St Fagans

The startlingly swift conclusion to the match between Glamorgan and Warwickshire risks leaving Mr B and myself at a loose end, but acting upon a recommendation from our very own Ken, we spend our final day in Cardiff investigating St Fagans National Museum of History. The day was so full of interest it deserves a separate blog post...

- Abernodwydd Farmhouse -

St Fagans is an open air museum which first launched to the public in 1948 and currently has over 40 original buildings which have been re-erected here to represent different aspects of Welsh history. The arrangement feels similar to Blists Hill or the Black Country Living Museum closer to home, in that you can explore the properties plus see live demonstrations of heritage crafts and industries, although here the aim is much wider, encapsulating a sense of an entire nation. Catching the number 32 bus out from Cardiff Bridge (via Victoria Park and Fairwater), we have four hours to see as much as we can. A gallery in the entrance hall sets the scene with artefacts from daily life, leisure (a holiday caravan), work (a grey Ferguson tractor) and death (a Roman stone coffin). Heading outdoors, we start at the Pen-rhiw Unitarian Chapel for its simple plain interior strewn with harvest displays of rhubarb stalks and berry baskets. The Abernodwydd Farmhouse was reclaimed from Llangadfan in Powys and has been on site since 1955, showcasing a typical mid-Wales dwelling of timbered walls and a thatched roof.

- The Prefab -

Our tour next takes us past a tollhouse, originally dating from 1771 and used to collect fees from traffic heading south from Aberystwyth (hence a long list of applicable charges, as well as exemptions). The Rhyd-y-car terrace comprises six properties covering a timespan from 1805 to 1985, each with their own garden plot styled accordingly. You can clearly see how living conditions would have improved and how consumer goods became more prevalent, while a live-in shed laid out for cake consumption is a nice surprise. Also on the residential angle is a Prefab relocated from the Gabalfa district of Cardiff, one of the B2 specification which provided much-needed housing after the Second World War. The volunteer tells us asbestos could be an issue with these properties (although not this specific example), and that heat regulation was also a factor - freezing in winter with ice up the windows, boiling in summer. Similar housing has been evident in some parts of Wolverhampton and Willenhall.

- Fresco section from St Teilo's Church -

Wales has many farming communities and their impact is captured through the inclusion of several contrasting buildings from the more humble (Cilewent, where half of the property was used to store cattle and the other half was the family home) to the more substantial (the red distinctive daub of Kennixton, transferred from the Gower) and wealthy (Garreg Fawr with its two chimneys, one on the diagonal). Religion was hugely significant to the Welsh population so St Teilo's depicts a late medieval example of a Catholic church - the fresco wall paintings are stunning, depicting biblical stories at every turn. The contrast with the basic setup we'd seen with Pen-rhiw is marked, although the illustrations would have been covered up as a matter of necessity during times of Catholic suppression.

- The Vulcan Hotel -

Passing the Rhayader Tannery, where one can only imagine the stench that would have been involved when processing animal hides in square pits of bark solution, we reach one of the day's undoubted highlights. Yes, St Fagans does have its own pub in the form of the Vulcan Hotel, preserved having stood in the Adamsdown area of Cardiff and subject to a campaign when it was threatened with demolition. The pub interior is set in the year 1915 with sawdust on the bar room floor, a separate rear smoke room and hints of the publican's living quarters. We pause for a drink, Cwrw Vulcan in my case, with all of the ales provided by the Glamorgan Brewing Company. The tiled facade is very evocative of the period and you can see nods to the W W Nell Brewery who would have owned the building at the time.

- If D9 can do it... -

The current Vulcan is positioned close to the Oakdale Workmen's Institute (the 'Stute) which formally opened to serve its village community north of Caerphilly in 1917. The layout includes a library (always a winner in my eyes), reading room and committee room - there's even an old safe bearing a maker's mark from Wombourn near Wolverhampton. Elsewhere, a Victorian schoolhouse has been rebuilt here from Lampeter - Stephen reckons the curly cane could be used to punish any errant Glamorgan batsmen - then the Gwalia Stores represent a Bridgend grocery and ironmongers business. It's fascinating to peruse the recreated packaging for well known brands (such as Oxo or Jacobs Biscuits) and those since forgotten over time. Mr D9 would love the cast iron urinal outside which has been salvaged from Llanwrtyd Wells.

