Chip Foundation Chronicles: Stoke and Longton

Another one of our number is getting incrementally older again with Stephen taking his turn in the birthday spotlight. It's become customary for our Beardsmore trips to poke around the Potteries so we have every intention of sticking to a winning formula…

- Open for Business in the Potteries -

Trip Log: Friday 30th October 2026 and it's the big day itself. Yes, Mr Beardsmore is turning 60-something this very day and the idea is to cover more of Stoke on Trent in his honour. Previous outings have harnessed Hanley, tickled Tunstall and bagged Burslem so this time we'll fix our erstwhile gaze upon Stoke Town proper, combined with a look at Longton. Nick has specified the 10:49 train as being the one we need to catch, although it is a busy service and we effectively end up meeting on the platform at Stoke Station. Crossing the omnipresent A500 arterial route, we pass part of the former Minton Hollins Ltd tile factory on Shelton Old Road before immersing ourselves in more Potteries heritage courtesy of the Spode Museum. Here a representation of a willow-patterned teapot beckons us inside and Ken observes that it helps to be called Josiah if you want to be a pioneer in the manufacture of porcelain.

- A Spode Seat for His Majesty -

The museum is well worth visiting any time of the week although we drop particularly lucky in witnessing a live gilding demonstration from a retired Spode worker named David. The level of artistry involved is amazing, requiring fine sable brushes, good eyesight (or strong spectacles) and a very steady hand. We also hear about the Spode Works band during the 1980s where Heather from the canteen surprised members with her vocal talent. A huge montage of works photos lines one corridor and there is a separate display documenting local LGBT history. We take time to peruse the shop - being very careful not to knock anything over - and have a nose inside the Daniel Room as a bookable meeting space. A ceramic throne outside gets tested by the royal derriere, plus we can admire the old works entrance gates off Church Street.

- Big Dog in the Congress Inn -

The number 11 bus towards Longton is next on our agenda, after a sighting of Stoke Library as now based in the repurposed market hall. The route in full links Newcastle and Hanley via Bentilee but we only need the short section along City Road and King Street through Fenton. My cue to alight is the distinctive green girder railway bridge abutting the Crown Hotel so we hop off near a disused Woolworth's store and set about tracking down our first pub of the day. The Congress Inn duly awaits on Sutherland Road and is a classic corner local, serving real ale with a side order of spooky decorations. Big Dog from Lowestoft's Green Jack Brewery is billed as a Golden Rye creation and drinks very nicely while listening to an alternating playlist mostly featuring Slade and The Sweet. 'Little Willy' still hasn't gone home after all these years!

- Staking out the Strand -

I'd been to the Congress before (with Mr D9 back in 2019) and it was still as good as I recall, but our next two places are something of a mystery. Traversing the 1960s shopping joys of the Longton Exchange precinct - a popular amenity with a friendly community sensibility - we can reach the Strand, a deceptively spacious bar fashioned from a former tobacconist's shop. The Caldmore Taverns group were responsible for the conversion here and they've done a great job, even serving up a tasty glass of Wincle's Hanging Stone Smoked Porter. The beer at our third port of call is sadly nowhere near as good; in fact the Black Sheep Bitter at the George & Dragon was probably well past its best but the pub as a whole left a memorable impression! Quite what the regulars thought of us is anyone's guess, with Messrs Beardsmore and May almost swallowed by a very low soft sofa. We manage to prise them back up eventually.

- Longton Market -

Aside from the pubs (and Woolworth's!) it's good to see a little more of Longton, one of the six towns which federated together to form the City of Stoke on Trent - the arrangement officially came into force on 31st March 1910. We'd seen brown tourist signs for the Victorian Market and needed to take a closer look, even though trade is winding down for the day. The building alone is architecturally impressive having originally been built circa 1862/3 and then enlarged in 1914; it currently operates on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and you can imagine the promotional patter of stallholders filling the air, telling of bargain fruit, veg, fish, meat and other household products. The Town Hall adjoins one end of the market site at Times Square.

