPJJoBeg8B1xwr0iHbwQulTEmyF4DHYxpBgqy8Yprq3SdxVSd7b7alTq8ywSmfzMGq53Ne73/s320/wey005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Bridport Bus Station -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday is the worst day of the holiday weather-wise but is nevertheless reasonably dry and mild so we won't be complaining too much. Bridport beckons via a leisurely X51 journey that gets very misty in the vicinity of Winterbourne Abbas, although we can ponder Poundbury's almost fantasy architectural aspects uninterrupted. As for Bridport, the market town's very basic bus station is familiar from when I came with Woody and Rog years ago, likewise the adjacent First Group depot. The Town Hall is a noble Georgian structure with a charming cupola that stands on the junction of East, West and South Streets. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf7ti1v-vus7dIM_NZWfBaNFaEWKVdylzG3sGPZl3ARrqWp2iv76nWdeja8YiLAj93zUy5fitExrNSs8kXwWKJ3mW8z5UcWerLKvoDduAK5RPMX3F9LcIQRvaf2rZaRmSDd6V3cb87m-medwszVUXvdsG35ZGv7iUJ9aMMQXwLbUqOcytjt6a/s600/wey006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJf7ti1v-vus7dIM_NZWfBaNFaEWKVdylzG3sGPZl3ARrqWp2iv76nWdeja8YiLAj93zUy5fitExrNSs8kXwWKJ3mW8z5UcWerLKvoDduAK5RPMX3F9LcIQRvaf2rZaRmSDd6V3cb87m-medwszVUXvdsG35ZGv7iUJ9aMMQXwLbUqOcytjt6a/s320/wey006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Ropemakers -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bridport's heritage is as a centre for rope and net manufacture, particularly during the Middle Ages, and this industry is reflected in the name of prominent local hostelry The Ropemakers. Keen to sample some Dorset ale, I can't resist popping in for a pint of Palmer's Tally Ho - dark, strong and 5.5% abv, that'll do the trick! Besides the beer, the pub's interior is very beguiling with lots of curios and artefacts to consider, not to mention performance spaces for the wide range of live music acts they host on a rolling programme. The X53 route is then on hand to convey me back to Weymouth care of a scenic jaunt around West Bay and Burton Bradstock.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC0EAX8cDldDOSi2jbimivPU9K0mpeBZezj97BAbUErePMBl5nFnB1458wGIrvxQJZOKrEgCvTlDyTyXd_sKk_f5lZg_eqnzjLAyjyIsU7kE6VtD2hEAl1Rtn5uPSJSVJnV6u07IZKHlVVnGO58TVwgrMX4Q5AJvZACIkyRCaDFbv8W4t1UVy/s600/wey007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC0EAX8cDldDOSi2jbimivPU9K0mpeBZezj97BAbUErePMBl5nFnB1458wGIrvxQJZOKrEgCvTlDyTyXd_sKk_f5lZg_eqnzjLAyjyIsU7kE6VtD2hEAl1Rtn5uPSJSVJnV6u07IZKHlVVnGO58TVwgrMX4Q5AJvZACIkyRCaDFbv8W4t1UVy/s320/wey007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Sunrise over Weymouth Bay -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ant & Dave - most definitely not Ant & Dec - are our Thursday double act specialising in the Sensational 70s, or is that just the sprightly ladies taking to the dancefloor with great gusto? Luckily I'm spared having to bust any grooves myself so Friday morning has relatively few aches and pains during my now-adopted harbour constitutional. Glorious sunshine is in the offing and the golden glints of dawn look beautiful gradually glowing over the waves - you'd pay good money to see sunrises like that, wherever in the world they happen to appear.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFITogznacPuNltQniEg5l5WCkoSfrKtSnMSsZDcfCAJe_mEavDziPrYVz4ECNXw7kzPSoEFofaUjZoUqHmx_CqkeLo-8dlm_88XCb49xgR-d-NV3IeU6esk8kwDJzAaGRLYx_8PHpIctXu8lCUcYUzXRSka2RnbuDVXUXli6xaJEKTUEN3_o/s600/wey008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFITogznacPuNltQniEg5l5WCkoSfrKtSnMSsZDcfCAJe_mEavDziPrYVz4ECNXw7kzPSoEFofaUjZoUqHmx_CqkeLo-8dlm_88XCb49xgR-d-NV3IeU6esk8kwDJzAaGRLYx_8PHpIctXu8lCUcYUzXRSka2RnbuDVXUXli6xaJEKTUEN3_o/s320/wey008.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- St George's Reforne Cemetery -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After breakfast and a brief bit of railway station reconnaissance, I catch the local 1 service to Portland via Wyke Regis and the Ferry Bridge causeway - the views along Chesil Beach are nothing short of spectacular, particularly when ascending the steep hill out of Fortuneswell. I'd been to Portland Bill previously and as much as I love a good lighthouse, I'm keen to see the island's main villages on this occasion. The bus terminates in Southwell (Rip Croft) so I alight there and busy myself with pictures of the Eight Kings Inn and St Andrew's Chapel. Avalanche Road leads me onwards via Weston for a closer look at Portland Cemetery, all watched over by the redundant yet magnificent C18th remains of St George's as currently cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZfMdGMf5ZHUMoy1-ZG6Q7Pk1pDJsqdYyp7hL8tPT8uFSFoywSYfTsXuyVO7_twvuaJ2-7UActABLKpCno7d12TYJ8aix3C-HRERAvPm5gpqFAlo4G7fdX5JAfkTj9-0DoZOBZU0xNLSgrrnja6f8e0ntjFnEWJ7foHxZ9D1LJuCiVr1_cgz9/s600/wey009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZfMdGMf5ZHUMoy1-ZG6Q7Pk1pDJsqdYyp7hL8tPT8uFSFoywSYfTsXuyVO7_twvuaJ2-7UActABLKpCno7d12TYJ8aix3C-HRERAvPm5gpqFAlo4G7fdX5JAfkTj9-0DoZOBZU0xNLSgrrnja6f8e0ntjFnEWJ7foHxZ9D1LJuCiVr1_cgz9/s320/wey009.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- Spirit of Portland -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Portland of course is renowned for the quality of the stone quarried here which has been used in constructing some of the nation's most prestigious buildings, including St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace. This pedigree is recognised by the Spirit of Portland sculpture on the hillside high above Fortuneswell, well worth seeing with its dramatic rooftop backdrop. My village survey continues with Easton (home to the Punchbowl Inn and the Tophill branch library) before I linger near the Heights Hotel trying to absorb the vistas. Several different memorials are positioned here along with the interlocked Olympic rings in reference to how Weymouth and Portland held the sailing events during London 2012.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQuTWz822HyyNHE1zfv9xSNmI1VSYDreV7OI_3DqXCg2LAkmB9rP_gI3LoyrcMT596EmmMan_BiMA7TuSls3HEbBgMa77ORp-1E9pgSDCS_Qf9EG8BXQJksQVBSQ63iqwKaRK1XG0VUEBd4EEEu9H0AtX6cIVLdgtNB7nPifiKLTWtb-Ftwsx/s600/wey010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQuTWz822HyyNHE1zfv9xSNmI1VSYDreV7OI_3DqXCg2LAkmB9rP_gI3LoyrcMT596EmmMan_BiMA7TuSls3HEbBgMa77ORp-1E9pgSDCS_Qf9EG8BXQJksQVBSQ63iqwKaRK1XG0VUEBd4EEEu9H0AtX6cIVLdgtNB7nPifiKLTWtb-Ftwsx/s320/wey010.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>- Royal Portland Arms -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two prime Portland pubs should set the seal on a special holiday, whereby the first of these is the Royal Portland Arms as a Fortuneswell free house of considerable repute. Glastonbury's Mystery Tor is a zingy golden ale with oodles of hoppy bite while the landlady is fully focused on trying to beat one of her regulars at darts. If that place had personality, the same can also be said for the Cove House Inn which literally stands on the pebbles of Chesil Beach. Such is the atmospheric texture of the building here, I can well imagine it being involved in smuggling and shipwrecks over the centuries although that might just be the romantic in me letting my mind wander! A final family evening at the Russell precedes a steady Saturday coach drive home to the West Midlands and it's all over. Thank you Weymouth, I hope to be back!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-37811653408680264872024-01-28T08:59:00.003+00:002024-01-28T12:54:45.594+00:00WME Flickr Focus - January 2024<p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: arial;"><b>We're nearly a whole month into 2024 and how are those New Year's Resolutions of yours bearing up? Hmm, crashed and burned already, I thought as much! The West Midlands Exploration Flickr photostream hasn't attempted anything outlandishly different, instead merely plugging away with the usual diet of pictures...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Saying that, it is unusual for <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">WME Solihull</span> </b>to keep stealing the spotlight (it has been my first gallery to be mentioned two digests in a row now). This rare accolade has been earned with assorted items from Solihull town centre itself, most notably St Alphege's Church framed by springtime blossom - it won't be long before we see the pretty petals again - as well as Homer Road, School Lane and the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of St Mary & Archangel Michael.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Solihull can't lay claim to all of our January plaudits so our next big fanfare goes to <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">WME Staffordshire</span></b> which has been solidly stockpiling items from Stafford, Trysull and Uttoxeter. Among these are the Tap Steakhouse off Sandon Road, Trysull Holloway with Seisdon Road for company, and the back room of the ever-beguiling Vaults pub (that long-time purveyor of lovely Draught Bass). Trescott tickles in a Shop Lane street sign whereas Tutbury tempts us with the New Inn, seen prior to Black Country Ales making it the 50th establishment under their ownership.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Canal considerations are the main motivation where <span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>WME Warwickshire</b> </span>is concerned, the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal having supplied a dozen or so fresh arrivals. All of these are taken from the lock flight between Lapworth and Lowsonford for a veritable study in balance beams and bridge numbers - I'm nothing if not predictable! Whether a glimpse of the Metroline Bridge on the Tame Valley Canal for <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">WME Sandwell</span></b> is more or less exciting is open to debate...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sticking with the Black Country, <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">WME Wolverhampton</span> </b>accounts for a Tettenhall Massalla cat and a Tettenhall Wood coffee shop (Vanilla) while <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">WME Walsall </span></b>scouts around for bus depot detritus and memories of what used to be the Horse & Jockey off Bloxwich Road. <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">WME Dudley </span></b>samples Stourbridge for the Peplow & Son jewellery shop frontage, and there's a sneaky sighting of St Andrew's Church on The Straits for good measure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">What does that leave us with? Ah yes, those galleries which need to make it their resolution to up their game when it comes to photographic additions. <b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">WME Birmingham</span></b> did admittedly grab a Stockland Green dartboard for its only January arrival; likewise <span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>WME Coventry</b> </span>called in on Tile Hill Library for a picture that dates back to 2008. Fingers crossed that February can keep those updates filing in - until then, enjoy the pictures...</span></p>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-57835532457640436892024-01-20T15:45:00.000+00:002024-01-20T15:45:20.244+00:00Hub Marketing 2024: TELFORD<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>Telford trips have been a staple of Hub Marketing Board activities almost from the very start, with trips compiled in 2011 (Horsehay and Jackfield), 2012 (Hadley and High Ercall), 2015 (St George's), 2019 (Shawbirch and Admaston) and 2021 (Wet Weather Wellington). To this impressive back catalogue we can now add a sixth entry focusing upon Ketley, Trench and Wrockwardine Wood...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsQwfkp-K6O4V1Wb3pJbHzU__vz6rmzKFm4UZtLQjRg7GIUcES8NaMGLxk44DVMgDf8bTvjciwEjeYl1BW8BXjf5A2xy-LiasFYH6vM5dAPcpvXDA6xeWXrvXZY__zjT5DfTlzYkfaigpCgBu0wvxJsqb-H05YP1cmXF-VSo_uwwcikZR4y_M/s600/telf001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsQwfkp-K6O4V1Wb3pJbHzU__vz6rmzKFm4UZtLQjRg7GIUcES8NaMGLxk44DVMgDf8bTvjciwEjeYl1BW8BXjf5A2xy-LiasFYH6vM5dAPcpvXDA6xeWXrvXZY__zjT5DfTlzYkfaigpCgBu0wvxJsqb-H05YP1cmXF-VSo_uwwcikZR4y_M/s320/telf001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>- Telford Central Station -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Friday 19th January 2024 and the first Hub Marketing meeting of the new year requires members to gather at Wolverhampton railway station in readiness for the 12:15 train. The Chairman naturally cuts it very fine but his tram+sprint routine is well rehearsed these days and our connection is caught as planned, delivering us to Telford Central by quarter to one. We never seem to have much luck when it comes to the Arriva bus network and the curse comes back to bite us again with delays and dubious 'real time' alerts proving puzzling. Eventually a 4 towards Leegomery deigns to appear and we're underway at last.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHS8J-ONlAl71dRlvpUpOhZjRT2u2xV-jhHT5rOFbisV40i1ZduBqEqvqc_qbpLpkHFUrjLi0MYz6qaI0ZKSUF_-Ol2ewnI7lN7-bWMpFOWzfolOgyIg08FtRQp4jpNP58GVuaoqZCZBdVY7NDsUUmkpJ2NoXnyJjzguyZlt2dF-ehUym5Hxz/s600/telf002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHS8J-ONlAl71dRlvpUpOhZjRT2u2xV-jhHT5rOFbisV40i1ZduBqEqvqc_qbpLpkHFUrjLi0MYz6qaI0ZKSUF_-Ol2ewnI7lN7-bWMpFOWzfolOgyIg08FtRQp4jpNP58GVuaoqZCZBdVY7NDsUUmkpJ2NoXnyJjzguyZlt2dF-ehUym5Hxz/s320/telf002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>- Ketley War Memorial -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ketley had cropped up on a couple of those five previous Telford incursions but we're happy to take another bite out of the area, noting the Community Centre (housed in a Victorian primary school which was erected in 1897) along with a neighbouring arts centre (the former Infants, similar in architectural style and built in 1904). The Waterloo Road/Holyhead Road crossroads has the Crispy Cod takeaway facing off against the Blue Elephant Indian restaurant while the local playing fields have a rusted arch entrance. One intriguing item I don't remember spotting before is the war memorial tablet near Red Lees, installed in 2022 thanks to support from Ketley Parish Council and the Telford & Wrekin Pride Fund. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyeSS9vPoIq2GiNX6kIbKGjjrx0gQ-vS7uVotEVAMX2RXJsf5XhR6OpPGy3Ke55SnK_nT7ExZtnAXUcc1zcHhTF_0Me9VmPMvC59tSILlcG0NC_5OQhD5SUST76JZIsbDtJ-RIturH9_dulKUp8KuKkHioVHnPUoTiqEuPAo1Z_Wv1C_CRJtS/s600/telf003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyeSS9vPoIq2GiNX6kIbKGjjrx0gQ-vS7uVotEVAMX2RXJsf5XhR6OpPGy3Ke55SnK_nT7ExZtnAXUcc1zcHhTF_0Me9VmPMvC59tSILlcG0NC_5OQhD5SUST76JZIsbDtJ-RIturH9_dulKUp8KuKkHioVHnPUoTiqEuPAo1Z_Wv1C_CRJtS/s320/telf003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>- Shropshire Star Squashed -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Waterloo Road offers echoes of our 2021 exploits but something feels different and it takes us a while to figure out what's changed - the Shropshire Star offices have disappeared!! I'd heard that newspaper operations had transferred to a new base at Grosvenor House but seeing the old site completely flattened is still quite a shock. Further down the lane, the Wrens Nest pub itself resembles a building site but is thankfully open (unlike three years ago), meaning we can claim a quick Carling apiece while sitting below a Peaky Blinders montage. Chairman D9 is in a nostalgic mood, recalling old-fashioned barber shops from the times when he had more hair. You don't get the likes of Mad Harry wielding the scissors anymore...</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TUqK_ONXFKWWDy-PbCa7xLmq6jsB39RCn03TBkvvlpaizg3Px_xpnlNydo7LWbzBfpgpxNNpWieb_r-jCl2O6qvF_3tZYG_YjtgnwHUrrxoxCM6udaUhWWM2VLEl21hO7tuA9TMAM4CrJf-zOLU2NoouW-Q2eDNe1M_ojzvDrOyq8CAIHDjI/s600/telf004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TUqK_ONXFKWWDy-PbCa7xLmq6jsB39RCn03TBkvvlpaizg3Px_xpnlNydo7LWbzBfpgpxNNpWieb_r-jCl2O6qvF_3tZYG_YjtgnwHUrrxoxCM6udaUhWWM2VLEl21hO7tuA9TMAM4CrJf-zOLU2NoouW-Q2eDNe1M_ojzvDrOyq8CAIHDjI/s320/telf004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Proper Penny Pincher!! -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another lengthy wait for a bus is put to good use playing our opening silly song selections for 2024, whereby Stephen Lewis (Inspector Blakey in On the Buses) encounters 'The Bed Sitter' and Rupert Davies (who played Maigret back in the 60s) is happily 'Smoking My Pipe'. The 4 then whisks us most of the way towards Wellington for the dual charms of the Railway and the Cock Hotel. The former serves up pristine Butty Bach with Jo Stafford's version of Jambalaya for accompaniment whereas the latter has been lovingly renovated by the Joules Brewery with genuinely impressive results. Our cask choice here is the ginger-infused Penny Pincher but any hopes Secretary WME has of the beer's name being matched by discount prices are way off the mark. Engraved mirrors, burnished woodwork and copper tabletops make for a stellar setting in which to prepare for the delayed 2023 Hub Awards.