- Turog Bread -

Bizarrely, the number 32 route has a limited timetable and the last bus leaving the museum goes at 14:28 which seems ridiculously early to us. Nevertheless we need to catch it and only have time to pick out a few extra features while heading back to the car park. The pigsty is fashioned from layered flat stones which form a beehive-like dome, the round shape is said to discourage the pigs from digging their way out. I particularly like Nantwallter, a farmworker's cottage from Carmarthenshire which is another thatched roof charmer with walls made out of 'clom', a durable mixture of clay, mud and straw. Last but not least is the Derwen Bakehouse which carries branding for Turog Bread (a one-time competitor to Hovis) and VitBe. There's rather a lot we didn't have time for, including a post office, some roundhouses and a tailor's shop, not to mention the grounds of St Fagans Castle. We've made a note to come for a second look if the chance ever arises, batting collapses permitting!

- Cardiff City Stadium -

The bus timings mean we still have a large portion of the afternoon at our disposal so a spot of sporty sightseeing sounds like an excellent idea. After a pit stop at Canton's Ivor Davies Wetherspoons for more Beardsmore ham, egg and chips, we stroll the short distance to the Cardiff City Stadium which has been hosting football matches since the summer of 2009. The stadium is everything you would expect of a modern arena: well-provisioned, surrounded by car parking spaces and retail parks, but with famous moments captured in huge photos on the sides of the stands. One notable statue shows Cardiff's 1927 FA Cup-winning captain Fred Keenor clutching the trophy, a proud moment for most of Wales that! Cardiff used to play their home matches at Ninian Park which was situated just over the road and has been turned into a housing estate; a set of pale blue gates with a bluebird emblem recall the years when that ground was in operation, 1910 to 2009.

- Cathays Beer House -

The local railway station still bears the name Ninian Park and is an unstaffed stop on the City Line offering links to places such as Aberdare and Pontypridd. A walk along Ninian Park Road gets us back to our lodgings, and our final evening in Cardiff is spent in the student-centric suburb of Cathays where almost every international cuisine imaginable seems to have an outlet or restaurant. The Woodville definitely attracts its share of the undergraduate pound (Electric Bear's Werrrd American Pale Ale is my citrus sharp tipple here), then the Cathays Beer House serves up a crystal clear pint of Ronnie Pickering Ale. Arguably this micropub's biggest attraction is not the ale but a large fishtank containing several beady-eyed aquatic creatures, some of which seem intent on getting into a staring contest with Stephen. All that then remains is our homeward trains via Hereford and Shrewsbury on Saturday morning. I have a strong suspicion we'll do Cardiff again at some point, but whether the Glamorgan batting line-up will be as charitable with their dismissals is very unlikely. Cheers!

Bears on Tour: Cardiff 2026

I often state that my adventures are memorable, sometimes even highly memorable, but the few days which have just unfolded in Cardiff will take some beating when it comes to getting etched into the WME memory banks. Stephen and I were in town to see Warwickshire take on Glamorgan, little suspecting we'd have rather a lot of spare time on our hands...

- Dealings with Dragons -

What's more, there's a lot riding on this game with Warwickshire still in contention for County Championship honours alongside Nottinghamshire and Somerset. Beardsmore research has booked us a room at the National Sports Centre which should be very close to the ground at Sophia Gardens; I've never been to the South Wales industrial area before, let alone Cardiff, so the whole week is set to be one fascinating voyage of discovery. Catching the 12:30 train from Birmingham, the journey takes just under two hours and has the spectacle of Cardiff Central railway station at the other end. The architecture here evokes the golden age of the Great Western Railway with art deco platform flourishes and a frontage clad in Portland Stone. We even have a red dragon welcoming committee to prove we are in Wales.

- River Taff and the Principality Stadium -

With the match due to take place between Tuesday 8th and Friday 11th September, we travel down on the Monday aiming to get settled into our accommodation and find our way around. Cardiff is clearly an intensely proud sporting city and nowhere is this more apparent than with the majestic Principality Stadium, constructed at the turn of the millennium to host national events including football matches and (perhaps most famously) rugby. The stadium towers over the side of the River Taff as we cross Cardiff Bridge and find the cricket ground - we're literally staying right next door, although it is a novelty to be lodging in a leisure centre rather than a hotel! Monday evening has us mooching around the surrounding district of Pontcanna, finding the Robin Hood (which was a 2026 Good Beer Guide entry but currently doesn't serve any real ale) and the Cricketers (highly appropriate) by way of liquid refreshment. Jemima's Pitchfork is a golden beer from the Glamorgan Brewing Company based in Llantrisant, nice!