- The Glebe Hotel -

The return number 11 to Stoke hurtles back through Fenton and drops us off on Church Street practically outside the Wheatsheaf Wetherspoons. We're safely within the 2pm to 5pm window where the cheaper afternoon meal deals apply, and Stephen gallantly copes with a shortage of salt sachets. Burgers, chicken bowls, brunches and ham/eggs duly consumed - and with the Maxim John Bull Stout declared as decent - we move nearby to assess the Six Towns (an Irish affair taking on what used to be a Titanic boozer called the White Star) then finish at the Glebe Hotel. I am a fan of the latter and can easily understand why staff at the adjacent Civic Centre make this their post-work bolthole. Joule's have applied their customary high-end finish of dark wood, mirrors and stained glass insets, while some of the breweriana creations prompt talk about Football Pools coupons and Premium Bonds - those were the days!

- The Birthday Boy in Action -

Satisfied by a closing slurp of Slumbering Monk, it's over to the railway station we trot albeit the 18:44 Birmingham departure is delayed by around twenty minutes. A platform bench thus offers time for reflection on another successful Stoke trip, and the general passage of time, before another very busy set of carriages mean seating can be at a premium. The final word should of course go to Stephen so here we see him at the George & Dragon, his Coke almost tantalisingly out of reach as the perils of a certain sofa take effect. I wonder which destinations might be in line for celebrating Chip Foundation birthdays in 2027?

WME Flickr Focus - October 2026

October's photostream activity has seen Exploration Extra continuing its national tour of duty. Join us on a journey from the South Coast to North Yorkshire via Merseyside, the East Midlands and a Trent Bridge cricketing call...

We'll work our way up the country for this monthly appraisal, so I'll pick our Portland as our starting point. The Spirit of Portland sculpture made quite an impression on me in January 2024 with its dramatic hilltop depictions of stoneworkers and fishermen, and I was similarly beguiled by the Royal Portland Arms as a quirky free house in Fortuneswell. From Portland we move to Portsmouth for the nautical harbour-end delights of the Spice Island Inn (complete with tiled facade for the defunct Brickwoods Brewery) and hints of the city's sailing club. 

Inching east along the South Coast, we reach the seaside town of Littlehampton for glimpses of beachfront pebbles, round chapel windows and riverboat berths - the Arun View being our principal pub offering here. The Menu restaurant and a disused MOT garage plump out my Littlehampton local items before Brighton nudges in some North Laine arrows, just in case anybody wasn't sure how to reach this trendily bohemian district with its independent range of shops and bars.

October's East Midlands extractions meanwhile build on the Leicester haul that we'd begun in September. The Newarke supplies its own brand of street signage and I like a mural montage remembering the former Savoy Theatre. Northampton nibbles on Norvil nuggets courtesy of a former motorcycling shopfront, although you might prefer the Irish twang of the Swan & Helmet. Nottingham then tempts us with Trent Bridge for a variety of player portraits (Luke Fletcher, Olly Stone), general cricket ground livery and two date extracts from the riverside War Memorial. I must also mention Matlock matters, delivering the Derbyshire Dales council offices and a closed Ford car dealership amongst other morsels.

Macclesfield moves us closer to the North West, supplying pub content from the Nags Head and the Castle (the latter being one of my absolute favourite finds of 2023, I love its timeless interior). The historic 108 Steps needed to be represented while fans of carved typefaces might like the Police Station marker, or perhaps a little nod to Waters Green. Liverpool and Southport cover our Merseyside angle, whether this be with Globe Inn beer-bellied ornaments or Singer sewing centres. My nostalgic side likes the Southport Pier Pavilion with its vintage penny arcade games, such as a Ring A Ding slider featuring Norman Vaughan catchphrases.

