Solihull and Shirley

Saturday 5th October saw Nick and myself converging upon Solihull, where the town's 15th CAMRA beer festival was underway at the British Legion club off Union Road. Several intriguing ales were sampled in preparation for an afternoon of Shirley exploration topped off with a special pub visit in Birmingham...

- Armed for Ale Action -

Meeting at Solihull Station at precisely 11:23, we made our way to the British Legion in advance of the festival opening at 12 midday. I hadn't visited the Solihull festival before but found it to be a relaxed, compact event with about 40 or so ales including good representation from the local Whitworth and Shed breweries. £10 entry covers programme, pint glass and  beer tokens and we were all set for an imbibing session.

- Vlaamse Flemish-style Wheat Beer -

True to form, Nick homed in on the beers that the programme wisely labelled "to be treated with caution" so the Green Hop IPA, Salopian Boomerang and the Elland 1872 Porter all needed to be taste-tested. Among my choices were Castro's Chalice (the latest in Holdens' World Leaders series), a Long Itch Backscratcher and some of Shed's rather moreish Executioner's Porter. However, the ales that made the greatest impression on me were the Vlaamse Wheat Beer (intentionally cloudy to the extent it looked like liquefied rust but had a lot of bite) and the Black Voodoo with its heady mix of chocolate, orange and vanilla. Soon enough it was time to nominate our beer of the festival, with Nick painfully prevaricating until his predilection for dark ales won out meaning Black Voodoo secured a clean sweep from the Chip Foundation contingent.

- The Fieldhouse -

Festival favourites thus voted for, we set out into the wilds of Solihull by taking the number 5 bus down Widney Lane to Monkspath Hall roundabout. There we found the Fieldhouse, a rather corporate Ember establishment where we did battle with a War Lord whilst casting critical glances over a somewhat superior food menu. 

- Beaming at Bernies -

Another blast on the 5 then brings us to Cranmore Boulevard, home of Bernie's real ale off licence. The bottled beer range here is something to behold and makes coming to a swift decision nigh on impossible. Eventually we emerge loaded with various bottles as we proceed firstly to the Woodman's Rest (another cog in the Ember chain and a place where chicken schnitzel is considered a pub classic) followed by the Red Lion where the cheese and onion cobs are much more our kind of fayre.

- Posed with a Peach in the Woodman -

From Shirley we take the number 6 bus into the heart of Birmingham, getting well acquainted with Stratford Road bottlenecks in the process (Springfield, Sparkhill and Sparkbrook all proving tricky to navigate inbound). However, it was all made worthwhile once we set foot in The Woodman opposite the former Curzon Street rail terminal. The pub has faced a battle for its very survival in recent years, becoming effectively marooned in Eastside wasteland, but has now been lovingly restored to bring its late Victorian splendour very much back to life. The Smoke Room behind the bar was a particular favourite with its Minton tiles and cosy ambience, a perfect setting for a half of Count Duckula and a look at Nick's Belgian bottles. With that, another successful expedition is completed - I'd definitely return to Solihull festival next year if the chance arises, and I hope to be back at the Woodman even sooner!