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKBNZdxxYEztzvnLXAxlc7Pmj6CrGTusjxWHDP5NX0emzABX4QHFDpmu0aph-PvZjwKGfR8VTRTi2AdZbCyA6NE6Hw_2jluShunEfqHpxt-OEoma2YHOkrHojsGuFzs4F_gfZY69UfchZCBnWRxEgLU_lG9wIr-f3y3-R11jecTZRf-iaU71Y/s600/telf005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKBNZdxxYEztzvnLXAxlc7Pmj6CrGTusjxWHDP5NX0emzABX4QHFDpmu0aph-PvZjwKGfR8VTRTi2AdZbCyA6NE6Hw_2jluShunEfqHpxt-OEoma2YHOkrHojsGuFzs4F_gfZY69UfchZCBnWRxEgLU_lG9wIr-f3y3-R11jecTZRf-iaU71Y/s320/telf005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Hub Awards are announced -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Speaking of which, Hub Marketing founder Charles Pemberton Rowbottom III is in the vicinity having contrived to avoid us in Stafford last time out. We therefore intercept an incoming 7 (the driver saw us running and kindly waited for us) via Haybridge Road and Hadley before landing at the Tap & Barrel where CPR3 awaits. This rather plain pub used to be known as the Duke and has a bit of Friday afternoon life to it - old boys, pool players, TV quizzes, you get the idea. We however concentrate on declaring the lucky winners from a range of categories: 2023 Pub of the Year was Hopinn, Newcastle-under-Lyme whereas the Dive of the Year could only be Bell Green's Rose & Crown. Bald Spot of the Year was the Daisy Bank Sarad Stores specimen and the Classic D9 drive was a Hearty Carty 20 reggaethon along the Bristol Road.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8lcqP7ch1hfInOiHCfDZvifbzuVpjSLKlbGxjKQCxjHp8i9mSBZ2V_1slOwWeW2fQkMH8LmJToTj0Gq0izsr5AiR4Co4rXo2OHaxGKUi38ao8-MldzKhoIQTmehOtwl1ffO209Rl97VuX5p2byUoTDSGPgCO4hJgK367xuMMCDJvu-SBFLM2/s600/telf006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8lcqP7ch1hfInOiHCfDZvifbzuVpjSLKlbGxjKQCxjHp8i9mSBZ2V_1slOwWeW2fQkMH8LmJToTj0Gq0izsr5AiR4Co4rXo2OHaxGKUi38ao8-MldzKhoIQTmehOtwl1ffO209Rl97VuX5p2byUoTDSGPgCO4hJgK367xuMMCDJvu-SBFLM2/s320/telf006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>- Anyone for Carpet Whipping? -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Award formalities done and dusted, we see what else Trench has to offer although neither of us is remotely inclined to participate in any carpet whipping - it all sounds far too painful! A flat roof shopping parade contains betting shops and fast food outlets while we also catch glimpse of a bowling club with an expertly maintained green. Our next watering hole meanwhile will be the New Dun Cow, an ex-Banks's box boozer that's been given a wooden plank facelift to go with its transition into an Indian Bar and Grill example. It's smart and comfortable inside with swish seating booths plus the prospect of Stephen Fry on daytime television should you like that sort of thing. One wonders whether Mr Fry whips his carpets at all?</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqim3_wcExoEdK8kNgasF9Uq36zPGdMyIf1eJuSodSUicP1GTBaT0R93Ei9FcoB5iD2C1qhyphenhyphenfHVkRyijwpwAcpTj7YeL-ecaVNuFxOi5EFaAEK1Kb2luP6SNjrQwJP13ePAyfqXXrsUM5QBDSIQkCLGE_udRBE1-sOVEo0g7t8ekjB1RUlr7O/s600/telf007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqim3_wcExoEdK8kNgasF9Uq36zPGdMyIf1eJuSodSUicP1GTBaT0R93Ei9FcoB5iD2C1qhyphenhyphenfHVkRyijwpwAcpTj7YeL-ecaVNuFxOi5EFaAEK1Kb2luP6SNjrQwJP13ePAyfqXXrsUM5QBDSIQkCLGE_udRBE1-sOVEo0g7t8ekjB1RUlr7O/s320/telf007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>- 'Spotted' in Wrockwardine Wood -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A public footpath around the back of Holy Trinity Church is our twilight means of approaching Wrockwardine Wood, an old mining district which easily pre-dates the creation of Telford New Town. Hub Marketing history here isn't especially favourable and we can vividly recall a 2015 wild goose chase involving closed pubs and withdrawn bus routes - will our luck be any better this time around? The answer is a resounding yes because both the White Horse Tavern and the Bull's Head are trading steadily; naturally we visit each of them in turn, beginning with the White Horse and its tempting whiffs of home cooked food. Secretary WME is particularly taken by the Bull's Head's glazed tiling and etched vault windows, a classic heritage frontage for sure plus the Salopian Shropshire Gold within makes for a very decent drink.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsmIY7egpeoYlEt0HHCRL5Nst8Q_hZj0UKBziyaFp3sO4cj4C_Rf86Z6L_GRm3UQ0gBY_qAvz1-5kzWHg5xtmg2oSqxNVMFjMTzzbJU1-gdsHA-hAqgPpsaCbya1Zk8y3A3Kk67NB6AqNcOy6zz1l9GI2cWarWv2FF30HtvcNUJs21PIqhIlu/s600/telf008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsmIY7egpeoYlEt0HHCRL5Nst8Q_hZj0UKBziyaFp3sO4cj4C_Rf86Z6L_GRm3UQ0gBY_qAvz1-5kzWHg5xtmg2oSqxNVMFjMTzzbJU1-gdsHA-hAqgPpsaCbya1Zk8y3A3Kk67NB6AqNcOy6zz1l9GI2cWarWv2FF30HtvcNUJs21PIqhIlu/s320/telf008.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Bostin' Bathams Nightcap -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Lamb Inn on Moss Road can make it a Wrockwardine Wood pub hat trick for those of a thirsty persuasion (it's probably the scruffier of the three but worth a visit nevertheless), then we flag down an incoming number 5 bus for a brief trundle through St George's and down Station Hill into Oakengates. Swansong duties in this instance fall to the Station Hotel, alas minus any Elvis impersonators although the Bathams Best Bitter is absolutely impeccable. The place is packed to the rafters with a lovely welcoming atmosphere, exactly the kind of establishment you'd want to finish off at on a Friday night. There's just time to grab some chips as sustenance for the train ride home and that's another Telford triumph sorted!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-31331734081707803562024-01-13T11:59:00.002+00:002024-01-13T11:59:08.020+00:00Shenstone: A January Jaunt<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>Hmm, a very grey cold day in January but let's be grateful for small mercies - it isn't snowing, it isn't raining, and Nick and I are about to investigate a Staffordshire village which promises a quartet of pub possibilities. Shenstone, over to you...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBim9CZbwLgZSGDG0Y9Jvul4k5Cn78b0y0i1yYtr9Con2TwRHo1Rhx5wbCQHB_Tg2GTtQl_I0T91Ajgr2TPMamHmLPu63eKLLmdZcAoDRwJXB3EFqLgrNLmXxH6neUImUb4k9Svzxtpr93sz1JdTp86yrj7Ny0waG_FgUFl-zmnADpKqA_kQ-/s600/shen001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBim9CZbwLgZSGDG0Y9Jvul4k5Cn78b0y0i1yYtr9Con2TwRHo1Rhx5wbCQHB_Tg2GTtQl_I0T91Ajgr2TPMamHmLPu63eKLLmdZcAoDRwJXB3EFqLgrNLmXxH6neUImUb4k9Svzxtpr93sz1JdTp86yrj7Ny0waG_FgUFl-zmnADpKqA_kQ-/s320/shen001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>- Shenstone Station -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trip Log: Friday 12th January 2024 sees myself and our resident royal all set for Shenstone, an affluent community midway between Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield. Getting there is easy enough thanks to a straightforward half-hourly service on the Cross City line, meaning we can pitch up at Shenstone Station come ten past eleven. The Lichfield-bound platform is very plain with rudimentary running-in boards and not much else, but the Birmingham side has a rather stately railway house that reminds us of similar properties at both Stone and Atherstone. The building apparently dates from the 1880s but doesn't currently appear to be in use, although we can see an old-fashioned booking hall layout when peering through the windows. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSP4ANpZlRE6-m79CqIrzDPLBsal8cpE0tZ-OpD6PDgpBlAqXu7VlP0v-9dY20yEVq5G4dgGZbgWv3ubwVoYhpaQ1529hrbmQim3eE8TQi-qDWBgXQUvmSYE67fP8o5s24Xm0kpCocCqfuL-eJHoIYfPg9yGWuTuirZAVUdFxSfOZqXi9icQz/s600/shen001a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSP4ANpZlRE6-m79CqIrzDPLBsal8cpE0tZ-OpD6PDgpBlAqXu7VlP0v-9dY20yEVq5G4dgGZbgWv3ubwVoYhpaQ1529hrbmQim3eE8TQi-qDWBgXQUvmSYE67fP8o5s24Xm0kpCocCqfuL-eJHoIYfPg9yGWuTuirZAVUdFxSfOZqXi9icQz/s320/shen001a.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Postbox Pose -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From Station Road the village centre is merely a quarter of a mile away, turning right at the war memorial into Main Street by the Cooper Room function hall. Quaint cottages flank one side of the road as we reach a horseshoe-shaped shopping parade with a Costcutter at its apex. The other units comprise a pharmacy, a dentists, Russell's Family Butchers and the offices of the Parish Council while our eye also gets drawn towards a knitted postbox topper featuring Father Christmas and his wider snowy entourage.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBtIjEZOHM4y4lxHM-LT2Dxx5im7N9Ho2lkOqDt_f3OGP-sQlsE8wGvcZNMKoxe2f5WbQqedlCnIqnQUg3nyaDCMp8C34nhGobfoWgv9dX4FFf4I_TSSEWuB9_wOAMHbVWXCw_WsQEm5tv7lxJTaV-BUnUjr4PqwQBWvNJpgPb_S75H62RORO/s600/shen002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBtIjEZOHM4y4lxHM-LT2Dxx5im7N9Ho2lkOqDt_f3OGP-sQlsE8wGvcZNMKoxe2f5WbQqedlCnIqnQUg3nyaDCMp8C34nhGobfoWgv9dX4FFf4I_TSSEWuB9_wOAMHbVWXCw_WsQEm5tv7lxJTaV-BUnUjr4PqwQBWvNJpgPb_S75H62RORO/s320/shen002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>- Shenstone Community Library -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Noting the Fox & Hounds for later on, we continue along Main Street to discover Shenstone's community library. In common with many of Staffordshire's smaller branches, this facility is no longer under direct council control but is instead run on an independent basis by a committed enthusiastic bunch of local volunteers. Part of the library has been turned into a cafe which hosts regular coffee mornings, although you can still borrow books, use the internet, access photocopiers and printers or attend the baby storytime sessions. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWUOVXY1OEt32SUQYELq4HNjFNtkKUGE1bGjjHOtmVxJ0qYZTFWxfvzgBb0RGbtSl6NP_2DGROaUHxy9VxIqqSEDo1zm8oM0RQtJq2HLn8DLRcxZgHcOwpNzn5e8eXwHxJ7z3P3P2gPJqPvTzm8wRu-R7vJKEQE_tzWOZvNTjicX35b_keB86/s600/shen003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWUOVXY1OEt32SUQYELq4HNjFNtkKUGE1bGjjHOtmVxJ0qYZTFWxfvzgBb0RGbtSl6NP_2DGROaUHxy9VxIqqSEDo1zm8oM0RQtJq2HLn8DLRcxZgHcOwpNzn5e8eXwHxJ7z3P3P2gPJqPvTzm8wRu-R7vJKEQE_tzWOZvNTjicX35b_keB86/s320/shen003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>- St John the Baptist Church -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Schoolfields Road and St John's Hill take us on a slightly circuitous route to reach St John the Baptist Parish Church, a dramatic Victorian edifice standing stoically on an escarpment. The unremitting greyness of the January skies seems entirely in keeping with the brooding Gothic architecture as we survey the wooded churchyard, spotting the remains of an earlier Norman church tower complete with an eroded emblem of the Merchant Tailors Guild by its east door. The Old Tower hosts regular open days for those keen to learn more about its history.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLskewMVCCZQd9VjvXEGWsypItjIrbmGh4PTUkUsZaiNpYpgopmaR8btLnPBWJSkpyJg8r-NWuN8oBlyclD3ADVVTHPX-G3hXtVxWPPgy-v96iAvpp2CeRtSl5LrHmjB_tMFfXou2IetQWJ2M00kOxBgR7qoP2U-NEfO59smZbcAyIx_k-Z1w/s600/shen004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLskewMVCCZQd9VjvXEGWsypItjIrbmGh4PTUkUsZaiNpYpgopmaR8btLnPBWJSkpyJg8r-NWuN8oBlyclD3ADVVTHPX-G3hXtVxWPPgy-v96iAvpp2CeRtSl5LrHmjB_tMFfXou2IetQWJ2M00kOxBgR7qoP2U-NEfO59smZbcAyIx_k-Z1w/s320/shen004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>- Beaming with Pride in the Bulls Head -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A secluded path beside the churchyard brings us neatly to the Fox & Hounds bang on midday opening time, and we're excitedly greeted by a pair of inquisitive pet pooches when furnishing ourselves with a half of St Austell's Tribute Ale apiece. Leaving aside the apparent allegiances to Aston Villa, this is a nice village pub with dartboard, log piles and a passing interest in the Dubai Invitational golf tournament. By contrast, the Bull's Head on the A5127 Birmingham Road has much more of a food focus and is heavily booked on this Friday lunchtime. We're permitted to use one of two spare tables so as to steadily glug down some London Pride; it's good to see the place so busy but we'd best leave the diners to their gustatory pleasures.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE3g1UH_Mn95CjvIrSGW4B2FJ_9iafr0o08cSAhy3p197TA4eb3iIKRXaZybHfV7ZW6IiR1TErXmfPyuWJe3uNp7Qm3iOWHYwcKlXdNtKdfrjvbGMjhMRSa7zVsWEO9F-GMOznwMVU1LP4Dc-n2GmHrzHbqmMl3gS67CuyFZptvei9WgoALkt/s600/shen005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE3g1UH_Mn95CjvIrSGW4B2FJ_9iafr0o08cSAhy3p197TA4eb3iIKRXaZybHfV7ZW6IiR1TErXmfPyuWJe3uNp7Qm3iOWHYwcKlXdNtKdfrjvbGMjhMRSa7zVsWEO9F-GMOznwMVU1LP4Dc-n2GmHrzHbqmMl3gS67CuyFZptvei9WgoALkt/s320/shen005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Railway -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our Shenstone circuit next involves passing some playing fields and utilising Pinfold Hill up by the remains of an old cattle pound. Our third watering hole is the Plough, stylishly refurbished after a prolonged period of closure circa 2012 and now seemingly back to full health. Golden Glow is always a winning ale in our opinion as we indulge in a lengthy discussion about 20th Century music icons, Nick being especially keen to mention Blondie and Kate Bush. Straight across the road is the Railway, a down-to-earth Marston's boozer which feels like the most basic of the four Shenstone hostelries although its still a very comfortable setting for a tasty half of Old Empire, just the throat-tickler you need with temperatures barely above freezing.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15aLEGGp0pkmwYD5f1EYep5XBhJvEO1PXT9uSt_dTkEMllXIjypqgDABHnZM2MokyeAldrmnY2eQ2Jiv2xKzJq2ZdhzEvUuo7V-E2-6JDQVs-SkxpngoytrEZvsStxmcHH7YxAd0KMAQd2Dy1lpTtEWHGnJ3qWGz_hXbSCn4_4ozac_vfnbLR/s600/shen006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15aLEGGp0pkmwYD5f1EYep5XBhJvEO1PXT9uSt_dTkEMllXIjypqgDABHnZM2MokyeAldrmnY2eQ2Jiv2xKzJq2ZdhzEvUuo7V-E2-6JDQVs-SkxpngoytrEZvsStxmcHH7YxAd0KMAQd2Dy1lpTtEWHGnJ3qWGz_hXbSCn4_4ozac_vfnbLR/s320/shen006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>- Glorious Guinness in the New Inns -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Making use of the 14:48 train back towards Birmingham, we extend our explorations into Erdington by calling into the Charlie Hall for a spot of lunch (Nick never unknowingly turns down the chance of a discounted Fishy Friday deal). Very much a standard Wetherspoons experience - sticky tables, loud carpet, old boys aplenty - we learn that Charlie Hall himself was an actor who appeared in several Laurel & Hardy films, and that the premises was for many years a bingo hall. After a quick Cecil Road homage to one of Nick's uncles, we round the day off with New Inns Irishness (it has to be Guinness as we study a county map of the Emerald Isle) and Red Lion spectacle (one of Brum's finest pub frontages, albeit with a more ordinary feel inside) and that'll be that. One January Jaunt duly deposited - Cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-58671635835550246962024-01-07T12:01:00.006+00:002024-01-07T12:01:23.008+00:00Nudging Netherton<span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>Hello 2024, I wonder what you'll have to offer in terms of evidently exciting exploration memories? The year ahead stretches out like a blank sheet of parchment, waiting to be filled with news of new discoveries as well as old favourites being revisited. January's first contribution now has me reaching for the quill and the inkwell to bring you details of a jaunt around Netherton and Darby End...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7oAKpPSxejMAixll45zOyEmCSPmyqRbwK8yjeh1v1UVHVE98CFrb5L_VEzaEprFKOzMbtlIlSCM0Vetq6z2Xbyu63mkdcJkS_Xlh7M9JasuL4I9W_Q-QlrdX_sKrY7L6nJSjbfQcs0A6Z1PsGAQVxrQvM7bjSfHCM4iB3aiJL4PGWi-YVH1n/s600/neth001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7oAKpPSxejMAixll45zOyEmCSPmyqRbwK8yjeh1v1UVHVE98CFrb5L_VEzaEprFKOzMbtlIlSCM0Vetq6z2Xbyu63mkdcJkS_Xlh7M9JasuL4I9W_Q-QlrdX_sKrY7L6nJSjbfQcs0A6Z1PsGAQVxrQvM7bjSfHCM4iB3aiJL4PGWi-YVH1n/s320/neth001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- Cradley Heath DIY -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Saturday 6th January 2024, easily the nicest day we've had weather-wise for a while after what has seemed like constant rain since Christmas. Via a Smethwick Galton Bridge switch, I get myself to Cradley Heath so as to be reacquainted with Mary MacArthur Gardens (named after a prominent suffragist and campaigner in the women chainmakers strike of 1910) and Five Ways junction. The Cradley Heath DIY shop is showcasing its wares from the corner of Graingers Lane and High Street although I'm not in need of any broom handles, buckets or Miracle Gro compost bags on this occasion. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2tSkCuV1sC6zCfZkHCMlxFv-TzTqpjSYszoDPIQoYzPLv3OnK5ArXMkqhUni8pa2P-suh159v_Aa5sOfNyA0Rb2C86GtqdbZIe76nOXS9tn8VhuBVUHyGlapR6_RAif9AnySNx67x-CCf1QgTqR_f5X98GKnOXFA_nfWDL_xvdL0nz09n-3Y/s600/neth002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2tSkCuV1sC6zCfZkHCMlxFv-TzTqpjSYszoDPIQoYzPLv3OnK5ArXMkqhUni8pa2P-suh159v_Aa5sOfNyA0Rb2C86GtqdbZIe76nOXS9tn8VhuBVUHyGlapR6_RAif9AnySNx67x-CCf1QgTqR_f5X98GKnOXFA_nfWDL_xvdL0nz09n-3Y/s320/neth002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- Terry's Timber -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Foxoak Street offers variety instead of my more customary stroll along Cradley Heath High Street, giving glimpses of the far side of the Tesco supermarket but also reminding me that Jasper's (also known as the Swan) has been turned into a private residence in ominous tones of battleship grey - I have fond memories of that pub as a Holden's outlet so it's sad to see it gone. The Hollybush on Newtown Lane appears to have survived, possibly as a Thursday night comedy venue rather than a standard boozer, while Terry's Timber has a neat line in homespun signage for anyone in need of kindling or picket fence pieces.