Burton Beer Festival 2026

Hot on the heels of Chelmsley Clubbing with Mr D9 comes this East Staffordshire excursion to sample ales at the home of brewing. Burton Town Hall and its Wurlitzer organ await for me and Miss Woolf...

- A Town Hall Taster -

Surviving a crazily busy sardines ordeal on the 10:49 Nottingham departure from New Street (during which we are 'treated' to a chorus of Madonna's 'Into the Groove' by a carriage full of Cheltenham Town supporters), Jane and I arrive at Burton intent on an initial wander. Borough Road presents an underwhelming railway station frontage straight out of the 1960s before old favourites the Coopers Arms and the Devonshire earn my photographic admiration. Off to the main event we then go, joining the growing expectant throng outside the Town Hall in catching a few warming rays of sunshine. We start queuing up circa 11:45 so we're in a good spot for when the doors open at midday, and there's quite a snake of similarly eager folk stretching along King Edward Place behind us. 

- The Wurlitzer Wonder -

The layout is familiar from previous editions whereby ciders and local beers are in the Lingen Room, the main hall is organised alphabetically by brewery and (most importantly) the mighty Wurlitzer organ is present and correct. Plunging straight into our task, Jane tries something distressingly pink in the form of Hunt's Raspberry whereas I opt for Tollgate’s Old Rasputin, a richly dark stout with the promise of a thick creamy head. We gravitate to the balcony where I always love to sit for the best views of the Victorian interior, perfect for peoplewatching in that we're on the lookout for impressive beards, very sparkly dresses and outrageous mullets. Miss Woolf chances upon Farmer Jim's Rhubarb Bob for her second selection while I tackle a pale ale prospect in the guise of Nene Valley's Release the Chimps. No apes were harmed in the drinking of this brew, and we're delighted when organist Steve starts tinkling the ivories for a lunchtime recital comprising ‘Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye’ and ‘Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs Of Dover'. 

- Purple Haze -

Broadoak's Purple Haze continues Jane's full spectrum of fruity hues, followed in her case by the same company's traditional perry which is a definite hit. I go very local for a slurp of Ale to the King as produced by Tower right here in Burton, venturing next onto Vulcan Bitter which hails from the Neepsend Brewery. The Wurlitzer soundtrack keeps us entertained for most of the afternoon, other classic tunes being played include 'Babyface' and 'Strangers in the Night'. It is however Steve's Phantom of the Opera medley which really brings a smile to the Woolf face, that and the presence of an 8.4% cidery force to be reckoned with called The General. My personal finale is Peasants Revolt, threatening to unleash my revolutionary urges as the whole room sings along to 'Delilah' and 'Sweet Caroline', reliable crowdpleasers every time.

- Brother Rabbit at Inn-Uendos -

Our final festival drinks duly downed, we vacate the balcony and return our glasses - let's see about getting some pubs shall we? First up comes Burton's Black Country Ales establishment for my seventh stamping towards the 2026 Ale Trail; at the Dog, Jane samples Purbeck's Katy Perry for an apple and pear blended cider - the punning name is fun - whereas I try Enville's Old Porter, a top quality pint with very smooth notes of chocolate. Inn-Uendos beckons with its seaside postcard take on saucy humour (think Carry On wordplay with a smutty side) and supplies respective halves of Thornbridge Brother Rabbit versus Lilley's Rhubarb. This means we sidestep tongue-in-cheek cocktails (Penis Colada is probably best avoided), and once the football fans filter through we finish off at the Arches, Outwoods Brewery's taphouse being under the railway bridge. The corrugated steel shell here is reminiscent of an air raid shelter and it's very popular too with most seats taken inside and out; we just about find room for a closing combination of Dancing Duck's Dark Drake and Lilley's Mango prior to our train. 

Chelmsley Clubbing with the Hub Marketing Board

The month is March and that means the Hub Marketing Board like to aim for East Birmingham on a date as close to St Patrick's Day as possible, with the Chairman keen to recall his legendary colleague Pattie Hughes of the Old Coventry Road. This year the calendar has fallen nicely for us, so strap yourselves in for a full-on blast during which we'll go clubbing in Chelmsley Wood...

