South Birmingham Rovers

The Longbridge area of Birmingham has for many years been associated with car manufacturing, especially illustrious names such as Austin and Rover, although recent decades have seen a painful decline and the rationalisation of the plant. Nowadays Longbridge is the focus of a major regeneration project that demanded a bit of Hub Marketing investigation, hence on Friday 20th September the Board arrived to see what was what and visit a few of the old Rover workers' haunts...

- Site of Pebble Mill BBC Studios -

With any possibility of cob tardiness avoided, the first location of the day is Pebble Mill, home of the BBC in Birmingham prior to moving to the Mailbox. The studios served as the production base for Radio WM as well as TV programmes such as Pebble Mill at One, Midlands Today, Top Gear and Gardeners World.

- Gun Barrels Funeral Service -

A bit of Selly Park ferreting is next on the agenda before members fulfill a special engagement in marking the passing of the Gun Barrels pub. Popular with many Birmingham University students over the years, the site is being cleared to allow for the construction of a new swimming complex. The Chairman has the honour of performing the last rites.

- The Bristol Road Bald Spot -

Continuing into Selly Oak, there is plenty of exploring to be done courtesy of landmarks such as the Goose, the Bristol Pear and Tiverton Pool. The terraced backstreets seem like a prime location for some vintage urinal remains but none such can be detected, although the Secretary had far greater success gathering evidence of the Chairman's encroaching baldness.

- Stirchley Breakfast -

Neither Selly Park Rec nor Muntz Park are able to provide Chairman D9 with the sought-after closet opportunities, so a consolation breakfast is required courtesy of a cafe in Stirchley. A greasy spoon experience seemed highly appropriate as we could imagine the humble fry-up being part of the car factory worker's staple diet over the years.

- D9 driving on Pershore Road -

Having acquired the additional ballast of breakfast, our esteemed Chairman is now in prime condition to deliver his customary driving masterclass. The 47 bus up the Pershore Road is the chosen location as Mr D9 invokes the likes of Hearty Carty and Mad Mick although we didn't catch any sight of the Cotteridge Growler.

- Cofton Hackett gets 'Hubbed' -

The 47 terminates at Parsonage Drive, Cofton Hackett with views out over the open spaces of Cofton Park. Mr D9 ensures the local telephone box gets the hub treatment and we investigate what has become of the old Rover premises around Groveley Lane - it seems residential construction is well underway on part of the site.

- New Longbridge Town Centre -

Lowhill Lane provides an interesting insight into what remains of car production in Longbridge when we pass the main entrance into the current MG works, although the old works buses lay-by is a reminder of the vast numbers once employed here. Heading back towards Bristol Road, we can see for ourselves the latest iconic buildings taking shape on the skyline, features such as the Bournville College campus and the new town centre complete with Sainsburys, Greggs and a Premier Inn hotel.

- A Cavalier Checkout -

Part of the mission today was always to sample some of the watering holes that might have been frequented by Austin and Rover workers. The Thurlestone at Turves Green sat directly in the shadow of the factory, whilst the Cavalier at West Heath would also have been a prime candidate. It is the latter that sees the resumption of darting hostilities with D9 Destroyer completing his usual victory - and just for once he did actually finish on a double!!!

- Cheers from The Weighbridge -

Escaping momentarily from the clutches of Brummie suburbia, we catch the train down to the altogether more refined surroundings of Alvechurch. This quaint Worcestershire village has plenty for us to admire from half-timbered buildings to St Laurence's Church, and of course we include a sprinkling of pubs, some of which were a bit pricey although the WME and D9 wallets both suffered in equal measure. The Secretary did rustle up a true gem in the form of the Weighbridge, a multi CAMRA award winning place situated alongside the canal at Scarfield Wharf.

- Coldstream, Frankley -

Our Worcestershire interlude could not continue indefinitely and we found ourselves returning Longbridge way to round off the day with a few more South Birmingham precinct pubs. A ride on the 49 brought us to the fairly attractive Cock Inn at Rubery, although our driver did let slip some worrying revelations about Mr D9's intimate knowledge of Hull postboxes. In Frankley we encounter the spartan delights of the Coldstream, a utilitarian block pub that served up a much appreciated discount for a penny-pinching Secretary.

- Lickey Banker -

Further dubious architecture awaits us elsewhere on the estate, with the Lickey Banker also having a modern wedge-shaped appearance to go alongside a friendly canine welcome. A bit of detective work (and a Frogmill Road hike) is then required in order to locate the Bugle Horn before the X64 comes to our rescue for a ride back into Birmingham. The day's itinerary had combined reflections on Longbridge's past with snapshots of Longbridge's present, whetting our appetites to see what Longbridge's future might have to offer as the regeneration continues...