- Play Underway -

Tuesday morning starts off damp and the whole of the first session is wiped out waiting for the weather to dry up. Play gets underway at around half past one and we quickly get the sense this is not going to be an ordinary game. Glamorgan win the toss and choose to bat, hoping to get through any initial tricky conditions and pile on the runs, but in the blink of an eye they're 39 for 5 and Warwickshire's Ethan Bamber has taken all five wickets. Mr B and I are delighted with that start yet still expect some kind of resistance to emerge but no, the wickets just keep on tumbling. Bamber finishes his spell and is replaced at the Cathedral Road End by captain Ed Barnard who maintains the bowling pressure, bagging a miserly 3 wickets for 5 runs as the home side are dismissed for a meagre 69 all out. Colin Ingram top scored with a flighty 19 and was the only batsman to reach double figures. We're in shock!

- Mr B meets Morgan -

After the tea break, it's Warwickshire's turn to bat and the Bears top order thankfully make a better fist of things. The double Y opening pair of Rob Yates and Will Young ably negate the bowling wiles of Timm van der Gugten and the erratic Mir Hamza, so it's a surprise when the seemingly not very threatening spin of Ben Kellaway extracts Yates (35) and Dan Mousley (5) in swift succession. Young is steadily compiling runs though, reaching a valuable half century before Hamza gets his radar right and bowls the New Zealander for 60. There are no further alarms thereafter and the close of play is reached on 154/3, giving Warwickshire an already healthy lead of 85. In between times, we explore a little more of Glamorgan's SWALEC home, Stephen making the acquaintance of Morgan the mascot - they do like their dragons here...

- Cardiff Arms Park -

Tuesday evening has us venturing into the Canton district of Cardiff courtesy of the Cowbridge Road, with swathes of football fans making their way to watch Cardiff City play Stoke. The lvor Davies Wetherspoons had been extremely popular pre-match but the exodus enables us to get a bite to eat, noting how the pub takes inspiration from legendary actor and composer Ivor Novello's birth name. Wednesday morning sees me taking in more of Wales's sporting history with a glance at Cardiff Arms Park, primarily a rugby union ground which is dwarfed by the presence of the Principality Stadium next door. Bute Park and West Gate make for a lovely walking route while the wall leading towards Cardiff Castle is decorated with carved animals.

- 65 All Out! Game Over -

Back at the cricket, Warwickshire buoyantly extend their advantage by amassing a total of 391 including half centuries from Sam Hain (76) and Barnard (51), not forgetting a handy 49 not out by wicketkeeper Kai Smith. The Bears therefore lead by 322 and we enjoy a productive lunchtime visit to the Museum of Welsh Cricket based in the Hugh Morris Centre, spotting vintage kitbags and learning about Glamorgan's 1969 County Championship winning team. The current incarnation are struggling in this particular fixture but surely can't bat as badly again, can they? At 42/1 things are looking a little more promising, but Mr Barnard seemingly has other ideas and a scarcely-believable period sees a procession of batsmen heading to the pavilion almost on repeat. 65 all out - I repeat, 65 all out - means the game hasn't even lasted two days, and Warwickshire have won by a colossal innings and 257 runs. Barnard grabbed 5/13 for match figures of 8/18 (wow) while across both innings, Manav Suthar took three tail end wickets without conceding a single run. We quite frankly are astonished!

- A Celebratory Thumbs Up -

Stephen and I would certainly have taken that result at the start of the week, the win keeping Warwickshire well in the hunt for title honours with another two rounds of matches to play - we still suspect Somerset might just edge things overall although you never know. We celebrate with a couple of pints in the heart of Cardiff, whereby our call at the City Arms stands out for my chance to sample Brains beer, the renowned regional brewery having been founded in 1882. A pint of their Dark proves smooth and creamy while we watch some of the Champions League football coverage, the pub then being taken over by members of a male voice choir complete with matching blue blazers. Tiny Rebel is on the next corner for a craft angle, Dunk making another appearance after I'd sampled it in Stourbridge recently, while the Mad Dog outlet at the other end of Womanby Street also receives a brief look for Bruin's Ruin.