- Pattie drives the X12 -

Trip Log: Friday 20th March 2026 and the day commences with Midland Metro tram action from Bradley Lane. Driver familiarisation training is underway ready for more new stops to open as the network is set to expand in the near future; change is also afoot down by Priory Queensway due to the demolition of The Square shopping precinct, meaning sections of Bull Street and Dale End are cordoned off for safety reasons. It takes us a while to work out where the X12 bus now departs from but once aboard we can settle in for a speedy grunt along the Aston Expressway and through Spaghetti Junction - those interlocking concrete ribbons are quite a sight when seen from the top deck of a National Express bus!

- Bromford Hub Business -

Alighting on Bromford Lane, we get down to the main business of the day. Decorative mural panels at the gateway to the Bromford Bridge estate include a reference to 'The Hub' so the Chairman is deployed to apply his trusty seal of approval. The Heart of Birmingham Vocational College nearby has its own separate hub facility - giving us two spottings in swift succession - plus there is chance to recall the days when Drews Lane played host to the Wolseley Motors factory (latterly LDV before the site was cleared). Sadly our top greasy spoon target of 'Come Dine With Us' on the corner of Fairholme Road is shut, so we need a replacement option...

- Silly Sausage, Stechford -

A nifty bit of Googling therefore has us jumping onto the 11C Outer Circle for the short ride via Ward End to Stechford so that we can seek out Silly Sausage on Flaxley Road. Part of a run of small business units that otherwise includes The Bed Centre and Flaxley Tyres, this takes care of our breakfasting needs through the deliverance of bacon, sausages, eggs and fried bread. Mr D9 stoically munches his meal down despite the considerable risk of gourmet gas, then has to suffer a secretarial silly song in the guise of Ken Dodd's Nikky Nakky Noo (with a chorus of high-pitched diddymen). The 14 route has us on one of Pattie's old patches, passing Lea Hall Garage and covering Kitts Green to deposit us at the Meadway Lidl by Mackadown Lane. There aren't all that many drinking options left in this part of Brum but we have an idea...

- The Banbury Club -

Guided once again by Google, we navigate to Granby Avenue in the industrial portions of Garretts Green. The Club is a sports bar majoring on pool, snooker and darts; membership is required for using the games equipment but we are welcome to climb the stairwell and partake of £4 Carling in the dimly-lit dartboard corner. We've unwittingly set our theme for the day now because we'll subsequently undertake a tour of similarly constituted establishments over the course of the afternoon. A heritage-styled double decker on the 72 survives Tile Cross to link us to Chelmsley Wood where we successfully plot our way through the shopping centre when tracking down the Banbury Club. This building seemingly has no windows but is surprisingly luxurious inside; we savour M&B Mild in the lounge while the function room bingo is packed. The amount of mobility scooters stationed outside is a testament to how popular this place is, and we exit to the strains of Pick of the Hub Pops with guest presenter Pattie counting down the charts from 2025, complete with Cilla Black, Lester the Lobster and missing gnomes.

- Rumours Bar & Grill -

If you'd said beforehand we'd spend the day 'clubbing' in Chelmsley Wood I'd have raised a concerned WME eyebrow but the brief has been set and we're game for the challenge. Next up, we ferret across to Fordbridge by way of Chelmsley Road to see what has become of the former Fordbridge Social. After a bit of sprucing up (externally at least) it is now calling itself Rumours Bar & Grill so a crafty Carling will suit us while a broken-down building supplies lorry causes utter gridlock outside. The Chairman loves his flat-roofers so this is right up his alley, as indeed is the C's Bar over on Bosworth Drive where we pass the security check to gain access (Mr D9 must have been smiling appropriately). The staff are busy preparing for a 40th birthday party but we're fine to stay for a quick drink, the premises seemingly being closely linked to the St Anne's Catholic Church next door. We could get used to this clubbing lark!

- Cast Iron Closet Inspections -

Setting aside any pretensions of covering Coleshill today, we figure that our St Patrick's Day trip should probably dabble a little with Digbeth. The 97 can get us there even if the Bordesley Green traffic tries its best to detain us, then the sight of an intact cast iron urinal on Great Barr Street definitely attracts much D9 excitement (and a certain bald spot for good measure). Over the road is the Son Caney Cuba Bar which some people might recall being the Forge Tavern for many years; we've never done it in either guise so a first ever look is a must. It's quiet but we can admire some of the original bar fittings as well as getting into a Latin American spirit - fun, friendly, and something that little bit different from the norm.