Our nationwide roaming remit culminates in Yorkshire, where a visit to the National Railway Museum is on the cards. Dairy tankers, Cheltenham Flyers and cleaning warnings were my chief spottings there on a wet June 2019 morning. Elsewhere in the vicinity of York, we populate my Poppleton archives with the local branch library and village green parking enforcement notices, then land up in Scarborough's Craft Bar by way of Richmond. River Swale scenery mingles with railway station reminders to complete our October arrivals. Until next time, enjoy the photos...

The Route 1 Pubcrawl: D9 at the Double

The storm season has arrived with a vengeance as Austen and Boelo have wreaked their collective might upon the West Midlands. The Hub Marketing Board were due to meet for a Shropshire session but scaled back our plans in favour of a local pubcrawl aboard the number 1 bus between Dudley and Tettenhall - the idea proved so tempting, we completed it across two separate outings...

- Our driver is in position -

Part One of our twofold tale takes place on the afternoon of Friday 23rd October 2026 when soggy Shrewsbury gets jettisoned in favour of Upper Gornal and Sedgley. The Board are no strangers to wet weather contingencies although the elements have thrown up particularly unpleasant conditions, hence our Pipers Row rendezvous being accompanied by an almighty downpour. Splashing our way to St George's Parade, we intercept the trusty 1 for a TUAG (Turn Up and Go) rumble into Gornal where the Britannia can provide solace from the storm. Bathams Best Bitter in Sally's Parlour is always hard to beat, munching our way through the pub's latest cob delivery while old boys chat about the poor beer quality at their Golf Club.

- The Bald Spot spies a Stripey Oss -

The Secretary doesn't need much persuading to revisit Gornal, knowing that he can cash in a sleeve surprise if the cards fall right. The Stripey Oss on Kent Street's 1960s shopping parade had its shutters down at the first time of asking but obligingly opens up after 1pm; the zebra theme is good fun but our darting exploits become a trial of back room endurance. For once, WME Whirlwind is hitting the board regularly but he lacks the clinical edge for those crucial checkouts. D9 Destroyer by contrast is hitting trebles all over the shop (albeit mostly going bust as a result) and takes a 5-1 lead to the Jolly Crispin. The scoring there is tighter, a 3-3 draw being powered by Neepsend's 6% Typhon pale ale, meaning the Chairman ends up 8-4 in credit. Some Whirlwind consolation is gained from a crafty 101 outshot and the ale is great.

- Rebel Rosie's -

One Upper Gornal pub we won't be able to sample is the Spills Meadow, which is currently all boarded up with skips outside. With that crossed off our agenda, the number 1 briskly powers us into Sedgley for a sampling of Sanzibar (partaking of Draught Bass and Three Tuns Cleric's Cure) followed by the White Horse, the latter a bastion of Carling and avid horse racing on this evidence. Friday's Silly Songs are duly traded: 'Statutory Right of Entry' by Richard Stilgoe from the WME playlist, then the Mrs Mills piano-peddling version of 'Second Hand Rose' - she's no Barbra Streisand is Gladys! Another bus ride brings us back into Wolverhampton, alighting on Snow Hill to check out The Bricks which turns out to put much more emphasis on the kitchen than the bar in terms of its 'Kitchen Bar' operations. Rebel Rosie's is interesting, occupying industrial buildings which were once part of Express & Star news production.

- The Secretary takes a DIVE -

The Chairman takes quite a shine to Rebel Rosie's actually, and we could envisage returning sometime to test ourselves on their glitzy darts lanes or shuffleboards. It is pitched at students and sport lovers so could get lively when a big match is on, but we found it likeable enough. Mr WME's sleeves then start twitching again: we all know that D9 loves his dives but a venue actually called DIVE is a new one on us, and can be found above the ex-Exchange pub (or De Fusion in modern parlance) via three flights of dimly lit stairs. Worries that we are about to enter a Sinderella's strip club are thankfully allayed by the sight of a drinking den with its own vintage pinball games room. Tall glasses of Freedom lager help us to feel at home, then the Secretary makes a sharpish exit to attend to quizzing matters in Tettenhall. A Team Bears debut for Bookworm Bygrave results (or coincides) with a long overdue victory - hurrah!

