- Britannia Park -
West Bromwich is distinctly wet and dreary as members battle bus station congestion before encountering rainy Rowley Regis, wading up the hill to Rowley Village for shelter in the Britannia pub. Some darts are part of the drying off process as the Chairman takes an early Golden Glow-powered lead. There are awards nominations to consult amid tinselled surroundings before a brief look at Britannia Park, a statement of civic pride from the days when Rowley Regis was its own county borough.
- A Robert Peel Ride in Rowley Regis -
Heading back down the hill towards Blackheath, there is a photo call outside the Robert Peel where Mr D9's daft radar has detected a strange hippo like creature to straddle on the pub car park. A closed closet by Barclays Bank adds to the picture count despite the weather, then members board the 129 bus outside the market hall so that we can hear grannies grumbling about recent bus route changes - could it be that the Chairman's timetable scheduling has struck again?!
- Hairless in Hurst Green -
With Mr D9 suspiciously keeping a low profile we make it safely to Hurst Green where there is our second pub to visit (the Fairfield, a large Marston's estate roadhouse) and some old factory remains to investigate (the Chairman stomping across possible former canteen tiles in the process). The bald spot gets its requisite airing as do some seasonal silly songs in advance of the full chart rundown - 'Merry Christmas You Suckers' by Paddy Roberts adds a particularly sardonic note of cynicism to proceedings.
- Secretary Santa in the Swan -
Onwards to Long Lane and the Swan sees Secretary WME in Santa mode when delivering the 2016 edition of the Hub Marketing Calendar, a photographic record depicting another twelve months of mayhem. Board members are very impressed with the Swan, a homely Black Country Ales establishment that just so happened to be hosting a beer festival; Enville's Blizzard and Fixed Wheel's Coco Mocha Porter are duly sampled, mopped up with a lovely crusty cob and a thick wedge of pork pie. Wonderful!
- Maypole Music -
The focus of the trip now switches to DJ D9 Heartburn as he recounts the highlights of a whole year of comedy song choices. A soundtrack including singing dogs, wailing ladies and Des O'Connor accompanies us through Halesowen to Hasbury where the pub plot includes a visit to the Maypole on Bassnage Road, a place that has been under threat of closure and demolition. The Secretary has had sporting success here before and stages a darting comeback complete with a seldom-seem genuine double checkout!
- Cornbow Centre Christmas Tree -
The chart countdown continues as we weave our way back to Halesowen, pit-stopping along Hagley Road for swift halves of Enville Ginger (in the Rose & Crown) and Theakston's Smooth (in the Hare & Hounds). Chairman D9 embarks on an unsuccessful Cornbow closet hunt while Secretary WME admires the mall's Christmas tree, then we have a 244 bus to catch as 'Neasden' is crowned the Hub Marketing #1 silly song for 2015.
- Charles Pemberton Rowbottom III does his duty -
Netherton will be the final calling point for this outing and indeed the whole year. Mr D9 gets all excited about the flat-roofed appearance of the Crown on Simms Lane, but it's in the Bulls Head that hub originator Charles Pemberton Rowbottom gets resurrected in order to declare the annual awards. A snooze-struck speech is ably enacted (not bad for a 300 year old) as all honours are handed out accordingly - Halloween in Coventry is our favourite outing of the year, WME is the darts and discount champion while D9 gets the lifetime achievement gong for his concerted commitment to all things bald.
Merry Christmas and a Happy 2016 from the Hub Marketing Board - Cheers!
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