- The Packet -

Right then, the match has finished very early so what are we going to do with ourselves for the blank couple of days? Cardiff's historic waterfront has been the subject of considerable regenerative activity from the 1990s onwards so after our regular Hwb Caffi breakfast, we plot our way along Bute Street where the offshoot roads might once have resonated to the sights and sounds of the dockyards. Butetown isn't the most affluent of locations and forms a sharp contrast with the glamour and investment on show in Cardiff Bay itself, although construction work is progressing with the provision of a new station to be served by tram-trains as part of the South Wales Metro. Amidst a lot of change, the Packet Hotel has remained intact as a Brains public house offering a nod to the wider area's heritage, recalling the days when it would have been known as Tiger Bay with merchant seamen and steam ferries to Bristol.

- Senedd Cymru -

The modern Cardiff Bay is spectacular, mixing historic aspects with striking contemporary amenities. The Mermaid Quay development contains several of your well-known eaterie chains such as Nando's and Pizza Express, making for a leisure destination at the water's edge. The Pierhead Building is a terracotta treat, representing the headquarters of the Bute Docks Company with some exquisite tiled staircases inside, while the Millennium Centre is a Welsh arts hub with an emphasis on opera, ballet, orchestral music and creative industries. The frontage dramatically features the Welsh phrase "Creu Gwir fel gwydr o ffwrnais awen"  and the English "In these stones horizons sing". Another must-see element is the Senedd, home to the Welsh Parliament, its central funnel design intended to represent transparency.

- Codebreakers -

After a drink in the aforementioned Packet pub (Brains SA in my case, watching the European T20 cricket league clash between Rotterdam and Glasgow), we continue to survey the bay by investigating the Mount Stuart Docks. Techniquest is closed for maintenance so we can't dip into its science and technology-related exhibits but we can admire the Codebreakers statue, paying tribute to sporting heroes who made the transition from rugby union to rugby league. Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman are depicted in bronze while the names of ten other players are remembered too. Returning to the city centre, we have a quizzing evening courtesy of the Cricketers (finishing third) and still have another day to fill...

Hub Marketing 2026: STOURBRIDGE

Evening commitments with the Woolfs at a Wombourne barn dance mean the Secretary is (mostly) on his best behaviour for this latest Hub Marketing excursion. Stourbridge and its pubs hold a lot of happy memories for Mr WME but there are a few gaps in the Chairman's collection that need plugging...

- Serious Steering on the 16 -

It's Friday 4th September and a 10:30am Wolverhampton rendezvous has been agreed, the Chairman arriving off his tram in relatively punctual order. We're still awaiting news of when the Midland Metro extension to Dudley might open with the launch date delayed again until later in 2026 or possibly early 2027. Stourbridge is in our sights today however hence we board the number 16 bus for the familiar journey along the A449 Penn Road and into the South Staffordshire villages of Wombourne, Swindon and Hinksford, Mr D9 saving his best scowling steering poses for extracting us around the endless Darlington Street roadworks.

- A Tea4Two Coffee Call -

Keeping a beady eye out for breakfasting opportunities, a few greasy spoon candidates could enter the equation although the Chairman draws the line at having lettuce and cucumber as part of his fry up. Tea4Two in Wall Heath looks a good bet and is partly a building site due to the cafe being extended into the gaming shop next door. Black polythene sheets protect the walls as we line our stomachs with a sensible portion of bacon, egg, sausage and black pud, all washed down with mugs of tea or coffee. They have one menu item called the Tea4Two Challenge which has a monstrous amount of stuff on it, presumably as a sharing platter.

- Wollaston's Bike Hub -

The bus stop outside Wall Heath Church is as good a setting as any for divulging this trip's silly song selections. 'I Like Birds' by Terry Scott was in line to be a future secretarial pick but the Chairman beats WME to it, although the "Valerie, Valerie" chorus of Richard Stillgoe's 'Suffering from Inflation' could well be a long-term earworm. The 16 combines with the 8 at Stourbridge Interchange to project us beyond Wollaston Farm, alighting on Bridle Road for a glimpse of the Bike Hub combining bicycle repairs with an associated coffee outlet. Next door is the Plough, one of the mainstays of the Enville Street pubcrawl route. It used to be an M&B establishment and we can see the results of a stylish makeover while supping Hop Shed's Crowd Surfer malty ale, our halves proving very agreeable to the D9 tastebuds.

