WRENS NEST: But first, here's something a little bit different. Well not that unusual as such, just some solo exploring before I met up with Nickolenko. I decided to have a look around the Wrens Nest near Dudley, a somewhat notorious estate but with an adjacent nature reserve that has much geological importance. My finds concentrate on more recent features than the fossils as I sought out photos of Summer Road shops and pubs including the British Queen, the Caves and the King Arthur.
- The Caves, Wrens Nest -WALSALL: With an unscheduled but necessary dash I greet Nick at 12 noon and we make our way to Coseley Station for the direct train to Walsall. We grab a bite to eat and enjoy the impressive surroundings of St Matthews Church before embarking on a little wander around Chuckery (where the Walsall Arms pub was strangely shut despite opening hours to the contrary) and Highgate - I'm pleased to say that the landmark brewery has been saved from closure, excellent news indeed.
- St Matthew's Church -CALDMORE: Our first sample of the day comes courtesy of the White Lion on Sandwell Street, notable for its sloping bar-room floor with one door marked as the shallow end and another as the deep end. We initially wanted some Highgate Dark Mild but it wasn't quite right (the barmaid almost threw up after tasting it for herself), so some Timothy Taylor's Landlord was quaffed instead as we perused old photos on the wall and the latest issue of Kils & Kins, all in all very enjoyable.
- 'Nickolenko' in the White Lion -WALSALL: Back into town having been summoned by Mr Beardsmore who has arrived promptly at the bus station. We make our next port of call the Black Country Arms, one of Black Country Ales' flagship houses where there is an extensive range of beer to choose from. I stay local with Spring from the Backyard Brewery whilst Nick settles on some Downton's Dark Delight and Stephen gets left behind when we sit upstairs. We sup up happily but things go a little awry when we try to find a follow-up pub, neither the Wheatsheaf nor the Fountain being open in the middle of the afternoon.
THE BUTTS: Despite Stephen's best attempts to cripple himself, we get back on track with the Butts Tavern, a backstreet local not far from the arboretum. I wasn't sure what to expect here but the place took me by surprise - it was busy and very friendly with a proper community atmosphere. Again there is a varied ale selection but Burton Bridge's Bramble Stout quickly got my vote as we sat in the ESPN room in some comfy chairs by the pool table. This was a nice spot for some conversation and we were joined momentarily by a chap, the landlord I presume, for a little bit of cricket chat.
- The Butts Tavern -RUSHALL: It was now time to explore wider Walsall some more so we catch a very full 10A bus up to Daw End Lane, I'm surprised the driver let us on! Our target was the Manor Arms situated on Park Road near to the canal and Park Lime Pits nature reserve. The pub has been a favourite of mine for a while now thanks to it's considerable charm, history and quirkiness - there isn't a bar counter as such, the pumps come straight out of the wall. Some Ringwood Old Thumper slips down very nicely as we debate how to define the Black Country. I don't think we succeeeded there but we did agree that the Manor Arms has a very appealing location just that bit off the beaten track.
- The Manor Arms -BLOXWICH: A combination of the 8 and 908 delivers us safely to Bloxwich as evening sets in, the 908 having got us out of a potential pickle when we might have been stranded in Pelsall - I might have to fine tune the bus radar in future. With a spare hour or so we are enticed into The Bell, a pub that has some very nice traditional features such as green leather seating and a period smoke room but I wouldn't necessarily class it as a real ale place to visit. I think the Bell has the potential to be an absolute gem, especially given the character of the interior, but at the moment it seems perfectly happy being a decent local serving Banks's.
- A Bunch of Bears in The Bell -TURF TAVERN (Tinkies): We pause for a takeaway tea on a bench in the Memorial Gardens and then the day has one final treat in store. I wasn't completely convinced by the Turf Tavern when I first visited a few years ago, but this time around I was totally won over. Nestled in amongst a row of terraces, the outside of the pub does look shabby but inside it was well-presented, almost like entering a museum. The welcome was very friendly and the beer excellent (Pardoe's Bumblehole is virtually guaranteed to always score highly as far as I'm concerned), and I thoroughly relished sitting on our wooden slatted bench seats having a natter despite the fact I was rapidly losing my voice. Everyone made us feel very much at home with customers saying goodnight as they left and it did feel like a throwback to a bygone age yet still very relevant to today. In short I thought the Turf was great, a place that deserves to be cherished and supported.
What a way to finish then, not just in terms of this single outing but when thinking about our winter exploits as a whole: Sedgley, Coseley, Gornal, Darlaston and Wolverhampton then all culminating here. The cricket will undoubtedly take our attention over the coming months and I hope the summer yields it's own fine memories as we get out and about supporting the Warwickshire Bears...
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