- Back aboard the number 1 -

Speaking of Tettenhall, that end of the #1 route must not escape hub scrutiny so the Board reconvenes on Monday 26th October for an evening blast. Little has changed since Friday in fairness - the weather is still awful, the Secretary is still wearing his red tent anorak and the Chairman's hair hasn't miraculously grown back. Flagging down our steed on Lichfield Street opposite the Art Gallery, we make speedy progress out to the Newbridge as an A41 roadhouse landmark operated by the Stonehouse group. Daily carveries are the stock-in trade here but we swerve the roast dinners in deference to glasses of Carling, Mr D9 digesting bombshell news regarding the imminent works departure of Head Hub.

- On yer bike, Chairman? -

From this point on, the pubs are all reasonably close together - certainly within easy walking distance - although this doesn't stop the Chairman from contemplating using one of those Lime e-bikes that seem to be everywhere now. The Swan on Lower Street is another Carling contender and has been opened out more since we last saw it (which admittedly was the best part of twelve and a half years ago). 1970s Wolverhampton Wanderers programme covers are the Secretary's kind of decor and sports fans are well catered for thanks to numerous screens. Old Hill has us rapidly revising my assessment about 'easy' walking distance; it's actually quite a steep climb to reach the Two Greens, an establishment some readers may remember better as being called the Rock Hotel. Greene King ales and comfortable surroundings are the result, albeit perhaps upstaged by a Ronnie Barker silly song - 'There's A Lot Of It About' you know!

- The Carpenters Arms -

There are two further taverns to complete our Tettenhall Village set, Mr WME taking pity on D9 by not insisting on revisiting the Crown at Wergs (scene of an all-time expensive round). The Chairman instead finds himself in line for a nifty discount courtesy of the Dog & Gun over on Wrottesley Road, £3.50 each for good quality Plum Porter and Jaipur isn't bad going these days. We can then finish at Tettenhall's newest addition, the Carpenters Arms as based in a High Street premises which used to be the Chill Wine Bar, and a dressmaking shop before that. The refit seems very tasteful, creating a vibe which feels very much like a traditional alehouse with extra capacity via a lounge room upstairs. The beer is on top form tonight, Hobson's Town Crier and Purple Moose's Dark Side of the Moose both meeting with our esteemed approval while the cobs are massive. What a lovely landing point - cheers!

Yet More Leamington Larks...

Nick has a long and storied habit of unearthing startling surprises when he introduces me to new haunts on his home patch, so what random finds would be revealed during our latest Leamington get-together?

- Railway History Mural -

Trip Log: Friday 16th October 2026 and I'm all set for Warwickshire as the 09:39 Bournemouth train takes me directly from Wolverhampton to Leamington Spa. His Majesty is waiting to greet me on the platform and we descend the stairwell to find a pair of interesting railway history murals depicting the likes of George Stephenson, Richard Trevithick and a very stern Queen Victoria (looking unimpressed about her titchy crown). The now-customary York Walk wander allows nice views of the old library, River Leam and bandstand before we get down to beery business by sampling the current Wetherspoons real ale festival at the Benjamin Satchwell. The pub is undergoing an external facelift although a big blue banner declares it is very much still open, hence we can avail ourselves of Oolong ESB as infused with Chinese tealeaves.

- Model moments at the Great Western -

Nick's most important target for the day is an outlying pub at a place called Deppers Bridge, so the number 665 Flexibus is our main means of getting there. The route runs roughly every two hours, careful planning therefore being needed to ensure we catch the 12:14 working outside Leamington's Parish Church. The bus arrives on time, wiggles up the Tachbrook Road then through Harbury and Bishops Itchington before dropping us off right by the Great Western - that linked well! Apparently this place was closed for several years but has been triumphantly brought back to life, even retaining the model railway it was long famous for. Watching the miniature fleet whizzing around at ceiling level makes for excellent entertainment whilst we sup a decent drop of Draught Bass, noting also a little collection of rail-related literature. 