- An Irish Coffee -

Digbeth seems to specialise in the unusual these days so you never really know what might lurk around the next corner. Low Places bills itself as a Dive Bar inspired by US honky tonk haunts so we don't need much persuading to try out the Pabst Blue Ribbon lager amidst a wall of truck registration plates. It's relaxed, it's quirky and it has a comic cover for Thor in the gents toilets. Knowing Digbeth's long links with the Emerald Isle, it makes sense that we round off with a couple of modern takes on Irish hospitality hence Hennessey's and Norton's both get a whirl - the first of those is an impressive bar-cum-function suite with a penchant for Guinness toucans, the second is housed in the vast units of a former hydraulics works and serves up a cracking drop of Church End's Irish Coffee stout. There's just time to sample Subside (a rock and alternative music emporium which stocks real ale) before Scruffy Murphys memorably brings the curtain down with its own rock-leaning tastes. What an exceptional crawl!

And So It Begins...

Yes, the 2026 version of the Black Country Ales Trail is happily upon us. Every year during the months of March, April and May, the brewery invites intrepid pubgoers to collect stamps across their estate with potential prizes to be won. This year there are 55 pubs taking part, with the rewards for anyone who visits at least 25 of these being a rugby shirt plus a £25 gift card. I've claimed my passport so let's get going...

- Lych Gate Allegiances -

There are Black Country Ales establishments as far afield as Hereford, Leicester and Rugby but my first stamp comes closest to home with a pint at Wolverhampton's Lych Gate Tavern. The date is Friday 6th March and Stephen is joining me for the afternoon fresh from his latest stint of exam invigilation duties; we meet just after midday with me already in situ, part way down a lovely glass of Froth Blowers Cloudburst Porter accompanied by a tasty samosa. Mr Beardsmore also avails himself of the snacks cabinet for a meaty sausage roll - he is quite a connoisseur of all things pork is our Stephen and gives this a sound thumbs up. Any doubt as to the Lych Gate's footballing loyalties are dispelled by the presence of a massive Wolves flag.

- The Black Country Arms -

For me much of the fun of the trail involves getting round to places you haven't been to in a while, or to borrow a cliche it's the taking part that counts! Walsall presents a double stamping opportunity once we've survived any Friday traffic on the 529 bus route through the notorious Junction 10. The M6 is actually moving surprisingly freely hence we reach the Black Country Arms in good time, remembering the days when the local rag market would have passed its front door and stretched up the hill to the foot of St Matthew's Church. I digress and need to discuss beery matters so I'll place on record that my second inking is secured courtesy of Front Row's Red Roses cherry-infused stout, sitting upstairs amidst unexpected dangling birdcages. The Black Country Arms always rates highly in CAMRA circles and is the 2026 Walsall Pub of the Year, a most deserving winner it must be said.

- Peanut Caramel & Chocolate in the Pretty Bricks -

Second place in that esteemed competition has been awarded to the Pretty Bricks on John Street, a little cracker of a backstreet pub that belies its otherwise grim industrial setting with a very warm welcome. Making ourselves at home in the cosy front bar next to a set of mounted ornamental beer taps, I eagerly partake of New Invention's mouth-watering Peanut, Caramel & Chocolate Stout as brewed literally up the road (well, a couple of miles away to be precise) in Bloxwich. Make no mistake, this is immediately right up there as one of my best pints of 2026 but I do have a sweet tooth so anybody giving me liquid pudding is going to win my affections. Mr B and I ponder footballing and political matters, chatting away in time honoured fashion.

- The Three Horseshoes -

The trail thread is next picked up on Saturday 14th March when I stitch a couple of Sandwell stamps into my logbook. A tram ride across to Black Lake puts me in prime position for getting the Three Horseshoes on Witton Lane, collecting sunny pictures of Hateley Heath and Hill Top along the way. Although I arrive not long after midday, the place is already utterly rammed due to a combination of pre-match West Bromwich Albion fans and a 60th birthday party (the lady in question turns up just before 1pm and is promptly serenaded by the entire pub). Settle's Old Smithy Porter delivers the dark ale I'd been hoping for, and I must commend the company on their recent refurbishment here, everything looking very spick and span indeed.