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDQAExXwUXAyBokUZbR73iFKZcQVw2aad4m6oNB6_4iibJdCP1zcE34b4KFPcfZi3djNTADeoHvUIwDvldDWbfknNw86DxqY04bj4b9inTb_wyOu3ISV9u6wtgIQ5qfaopGLB0qrt3dNu-zAMxkGYHDIjIVSTeSDRNEh4DklxJUkntl425vRC/s600/neth003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDQAExXwUXAyBokUZbR73iFKZcQVw2aad4m6oNB6_4iibJdCP1zcE34b4KFPcfZi3djNTADeoHvUIwDvldDWbfknNw86DxqY04bj4b9inTb_wyOu3ISV9u6wtgIQ5qfaopGLB0qrt3dNu-zAMxkGYHDIjIVSTeSDRNEh4DklxJUkntl425vRC/s320/neth003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- Primrose Hill Community Church -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mousesweet Brook marks the division between Sandwell and Dudley Boroughs as I cross from Cradley Heath into neighbouring Netherton, pressing on along Cradley Road to confirm another pub closure (RIP the Elephant & Castle). An Asda supermarket oversees the Saltwells Road traffic lights - diagonally opposite what used to be the Golden Cross - then I can check in again with Astle's Bridge which affectionately pays tribute to the legendary West Bromwich Albion striker. The structure's historic name was always Primrose Bridge but it gained its more colloquial title thanks to various 'Astle is King' graffiti daubings that appeared over the years. A Chapel Street detour then allows a sighting of Primrose Hill Community Church, intriguing!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJG1SEYyPOOH4YInEII6fVAR07oGceoCrI7q46e44ChE9AF6Wgz1GqCBBj_OI6xB4xVu-IkM0FxcbBLmOVh1zCW1JcDcYurZZ9nsAP0cyImVNkqytE2RiucekfOs8vpuVmcKTLs1ZE099F7j0pARN6KTrjf7_jLfwVYUxhSn4DBW1uqzlMSuy/s600/neth004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJG1SEYyPOOH4YInEII6fVAR07oGceoCrI7q46e44ChE9AF6Wgz1GqCBBj_OI6xB4xVu-IkM0FxcbBLmOVh1zCW1JcDcYurZZ9nsAP0cyImVNkqytE2RiucekfOs8vpuVmcKTLs1ZE099F7j0pARN6KTrjf7_jLfwVYUxhSn4DBW1uqzlMSuy/s320/neth004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- Darby End Bible Institute -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emerging onto Halesowen Road, I fancy a dabble with Darby End because it's been a few years since I last passed through. Cole Street therefore offers a few interesting titbits such as the Gate Hangs Well (I've been in there with both D9 and Roger), a Methodist Church with 1960s hexagonal stained glass breezeblocks, and the M S H Premier corner shop. Darby End Wesley Bible Institute meanwhile traces its origins back to 1915 and looks every inch the kind of non-conformist chapel that would once have been commonplace across the Black Country.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeur2PKrzavPu-9dnpBBHuPB4wczree4NiPTUGXG8KoxX9raaoy2jXGF_tzLAkE0-8xUymdUjyTcILMZm-s1yj9N-BkqCAogn9ofaNRWVrBp0mi_4Lpne1LmB1xcHG3NVC_B1L84tDpFPHGiZAcT_obxo6ueoFWoKgbxOqcT90rq01Sju1xGwC/s600/neth005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeur2PKrzavPu-9dnpBBHuPB4wczree4NiPTUGXG8KoxX9raaoy2jXGF_tzLAkE0-8xUymdUjyTcILMZm-s1yj9N-BkqCAogn9ofaNRWVrBp0mi_4Lpne1LmB1xcHG3NVC_B1L84tDpFPHGiZAcT_obxo6ueoFWoKgbxOqcT90rq01Sju1xGwC/s320/neth005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- An Encounter with a Black Widow -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Windmill End might otherwise have tempted me with its ribbons of entangled canals but I'm very much counting down to my first pub pint of 2024 and want to get inside Ma Pardoes before it is swamped by eager diners. St Peter's Church and Greaves Road duly escort me towards Halesowen Road once more where the Pure Home Brewd Ales lettering is an iconic clue that I've arrived again at somewhere very special indeed. The public bar with its famous swan ceiling enamels is out of commission today so I find a perch in the restaurant section in order to partake of Entire, a lovely sweetish drop brewed on the premises. As anticipated, the lunchtime takers are arriving in their droves, discussing miscreant parrots and dodgy hips, but I linger around long enough to try the 6.7% Black Widow - not a lady to be trifled with!!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXaj3AGnXkxtGzJhPp6hZ5vJ3_ANjBb0Q5JfBIPYM5lAqxu44dW8UIjLdEd54kY0EHjxz47LZfW-KnoRSghzkyK1nzytTJBOf6DfmGC84Z7MkeomuO2MuqIwhqVFhP2mCFJyLK3rNjwtJ60b5vbRZqUuWTTmhIv9f0v44_YUNB_ZcLQ7NXwLb/s600/neth006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="600" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXaj3AGnXkxtGzJhPp6hZ5vJ3_ANjBb0Q5JfBIPYM5lAqxu44dW8UIjLdEd54kY0EHjxz47LZfW-KnoRSghzkyK1nzytTJBOf6DfmGC84Z7MkeomuO2MuqIwhqVFhP2mCFJyLK3rNjwtJ60b5vbRZqUuWTTmhIv9f0v44_YUNB_ZcLQ7NXwLb/s320/neth006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- Saltwells Road -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ma Pardoes remains an unmissable classic that transports you back in time and to my mind is as good as ever; I'm far too young to have ever met the formidable Doris in person but if I ever get my hands on a time machine I'd whizz straight to 1974 I reckon. Anyway, this 2024 story continues with a dosage of Dudley Wood once I've figured out how to get from Yew Tree Hills down to Saltwells Road (answer: via Bratch Close and a footpath over Saltwells Bridge). Gone are the days when the area used to reverberate to the sound of speedway races, the final meeting having been held here in 1995.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8qhgfrcrHGZk6uGa-C2IGin5VwfEdw75OEhIcVL2RAi815nGTtnCxUJNsckr7Hg2LsTZBiVXirl9n9ifQBjTGl4_6X_2C0rb2BI2ZgUlAvXhOPPRl18rOiHH82eW6vt79lYnXDLOdiSJF5wDBWlPPlw-w6oiSNGoZ0Nv-L-Tum0Wpx741nbF/s600/neth007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8qhgfrcrHGZk6uGa-C2IGin5VwfEdw75OEhIcVL2RAi815nGTtnCxUJNsckr7Hg2LsTZBiVXirl9n9ifQBjTGl4_6X_2C0rb2BI2ZgUlAvXhOPPRl18rOiHH82eW6vt79lYnXDLOdiSJF5wDBWlPPlw-w6oiSNGoZ0Nv-L-Tum0Wpx741nbF/s320/neth007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Woodman -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Names of riders such as Erik Gundersen, Jan O. Pedersen, Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill are still fondly remembered in these parts and its fitting that the Woodman pays homage to Dudley Wood's sporting links among its artistic montages. A standard Marston's (Banks's) experience awaits with most of the youthful clientele watching the Sunderland v Newcastle match; I pick a table overlooking a well-maintained bowling green as strong winter sunshine streams in through the windows, the only downside being that I have to make do with Carling in the absence of real ale. My return route to Cradley Heath Station involves Brook Lane, Chapmans Corner and Reddal Hill Road (for an Amber splash and dash in the Waggon & Horses) and it's job done - legs stretched, pictures taken, a 2024 trip in the bank. Cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-56366008466657871992024-01-01T08:30:00.001+00:002024-01-01T08:30:00.144+00:00WME Review of the Year - 2023<span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Happy New Year everybody as we expectantly welcome in 2024 whilst ushering out the dying embers of 2023. The WME Blog's rulebook stipulates that my first posting each January is a retrospective review of the preceding twelve months and I'm hardly one to go messing about with tradition - here goes...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red;">January:</span></b> a Waterways Walk broke my duck in terms of 2023 explorations whereby the Cannock Extension Canal had me fleetingly flirting with Pelsall Wood and Norton Canes. I dropped very lucky with the weather that day and was similarly fortunate during my Penkhull Pub Parade, a perfect Potteries afternoon that introduced me to the likes of the Marquis of Granby, the Beehive and bru with bonus points awarded for the comedic depictions of Sir Stanley Matthews. Foggy conditions tried their best to befuddle a solo Saturday spent in murky Wordsley and Kingswinford, while Nick had the pleasure of accompanying me at the Leviathan Brewery's well-hidden taphouse on a Sutton Coldfield industrial estate. A busy start to 2023 all things considered!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">February:</span></b> the brisk pace continued unabated into February when the star of the show was undoubtedly the Great British Beer Festival (Winter) as held at Burton Town Hall. Besides the thrill of hearing the Wurlitzer organ in full flow, the ales were excellent and the pub discoveries equally memorable (especially the Tower Brewery and Brews of the World). I tickled Telford somewhat courtesy of a Lawley Village and Dawley Bank day, gathering glimpses of Glendale and grappling with the Grazing Cow. The Hub Marketing Board braved a Bradley evening for warm hospitality in otherwise chilly temperatures, and there were Chip Foundation antics in Royal Leamington Spa including beating the drum in the Star & Garter. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #fcff01;">March:</span> </b>two Hub Marketing trips kept me occupied in March, both being Black Country-based pubcrawls which revisited West Bromwich (in honour of former bus driver 'Wincy' Willis) and Tipton respectively - the latter of those had us recreating a Juliet Bravo car chase along the Factory Locks. In other news, the Chip Foundation got well and truly Stoned in Staffordshire - Joules Brewery have done a fantastic job with their Crown Wharf development - and I paid my annual springtime visit to Stafford for a look at Beaconside Barracks when walking the Isabel Trail ex-railway footpath. Dorridge meanwhile detained me for another solo Saturday sojourn, this time accounting for Bentley Heath and Knowle's Oktogon along the way. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">April: </span></b>the Bears on Tour bandwagon took the Beardsmores and myself to terrific Taunton; the match itself ended in a draw but we had a lot of fun investigating several Somerset watering holes and walking segments of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal. Closer to home, there were more waterways wanderings when Towpath Turpin and I tackled Boley Park and the Lichfield Canal at Darnford Moors. The Chip Foundation weaved their merry way around Walsall when celebrating Ken's birthday, then the Potteries dished up more pub pleasure thanks to the Hartshill Mile for an extended session between Newcastle under Lyme and Stoke Town. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #01ffff;"><b>May:</b> </span>the 2023 instalment of Rail Rover profferred up a varied range of locations from Colwall to Macclesfield to Leicester to Oswestry (Nick being particularly intrigued by tales of severed arms giving rise to St Oswald's Well). Chairman D9 savoured Stonnall in the spring sunshine - aided and abetted by a Brownhills blast - and there was a Quarry Bank Quest comprising my very first sampling of the Old Liberal, an instant Paul favourite from the moment I saw it!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #ff00fe;">June:</span></b> heading into the summer months, I recorded three special trips to mark my milestone birthday. Perry Barr hosted Stephen, John and yours truly for a roam around what's left of the former UCE campus - not forgetting dropping in at the ever-wonderful Bartons Arms - before the Chip Foundation breezed around Bewdley and Highley without ever quite making it to Cleobury Mortimer! The Hub Marketing Board's key contribution was a second staging of the Round Oak Run, ten years on from the original outing and yet the ales in Amblecote were still exceptional. A stop at the Stratford Beer Festival brought a certain Shakespearean flavour to proceedings with Ya Bard stealing the limelight on that occasion. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red;">July:</span></b> the showpiece WME family holiday for 2023 saw us descending upon the South Coast resort of Bognor Regis for a few days, meaning I could scout around Sussex and even hustle over into Hampshire too - the Tuesday I spent in Southsea and Portsmouth was brilliant!! The Black Country Living Museum launched more of their 1940s to 1960s new town development with replicas of Marsh & Baxter's Butchers and Stanton's Music Shop, then Towpath Turpin was back in action for an aqueduct hunt along the Stratford Canal near Wootton Wawen. Add in Chip Foundation correspondence from RAF Cosford (meeting Soviet leaders in Russian doll formation) plus a Catshill collision for the Hub Marketing Board and it was go, go, go!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">August: </span></b>the height of summer had the weather just about behaving itself enough to permit a Beardsmore coach trip to lovely Llandudno - cue Alice in Wonderland carvings and a general liking for goats. My Saturday check on the Camp Hill Locks flight went very well indeed when topped off with a couple of Digbeth's finest ale establishments, and I was similarly impressed with the pubs on offer in Blakedown and Hagley - it's always a joy to do the King Arthur again. Nick's Bus Pass Birthday knees-up prompted a jolly wiggle around Warwick as Mr B Senior narrowly evaded getting locked up in the town's old gaol cell for the afternoon. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #fcff01;">September:</span> </b>a reasonable cricket season for Warwickshire draws to a close with the gang chewing the fat over a drink or two in Balsall Heath - yes, His Majesty King Nick did put in appearances at the Merry Maid and the Clock, shock horror! The royal one felt much more at home in the refined surroundings of St Mary's Church Shrewsbury for the town's beer festival, whereas Mr D9 had to contend with the glamour of the Roe Deer during a Hub Marketing tour of Lawnswood and Wordsley - the Kingsbridge was highly commended that day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #04ff00;">October:</span> </b>I came over all cultural for a long overdue lurking at Wightwick Manor, admiring the Peach House and a magnificent display of pumpkins - just be mindful of any disapproving scarecrows... Trench and Oakengates were the twin destinations for the Beardsmores and I when getting nostalgic for Trench Pools and the Blue Pig pub (another all-time classic); Hall Green took its turn in the Saturday spotlight, supplemented by Shirley; non-stop rain couldn't deter the Hub Marketing Board from wading around Witton and Hockley - we've only just dried out again after that! October's final flourish was a Burslem Birthday Bash for Mr B Junior, giving Ken and Nick chance to practice being Holy Inadequate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">November:</span></b> two beer festivals added to my autumn repertoire, beginning with Kidderminster's at the Harriers Social & Supporters Club - the other of course was Dudley, as unmissable as ever. Stephen was on hand for a gentle gambit involving Ashmore Park and Essington, neither of us having previously frequented the Minerva before, and there was much quiffing to be had around Coventry with Mr D9. Bell Green still makes me shudder although the Chairman is naturally much more enthusiastic when it comes to the Rose & Crown's dubious charms!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #ff00fe;">December: </span></b>and we're almost bang up to date once more. Brandhall had me getting into the Christmas spirit with a frosty ferret across an abandoned golf course, and the seasonal style continued in Stafford where the D9 bald spot was salivating about the Morris Man at Kingston Hill. Earlswood and Wythall took up the gauntlet for the HRH Festive Forage, witnessing the feeder pool reservoirs at dusk, whereas Stephen grappled with gingerbread characters right here in Wolverhampton. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Looking back, I certainly crammed a lot into those twelve months and my heartfelt gratitude must go to those redoubtable folks who joined me along the way, especially D9 Andy, His Royal Highness Nick (a.k.a. Towpath Turpin), the Beardsmores Elder and Junior, and our resident Bluenose Ken. Many thanks all, your company means a lot and here's to even more of the same in 2024!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-66833930267216370562023-12-25T09:52:00.000+00:002023-12-25T09:52:47.022+00:00Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #32<p><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>What can this be gathering dust under the WME Blog's metaphorical Christmas tree? Why it's only a selection box of perished pub pictures awaiting our consumption, and not a chocolate bar in sight...</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BnRatrPVtz0npLkZmrRdOqp1fzohScduHQZGGPED4SvXcE8mpyZ07vupa7Dmp0DmL1TP6bOCprHHqUo7u-9mywneSyb9_zkBT1ff1HbqiuYWddpbgcPsUbYhx8ykituL3U4HRQWbzs4PfmMXpDXEG8ZqAh0dPi1JseiVdTddQflCanUPp8gI/s600/WMEwindmillapp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BnRatrPVtz0npLkZmrRdOqp1fzohScduHQZGGPED4SvXcE8mpyZ07vupa7Dmp0DmL1TP6bOCprHHqUo7u-9mywneSyb9_zkBT1ff1HbqiuYWddpbgcPsUbYhx8ykituL3U4HRQWbzs4PfmMXpDXEG8ZqAh0dPi1JseiVdTddQflCanUPp8gI/s320/WMEwindmillapp.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- The London Apprentice -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our Episode 32 starter comes from Smethwick where the London Apprentice kept watch over the roundabout where Windmill Lane meets Soho Way and Cranford Street. This was an M&B box boozer back in the day, serving thirsty local factory workers and not to be confused with the London Works Tavern which used to be nearby (in fact, another lost pub in the shape of the Moilliet Arms was also close at hand). After ceasing trading, the building became a place of worship for the Bethel Apostolic Church of Praise congregation. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6XEK2U2S3fJQcKuqZ_rL0c7NBV7LnE3U9JUj976F1rRnq84Ao4N218PGKK2-8x1OSlf1hha1RhBbNvhCDqZd7ENFE0RRzmwR4CWImBSa3zhNX4r0jHTqyrDA3vjAQeY8U9Jcem9NML4S1OqdWjsdegEcTQN7pXZXPc6CtSA78a_c5IWjCXxJ/s600/WMEwindmillpub.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6XEK2U2S3fJQcKuqZ_rL0c7NBV7LnE3U9JUj976F1rRnq84Ao4N218PGKK2-8x1OSlf1hha1RhBbNvhCDqZd7ENFE0RRzmwR4CWImBSa3zhNX4r0jHTqyrDA3vjAQeY8U9Jcem9NML4S1OqdWjsdegEcTQN7pXZXPc6CtSA78a_c5IWjCXxJ/s320/WMEwindmillpub.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Windmill Inn -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Further along Windmill Lane towards Cape Hill, we find this corner property which bears the distinctive hallmarks of pubbiness and - sure enough - research confirms that it once was the Windmill Inn, although it's been many a long year since it last served a pint. Perched on the junction with Ballot Street opposite the Jamia Masjid Temple, it now appears to be a private residence but once upon a time would have been a lively community watering hole.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfFjKPeJfIs9H2LoDrABYelmJT6TiqY6MYjQ9DmiVBbZKcvUK6IC0x6Kzh2OLrGKEd3sVVj5fq1V4oOvGRjTgrIKCO4u79YOruUV73qqd85iqv9MoaVr6mOhpo0ryYMbpikttFO78HWSSkxyVo7YIDjpoeglFOmIGhNke5wxNvf5iwelconF8/s600/WMEwoodcrosseagle6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfFjKPeJfIs9H2LoDrABYelmJT6TiqY6MYjQ9DmiVBbZKcvUK6IC0x6Kzh2OLrGKEd3sVVj5fq1V4oOvGRjTgrIKCO4u79YOruUV73qqd85iqv9MoaVr6mOhpo0ryYMbpikttFO78HWSSkxyVo7YIDjpoeglFOmIGhNke5wxNvf5iwelconF8/s320/WMEwoodcrosseagle6.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- New Spread Eagle -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From Smethwick we'll switch our attentions to Woodcross - not far from the boundary between Wolverhampton and Dudley - in order to recall the New Spread Eagle. Meadow Lane was the address for this one, just off the ever busy A4123 Birmingham New Road, and the pub acted as a marker whenever I'd visit Mary Pointon branch library and the adjacent Special Needs Unit. For a while this place seemed to do carveries along with a possible sideline as a hand car wash but it was demolished circa 2011 to make way for a care home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTACTLk_vCav0lJOsE0VfSQKP6Xgt41u2-GMuccEOrBk4jPcRPMd2F9TKnLyWkZmKn6xYB8gGaQbWp0kbEoOMrdkhUP79r0ZUYToKHeykgatPnPiQkxgmu_u345uz42tMMbKC6YFXLOiUvLK16x73jEPQMh-HFOnOZlS3VndNOWfIid05aYHb/s600/BLOGcheswood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTACTLk_vCav0lJOsE0VfSQKP6Xgt41u2-GMuccEOrBk4jPcRPMd2F9TKnLyWkZmKn6xYB8gGaQbWp0kbEoOMrdkhUP79r0ZUYToKHeykgatPnPiQkxgmu_u345uz42tMMbKC6YFXLOiUvLK16x73jEPQMh-HFOnOZlS3VndNOWfIid05aYHb/s320/BLOGcheswood.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Woodman Inn -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Into Staffordshire we'll sorrowfully swoop to remember a terminated tavern from Cheslyn Hay. Hidden away somewhat in the Littlewood part of the village, the Woodman Inn could be found on Woodman Lane (off Brook Road) if you knew where to look. I never personally had the pleasure of sampling a drink here but am led to believe it was an old-fashioned establishment with a public bar that transported you straight to the 1970s. Houses now occupy the site. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltN7hhbjRu24ls-rT_bE-lUPQ-qFYOz0pxclwi5hnbFuC64muMrkR0mZh1st4rDU8Ez1teXNtyojM9ydCh81HINLdDmwP8IhDWI5EKdJtyFpQTBkjtrEcwyQFnXOvq5jRI2PJp3JbNQntQ4mwwR5Sa-3Me3orNI2xvOzARwevExByHrOR1hZ7/s600/BLOGcoserollers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltN7hhbjRu24ls-rT_bE-lUPQ-qFYOz0pxclwi5hnbFuC64muMrkR0mZh1st4rDU8Ez1teXNtyojM9ydCh81HINLdDmwP8IhDWI5EKdJtyFpQTBkjtrEcwyQFnXOvq5jRI2PJp3JbNQntQ4mwwR5Sa-3Me3orNI2xvOzARwevExByHrOR1hZ7/s320/BLOGcoserollers.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Rollers Arms -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Coseley area has the dubious distinction of being well represented in the Lost Pubs Series and here's another mournful addition from the said locality. Tucked away on Foundry Street close to the railway station, the Rollers Arms was a typical no-nonsense Black Country affair incongruously surrounded by offputting scrapyards and industrial units. Mr D9 and I memorably called by for a pint and a cob in September 2013 but it has latterly fallen by the wayside - I'm not sure if the closure is permanent but I'd be surprised if it ever came back, especially with the grim setting counting against it. Cheers, and Merry Christmas!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-47337080902676656252023-12-24T11:05:00.000+00:002023-12-26T11:06:30.260+00:00WME Flickr Focus - December 2023<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><b>Seasons Greetings to you, how has your Christmas been going? I've unwrapped all of my presents, gorged myself on turkey and mince pies, watched classic movies and nodded off more times than I'd care to mention but it's been a nice relaxed time with family for which I feel very lucky. The West Midlands Exploration clan of Flickr albums hasn't been forgotten either so lets see which gifts they had bestowed upon them in December...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Teddy bears must have been the in-vogue present this year, at least as far as my pictures are concerned. This is because the Big Sleuth sculpture trail of 2017 has made its presence felt on not one, not two but three of my galleries, starting with <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WME Solihull </span></b>where Grandpa Bear graces Solihull High Street (complete with checked shirt, braces and bifocals). Resorts World gets in on the act by playing host to Helarctos Malavanus - the scientific name for the sun bear species - and Chillin' In Paradise. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WME Birmingham</span> </b>has likewise benefited from some big bear attention, welcoming Goldie (by St Philip's Cathedral), Bearmingham (outside St Martin's in the Bullring), Bearhug (inside New Street Station) and the bee-themed Buzz (watching over the University of Birmingham's main campus library). The trail also included a selection of smaller bear cub statuettes from which I've plucked out Sutton Coldfield's example about saving the rainforests; a Somerville Road street sign from Small Heath seems almost incidental by comparison. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Still with the Big Sleuth, let's give a shout out to <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WME Sandwell</span> </b>which has pocketed Picnic Time For Teddy Bears as its newest recruit - I particularly approve of the childlike design of this bear. Elsewhere, Smethwick Locks supply more autumnal extras from my Galton Valley walk of 2016 and there are further sightings of the since-demolished New Navigation pub which used to stand on Lewisham Road. <br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WME Shropshire</span></b> can't claim any bears but it nevertheless dabbles in the realms of public art with thanks to Severn Valley Country Park. Bird carvings and fishy shads accompany generic views of streams and hewn footbridges whilst over in Shrewsbury I can report an encounter with a Bull's Head, the pub just up the hill from the town's railway station. Given that Salop had received next to no additions all year, this late burst just edges us into double figures. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">One gallery which never struggles for material is <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WME Wolverhampton </span></b>although it has had a relatively quiet month, merely mustering two Smestow Valley arty litterbug specimens plus a Homezone shopfront from The Scotlands. <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WME Walsall</span></b> has had a very solid 2023, latterly boosted by the Bloxwich (Lower Farm) bonus that is the Saddlers Arms pub; <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WME Dudley</span></b> sneaks in with some Sedgley stuff, most notably a splash of greenery from Turls Hill Road; and last word honours happen to fall to <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WME Warwickshire</span></b> with its Shrewley speculations amounting to the Durham Ox and a village hall viewpoint. Until 2024, enjoy the pictures!</span></div><div><br /></div></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-90251658165705755052023-12-16T12:33:00.008+00:002023-12-16T12:33:54.418+00:00The Earlswood Festive Forage<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>Having brought up the WME blog chiliad with my last post, I'll thrust headlong into the next thousand entries via another tale of December derring-do. Festive Forages with a certain Nick Turpin have become a staple of my wintertime wanderings each year, and for the 2023 edition we've earmarked a prime dose of Earlswood exploration...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoODWi78V5rG4ib07MTfcEpyCAfeo9zcpXi4j53mWVzt3yFZSDy_J6czu-asGoe7P7nnpxJ2ob1ySoWUxVzEjtdUoTtzAUPVAXx_8mEUPiZ8r8Zjyfs0CKziAHAQKb1buF8hmLFf2SpGzmJp5P8dqO1MNqtNiWHjgMYaxeBcbEMiM2ggbqILm/s600/earls001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoODWi78V5rG4ib07MTfcEpyCAfeo9zcpXi4j53mWVzt3yFZSDy_J6czu-asGoe7P7nnpxJ2ob1ySoWUxVzEjtdUoTtzAUPVAXx_8mEUPiZ8r8Zjyfs0CKziAHAQKb1buF8hmLFf2SpGzmJp5P8dqO1MNqtNiWHjgMYaxeBcbEMiM2ggbqILm/s320/earls001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- 'Ginger' -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's the morning of Friday 15th December 2023 as Nick and I convene under Ozzy the Bull's watchful gaze at Birmingham New Street station; the iconic Commonwealth Games beast is currently adorned with seasonal accoutrements including Pat Butcher-style bauble earrings. Keeping with the theme of public art, the first stage of our foraging brief involves a Snowdog search starting in Hurst Street to see 'Ginger' outside the Hippodrome. This particular pooch has been decorated like a gingerbread cookie with candy cane ears and tail.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvrF6GN-XK0kt-7BZ7hBrpQhugacbsTpdU2YCBmgxeFy_e7OOvODp1-WVXAALOqjPUitDwe2647LSqQ7-xKBcWbLylghq3gW_bHlJzoLlvptu8twMvPGG-JACIvvG1KgM6VNcuaI7uH1bV93qQGvxg44gvNG_M8tR0I17SWiOmEdJZ9anMMR-/s600/earls002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvrF6GN-XK0kt-7BZ7hBrpQhugacbsTpdU2YCBmgxeFy_e7OOvODp1-WVXAALOqjPUitDwe2647LSqQ7-xKBcWbLylghq3gW_bHlJzoLlvptu8twMvPGG-JACIvvG1KgM6VNcuaI7uH1bV93qQGvxg44gvNG_M8tR0I17SWiOmEdJZ9anMMR-/s320/earls002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- 'Bark The Herald Angels Sing' -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our quest to find further canine characters takes us next to The Mailbox to discover 'Sparkle' (glossy white with a silvery snout) and thence to the Bull Ring where 'Bark The Herald Angels Sing' awaits, complete with depictions of cherubic carol singers. Unavailability of train crews is causing some disruption on the line to Stratford-upon-Avon via Shirley so our Earlswood ideas need to be put on hold momentarily. We can however catch a train as far as Whitlocks End and set about covering our planned Wythall walk as a workaround solution.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19XMrl_kL69Z-baIkacC0_MpfYhvefqxG0m9TObyqJaOVCt_6lTJ8aARYt8wWoHwdZCatKnk5E5LtWSjWDCNANkFJV0DepxfCJNK9Iamy-k7C5RVODimwgjUrIy3PWcxYVKN8tTVaJcG8hnZkbU1BhJ5RFReiAx5QrXAF72s1n4_T7dm4Edn3/s600/earls003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19XMrl_kL69Z-baIkacC0_MpfYhvefqxG0m9TObyqJaOVCt_6lTJ8aARYt8wWoHwdZCatKnk5E5LtWSjWDCNANkFJV0DepxfCJNK9Iamy-k7C5RVODimwgjUrIy3PWcxYVKN8tTVaJcG8hnZkbU1BhJ5RFReiAx5QrXAF72s1n4_T7dm4Edn3/s320/earls003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- Hooray for Hollywood? -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I say Wythall but I suppose we actually cover the neighbouring communities of Hollywood and Drakes Cross instead, although they kind of all blend into one mass anyway. It has to be said that Worcestershire's version of Hollywood is nowhere near as glamorous as its Los Angeles namesake and although Nick has something of a royal resemblance he wouldn't really pass for an A-list celebrity. May Lane seems to be where some of the local amenities are based (a pharmacy, a fish bar and Lacey's craft butchers for example) although Shawhurst Lane is where you'll find Coppice Primary School, Woodrush High School and a community hub.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt3GH3CinqdBNZCHUZBMSXO1DyCe4x2qh58sKrfkOS0YTedykD8MF3MI3059wn0lqxeLfX5MtNHlY85kQMc7dDiiVrKGWXKVzrPC8nm1N8dhd2Qq_7i700Ao_SNdpAGLMSfR_TcIiXXlgIHsAvqBTX6E_2uWU-Dr1HTIwL68rFb9BXSzRoXy0/s600/earls004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvt3GH3CinqdBNZCHUZBMSXO1DyCe4x2qh58sKrfkOS0YTedykD8MF3MI3059wn0lqxeLfX5MtNHlY85kQMc7dDiiVrKGWXKVzrPC8nm1N8dhd2Qq_7i700Ao_SNdpAGLMSfR_TcIiXXlgIHsAvqBTX6E_2uWU-Dr1HTIwL68rFb9BXSzRoXy0/s320/earls004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- Dabbling with Drakes Cross -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There aren't any pubs particularly close to Wythall railway station so the two we try out are both at least a mile away at Alcester Road intervals. The Packhorse might have a coaching inn pedigree but these days is a fairly standard Sizzling effort, admittedly lively enough with a steady stream of regulars, whereas the White Swan at Drakes Cross is a Stonehouse carvery attracting peckish pensioners. We have a half of Guinness in each establishment just to say we've been while Nick's mind boggles over the prospect of ordering either a Hot Mess or a Dirty Dawg off the Packhorse menu, never mind the invitation to pimp a brownie. Our wider Drakes Cross sightseeing then incorporates a small war memorial obelisk, a vintage granite mileage marker and a shopping parade - all useful finds!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj78b0dAgA0rLZpr6qA8m-pOzyzzJOngselBF_Jrfl8FGeeHca2LKyNyeVPOjWN5CAQYNGtr4C4oDl41Oqscy2jg7W8YLjldUVm5gZ31-59_hV9yUwbWqNTttkMrQtcZxSunAZsLjq1xWBE8eG9STZgROhx0crWrY7uWaiJgFkStOMkiVjgrp/s600/earls005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDj78b0dAgA0rLZpr6qA8m-pOzyzzJOngselBF_Jrfl8FGeeHca2LKyNyeVPOjWN5CAQYNGtr4C4oDl41Oqscy2jg7W8YLjldUVm5gZ31-59_hV9yUwbWqNTttkMrQtcZxSunAZsLjq1xWBE8eG9STZgROhx0crWrY7uWaiJgFkStOMkiVjgrp/s320/earls005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Santa Smile in the Red Lion -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The earlier train staffing issues have now rectified themselves and the 14:02 departure is on schedule, meaning we can proceed to Earlswood as intended. It's only a two minute journey on from Wythall - not even long enough to devour a pack of Mini Cheddars - and we're soon proceeding along Wood Lane to reach the Red Lion on Lady Lane. Compared to the previous two pubs this is a step up in class, hence Nick feels very much at home parading around in his knitted swan pullover and worryingly-erect Santa hat. We position ourselves by a well-stocked bookcase so as to partake of Timmy Taylor's Landlord, dodging diners haranguing the poor waitresses about a lack of barbecue sauce. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8YHNjchcUohVOsQkLxl98GBRTmUmI8m3W-xQRRXFSQh5d_kqH4AAFnior6LZNs1bGX-AWg3-eSpbmYZZp8d5r7UtsV7OHsqKo5XZ8QlTv48ALXqRIg0M_mJKeYHDa2Cd8tULMmsCIRYcjixJiEQOL7eKZoFRP36xmVsgN2j_AOaKO2EgzfNc/s600/earls006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8YHNjchcUohVOsQkLxl98GBRTmUmI8m3W-xQRRXFSQh5d_kqH4AAFnior6LZNs1bGX-AWg3-eSpbmYZZp8d5r7UtsV7OHsqKo5XZ8QlTv48ALXqRIg0M_mJKeYHDa2Cd8tULMmsCIRYcjixJiEQOL7eKZoFRP36xmVsgN2j_AOaKO2EgzfNc/s320/earls006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Bull's Head -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lady Lane lends itself to a towpath interlude whereby it's always good to sample some of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. The stretch from Bridges 16 to 19 has us hurdling muddy puddles in places but we make it to the Blue Bell Cider House at Warings Green undaunted; it perhaps isn't quite as rustic as we remember here but still well worth visiting and the Weatheroak Bees Knees ale is in excellent condition. After that, a short Lime Kiln Lane scurry conveys us to the Bull's Head for a spot of Thwaites hospitality. Earlswood may be a fair distance removed from the Ribble Valley yet the Yule Love It seasonal ale is on song and we're very impressed by the sturdy outdoor marquee which keeps us surprisingly warm.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1iJjbqTwVk354wB9vFXC12zYO424g5QlQxSVEu5ntIcuo5UTJ0yYG_UUzMPel5pLUNulKwkqIvfVXPM6b0Vi0PWK-I_aAhIrvVw8Y4wUB88Ji2jQl0Q9DJASk3kgSwkICVRq4vxLKpngfLWqWL59X-A48g4xBNmEP8pwjflFL2fNqY2UfxSI/s600/earls007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1iJjbqTwVk354wB9vFXC12zYO424g5QlQxSVEu5ntIcuo5UTJ0yYG_UUzMPel5pLUNulKwkqIvfVXPM6b0Vi0PWK-I_aAhIrvVw8Y4wUB88Ji2jQl0Q9DJASk3kgSwkICVRq4vxLKpngfLWqWL59X-A48g4xBNmEP8pwjflFL2fNqY2UfxSI/s320/earls007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Lakes at Dusk -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Had the Reservoir still been trading we'd likely have tried that for a finale but it's being readied for a 2024 Hickory's Smokehouse relaunch so that'll be that. We do have the not insignificant pleasure of seeing Earlswood Lakes at dusk though, Malt House Lane bisecting Windmill Pool and Engine Pool just as the last vestiges of daylight drop below the horizon. Together with Terry's Pool, these bodies of water were constructed as canal feeders and continue to act as suppliers to the Stratford Canal as well as important wildlife habitats. Last but not least, we pitch up at The Lakes railway station for our homeward connections; facilities are minimal and the platforms are short but the station is no longer treated as a request stop following the May 2023 timetable changes. All that remains is for Nick and I to wish you all a Merry Christmas!