- D9 Destroyer in Bisto Mode -

One pub above all others is central to the Chairman's aims this afternoon - he's absolutely insistent that we cover the Gigmill, a Marston's estate boozer between Wollaston and Norton. The number 7 bus gives us a helping hand past Stourbridge Crematorium, hopping off on The Broadway and venturing straight up to the bar. Spying an unoccupied dartboard, we settle in for a few legs of Carling-fuelled arrows, albeit WME Whirlwind has gone completely off the boil when it comes to hitting those all-important checkouts. D9 Destroyer is in inspired form, some might almost call it clinical: the result is a 6-1 thrashing that puts the bald one in pole position to win the 2026 Pub Games Champion Award. Very 'Bisto' (or should that be Bristow) indeed!

- The Waggon & Horses -

Despite a few closures, Stourbridge still seems to be stacked with a good proportion of inviting alehouses. The New Inn (on Cherry Street) and the Longlands Tavern (on Western Road) are both still going strong in the sidestreets off South Road, then we arrive on Worcester Street for a classic pairing of the highest quality. The Plough & Harrow used to be a Holt, Plant & Deakin (Holt's) tied house which retains some of the former Langley-based brewery's insignia; these days it is owned by Craddocks so we try to tame a glass each of Crazy Sheep. Back towards the town centre, the Waggon & Horses has long had a reputation for good beer and lives up to that promise again today. 'Dunk' is a collaboration involving Tiny Rebel and Titanic who have combined to craft a biscuit ale with a tinge of tea-tones about it, I'm most impressed!

- A Sociable Secretary -

There are enough pub possibilities within the confines of Stourbridge Ring Road to keep most people occupied should they so wish, in which case the Hop Vault and the Crafty Jar would be worth seeking out if you favour the more refined style of surroundings. The latter serves up a tasty Easy Tiger (Green Duck Brewery) and has surprisingly spacious toilets if like Mr D9 you notice these kind of things. Although our remit is to target places the Chairman hasn't covered before, there's always room for a WME wildcard and the Stourbridge Social will be that venue this time around. Situated within a River Rooms industrial unit below Domino's Pizza, it has a vast courtyard appearance lined on one side with padded booths, and even features a large blown-up photo of the 1977 incident when a train smashed through the wall at Stourbridge Town Station and was left dangling over the road. Hobson's Town Crier is a cask bonus here.

- White Horse, Amblecote -

We're nearing the end of our pub collecting expedition but there's still time to tickle the Old Wharf (close to the Bonded Warehouse) for a classy half of Mallinson's Wiggle Room, enticed by the psychedelic wavy lilac pumpclip. This is quite an upmarket haunt, far removed from the days when the Moorings Tavern was on its last legs so the owners have done well to breathe new life into the place. I need the 16 for my critical dancing link to Wombourne so we stroll the short distance up to Amblecote where the Chairman is deposited in the White Horse with his Boddington's nightcap. Readers might know this one better as the Maverick - complete with carved chieftain - but it has reverted to its historic name and lost a few of the Country and Western touches which made it more distinctive; still a solid pub though. Cheers!

Chip Foundation Chronicles: WORCESTER

The Chip Foundation's Birthday Wheel of Fortune has rolled Nick's way once more, whereby our resident royal has a longstanding affection for Worcester, the 'Faithful City' which stayed loyal to the Crown during the English Civil War. His Majesty has put together an extensive listing of favourite hostelries he wishes to sample again so let's see how the day unfolds...

- Mr Beardsmore's Pigeon Pose -

Trip Log: Wednesday 2nd September 2026 and believe it or not, this is Episode 98 of the Chip Foundation Chronicles - yep, there really have been that many. Our instructions are to meet at Birmingham New Street where the 10:50 Hereford train departs from Platform 10b; our usual quorum is present and correct, with Ken and Nick comparing coach holiday notes about Great Yarmouth and Torquay while Stephen checks who has won the toss between Hampshire and Warwickshire at Southampton. Upon arrival at Worcester Foregate Street, Mr B is put to work posing with the artworks adorning the railway arches. One mural features a cricket bat and ball alongside Edward Elgar, another has a cartoon ensemble of slightly startled pigeons.