- The Rising Sun -

It's a gorgeous spring afternoon so a towpath tickle into Tipton is ideal for stretching my legs and earning my next stamping. The Tame Valley Canal from Holloway Bank to Toll End offers vistas for the purist, if you happen to like pylons and National Grid substations that is. Better 'scenery' awaits on Horseley Road in the form of the Rising Sun, a one-time National Pub of the Year champion where I grudgingly concede that a wall of Baggies memorabilia is almost acceptable. The beer is good - Golden Duck Tinner's Tipple backed with Downton's Elderquad - but is eclipsed by a generously filled chicken tikka salad cob that sends hunger packing. A large screen shows Coventry losing at home to Southampton as the Saturday sporting action commences while Reggie the dog prowls about hoping for discarded pork scratchings.

- The Jewellers Arms -

The fine weather holds firm through to the evening of Tuesday 17th March when Bookworm Bygrave and I will be on quizzing duties in the Jewellery Quarter. Prior to the Barrel Store's testing trivia, we call into the Jewellers Arms on the junction of Hockley Street and Spencer Street. Painted signwriting for Hand Pulled Ales entices us inside to discover a characterful interior of tiled fireplaces and vintage local photography, very much in keeping with the Black Country Ales house style. Beartown’s Creme Bearlee is a beer I'm always pleased to see, laden as it is with sweet stout notes plus a smidgen of Madagascan vanilla no less. Quiet corners are perfect for chatting about a whole range of topics (well libraries mostly) then a respectable fourth place is as much as we can muster at Attic's arches bar quizwise, falling foul of Madonna's earliest #1 singles and lack of knowledge about famous Patricks. Cheers!

Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #43

Nearly seven years on from my first Lost Pubs posting, it's a sad and depressing fact that pub closures look likely to continue. These are tough times for the sector, with concerns over footfall (or lack thereof), business rates and alcohol pricing relative to supermarkets just some of the issues our local boozers are having to contend with. How many more will disappear the way of these five bygone boozers?

- The Royal Oak -

I hadn't intentionally planned it to be the case but each of our quintet this time around is from Staffordshire, starting with the Royal Oak at Halfpenny Green. A three-storey Banks's property situated on Six Ashes Road from whence it overlooked the triangular patch that forms the local village green, this place might have been convenient for visitors to Halfpenny Green Airport or Highgate Common back in the day. It closed circa 2015 with planning permission granted to convert it for private residential use.

- The Nesbitt Arms -

The outlying estates of southern Stafford beckon for our second offering, whereby the Nesbitt Arms served the residents of Rising Brook and Burton Manor. Originally a Butlers pub built in the mid-1950s, it could be found on Churchill Way near the junction with Morton Road - I first remember taking pictures of it during my Eccleshall excursion of January 2008 although this photo was obtained a few years later. The building has since been flattened to make way for new housing, leaving the Royal Oak as the only pub in the area.

- The Norfolk Inn -

The Stoke-on-Trent suburb of Shelton is where I happened upon the Norfolk Inn during a nosy moment branching away from the Caldon Canal. Perhaps it was my explorational instincts that led me to investigate Norfolk Street, and I'm glad I did because this ex-Marston's number was already up for sale with a distinct likelihood that it would never reopen as a watering hole. My understanding is that a pharmacy now operates out of these premises.

- The Birds -

Finishing with a couple of Cannock candidates, our next establishment is not to be confused with the famous Alfred Hitchcock film of 1963. I doubt Tippi Hedren has ever had cause to visit Pye Green either but that's where The Birds resided as a fairly functional feature of Bradbury Lane. The pub didn't look as scary as its namesake movie but any risk of avian attacks has surely been extinguished given that the cul-de-sac of Wenlock View now occupies the land.

- The Robin Hood -

All of which brings us to the Robin Hood, an A34 landmark on the approach to Churchbridge Island just north of Great Wyrley. It looked fairly basic at the time of this snapshot, complete with England flags and a Barclays Premier League banner; the pub survived the construction of the nearby M6 Toll motorway but ultimately met its fate at the hands of housing developers with new homes springing up along Lock Basin Close.