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-14858113859962275312023-12-09T12:56:00.000+00:002023-12-09T12:56:27.852+00:00The Hub Marketing Board's Stafford Santa Special<span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>I'd never have guessed back in May 2006 that I would still be wittering away with my blog ramblings over 17 years later but here I am about to submit post number 1,000 - yes, really! Such a landmark total deserves a truly memorable trip so what better than the Hub Marketing Board's Christmas bash for 2023 which sees Mr D9 and myself sampling a few beers over in Stafford...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb-Pz9qd2FbDfhYBrasNBgWX0x7WzBof4cAf_R_UuKh5i0maaK6ZmTukUZhOwCUlMCJxzKp6jQytnM7nvSDmc4AqRlZgDfU6Ua4weGCZy7nXpnKik8Ypx9KMOSil9rOFPQQW0haw2cbqrr7oZJE0EUPDTOwv9oovqanxYBmClEByOAkGVP5F3/s600/staff001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb-Pz9qd2FbDfhYBrasNBgWX0x7WzBof4cAf_R_UuKh5i0maaK6ZmTukUZhOwCUlMCJxzKp6jQytnM7nvSDmc4AqRlZgDfU6Ua4weGCZy7nXpnKik8Ypx9KMOSil9rOFPQQW0haw2cbqrr7oZJE0EUPDTOwv9oovqanxYBmClEByOAkGVP5F3/s320/staff001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Bald Spot Assesses the River Sow -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Friday 8th December 2023 and the weather is dull verging on dreary as Board members congregate at Wolverhampton railway station, the Chairman insisting on sprinting into position even though the extended Midland Metro tram now drops him right outside. The 12:26 Crewe departure is the train we need, and ten minutes later we are surveying Stafford's Victoria Park where the River Sow has burst its banks - either that or some of the incumbent park benches have taken it up themselves to indulge in an inexplicable spot of paddling!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxT932j8KOQgNMbItNgwJk6-pBNAo5h3GaO8nURUNRwnt2JxfTWs_64xTHUtKpKxmoyR9aOrQpR4_SyHP8sTW8uKd1dZtUvSIbWU5pO2doQFogMRTnWZUfZvIGxoth4R_BEHxvpvasbn7Xzjdp_2lZuVEoaUH1KUOiVuyK-KOdQWQb7RP_EDq/s600/staff002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxT932j8KOQgNMbItNgwJk6-pBNAo5h3GaO8nURUNRwnt2JxfTWs_64xTHUtKpKxmoyR9aOrQpR4_SyHP8sTW8uKd1dZtUvSIbWU5pO2doQFogMRTnWZUfZvIGxoth4R_BEHxvpvasbn7Xzjdp_2lZuVEoaUH1KUOiVuyK-KOdQWQb7RP_EDq/s320/staff002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- George meets WG Grace -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tradition dictates that whenever we're in the vicinity of Victoria Park we must go and say hello to a certain bearded sculpture over by the bowling green. This time around WG Grace has to contend with the attentions of George our fluffy feline mascot, although the cricketing legend seems to take it all very ably in his hirsute stride. Nearby, Mill Bank takes us past the remains of a medieval watermill to reach the Coach & Horses which is poised to be our first pubbing port of call; as a Craft Union establishment we are expecting this to be relatively cheap and relatively cheerful so it meets our predictions on both counts. £2.95 Carling and a soundtrack drawn from The Who and ELO, that'll get us up and running properly enough. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDynqrZsfF78gAlZoUkqyhv2Wj71yG4gWhWkYzSLKwX6Sdoyyd6s-Covl6XAUheSt8eZgyqy5KDL__b8X-Ktioy6fDyIQ_uSIfNledJ2bqNY84tM_4-iYcG5kklDE6m9sxy-XujlLwJehQ1x0xmemapDg75Wi02o0EsQtfuBg8yhjuQL6lCbaF/s600/staff003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDynqrZsfF78gAlZoUkqyhv2Wj71yG4gWhWkYzSLKwX6Sdoyyd6s-Covl6XAUheSt8eZgyqy5KDL__b8X-Ktioy6fDyIQ_uSIfNledJ2bqNY84tM_4-iYcG5kklDE6m9sxy-XujlLwJehQ1x0xmemapDg75Wi02o0EsQtfuBg8yhjuQL6lCbaF/s320/staff003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- WME Whirlwind Regains His Crown -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We had earmarked either the 828 (to Lichfield) or 841 (to Uttoxeter) for onward bus progress but in the end we decide to walk it along Weston Road instead. In fairness, it isn't all that far to the Metropolitan anyway although the poor old Chairman might wish he'd never set foot in the place. Don't get us wrong, we like the pub and the beer (in this case JW Lees's Plum Pudding, appropriately fruity) but it's the fateful decision to play darts that will have Mr D9 looking back with regret. Our battle for oche supremacy had been a close run thing all year, D9 Destroyer taking an early lead in West Bromwich and Tipton only for WME Whirlwind to steadily claw his way back into contention. It all boils down to a nailbiting decider which the Secretary clinically snatches by four legs to nil, thus reclaiming the title he held with a vicelike grip until 2020. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJOqg259O8x_Nv4TE00-xP0L3E-eQxDAlXX8NWYaLT-0bpBX2LZM6ZaRXsTInOqJhwqomUwN5Ep3z7EGgwcKf1VCPrpbvABaPRQb5gNpfFVSYjPfK7Kxj1tn2lfJ9BtEEOlsuVzTaLbHbkjpHGmcMkst1BZDYPS40YcOlP4IoE6FP7W0mGtpW/s600/staff004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJOqg259O8x_Nv4TE00-xP0L3E-eQxDAlXX8NWYaLT-0bpBX2LZM6ZaRXsTInOqJhwqomUwN5Ep3z7EGgwcKf1VCPrpbvABaPRQb5gNpfFVSYjPfK7Kxj1tn2lfJ9BtEEOlsuVzTaLbHbkjpHGmcMkst1BZDYPS40YcOlP4IoE6FP7W0mGtpW/s320/staff004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- Mr D9's Duvet Dilemma -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Elsewhere on the Weston Road, we pause to account for the Prince of Wales which registers as a homely local boozer merely a few doors up from the Metropolitan. The cosy lounge here is our cue for a quick Carling whilst grappling with the Hub Nominations spreadsheet, expertly sellotaped together by our illustrious Chairman but with font so tiny that neither of us are able to read it!! Keith Hill's bookmakers shop (presumably long closed?) stands next to the Coin-op Launderette where Mr D9 laments not bringing his duvet along and we threaten to put George through a spin cycle by way of road-testing the washing machines. Just the standard silliness!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoos8mItbZP6_xp-F8UrYWDQrgHmnMIRidbHxTXPLdY_amjeT-lcc-SjCKP9UXwxHHQ0n0dsE3BFqVJXkjYbIo7oYY2NXec2t3vN8KXX_r78r2px6FgrpJWPPvDr064RFvdUFZ1Vyp_5PIrONmPMlcU9cb0b7VJ1MnNmz_krt9_IMRzhlM1cB/s600/staff005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="600" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoos8mItbZP6_xp-F8UrYWDQrgHmnMIRidbHxTXPLdY_amjeT-lcc-SjCKP9UXwxHHQ0n0dsE3BFqVJXkjYbIo7oYY2NXec2t3vN8KXX_r78r2px6FgrpJWPPvDr064RFvdUFZ1Vyp_5PIrONmPMlcU9cb0b7VJ1MnNmz_krt9_IMRzhlM1cB/s320/staff005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Morris Man -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Inching our way further out of town, we reach the area known as Kingston Hill and eagerly anticipate a visit to the Morris Man as situated off Alliss Close beside a Premier convenience store. Anyone who's read a fair few of my previous 999 blog posts will know that Mr D9 has a declared liking for estate box boozers and this one really ticks all of his boxes, from the simple two room layout to the 1970s/1980s-type architecture. The kitchen specialises in Nepalese cuisine but we concentrate on unveiling the 2024 Hub Marketing calendar, always a highlight of any year. As ever there are quiffs, bald spots and plenty of daft poses although I suspect a royal salute from Hartshill in April may just have stolen the show!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7RXiZey8zZXr9l5QV5ZIFsTaZ3PvBU0HrXrYuxeS8m2OVvf1SC4Bk2Eeu7lQHSkf9c6MAvhWZgqK4L2hiYEsbSMwVGyCZq5PoGW_9O3DWwoIQ9RnxSHrQ3HloqSOx5GG_huk7XDiPGtSRp5haW2bsSdM11fcUGnSS8hBMIEmcl3x6q9OPBiy/s600/staff006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7RXiZey8zZXr9l5QV5ZIFsTaZ3PvBU0HrXrYuxeS8m2OVvf1SC4Bk2Eeu7lQHSkf9c6MAvhWZgqK4L2hiYEsbSMwVGyCZq5PoGW_9O3DWwoIQ9RnxSHrQ3HloqSOx5GG_huk7XDiPGtSRp5haW2bsSdM11fcUGnSS8hBMIEmcl3x6q9OPBiy/s320/staff006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Ship Aground -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Venturing back into Stafford town centre, we'll round things off with a few hostelries that had yet to receive their hub call to arms. The Grapes is another Craft Union offering which boasts a distinctively rounded frontage at the bottom end of Bridge Street; Secretary WME lands a cheap round here even though the Chairman insists on sampling the Beavertown Neck Oil. We then decamp to the Ship Aground craft bar literally just across Newport Road, treating ourselves to a delectable drop of 'Fairytale of Brew York' - billed as a stroopwafel milk stout, this is deep and rich with compelling hints of caramel and cinnamon. Utterly moreish!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWnXMI5aIMEySx-Tk77PaOhSblLA-T3aBo87ueVblwyDFL78DN8mMguVrnb3Frb1viVHamruQTEFQMPABRNAopUi2W25mdxgwZ2TWOYXsz6kVVVbteMHeBaHJXtkCj1ycPFaoeaNdFmQIXno5mwVCs6My6w61O29QOgsgUTrEk5Aue_2Qh26J/s600/staff007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWnXMI5aIMEySx-Tk77PaOhSblLA-T3aBo87ueVblwyDFL78DN8mMguVrnb3Frb1viVHamruQTEFQMPABRNAopUi2W25mdxgwZ2TWOYXsz6kVVVbteMHeBaHJXtkCj1ycPFaoeaNdFmQIXno5mwVCs6My6w61O29QOgsgUTrEk5Aue_2Qh26J/s320/staff007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial;"><b>- Cheers from the Chairman -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Maintaining the microbar remit, we mustn't ignore the Devil's Taphouse (the Floodgate Ale House under new ownership) where the liquid delights keep right on a-coming. Being a firm fan of Tiny Rebel's Stay Puft marshmellow porter, I can't resist trying their Sleigh Puft festive chocolatey variation with added notes of nougat - we're literally being spoiled in one small corner of Stafford! The Bird in Hand then proves bustlingly inviting for a Black Country Ales finale as we gorge on beef and onion cobs in readiness for the train home. So concludes another epic Hub Marketing year, and we'll aim to be back in 2024 for more such antics!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-70307759597455915602023-12-03T12:44:00.002+00:002023-12-03T12:44:37.346+00:00Brrrrrr...andhall<p><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>You can certainly tell we're into the winter months now given that the start of December has coincided with plummeting temperatures. Wrapping up warm, I brave the chill for a Saturday Study around Brandhall - here comes the tale of the trip...</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuBvG_YryaLi-cMCYnSCFbVg26VGEb-1OKGIFhFE7krojQoY1o8FKZ2uk0qzOOQ5GlLqxrBI3vBAz4DapsRMVKHQv1ZG4eKXVTt53-gqBIPj8WR1ScF64inXwAzN57Apn4kEV7liU1uZcAWodpbRNlwToxGL9FK6MidXnIyoLhXAc2Im3DNke/s600/brrrr001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuBvG_YryaLi-cMCYnSCFbVg26VGEb-1OKGIFhFE7krojQoY1o8FKZ2uk0qzOOQ5GlLqxrBI3vBAz4DapsRMVKHQv1ZG4eKXVTt53-gqBIPj8WR1ScF64inXwAzN57Apn4kEV7liU1uZcAWodpbRNlwToxGL9FK6MidXnIyoLhXAc2Im3DNke/s320/brrrr001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>- 'Rupert' in Waterstones -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before I get started on the Sandwell segments, let me first tell you about the festive fun on offer in Wolverhampton. After successful previous iterations involving nutcracker soldiers, jungle animals and dinosaurs, the Enjoy Wolverhampton team have devised a trail involving gingerbread characters as part of the city's Christmas festivities. Ten such specimens have been dotted at locations around the main centre, including 'Rupert' who has the honour of guarding the bookshelves in the Waterstones store on Victoria Street. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14yLdjvUVk9c8tw26OgENq76ssWIYfaJT938ceBnLvSxpf1Rpxtxl5DL3YDGfuDMGYMfjJ6Thy_mMI-nKv3qvKoVpH-UDoYhC_qJ22CclIJjB1yWEeV7UqKUGjRmTiMJWcOCLHaAK7WpRJBdTp1fyezxg-T4BL2Kp7LxFajZKTZnGAKMCul1a/s600/brrrr002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14yLdjvUVk9c8tw26OgENq76ssWIYfaJT938ceBnLvSxpf1Rpxtxl5DL3YDGfuDMGYMfjJ6Thy_mMI-nKv3qvKoVpH-UDoYhC_qJ22CclIJjB1yWEeV7UqKUGjRmTiMJWcOCLHaAK7WpRJBdTp1fyezxg-T4BL2Kp7LxFajZKTZnGAKMCul1a/s320/brrrr002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>- With 'Lucille' at the Central Library -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Keen to track down more of the gingerbread folk, Stephen and I spent a good hour on Friday morning seeing how many we could find. We managed six in total, from 'Goldie' the dog in Compton Care to 'Ed' in the Art Gallery (craftily hidden behind their Christmas tree). 'Lucille' proved a particular favourite, taking us back to our old Central Library stomping ground where she holds court by the Adult Lending counter. Each character is decorated with mock icing and cute little buttons; you've got until January 2024 to find them all should you so desire. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0xfKaTPD8Nuqg2IvqqU7jdkRNOkcxzbu6jVP3KOZTnKYbI_EPbi9aKtrnfgSP7el6pUDf10Lrm5hFb0f9f2ocB3aGQ43cND2XF2W0JUUtswH8k1BSXeN4Ulw1TKChof36PDtnEvXyMVV_KTVG5L-yVdubAkBnBlBO4W2x-z30ebwQ_8RflcG/s600/brrrr003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0xfKaTPD8Nuqg2IvqqU7jdkRNOkcxzbu6jVP3KOZTnKYbI_EPbi9aKtrnfgSP7el6pUDf10Lrm5hFb0f9f2ocB3aGQ43cND2XF2W0JUUtswH8k1BSXeN4Ulw1TKChof36PDtnEvXyMVV_KTVG5L-yVdubAkBnBlBO4W2x-z30ebwQ_8RflcG/s320/brrrr003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>- Royal Ruminations at Rowley Regis? -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To Saturday 2nd December and my Brandhall brief requires me to set forth from Rowley Regis railway station, a regular stop on the line between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stourbridge. The bridge beneath the booking hall has been brightened up no end thanks to the creation of two colourful murals; the one on the Stourbridge-bound platform features King Henry VIII and the Black Country chain flag, while its counterpart on the Birmingham side depicts horses, flowers and a Class 170 DMU train. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEtpXhHPjPrAYXV9LsgLh937dHyFQs4WDbRIOl_VPi680wIXm99ZsmWuE-7mq9cvKZ6JcxEEHhetfAziomqDLgx8VmbYMNPaCj8DmnQcNcfQ_DYXtZv2jKgqKauALBFZB89idNX90Pe8yXn2TJSF3LeE4WveiLcmeNL1s6C8Dajy1QgSUeCkt/s600/brrrr004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEtpXhHPjPrAYXV9LsgLh937dHyFQs4WDbRIOl_VPi680wIXm99ZsmWuE-7mq9cvKZ6JcxEEHhetfAziomqDLgx8VmbYMNPaCj8DmnQcNcfQ_DYXtZv2jKgqKauALBFZB89idNX90Pe8yXn2TJSF3LeE4WveiLcmeNL1s6C8Dajy1QgSUeCkt/s320/brrrr004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>- Brandhall Golf Club -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cakemore Road inches me over the M5 motorway then I venture through the estates either side of Grafton Road. Causeway Green Primary School has a separate alleyway leading to its caretaker's house while the Grafton Lodge Resource Centre has shut down due to asbestos concerns. Brook Road has a rudimentary block of shops comprising a Costcutter store, the Angel Garden takeaway and the Friary Fish Bar, but the most interesting discovery (in my opinion) awaits on nearby Heron Road where the sad remains of Brandhall Golf Club require inspection. 116 years worth of golfing history here have unfortunately drawn to a close after Sandwell Council chose to cease operating the club as a municipal facility. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiad0F0nFGNPuYJQxlasql9n4ImHokThuTLOoYgha3Ta4y6LwElYdrXrMKRWO4UI5lZAOqa5k9t9M4O-qAIO61swd-BKs0QioBP7G-B4g_MwrAMCcxu4vchxFkewGBo85U1ZZSTZKjJvLXvoI8SRfzuY00fbfKC_lFH9PZ_5Mf7mWMG0Dv39B7/s600/brrrr005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiad0F0nFGNPuYJQxlasql9n4ImHokThuTLOoYgha3Ta4y6LwElYdrXrMKRWO4UI5lZAOqa5k9t9M4O-qAIO61swd-BKs0QioBP7G-B4g_MwrAMCcxu4vchxFkewGBo85U1ZZSTZKjJvLXvoI8SRfzuY00fbfKC_lFH9PZ_5Mf7mWMG0Dv39B7/s320/brrrr005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>- Brandhall Golf Course -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Having surveyed the fenced-off club house with its hints of 1970s lettering, I nip through onto the golf course proper which continues to act as a popular area of public open space. It's very frosty underfoot as I crunch my way over towards Queensway, pausing for occasional vistas of statuesque trees and abandoned tee positions. A dog walking gathering is underway, hence the presence of several excitable hounds, while the freezing fog of early morning is gradually burning away to give icily bright cloudless skies. Proposals to build 190 homes and a new school here have met with considerable opposition but the scheme is expected to go ahead. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvW9dTcmuQOPvMDNBN9huof73DAaLBghrSHx6AjiYt4n5IkFcgL2MCcM555XsfFhoO-w-BL4ShFtSvHd8AuNmHwyV1a_Rx7eY8iuyfu-BdjRSa-qNF1vV0Q0UXMwOogRq5VKsFdl0b9euAjDPi3xAGSfUME4enK8Wp7zEX8qmBi-AZ6LRrsBxo/s600/brrrr006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvW9dTcmuQOPvMDNBN9huof73DAaLBghrSHx6AjiYt4n5IkFcgL2MCcM555XsfFhoO-w-BL4ShFtSvHd8AuNmHwyV1a_Rx7eY8iuyfu-BdjRSa-qNF1vV0Q0UXMwOogRq5VKsFdl0b9euAjDPi3xAGSfUME4enK8Wp7zEX8qmBi-AZ6LRrsBxo/s320/brrrr006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>- Brandhall Library -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emerging onto Queensway, I tentatively proceed into the centre of Brandhall as marked by the provision of several amenities along Tame Road. A Co-op supermarket overlooks two Foley Drive bus stops while the Oak Tree Centre is part of the Kings Community Church. Elsewhere, the neighbouring branch library and Labour Club are seemingly engaged in their own private battle, trying to outdo each other in terms of flat-roofed architectural appeal. The latter serves as the constituency office for John Spellar, Labour MP for Warley since 1992. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GtVNX7kYZyGtDllbm7_-3nGHLZkeRQscom0A4ci4jTZ0-kVa1Ac0Y7SA1yNiIQiDIYIUwOHC5tOuoj0sb3Xki95WYsVlngbJv7O0gqOmeK1FEe-GTm305BY2TgLQywo4-WNv22HZAnFz6vxDZ5gjuhpVdDq-yPMC8eaZ8XFTI-Sct8ws8Hm0/s600/brrrr007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GtVNX7kYZyGtDllbm7_-3nGHLZkeRQscom0A4ci4jTZ0-kVa1Ac0Y7SA1yNiIQiDIYIUwOHC5tOuoj0sb3Xki95WYsVlngbJv7O0gqOmeK1FEe-GTm305BY2TgLQywo4-WNv22HZAnFz6vxDZ5gjuhpVdDq-yPMC8eaZ8XFTI-Sct8ws8Hm0/s320/brrrr007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Old Bush Revived -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Those Brandhall endeavours have primed me for a pint, in which case the Swan on Long Lane isn't too far away (once I've nimbly plotted a course through Hurst Green that is). Happy as Larry from Heritage Brewing is my opening tipple - aided and abetted by a huge ham salad cob - as some West Brom fans congregate to watch the lunchtime kickoff against Leicester. Never one to subject myself to too much Albion spectatorship, I wisely seek out additional Black Country Ales hospitality courtesy of the Old Bush Revived on Powke Lane, Blackheath. This place was a Banks's free house for many years but I do like what BCA have done with it, retaining the inherent cosiness when applying their usual stylings. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoV9mKeoQGRFBWI3zw2q_5HUJpD9dG7koXRNzw1LeMXmE8G0NDU-XJptQASFdtEJQPjcl8GeLsaL9dY1GP9owU0tw1TsRqDWM-WIr7PrQbDSB-eWr_Fn6Wlhhw1S-4TSgp8NaMWBEj4fK0MZFSW68tCm99fTR7Yq_kTjSB73PSIvyFmb95QvY/s600/brrrr008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoV9mKeoQGRFBWI3zw2q_5HUJpD9dG7koXRNzw1LeMXmE8G0NDU-XJptQASFdtEJQPjcl8GeLsaL9dY1GP9owU0tw1TsRqDWM-WIr7PrQbDSB-eWr_Fn6Wlhhw1S-4TSgp8NaMWBEj4fK0MZFSW68tCm99fTR7Yq_kTjSB73PSIvyFmb95QvY/s320/brrrr008.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: arial;"><b>- Holden's Hopster at the Waterfall -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">WME law dictates that a visit to the Old Bush Revived goes hand-in-hand with a call at The Waterfall just down the hill, and I'm not about to break the habit of a lifetime today. Holden's Hopster rewards the descent, sitting in the French-flavoured front lounge from whence I can watch the sun slowly setting over Old Hill. I'm not in any particular rush to get home so a Fixed Wheel finale care of Wheelie Thirsty works well, finishing off on a Mount Olympus Pale Ale (Burning Soul) as the December evening really draws in. Once again I've had a superb day out and about in the Black Country, you just can't beat it - cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-83436641347062238242023-12-01T08:30:00.001+00:002023-12-01T08:30:00.134+00:00WME Flickr Focus - November 2023<p><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial;"><b>Hello readers! In the words of Perry Como - or Michael Buble if you're of a more recent persuasion - it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Snowdogs have appeared on the streets of Birmingham, likewise gingerbread characters have formed a festive trail here in Wolverhampton, and big production seasonal advert juggernauts are punctuating every single commercial break on television. We're still a few weeks away from the big day itself though so we'll concentrate on November's photostream deliveries for now...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Opening up their presents ahead of schedule are <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">WME Coventry </span></b>and <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">WME Solihull</span></b>; given the paucity of updates both galleries usually have to endure, they can be forgiven for getting a tad overexcited. Coventry has raided Radford for a Catesby Road bus stop and a very faded pub sign representative from the Pilot, whereas Solihull became overly occupied with Olton again thanks to Highwood Avenue, the Olton Tavern and the Wharf canalside trading estate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By contrast,<span style="color: #93c47d;"> <b>WME Wolverhampton</b></span> is almost never short of incoming gifts and has stockpiled significantly over the last few weeks. Penn has been particularly productive, picking out the local cricket and bowling clubs plus a peek at Paris Flooring, while Parkfield provides two archive snapshots of Teddy's Cafe (a.k.a. the former Parkfield Tavern). Pinfold Grove's pretty blossoms are another notable new arrival from our well-stuffed sack of Wulfrunian treats.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Elsewhere among the West Midlands metropolitan boroughs, <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">WME Walsall </span></b>rummages about Reedswood when accounting for the Alma pub, Reedswood Lane and Rowland Street; <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">WME Dudley</span></b> potters over to Park Head Locks on the Dudley No. 1 Canal with a side order of the adjacent railway viaduct; <span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>WME Sandwell</b> </span>targets a Princes End ex-railway path and rambles along Ryders Green Locks; and <span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>WME Birmingham</b> </span>admires the planting at Perry Hall Park. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The wider shires haven't been completely omitted from Santa's draft naughty-or-nice list but which category their behaviour falls under is open to debate. <span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>WME Staffordshire</b> </span>pockets a Pool Hall log whilst also ordering up an Orton Lodge snippet, then the final word for November goes to <b><span style="color: #93c47d;">WME Warwickshire</span> </b>with its Packwood Avenue treescape and an ecclesiastical entry from Rowington Church. The countdown to Christmas will now continue into December whereby I hope to bring glad tidings of even more exciting updates...</span></p>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-1252502461416825342023-11-26T09:05:00.000+00:002023-11-26T09:05:33.651+00:00Dudley Winter Ales Fayre 2023<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: arial;"><b>You know you're on the countdown to Christmas when the Dudley Winter Ales Fayre rolls around again, and each year I always earmark the last weekend in November for attending arguably my favourite beer festival. Nick and I certainly aren't about to miss out on the 2023 running, held once more at Dudley Town Hall - let's see what's what...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf58JcseGanOmE9t0KI44PKealRi7LvPAqpcq5d1rPaHcwmpmCLpDR6FMpnzpiJhIK9r6yJx9hURi8_RvEffu_uav_jZCxXOnsKNn98q-pd9mj9O4i9XJzihO6QkFeHPLP3n6jImO90n3JScAyBJclbHmVtHHiS0yXskabHGtz5a392M52c1WQ/s600/dud001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf58JcseGanOmE9t0KI44PKealRi7LvPAqpcq5d1rPaHcwmpmCLpDR6FMpnzpiJhIK9r6yJx9hURi8_RvEffu_uav_jZCxXOnsKNn98q-pd9mj9O4i9XJzihO6QkFeHPLP3n6jImO90n3JScAyBJclbHmVtHHiS0yXskabHGtz5a392M52c1WQ/s320/dud001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: arial;"><b>- Tettenhall Green -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Friday 24th November 2023 and my day begins in Tettenhall from whence I can catch the number 1 bus direct into Dudley via Wolverhampton City Centre and Sedgley. It's one of those crisp bright autumnal mornings and it's never any hardship to have a mooch around Tettenhall Green, especially with the trees in all of their golden splendour. The paddling pool has been drained of its water now we're headed for the winter months but the Upper Green Clock still chimes for all its worth - it was originally installed to mark King George V's coronation. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd4R8BnjhVBPvcDfywkmJeE-HF6MrWBgQ8rEAVRRaLuzeu_rNum_dxoOqAYJgA5Hw-eoc2zVZRyF0daPC0DIjcpnt5da6WvrWp5QiWvXy0KcFE1BqbsOC8ig_IeSk_UaF93I8e2IDiIPhUcZR2O2_0WqbwvxZ5uCWdgTuaGGLPu-sfIxAVKTx/s600/dud002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyd4R8BnjhVBPvcDfywkmJeE-HF6MrWBgQ8rEAVRRaLuzeu_rNum_dxoOqAYJgA5Hw-eoc2zVZRyF0daPC0DIjcpnt5da6WvrWp5QiWvXy0KcFE1BqbsOC8ig_IeSk_UaF93I8e2IDiIPhUcZR2O2_0WqbwvxZ5uCWdgTuaGGLPu-sfIxAVKTx/s320/dud002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: arial;"><b>- Coronation Gardens -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That aforementioned 1 performs its connecting duties with minimal fuss and I reach Dudley at about quarter past eleven. Being in a photographic mood, I contemplate a circuit of the town's bustling Market Place (complete with ceremonial drinking fountain gifted by the Earl of Dudley back in 1867) followed by Coronation Gardens. The local cenotaph takes centre stage here, bedecked in memorial poppy wreaths with a poignant soldier silhouette also on show. The gardens are situated opposite the Council House and boast a sculpture of Apollo as well as acting as the focus of remembrance activities. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezfMEuft1JJPWskIhih7edGlvL4rMeqeoxJUCR-P3P1ppqHo8u-Y-bugWEZ9cJBCVUbr81pbscCokpWQgGIR4-hTzVifIOa92FqN_ouhY9HR1wmsXDbf7tRASOpiNYnPL11o_GOseVe4iEw87prJ1oJBBl-kS4lPeqsgtRtd4zJRw7p7yuQ9_/s600/dud003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezfMEuft1JJPWskIhih7edGlvL4rMeqeoxJUCR-P3P1ppqHo8u-Y-bugWEZ9cJBCVUbr81pbscCokpWQgGIR4-hTzVifIOa92FqN_ouhY9HR1wmsXDbf7tRASOpiNYnPL11o_GOseVe4iEw87prJ1oJBBl-kS4lPeqsgtRtd4zJRw7p7yuQ9_/s320/dud003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: arial;"><b>- Hippodrome Hoardings -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To Castle Hill next where tram tracks have been laid in readiness for the proposed Midland Metro extension; all being well, passenger services should be operational between Dudley and Wednesbury sometime in 2024, with a further leg out to Brierley Hill to follow. Sadly any such trams will no longer be able to pass outside the Dudley Hippodrome building because the former entertainments venue has been controversially demolished despite a campaign to ensure its preservation. The theatre had been built in the late 1930s, hosting variety shows and later becoming a Gala bingo, so we now wait to see what happens to the site. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-OO01PuNKE6wVxR_BClZx8JGY6qiFzIoIaLDvGWeU6Obdev61sDxFuz6Jg7ApvL2uqqvRtIQRQYzQ7B1soA3oJ0C79LHGpDYDiBOE-EzkSMGn8yxz8ZHGgbRohms-cFGnglFTLZCExnA1qdEl76U4fhUsAN4BGyKSzTWALsevagReVgRSGNz/s600/dud004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-OO01PuNKE6wVxR_BClZx8JGY6qiFzIoIaLDvGWeU6Obdev61sDxFuz6Jg7ApvL2uqqvRtIQRQYzQ7B1soA3oJ0C79LHGpDYDiBOE-EzkSMGn8yxz8ZHGgbRohms-cFGnglFTLZCExnA1qdEl76U4fhUsAN4BGyKSzTWALsevagReVgRSGNz/s320/dud004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: arial;"><b>- A Collective Taste of Zanzibar -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's almost festival time so Nick and I convene over a Court House half of Flipside's Dusty Penny porter (starting with the dark stuff as we mean to go on!) before proceeding to the hallowed venue that is Dudley Town Hall. There's a Crooked House theme to the event this year after the famously tilted Himley hostelry was unceremoniously flattened following a mystery fire in August. Collecting our glasses, programmes and tokens, we pitch straight in with Angel Ales and their 'Zanzibar Dark Ginger', a heady combination of spicy ginger and molasses which soon gets us settled for the afternoon.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhGMvtTcWrGgCAt9MpRQzMP0_U3gzMDzmVItKlEtiorRoiQvtLHuEjjH5_eJ_-CrutzxtDobq451mO_0S0mK-oMjIWbaznhDHyXqLxsUL3gGc-y-ntMQvId4t5Mia1R-JRGLfHWxXy93cRTWI-q0Xv7EdcG3nLGX0IpHtrWC8Cy6UGDDjazlz/s600/dud005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhGMvtTcWrGgCAt9MpRQzMP0_U3gzMDzmVItKlEtiorRoiQvtLHuEjjH5_eJ_-CrutzxtDobq451mO_0S0mK-oMjIWbaznhDHyXqLxsUL3gGc-y-ntMQvId4t5Mia1R-JRGLfHWxXy93cRTWI-q0Xv7EdcG3nLGX0IpHtrWC8Cy6UGDDjazlz/s320/dud005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: arial;"><b>- Killer Stout... with Bread Pudding! -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The beauty of DWAF is that you get to try some of the stronger seasonal brews that only appear briefly in the lead-up to the festive period, with Bathams XXX and Sarah Hughes Snowflake always selling out very quickly. Kinver's Wonky goes down a storm, as does the Green Duck Bostin' Mild XXL, although I'm particularly partial to Beowulf's Killer Stout at a mere 7.3% abv. Luckily I have a bargain slab of bread pudding on standby to soak up such superstrong samplers but when drinking a third at a time you're still being sensible really! For his part, Nick tackles Windmill Hill's Weissbier, Moor's Old Freddie Walker (no relation as far as we're aware) and the Enville Gothic; it's great to see some familiar CAMRA faces including Mac and Janet, or Dave Rosling from Coventry, and we even noted a fleeting appearance by Andy Street the West Midlands Metropolitan Mayor. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-LGboNG9N-6jXNzb3yV7bEaSNaMTzcCVMDzzOQ7zuWPsrU4WXgNKLACdqJHn2QzWeMDW8AiZ0UWGmJi4gqHHM2mgMfMwNt8ydcyAHi_keu0_Kg4gyJ8lt-NL5VkmOvo6TQfYfv1djzQGCjZMidQSq28Rn_RQTkaZOHMSxtdgZKQN7Hr83BCz/s600/dud006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-LGboNG9N-6jXNzb3yV7bEaSNaMTzcCVMDzzOQ7zuWPsrU4WXgNKLACdqJHn2QzWeMDW8AiZ0UWGmJi4gqHHM2mgMfMwNt8ydcyAHi_keu0_Kg4gyJ8lt-NL5VkmOvo6TQfYfv1djzQGCjZMidQSq28Rn_RQTkaZOHMSxtdgZKQN7Hr83BCz/s320/dud006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: arial;"><b>- Beer Bank -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The volunteers of Dudley & South Staffordshire CAMRA branch have done a sterling job as ever, and we reluctantly bid farewell in search of additional Black Country hospitality. The Old Swan (affectionately known as Ma Pardoe's) needs no introduction from me - the Bumblehole Bitter there is like seeing an old friend again - then we round off in Quarry Bank by frequenting a couple of relatively recent pub arrivals. The Beer Bank is a very new micropub having first started trading in September; it's one to watch if the quality of Fixed Wheel's Cookie Stout is anything to go by, though a free mince pie might have helped persuade us of its charms. The Old Liberal meanwhile is the free house guise of what used to be Quarry Bank Liberal Club, and you can still see some of their old minute books on display. A generous glug of Holden's Golden Glow earns our praise while standing at the bar - the place is packed out, great to see - and we've had a mighty fine day of ale appreciation. Cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-84849366599421117772023-11-18T18:42:00.000+00:002023-11-18T18:42:32.115+00:00Coventry Quiffs 2023: Bell Green and Walsgrave<p><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b><span class="TextRun SCXO211880393 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Hold onto your hairpieces folks, it's that time of year again when the Hub Marketing Board go gaga over Lady Godiva. Our annual Coventry Caper is always a highlight without exception, so what will this 11th installment bring our way...</span><span class="EOP SCXO211880393 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjko3nn-LK_9cxWYr8s2qx5PAGZH93oWb0pBuhb6VjvYUluBMlej7Ib-s3dBu0meQTDe5FvB12kkwi3qD6hFnBEFTHkx6uwwDXe5jKcdY2zzvG3NbeAZ87usnBYDFJpG-RrYCt9S8G0rBu5OF2oV79Nm1mXAZ0YzpGfv3gAoldTexT42d2coKfw/s600/quiff001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjko3nn-LK_9cxWYr8s2qx5PAGZH93oWb0pBuhb6VjvYUluBMlej7Ib-s3dBu0meQTDe5FvB12kkwi3qD6hFnBEFTHkx6uwwDXe5jKcdY2zzvG3NbeAZ87usnBYDFJpG-RrYCt9S8G0rBu5OF2oV79Nm1mXAZ0YzpGfv3gAoldTexT42d2coKfw/s320/quiff001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- 'Starry Night' -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trip Log: Friday 17th November 2023 and it is indeed time once more for Hub Marketing members to conquer Coventry. In more recent years, we've tended to include some Brum-based sculpture spotting as part of our Coventry itinerary and this edition will maintain that very custom by seeking out some of the Snowdogs that have been dotted around the city centre in the lead-up to Christmas. Inspired by the Raymond Briggs canine character, ten such specimens await discovery including 'Starry Night' by the Centenary Square ice rink.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekvqFFrXcz8_ruw5lQdQSfsIbPQxeahDYXJEFXypgJS3jnBVjWvWoUdZOzuaXhljVNaRZ8dfgnppCS1m5x-4T3pIX84_Qav5dCQkLP3o4nIhcyzb1EcMRRZCYnzO3h8w3Uh6wSfhkONzRPBMaxogPr0ryvs6Zu3OQ9cyy3UnWRnYVIryQib2p/s600/quiff002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiekvqFFrXcz8_ruw5lQdQSfsIbPQxeahDYXJEFXypgJS3jnBVjWvWoUdZOzuaXhljVNaRZ8dfgnppCS1m5x-4T3pIX84_Qav5dCQkLP3o4nIhcyzb1EcMRRZCYnzO3h8w3Uh6wSfhkONzRPBMaxogPr0ryvs6Zu3OQ9cyy3UnWRnYVIryQib2p/s320/quiff002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- 'Elf' -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Part of our Snowdog hunt takes us through the site of the Frankfurt Christmas Market, albeit most of the stalls are barricaded off until opening time later in the day. 'Ru-dog' has a suitably crimson red nose in the shadows of the Council House while 'Roodle' offers a bristly fibreglass texture over in Piccadilly Arcade. A quick scout around by St Philip's Cathedral reveals 'Elf' all dressed up in the green and red uniform associated with Santa's little helpers, then for an added bonus we find a pullover-wearing polar bear standing sentry outside The Ivy. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_i0k6cgylVv04oWef1FhxFb-Wmp4mD6LlsVBEHKSaT27n15LdbIEjma7WA5XzWyGL5QiMtHYFIBT8G04VbmMKYgeeAb6sgjtnq6FYqYeK0s_puINzKElgUdnh3NB409WLmNc-GadkhimxV-dNCYtEHRF-qDsEiKFZGnIMZ-9Gy8-OyS5oYOS/s600/quiff003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_i0k6cgylVv04oWef1FhxFb-Wmp4mD6LlsVBEHKSaT27n15LdbIEjma7WA5XzWyGL5QiMtHYFIBT8G04VbmMKYgeeAb6sgjtnq6FYqYeK0s_puINzKElgUdnh3NB409WLmNc-GadkhimxV-dNCYtEHRF-qDsEiKFZGnIMZ-9Gy8-OyS5oYOS/s320/quiff003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Covert Car Park Surveillance -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That was certainly a lot of fun but let's crack on with the main event shall we? The 10:36 Euston train conveys us to Coventry by quarter past eleven, and our first task thereafter is to inspect a closed multistorey car park that Mr D9 has had his eye on for years. New Union Street is the location for this classic piece of 1960s concrete construction, and though the facility was taken out of public use in 2021, the Chairman can still get very excited about its yellow and white tiles, rounded P symbols and disused public conveniences. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPw2uxiKUcPoRkTo7FNqKPEEKo-ZtWNpAHBfeY-3z4zrMt8hxEx4FrGQEjnVKF74zDaebvrhk54kxZk9RSFHZz1RXshM0ZDQV4W93l5GwgqNsylPt__9YqunCyZTeA0shXr_M0QJHfhY-W0VM1VrIPFB67rjNNWoN26C9ab6OEErvlM2waHhWj/s600/quiff004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPw2uxiKUcPoRkTo7FNqKPEEKo-ZtWNpAHBfeY-3z4zrMt8hxEx4FrGQEjnVKF74zDaebvrhk54kxZk9RSFHZz1RXshM0ZDQV4W93l5GwgqNsylPt__9YqunCyZTeA0shXr_M0QJHfhY-W0VM1VrIPFB67rjNNWoN26C9ab6OEErvlM2waHhWj/s320/quiff004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Route 7 at Bell Green Terminus -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With the Secretary in charge of our agenda, we proceed to Bell Green with assistance from the number 7 bus (the route runs cross-city from Brownshill Green, partly replacing what used to be the 10). Our journey takes us from Gosford Street to Roseberry Avenue via Ball Hill, Clay Lane, Barras Heath and Wyken Croft, not forgetting a full loop of Henley Green for good measure. As is essential whenever we're in Coventry, we unleash a Rock and Roll singalong in honour of former bus driver Rocking Ron West which means the top deck is soon subjected to tunes such as 'Blue Moon', 'Poetry in Motion' and 'Who Put The Bomp'.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgcowg8vp458g9_u54SPbBhmK4SxODfggrYBYAOwCQUD-mCO8jkRfg8Y7GsLDK82Hq0t6UY77JpwuU6AAwlfwevu3II6Wj3A1kJffpck2u6n6SOTk46vRbD_oqW7zQlCyEsDCvzT5MpoOLooPdK3coOiLYiVHHC9QEkrQF6GnFBtIDxvdFsNA/s600/quiff005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgcowg8vp458g9_u54SPbBhmK4SxODfggrYBYAOwCQUD-mCO8jkRfg8Y7GsLDK82Hq0t6UY77JpwuU6AAwlfwevu3II6Wj3A1kJffpck2u6n6SOTk46vRbD_oqW7zQlCyEsDCvzT5MpoOLooPdK3coOiLYiVHHC9QEkrQF6GnFBtIDxvdFsNA/s320/quiff005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Riley Square -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We'd been to Bell Green previously (in 2014 to be exact) so we know what to expect in terms of Riley Square and its dubious charms - think high rise tower blocks, offputting flats and a miserably ugly shopping precinct for starters. A fortified bunker of a post office adds to the flavour whilst other local amenities include a community library, a Farmfoods store and the Trojan gym. Our priority however is Bell Green Working Mens Club where we had hoped to pause for a belated Full English breakfast; alas they stopped serving food here a couple of years ago but we can nevertheless relish the timewarp qualities of the original club interior. Tetley's, Carling and a soundtrack of 'Come on Eileen' mean we could literally be back in 1982, and the red ceiling tiles look like they could pop out at any moment.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs-pV5hS4QDwezKECH9Xp0mQ3ozvE_sDWs9bd7ENoms7oneesOGktr66Lm_Oc8U6Dqv1yLXLbeJku6k8nm6cHYnVdC43PPMePF2lC1pOHzlY12qaWdH5OR5lkX6KLD9aj9jAh5QBrzscDw0836t5TUOM1u0A2FPhjCvshNDnhdCDQkodiLX91/s600/quiff006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs-pV5hS4QDwezKECH9Xp0mQ3ozvE_sDWs9bd7ENoms7oneesOGktr66Lm_Oc8U6Dqv1yLXLbeJku6k8nm6cHYnVdC43PPMePF2lC1pOHzlY12qaWdH5OR5lkX6KLD9aj9jAh5QBrzscDw0836t5TUOM1u0A2FPhjCvshNDnhdCDQkodiLX91/s320/quiff006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- George admires the Trump Quiff -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If the WMC made a favourable impression, we're nowhere near as enamoured with the Rose & Crown on Hall Green Road. It's a standard council estate boozer really, a little rough around the edges, with the Racing Channel on the go and a couple of banners paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. A quick Carling each is sufficient to say we've been, and it's quite a relief to get safely onto the 7 for our onward connection back to Ball Hill. A critical component of any Coventry trip is the ceremonial unveiling of the latest quiff, and it's fair to say that the Chairman has excelled himself this year - may we introduce you to the Trump Quiff, lovingly crafted out of beige parcel paper complete with all the sideburns anyone could wish for!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1N-Bpl8es_VTM1kmJz1KLgkzkcdbOEySqInR6XCTR7dyPZeD54iDEGGwSG1gPtwi2wLx1UZSqCZjGIQy0y6e0X732ldHwdf4ah8J6hSaZ0nHh1ZGB2lGLOAj72C57x_iUdjU_C0BunZVLGQdMJiAIxkrnZoQaVuu7lIuCie-C3YtvRlCuBP1/s600/quiff007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1N-Bpl8es_VTM1kmJz1KLgkzkcdbOEySqInR6XCTR7dyPZeD54iDEGGwSG1gPtwi2wLx1UZSqCZjGIQy0y6e0X732ldHwdf4ah8J6hSaZ0nHh1ZGB2lGLOAj72C57x_iUdjU_C0BunZVLGQdMJiAIxkrnZoQaVuu7lIuCie-C3YtvRlCuBP1/s320/quiff007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Red Lion, Walsgrave -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Blackberry Lane pit stop pays dividends for the Hungry Elephant (previously the Kings Banqueting Suite), a flat-roofed box which has been refreshed with modern decor and an Indian menu to match. The Old Ball Hotel on the main Walsgrave Road feels like a faded coaching inn and helps us momentarily escape from the Friday afternoon traffic, then we intercept an incoming number 8 for the grind down to Walsgrave. St Mary's Parish Church beckons in the dusky gloom, and practically next door to that is the Red Lion, an Ember establishment serving a decent half of Titanic's Plum Porter. Our quest for completion demands we try out the Mount Pleasant too for a helping of Hungry Horse hospitality.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA-m4fyPez4CX_r8IsOd7IbwepNEWtnETpNf-jKV8HilIEJwtqjASO_eHtfnXRP7ocy339UhxBaNFSaYXHVDaMHwu_guL_yDgIA0nWHRTZ7Jhz3u1vwijg8IAmqqGCPi1SaZYeXhZbzyzBoPkBS8IZRIVD_vfDV_uNzpX8NcSgfPAaniFEF3S/s600/quiff008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA-m4fyPez4CX_r8IsOd7IbwepNEWtnETpNf-jKV8HilIEJwtqjASO_eHtfnXRP7ocy339UhxBaNFSaYXHVDaMHwu_guL_yDgIA0nWHRTZ7Jhz3u1vwijg8IAmqqGCPi1SaZYeXhZbzyzBoPkBS8IZRIVD_vfDV_uNzpX8NcSgfPAaniFEF3S/s320/quiff008.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Bequiffed Darts at the New Pippin -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Neither the Red Lion nor the Mount Pleasant excited us to any degree but the New Pippin is more to our liking, and its dartboard is unoccupied too. Possibly weighed down by wearing the Trump Quiff, D9 Destroyer struggles to hit the scoring heights whereas WME Whirlwind has found his clinical groove; three genuine double finishes in a row is practically unheard of in the annals of Hub Marketing darts duels and yet the Secretary conjures up a stunning sequence when powering his way to a 4-3 victory. I still can scarcely believe it!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E9jloGJNF4KwbQh5NR5ymgEjoB2P_z_R3JD9PReu1Qi3gdX-inKMV9P6Y37vwX5FFBaD6Dx1ixpHVklCNQvgW8JgXRmXylKpI1C9W5QkFQLYxI1GbME9S08jhzCbv6o3fz7p3bjU6EIuInp2ukS92UU0mhLcS6ySTj3WHk3mpDtWk-biHcVX/s600/quiff009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E9jloGJNF4KwbQh5NR5ymgEjoB2P_z_R3JD9PReu1Qi3gdX-inKMV9P6Y37vwX5FFBaD6Dx1ixpHVklCNQvgW8JgXRmXylKpI1C9W5QkFQLYxI1GbME9S08jhzCbv6o3fz7p3bjU6EIuInp2ukS92UU0mhLcS6ySTj3WHk3mpDtWk-biHcVX/s320/quiff009.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial;"><b>- Guzzling Guinness in Rosie Malone's -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Drinking halves has given us scope to conclude matters over a couple of Central Coventry nightcaps. Rosie Malone's on Jordan Well suits us fine for a glug of Guinness in amongst the toucan touches, then we finish off at a newly-established microbrewery bar situated within the student apartments of Parkside. The Triumph Brewhouse started trading in August and is very handy for the railway station so it's definitely worth seeking out; we partake of their standard stout and an 8% wowsers of an imperial peanut butter concoction that is absolutely gorgeous! The 19:16 train runs to schedule and that'll be that, Coventry conquered for another year.</span></div></div><p></p>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-7236506266734040572023-11-12T11:38:00.001+00:002023-11-12T11:38:20.705+00:00A Kidderminster Festival Foray<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>I haven't been to all that many beer festivals this year but those I did grace with my presence (namely Burton, Stratford and Shrewsbury) have been routinely excellent - can Kidderminster's offering maintain such high standards?</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_tcIOLxQcTDsEezjsISCf97xUtHAweQaBOh37-LXSBRePeJTTKa9IPl8uUQQGh_61Om2fYQ2acKywaBGSiKRqLNcyVxrN9xgUk3T3E33gGmZXqFCO_AiYr04ph5P5oW3MxgO5c6f9PhRY0TkvLebT0ujh_IN0AaclAJVSkt2Nt_rMKruF3Al/s600/kiddy001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_tcIOLxQcTDsEezjsISCf97xUtHAweQaBOh37-LXSBRePeJTTKa9IPl8uUQQGh_61Om2fYQ2acKywaBGSiKRqLNcyVxrN9xgUk3T3E33gGmZXqFCO_AiYr04ph5P5oW3MxgO5c6f9PhRY0TkvLebT0ujh_IN0AaclAJVSkt2Nt_rMKruF3Al/s320/kiddy001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>- Hitting the Headlines at the Severn Valley Station -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trip Log: Saturday 11th November 2023 - Armistice Day in fact - whereby I'm all bound for sunny Worcestershire courtesy of the 10:26 train down from Smethwick Galton Bridge. The beer festival opens its doors at noon so I've an hour or so beforehand to indulge in a spot of photography. There aren't any prizes for guessing that Kidderminster's Severn Valley Railway station will be among my top targets, even though there aren't any heritage steam services in operation today. The main concourse and the museum are however welcoming visitors, hence I can ponder the various 1930s headlines on display at the W H Smith news stand.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgNNCOeMzxRrwhg9ENLDPKVy-vPsZO2CjdjHi8XaDJJoJD7nqHMjonS1V8I8gt2irO-akZNv1zebzLuMLADk0iT3oL0_F4NcLd_568r4z2rwZviLZywWnoH_oGJ5rXrBHjnun8ix8s98aoqXsHUhF5ySxYHUhVO4I1KYxr4fwF820SBkmGKi7/s600/kiddy002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgNNCOeMzxRrwhg9ENLDPKVy-vPsZO2CjdjHi8XaDJJoJD7nqHMjonS1V8I8gt2irO-akZNv1zebzLuMLADk0iT3oL0_F4NcLd_568r4z2rwZviLZywWnoH_oGJ5rXrBHjnun8ix8s98aoqXsHUhF5ySxYHUhVO4I1KYxr4fwF820SBkmGKi7/s320/kiddy002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>- Preserved Bristol 314 PFM -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Making sure to pay my respects as part of the nationwide two minute silence at 11 o'clock - We Will Remember Them - I survey additional SVR terminus features such as the Wrangaton Signal Box which has been dismantled and rebuilt from its original Devon location. As luck would have it, a preserved Bristol Lodekka bus just happens to be minding its own business on the far car park; 314 PFM is the vehicle in question, presumably resting up after wedding duties. During its working life it saw active service with Crosville and Western National.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9y1m4twTR-izyxLWoc58SowccXr5tZjtuaLOthVJMC8TJmIBiGgAKfgTKVpku67hUw18lk9WIlmdbOyol7WVf-Rrnc0mzacYdbWhAYsNCjmRTvyztdsATTLIs4DNeMGOeldTXJforut0qhvg-HgtX2eyTPtxPm5cA34H3eSb0o1YEl45HOFB/s600/kiddy005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9y1m4twTR-izyxLWoc58SowccXr5tZjtuaLOthVJMC8TJmIBiGgAKfgTKVpku67hUw18lk9WIlmdbOyol7WVf-Rrnc0mzacYdbWhAYsNCjmRTvyztdsATTLIs4DNeMGOeldTXJforut0qhvg-HgtX2eyTPtxPm5cA34H3eSb0o1YEl45HOFB/s320/kiddy005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>- Kidderminster Harriers Social & Supporters Club -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Aside from Severn Valley matters, my explorational instincts take me on a loop of George Street and Offmore Road for pictures of the Golden Lion, Offmore Stores and a local garage. Hoo Road is then press-ganged into action for my approach towards Aggborough Stadium, home of Kidderminster Harriers Football Club (who have been plying their trade at the top of the non-league pyramid again this season after a well-earned promotion). The adjacent Social & Supporters Club is the festival's host venue and has the kind of flat-roofed appearance a certain Mr D9 would no doubt be drooling about. </span></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8-yCJ3VdzrJo6TW09msnC4kjfzCWG3jrboGGXAFgAAdTP4LaS0YYYNGCLvun25oh5qdidD7hXX9kJwOXnO4PHVVER3CJH_CykCAfzF4HghrqhVPcxtx9F73e_zYn1e_gQDTVhjHnmWWC7OMmKZT160vgBv0cbK8V2CV2FOOq9tv9XJrN7Rum/s600/kiddy003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8-yCJ3VdzrJo6TW09msnC4kjfzCWG3jrboGGXAFgAAdTP4LaS0YYYNGCLvun25oh5qdidD7hXX9kJwOXnO4PHVVER3CJH_CykCAfzF4HghrqhVPcxtx9F73e_zYn1e_gQDTVhjHnmWWC7OMmKZT160vgBv0cbK8V2CV2FOOq9tv9XJrN7Rum/s320/kiddy003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Festival Necessaries -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Joining an expectant queue as the clock ticks around to midday, I can soon hand over the £15 readies in exchange for glass, programme and tokens. The beery action awaits in the function room, a large space with stage and dancefloor (although nobody needs to see me busting a groove, ever). Some of the ales have already sold out although there's plenty still pouring to keep me satisfied, starting with 'South Pointing Fish' from Copper Beech, a hazy pale from a local nanobrewery I can't say I'd heard of until now. The hoppy bite of my opening half means I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for their wares in future!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3JppvSEp2earuj1q0AHbHDdhla_1Gr6QvDYhBFBOP9wKjXqi1pa3GW4fmkrTDjCq0QGic8SqWrZEW1k1lQIZp4ceQ3iAhjqaAQhPddm5EykcYyk5VS6X-_5_GIfxLMwLDLGyCrEZ5v_F29Aj1IviHI-hhvIGQOWj3GVd2lOjM-rXojqHXQBv/s600/kiddy004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3JppvSEp2earuj1q0AHbHDdhla_1Gr6QvDYhBFBOP9wKjXqi1pa3GW4fmkrTDjCq0QGic8SqWrZEW1k1lQIZp4ceQ3iAhjqaAQhPddm5EykcYyk5VS6X-_5_GIfxLMwLDLGyCrEZ5v_F29Aj1IviHI-hhvIGQOWj3GVd2lOjM-rXojqHXQBv/s320/kiddy004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>- Plum Pig -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You all know I love my darker beers and the programme comes up trumps with a couple of absolute crackers: 'Anvil Porter' from the Nailmaker Brewery based somewhere near Barnsley (chocolate malts to the fore with this one), followed by Brothers of Ale's 'VVD Oatmeal Stout' served chilled via the craft keg racks. In between times, I can't resist the fruity prospects of Black Country Ales 'Plum Pig', a variation on their Pig On The Wall Mild - I've had this a few times previously but it never disappoints! Keeping half an eye on the Wolves v Spurs score from Molineux, I spend up with a satisfying half of 'Gornal Gold' whilst digesting news that Tottenham have taken an early lead - oh dear!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqHkBsv8TNtlN36SCvjmnsz_MgKus3UFl86HgvnvEBN5dn31uRZxCi1RWcZp81lh1KKKjxo1jHLuaTnIT7UgMIUPIesK97IwJuLK3GCi57mdFqCF2FUEbUB_mfsuynfxeJnYgQ0gug22EFwhEW3tcQfdb90-OYcs86qVxYqPJNxFahNIz-yZz/s600/kiddy006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqHkBsv8TNtlN36SCvjmnsz_MgKus3UFl86HgvnvEBN5dn31uRZxCi1RWcZp81lh1KKKjxo1jHLuaTnIT7UgMIUPIesK97IwJuLK3GCi57mdFqCF2FUEbUB_mfsuynfxeJnYgQ0gug22EFwhEW3tcQfdb90-OYcs86qVxYqPJNxFahNIz-yZz/s320/kiddy006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Chester Tavern -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As is customary whenever I'm in a beer festival frame of mind, I like to pair the main event with some studious sampling of nearby watering holes. Two Kidderminster contenders I'd yet to frequent are the Viaduct (sited in the shadows of the famous Hoobrook railway structure) and the Chester Tavern; the first of those is merely an average Marston's establishment plying its trade in family dining and sports screens, whereas the latter seriously impresses me with attentive service and excellent cask quality. Bewdley's 'Red Hill' is amber nectar of the highest order when accompanied by a cheese and onion cob, and the Fixed Wheel 'Mild Concussion' to follow was of a similar level of eminence. Just when you think life can't get any better, Wolves score two very late goals to grab victory and it's been a perfect afternoon. Cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-55176795723331468132023-11-05T13:26:00.000+00:002023-11-05T13:26:06.319+00:00Ashmore Park and Essington<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>November's first submission to the West Midlands Exploration trip collection is a gentle little outing with Stephen that covered the neighbouring localities of Ashmore Park and Essington - one a large Wednesfield housing estate within the bounds of Wolverhampton, the other a South Staffordshire mining village...