- A Beermat Chandelier -

Having successfully flagged down our return 665 - Nick providing the necessary outstretched arm to get the driver's attention - we will spend the rest of the day subjecting Leamington to our usual brand of scrutiny. The Boiler Room is an obvious choice given that the bus sets down immediately outside; we'd been to this craft microbar previously (during Festive Forage activities) and it's certainly much quieter in the middle of the afternoon. It takes us some time to make sense of the long chalkboard of craft options but we wisely swerve the 8.4% Tartarus in favour of London Black and a Strawberry Sundae ice cream sour. Heading up the Parade again, we include a call at The House which is a trendy venue that can be booked for private parties. I love their chandelier as fashioned out of vintage beermats, I think one of those would be ideal for the WME bedroom! Halves of Safari Pale Ale and Guinness keep us lubricated here, noting the presence of a shuffleboard table for anybody feeling competitive.

- OMG at the Bedford Street Bar -

Onwards, and after a Bejamin Satchwell repeat this time for food (a royal Fishy Friday deal is too much to resist and there might have been a coriander-laced Ukrainian ale in the mix), we proceed along Bedford Street. The eponymous bar is another haunt we'd sampled on a prior occasion but retains its jazzy vibe, mingling with Sky Sports screens and hints of neon strobe lighting. Arguably the standout features here are the scatter cushions, featuring lip motifs or takeaway coffee cups, although comedy cobwebs are a reminder that Halloween is near. The bar claims to have Leamington's biggest beer garden and no doubt gets lively on an evening.

- A Spicy Librarian? Whatever Next! -

I'm getting used to Leamington surprising me with the most bizarre discoveries imaginable so I should have known there'd be something tucked up those knowing royal sleeves - but a spicy librarian? Really? This is a remarkable bookstore, specialising in romance fiction, romantasy and many other subgenres. We peek inside to see a cocktail counter along with several bays laden with love-themed literature. The store is prominent on Instagram and has its own line of merchandise too; given the potentially risque nature of some of the material, access is adults only (18+) but the setting feels very welcoming and you could easily curl up with a book. We follow that niche find by heading a couple of doors further along to the Beer Lodge, based in what used to be Jephson's Bar (and before that, the Tavistock). Phipps's Bison drinks nicely amidst an urban retreat setting and is billed as a beast of a brown ale - we concur.

- Magnificent Mead -

Where next? In true Flanagan and Allen style, Nick recommends we sample the LeamFest event underneath the arches so we shuffle back along the Parade and aim south of the river. We've done a few of these railway units before (notably Windmill Hill, Southbound and Brubl) but Hive is new to us, majoring on mead. Their £6 premium flight enables us to have three thirds: Hive Mind Pure Honey (3.4%), Hive Mind Honey + Ginger (also 3.4%) and Hive Mind Tavern Mead, utterly gorgeous at 8%, while managing to handle our paddles without spilling a drop of precious cargo. I'm hugely impressed by the whole setup, nicely lit with trains rumbling above, and they do stock cider and craft beer if fermented honey isn't really your thing.

- Sampling the Lucky Shiba Sake Bar -

The aforementioned Windmill Hill and Brubl are participating in the festivities, each having live music on the go and some enticing brews to tickle those tastebuds - I particularly enjoy a dark half of Byatt's All Day Foreign Extra Stout. Our mead diversions have however put us in the mood to try something that little bit different, hence the prospect of the Lucky Shiba Sake Bar simply cannot be ignored. Every drink here is expertly sourced from Japan, including the One Cup sake jars which seem to be a big seller. We opt for the slightly safer ground of the Kirin Ichiban premium lager, perched by the bar munching on very tasty edamame beans. With that our revels must end and the 21:16 train is on hand to take me home, stunned by another madcap voyage of unexpected Leamington revelations. Cheers!