- Cleveland Road Garage Homage -
We get underway with a former transport location. Cleveland Road Garage was the base for several Wolverhampton bus routes (sharing the network with Park Lane) but is now an indoor car park, not that this stops our Chairman from convening a tribute driving pose. The future of the garage remains uncertain pending redevelopment of the wider area that has already seen the derelict Newmarket pub and neighbouring Cleveland Club be demolished. Dixons decorating store soldiers on valiantly at the top of the street but the entire scene is still loomed over by the depressing disused shell of the Royal Hospital.
- Gordon Street -
Although progress with the old hospital seems to have stalled again following the withdrawal of Tesco from the scheme, All Saints as a whole is seeing some changes taking place. Evidence of this can be seen on Gordon Street where several new houses have sprung up, encouraging signs mirrored by the successful Royal Gardens development on Raby Street.
- Bob's Book -
A long-serving All Saints landmark is the Dartmouth Arms on Vicarage Road, scene of our first tipple of the year. Banks's Mild accompanies a few legs of darts and a look at a vintage folder of pub notes compiled many years ago by a chap known as 'Bob the Bus'. Bob listed several lost inns and taverns the length and breadth of the country, often including snippets of entertaining commentary about beer and toilet quality.
- Pond Lane Mission -
Thirst quenched, we proceed along Vicarage Road to Pond Lane where the Secretary's sleeve reveals a tin tabernacle mission church constructed out of corrugated metal. A disused launderette and the Builder's Arms are next for some photographic attention before a stroll across to the Dudley Road reveals that the Kings Arms is being converted into a couple of shop units. The pub played a notable part in early Wolverhampton Wanderers history, the team having been formed in Blakenhall prior to their move to Molineux.
- Blakenhall Backstreet Baldness -
Blakenhall these days is a busy multicultural area that has undergone a relatively recent transformation. Tower blocks have been flattened and the local shopping precinct completely rebuilt, although there is still the British Queen and various terraced sidestreets for a sense of continuity. We take Ranelagh Road through to Haggar Street in remembering the spot where Phoenix Rise once stood.
- St Luke's Church -
A photo or two of the Rose & Crown on Park Street South precedes a closer look at St Luke's Church, which must surely rank as one of the most eye-catching buildings in Wolverhampton. The Gothic Revival style architecture is certainly impressive although structural problems have meant that worship now takes place at the adjacent primary school. Formal closure proceedings are underway given that the repair bill is estimated to cost a million pounds or more.
- Sunbeam Saved? -
We've now arrived into a corner of town historically associated with the motor industry. Villiers Engineering Company was based on Marston Road while 'Sunbeamland' was a major centre for car and motorcycle manufacture. The Yew Tree pub on Pool Street sits in among all this heritage and seems like an appropriate place to stop for a pint (and re-runs of Michael Barrymore television quiz shows). I'm pleased to see that Sunbeam's long-derelict Jeddo Street works are finally being brought back into use with the first batch of apartments nearing completion.
- Cheers from the Chestnut Tree -
From Penn Road island we mooch into Merridale, weaving via St Mark's Road and Oak Street past a different Yew Tree watering hole. A short ride on the number 3 then connects us to Finchfield where some Thwaites' Wainwright is available in the Chestnut Tree, Secretary WME enjoying the ale even if D9 isn't as enthusiastic about the price!
- A Merry Hill Moment -
Finchfield Lane with its monkey puzzle tree roundabout is our link into Merry Hill where the locality's eponymous pub occupies the junction with Trysull Road. Here there are darts to be decided as Secretary WME begins the new year with a double top checkout on route to a 7-4 victory - the Chairman was probably distracted by nostalgic thoughts of driving the 513 bus back in the days when he had some hair left.
- Silly Sausage -
The day's finale is a Bradmore bash encompassing the Bradmore Arms (for cheap Carlsberg), the Chindit (where we get Bitter & Twisted over a game of pool) and some D9 misdemeanours with a battered sausage, the least said about which the better. Old faithful the tram waiting room sees us smoothly to the close, and this first foray of 2016 can consider itself filed as a superb starter. Cheers!
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