</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVD7q9-iB4dEdafWZSez18xrOVYlycq5_Xtqix4WCdB9d2eFJF2iduQaZKoinp2NSw6wyYysM4dOFYNs2Ik4uRMMdod4qIxI9nysLmQpRCDOKhixNY8jfs9kSFUxcg5xfxyG1cI6Ng1UrT0OtyiN_7tmd6vRfEO8e6IRNM-b3Sc-wudsI2YuD/s600/apess001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVD7q9-iB4dEdafWZSez18xrOVYlycq5_Xtqix4WCdB9d2eFJF2iduQaZKoinp2NSw6wyYysM4dOFYNs2Ik4uRMMdod4qIxI9nysLmQpRCDOKhixNY8jfs9kSFUxcg5xfxyG1cI6Ng1UrT0OtyiN_7tmd6vRfEO8e6IRNM-b3Sc-wudsI2YuD/s320/apess001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Autumnal Ashmore Park -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trip Log: Friday 3rd November 2023 and - after a business breakfast courtesy of the Bluebrick (near Wolverhampton's former Low Level railway station) - Stephen and I aim for the allure of Ashmore Park. Mr B does some of his grocery errands here every week and knows the local shops very well, especially the Butchers where we natter with the proprietors about England's dismal Cricket World Cup campaign. Once all required foodstuffs have duly been purchased, we take a stroll through the park itself to admire the gorgeous colours of autumn. The outdoor facilities here include a cycle speedway track, BMX humps and bumps plus a bowling green. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuOG48QCnzY-WbKrTt_ekL1UjoV9s-wQL8TyejfIvUCrr3EiEcBWIzTmz4ELE0f1vJguz0zSr1nJR3wrlV2fU4PFtKZ-K34lUoxfFa7fbm-XbSg60ZGRaA856f9xVzfQHF4lAnZcoSOmS8NNtrJmf1BjegRB5v0a_unztf7cPmrmfzG0oH54-/s600/apess002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuOG48QCnzY-WbKrTt_ekL1UjoV9s-wQL8TyejfIvUCrr3EiEcBWIzTmz4ELE0f1vJguz0zSr1nJR3wrlV2fU4PFtKZ-K34lUoxfFa7fbm-XbSg60ZGRaA856f9xVzfQHF4lAnZcoSOmS8NNtrJmf1BjegRB5v0a_unztf7cPmrmfzG0oH54-/s320/apess002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Griffiths Drive -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ashmore Park was first established as a housing estate by Wednesfield Urban District Council in the 1950s before transferring to the Metropolitan Borough of Wolverhampton in 1966. Key to the layout is Griffiths Drive as the road off which all others seem to radiate, and the number 59 bus uses this to perform a full clockwise circuit at frequent intervals. Having gathered our pictures of the park, we explore Ashmore Avenue and Acorn Road before I go into street sign overdrive accounting for the likes of Thornley Road, Barnard Road and Phillips Avenue. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouNEe825RWeWnW5E96lR-OCj_zTkUOUYo_F0qJ3s7x3ctzxbpDyJ1jwHf7ZyV7wV0oHQkRAg6uqWpUaJk5OKGgyKO5rSCH4jzMfEgSXzTKVqmsFbK38b1fCzhgvR07RBc0taCLGUkLwd69tNzMR8OXo7RAtfBJmhIzN2mcwM92_maT586m_H0/s600/apess003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouNEe825RWeWnW5E96lR-OCj_zTkUOUYo_F0qJ3s7x3ctzxbpDyJ1jwHf7ZyV7wV0oHQkRAg6uqWpUaJk5OKGgyKO5rSCH4jzMfEgSXzTKVqmsFbK38b1fCzhgvR07RBc0taCLGUkLwd69tNzMR8OXo7RAtfBJmhIzN2mcwM92_maT586m_H0/s320/apess003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Ashmore Park Bottom Shops -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ashmore Park effectively has two sets of shops - the 'top' shops by Higgs Road, and the more extensive 'bottom' shops on the southwestern-most corner of Griffiths Drive. The latter spot is also where you'll find the remains of a moated farm which apparently can trace its history back to the time of Lady Wulfruna; grassy earthworks are all you can see nowadays though. Our tour then takes in the Ashmore Park Community Hub where library services are now based following the closure of a previous standalone branch due to council cutbacks. The Hub also comprises a sports hall, meeting rooms and a popular cafe serving light refreshments. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyYoNJ0DfWT_NfFEKjuI61E0nA9pqFwrllk44ir_GjJAmZRozCJNkKQEFJumI84rP2G6pbZkGC0buVaUGOJQ9DX9NhP_czkGPj1NzSrmT0H5xTSOv546RoeGimfYQ_WpUZjOE6biISH5fUYL1zQoeFk3D7UlCexuTy_vnS8wdhJyx1kipGona/s600/apess004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyYoNJ0DfWT_NfFEKjuI61E0nA9pqFwrllk44ir_GjJAmZRozCJNkKQEFJumI84rP2G6pbZkGC0buVaUGOJQ9DX9NhP_czkGPj1NzSrmT0H5xTSOv546RoeGimfYQ_WpUZjOE6biISH5fUYL1zQoeFk3D7UlCexuTy_vnS8wdhJyx1kipGona/s320/apess004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- Essington Water Tower -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Satisfied with our endeavours thus far, we proceed the short distance to Essington by crossing the county boundary into Staffordshire. As somewhere I've known since childhood rides to my Nan's old house, Essington has long intrigued me with agricultural-sounding road names; in fact, the likes of Bognop, Bursnips and Hobnock could surely pass for Roald Dahl characters! Hawthorne Road seems less exotic by comparison but does offer glimpses of a Severn Trent water tower complete with flaking paintwork - I assume it is no longer in active use?</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbOS9g1unizilZX3M-Ip00MZeQZR-eC306A_K9RfxHS5rl9jvHFR7VTgN9g0hN03JLNKtHSHxc7heyzMb31C6X-wRs-LW6M1gX7OPwSu9TJmAPYsLYms4jptheb5AHXf00HKwSnTYf7D07c8n6qSTC1G6v5hgijTEs8M43ssEaLTW86N06MBh/s600/apess005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbOS9g1unizilZX3M-Ip00MZeQZR-eC306A_K9RfxHS5rl9jvHFR7VTgN9g0hN03JLNKtHSHxc7heyzMb31C6X-wRs-LW6M1gX7OPwSu9TJmAPYsLYms4jptheb5AHXf00HKwSnTYf7D07c8n6qSTC1G6v5hgijTEs8M43ssEaLTW86N06MBh/s320/apess005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- All Age Worship at St John's -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Other notable Essington landmarks would be Brownshore Lakes (a pair of pools that show how old mine workings have been reclaimed by nature over time), and the Church of St John the Evangelist (complete with banner promoting All Age Worship). A handful of shops on Hill Street ensure the village retains some post office provision, while over on High Hill you can find the local Working Men's Club and a rugby ground. The B4156 is the main route through, linking Blackhalve Lane, Wolverhampton Road and Hobnock Road towards Essington Wood.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR8PuL1tr1jhS_tUQrX3GFsCIEfxb_oR5EdxD895QycG12ThbUcpKLnO4RAwphj6c_4IhXr_TllE_ozCyoPhi4KxaCBtEHKJsMBu8sR_FGpCHJ8x3J2b8vkTmM8kZKXGnfrZQQ3x6WBOrrkAdZQdcJdJTaoPxqs_Qpvvz3mE7Ih9l3vpVVNuW/s600/apess006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWR8PuL1tr1jhS_tUQrX3GFsCIEfxb_oR5EdxD895QycG12ThbUcpKLnO4RAwphj6c_4IhXr_TllE_ozCyoPhi4KxaCBtEHKJsMBu8sR_FGpCHJ8x3J2b8vkTmM8kZKXGnfrZQQ3x6WBOrrkAdZQdcJdJTaoPxqs_Qpvvz3mE7Ih9l3vpVVNuW/s320/apess006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Minerva -</b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How remiss of me not to have mentioned any pubs as yet but it was always our intention to sample the Minerva at some point. Named after the Roman goddess of war, justice and crafts (among other things), this establishment has not long started trading again after the death of the preceding landlady. I've had my eye on this place for years without ever managing to stop by for a drink, so a welcome pint of John Smith's secures my overdue custom. A spluttering log fire accompanies bar room chat with a Baggies fan while Stephen again dissects more of England's cricketing failures as part of a classic pub conversation - cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27832837.post-29420120710491774882023-11-01T08:17:00.001+00:002023-11-01T08:17:00.138+00:00Mr Beardsmore's Burslem Birthday Bash<p><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>Chip Foundation birthdays roll around roughly every couple of months between April and October so now it is Stephen's turn to have a special trip convened in his honour. Last year's equivalent outing had seen us happily hanging around in Hanley, and more Potteries platters are on the menu for this trip too...</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox4fmyR1TP-BcChlNQNbd-OOCDllmqIR-_Kn22xXHlXH8iahSHBc7DpLZU4gGW7rKsxCq3m-d5inL_3WUPZcMl-C_LhyphenhyphendRwrYmVWqfFmmc7pPwN4Kc-FHy9FTgusn57cMT7MUIkN4EaeWOaL6kgAob2MmJwLpesD0kRsA4zQTt9o69AwPXMoN/s600/burs001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgox4fmyR1TP-BcChlNQNbd-OOCDllmqIR-_Kn22xXHlXH8iahSHBc7DpLZU4gGW7rKsxCq3m-d5inL_3WUPZcMl-C_LhyphenhyphendRwrYmVWqfFmmc7pPwN4Kc-FHy9FTgusn57cMT7MUIkN4EaeWOaL6kgAob2MmJwLpesD0kRsA4zQTt9o69AwPXMoN/s320/burs001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Tunstall Market -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's Saturday 28th October 2023 (just two days before Stephen's big day) as we congregate aboard the 10:26 train from Wolverhampton bound for Stoke-on-Trent. A quick interchange in and out of Hanley involves the number 23 and 3A buses, the latter heading for the curiously-named Talke Pits wherever that may be. Our opening destination is Tunstall, the only one of the six amalgamated Potteries towns that I'd never previously had the pleasure of visiting. It's an interesting if somewhat deprived place, comprising a rudimentary rundown High Street with Tower Square as a more appealing focal point. Getting some initial bearings, we note Tunstall Market (which operates on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) while The Boulevard hosts the remnants of the former Public Library and Swimming Pool facilities, both sadly disused.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr2d0F0arC_t0Rp5sX_Fmp4bN6d33K4bpVzoFIC_Zw1IAg8hLcGrgBp4TJRBunY8kvIdSpZQhsqa28fdIjxgIWiXLdQOLHmG71B3Ty6jtCe8tc4Hvff4yBDYju4_-N1fzxFww9iULQMpGl7AadBpjMEp54yXejM1c4tK9MOAI1ar0bj9psSSM/s600/burs002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr2d0F0arC_t0Rp5sX_Fmp4bN6d33K4bpVzoFIC_Zw1IAg8hLcGrgBp4TJRBunY8kvIdSpZQhsqa28fdIjxgIWiXLdQOLHmG71B3Ty6jtCe8tc4Hvff4yBDYju4_-N1fzxFww9iULQMpGl7AadBpjMEp54yXejM1c4tK9MOAI1ar0bj9psSSM/s320/burs002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Spooky Stephen in the Oddfellows Arms -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The northernmost of the six towns, Tunstall is served by the A50 trunk road and has the A500 relatively close at hand too. The aforementioned Tower Square is where we find more prime landmarks including a clock tower (erected through public subscription and unveiled in 1893) which faces the Renaissance-styled municipal edifice of the Town Hall. There are a clutch of pubs in the vicinity, such as the Barrel, the Sneyd Arms and the Tavern but our choice is the Oddfellows Arms because of its connections to the Beartown Brewery. They're clearly getting into the Halloween spirit here, hence ghouls, spiders and pumpkins aplenty, while Stephen gamely grapples with some cobweb-covered grandfather clocks. Nick isn't quite convinced about the Beartown Bitter but we all appreciate the warm welcome from the regulars.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQIHAJHMLCaWKExs-ZgWjTcJlq9xKInXNZIkRQ6BqI_AbvDu-uq9zME-EkUnbWJNLWqcz2t_PPSR7dB3_yEkTMNnYNhs-LA1nrsu6WI5VM_IN0ShSyKUlugTUc1siVZ6ykuM0TWF3i25rUp0T3bzP4O7r1AzHdXe3nqnmryCXjXa3mYitZIPP/s600/burs003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQIHAJHMLCaWKExs-ZgWjTcJlq9xKInXNZIkRQ6BqI_AbvDu-uq9zME-EkUnbWJNLWqcz2t_PPSR7dB3_yEkTMNnYNhs-LA1nrsu6WI5VM_IN0ShSyKUlugTUc1siVZ6ykuM0TWF3i25rUp0T3bzP4O7r1AzHdXe3nqnmryCXjXa3mYitZIPP/s320/burs003.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- October's offering from the Wedgwood Institute -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Backtracking along the 3/3A bus route, we take a short hop into Burslem which is recognised as being Stoke-on-Trent's 'Mother Town' due to its proud pottery production heritage. Josiah Wedgwood was born here in 1730 and the local Institute bears his name - we marvel at its fascinating terracotta frontage complete with various panels representing zodiac signs and the different months of the year. Directly across Queen Street is the Burslem School of Art, itself a fine building dating from 1905, while the architectural ensemble is further augmented by the George Hotel and Swan Square (location of the town's war memorial).</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJVFV1icScJk1kGRXkw6mKpS58ucgTOcnl4CQlezHmlBEXkNfdlKjSFYLcAWjkK6W25031q8B07Jw9UBUnL0nUtjCtRAruHn8xvA5y-vI7rYQXJV8XqdE8UL1G1XTrt5zohVDrjYjD2TWlGUYz7YuxIbwERD0SdMAYO3GDt6iM5f7y2D6OcYy/s600/burs004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="600" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJVFV1icScJk1kGRXkw6mKpS58ucgTOcnl4CQlezHmlBEXkNfdlKjSFYLcAWjkK6W25031q8B07Jw9UBUnL0nUtjCtRAruHn8xvA5y-vI7rYQXJV8XqdE8UL1G1XTrt5zohVDrjYjD2TWlGUYz7YuxIbwERD0SdMAYO3GDt6iM5f7y2D6OcYy/s320/burs004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Wedgwood Printing Works -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Evidence of Burslem's industrial pedigree is seemingly all around us, from factory facades to bottle kilns. Edward Challinor's Overhouse Manufactory catches my eye, as indeed does the 'Ceramic Transfers' lettering on what used to be the Wedgwood Printing Works. The Town Hall is topped by a golden angel that was referenced in the novels of Arnold Bennett, whereas the Royal Stafford company continues to produce pottery in the heart of Burslem today. Our visit has coincided with the Port Vale versus Cheltenham football fixture which means several of the pubs are operating a 'home fans only' admittance policy - can we get a drink somewhere?</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq2UY821pKdtpFTkUNbqZCESnF07YT3dPwGUmUexesqBr5svIlBs6_-rg-PwFLZpCoYIQadaY1Sq5SmzGPSWmxjCGwSXEY4oyb2-iBbU7NT5PCxfaF45rV8DcXtPuBMGb8brmkIj3hgOBbwlbtZgkfQpT5m1J-OlWuDQ9MoWEyShKYf1YMuGm/s600/burs005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq2UY821pKdtpFTkUNbqZCESnF07YT3dPwGUmUexesqBr5svIlBs6_-rg-PwFLZpCoYIQadaY1Sq5SmzGPSWmxjCGwSXEY4oyb2-iBbU7NT5PCxfaF45rV8DcXtPuBMGb8brmkIj3hgOBbwlbtZgkfQpT5m1J-OlWuDQ9MoWEyShKYf1YMuGm/s320/burs005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Tackling Titanic Tipples in the Bulls Head -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two classic taverns on St John's Square will thankfully come to our aid, the first of which is the Duke William (looking out towards a vintage Ideal Homes shopfront). Vocation's Bread and Butter beer drinks very nicely as we enjoy more spooktacular accoutrements, Stephen nervously sitting below a giant hairy mock black spider. A diminutive barmaid makes us feel very much at home and the pub interior has a selection of nice rooms to explore. Further along the street is the Bull's Head, flagship outlet of the Titanic Brewery which is absolutely rammed at first glance but empties out closer to kick-off time. Plum Porter Grand Reserve at source is a rare treat and very powerful as befits its 6.5% abv; Ken takes his mind off the Blues score by reading Daily Mirror articles about the Titanic's fateful voyage.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd_SGgettWT3942RoBWOTr3hzxd_F5N479uSbzuvOtGD3WQBmPyVKVmibImDHwwEshR6SQ4yeCSstUqXNNK3JDIuaFVgPdGKMLbCzcj6Sf721YSY0H3mh3WBQRAVNzGfcpEHPBu8n7e45RuMcwY4QDhSAAlj4iO7RpZnTHzDXimVlw-vQmBZ7/s600/burs006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd_SGgettWT3942RoBWOTr3hzxd_F5N479uSbzuvOtGD3WQBmPyVKVmibImDHwwEshR6SQ4yeCSstUqXNNK3JDIuaFVgPdGKMLbCzcj6Sf721YSY0H3mh3WBQRAVNzGfcpEHPBu8n7e45RuMcwY4QDhSAAlj4iO7RpZnTHzDXimVlw-vQmBZ7/s320/burs006.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- Wellers 'Skull-duggery'? -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Timing our exit so as to intercept the number 98 bus, we proceed to Newcastle-under-Lyme via Longport, Porthill Bank and Wolstanton. A late lunch is required, necessitating a pit stop in the Arnold Machin Wetherspoons (named after the chap who designed the Queen's portrait for use on British coins and postage stamps) - Stephen and I gobble down our 10oz gammons whereas Nick predictably comes over all fishy and Ken has a brunch. Suitably nourished, we check out Wellers on Pepper Street as a round-fronted microbar with a neat selection of cask ales. Yorkshire Blonde, Salopian Lemon Dream and Oakham's 3 Witches are all confirmed to be on good form while Mr B Junior has more skulls and spiders for company. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITj8-Fg0bkUbHOmk2z_BklvJFIH0URsmPZmVmbDyLVOb8XD0iRR1ODql92H-OEOV3iLd0-VzjyJ9cUZG1EeG4jo129FPGAzl8-aXUmlkosLaXHuYPgjdtkYOJfvA1a9STpNmCSafEQUwKSP2pDbb2jsSCRWLO6ztllHTDc9cpO4RLdo5mTDSh/s600/burs007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITj8-Fg0bkUbHOmk2z_BklvJFIH0URsmPZmVmbDyLVOb8XD0iRR1ODql92H-OEOV3iLd0-VzjyJ9cUZG1EeG4jo129FPGAzl8-aXUmlkosLaXHuYPgjdtkYOJfvA1a9STpNmCSafEQUwKSP2pDbb2jsSCRWLO6ztllHTDc9cpO4RLdo5mTDSh/s320/burs007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;"><b>- The Holy Inadequate -</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There's one essential final watering hole we wish to sample before this particular Potteries sojourn is over. The Holy Inadequate in Etruria is the establishment in question, and is highly regarded in CAMRA circles for regularly being in award contention as well as brewing its own on-site beers. With a helping hand from the 4A bus, we troop into the lovely L-shaped bar and gleefully partake of the Inadequate Citra Pale Ale, fresh and lively and full of hoppy goodness. Ken has a read of the Towpath Talk canal newspaper while Nick has never been so pleased to be inadequate in his entire life - there's superb quality out there if you know where to look! All that remains is a very tight Hanley connection but we catch the 25 with the aid of a sprint, and the 18:26 train home to Wolverhampton behaves itself. Cheers!</span></div>West Midlands Explorationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474931323974013662noreply@blogger.com0