- The Saracen's Head -

This outing is primarily a pubcrawl so we set forth along The Tything with the express intention of making the Dragon our first port of call. Alas its 4 o'clock opening hours mean a return look will be required later on, although Nick has now noticed the Black Country Ales insignia of the nearby Saracens Head. This might not be on his master list but he's intrigued enough to make this our curtain-raiser, claiming Jubilee IPA whereas I dangerously dabble with a Hartlebury Hooker. For an outwardly narrow property the building stretches back a long way, culminating in a newly-relaid skittle alley where Ken and I briefly send the pins a-scattering. Conversation (as it often does) turns to politics with some reflection on Andy Burnham's early days in office.

- Gerry Anderson Annuals -

The weather forecast has been iffy all morning and though we're not expecting any prolonged drenchings, there is a high chance of a pesky shower. Sure enough one such squall blows in as we exit the Saracens and a sheltering stop in Worcester's Museum & Art Gallery is deemed desirable. We'd probably have nipped in regardless of what was on display yet an exhibition dedicated to the Supermarionation creations of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson proves well worth seeing. Their puppet-led shows such as Captain Scarlet, Thunderbirds, Joe 90 and Space 1999 captivated TV audiences during the 1960s, 1970s and beyond, creating a wonderful sense of nostalgia. Nick even had a pink Lady Penelope dinky car when he was younger, hence we have a fun half hour perusing the toys, marionettes and original merchandise.

- Half Centurion in the Cocky Anchor -

On with the tippling task and there are still a few too many raindrops in the air for our liking. Nick might know Worcester well but he'd not heard of the Cocky Anchor so I request it as a WME wildcard, knowing full well it would meet with royal approval. Broad Street is where we find this quiet little oasis, serving up a very nice drop of Kinver's Half Centurion; I like the pub enough on its downstairs micro merits but it's the Victorian Parlour on the first floor which truly makes it shine - what a setting! Carriage clocks, spindle-backed chairs, wicker basket plants and a murmur of learned conversation make this very special indeed so go if you can. The Crown Wetherspoons over the road has its own charms too but mainly serves as a lunching location today, supplying a combination of all day brunches, ham egg and chips, fishy deals and my Cheese Meltdown burger. Our primary topic of conversation here concerns dietary preferences, HRH eating less meat nowadays whereas Stephen is a devout pork disciple.

- A Stout Fellow is King Charles -

I make that three pubs covered already of which none had been on the HRH hitlist so it's high time we tried one of his chosen taverns. Nick has long held a fascination for the English Civil War which means the King Charles House on New Street is an absolute must to visit. This building played a crucial role in aiding the future king's escape following defeat at the 1651 Battle of Worcester. Nowadays it is an inviting public house with many interesting features, including a deep well and even a dungeon! The thought of banishing Stephen down below is quite tempting but the Warwickshire score is such that Mr B is in a good mood. Beerwise we account for Blackheath Stout and Hobson's Champion Mild, both in very good condition.

- Plough Pals -

Ideally we would have followed the King Charles by calling into its next door neighbour, the Swan with Two Nicks. The name alone meant our very own Nick always held this one in the highest regard, but it seems to have had a rebrand, dropped the Nicks entirely and has joined the craze for battleship grey paintwork. Its opening hours preclude a visit this time around so we troop off to Fish Street where the Plough remains as timeless as ever. I have very happy memories of quietly quaffing quality ales here with cricket commentary on the radio, and our latest encounter yields the Mighty Oak combination of Captain Rog Amber Ale and The Old Man and The Sea Stout. We commandeer a table theoretically reserved for a backgammon team, Ken reading about Worcestershire's cricketing move from Boughton Park to New Road.

- Weavers of Worcester -

Pleased with the unchanging pleasures of the Plough, we finish off by retracing our earlier Tything footsteps. The Dragon Inn has gladly opened its doors and is dispensing the full range of Church End wares, from Goats Milk to Fallen Angel to What the Fox's Hat. Nick has got the taste for the dark stuff again so Stout Coffin is his predictable pick whereas I'm leaning more towards Judge Fudge with its traces of sweetness. Ken and Stephen are content to linger a little longer in the Dragon's embrace so Nick and I form a splinter group to squeeze Weavers in before the train. Part of a family-owned small chain of micropubs, this bar showcases beer from the Fownd Brewery (now based in Kidderminster) and is extremely convenient for railway travellers being directly opposite one of Foregate Street station's exit doors. Orbital Abyss is labelled as a 4% Breakfast Stout and slips down a treat in readiness for the 17:24 departure. What a fine way to celebrate Nick's recent birthday, Worcester never disappoints. Cheers!