The Turners Hill Trip

'Trip' being the operative word on this latest escapade from the Hub Marketing Board, for the Secretary almost came a cropper during an accident-prone tour of Rowley Regis and Lower Gornal...

- Samosas for Starters -

First things first, a meeting in West Bromwich where our cunning Chairman supplies some spicy samosa snacks by way of sustenance for a ride on the 121 bus. The route passes through Oldbury towards the Brades then climbs by Bury Hill Park into Tower Road, Mr D9 recalling memories of his younger self undergoing beer garden training back when the Barley Mow was still in existence. The Wheatsheaf has happily survived to supply our Oakham opener, trying out the Golden Glow in Quadrophenia corner.

- A Turners Hill Vista -

Our chosen ferret involves a look at Turners Hill Quarry, taking us across one of the highest points in the whole West Midlands. The initial access lane seems to terminate at some security gates so we follow a public footpath across a golf course to enjoy some bostin' Black Country panoramas. In fact, the Secretary gets so distracted by the scenery that he loses his footing on a slippery slope and ends up coming down the hill much quicker than expected! Thankfully there isn't any lasting damage from the tumble so its onwards to Springfield where Mr WME can recover with photos of the primary school, a social club and the former Hailstone pub (now a Bangladeshi restaurant).

- Spot the Pepperpot -

Hawes Lane takes us from Tippity Green to the Rowley Bar & Grill (previously Rowley Regis Conservative Club) where we are impressed to find a tempting real ale selection. Three Tuns' XXX gets our vote for a quality pint over a game of darts, D9 Destroyer racing into a 3-0 lead before WME Whirlwind pulls a couple of legs back aided by a splendid 68 checkout. A short hop on the 140 bus then has us in pepperpot territory at Warrens Hall, the bald spot eagerly grappling through the undergrowth to reveal a half-hidden shaft structure.

- A bit of argy-bargy? -

Our spur of the moment exit off the 140 hadn't just been prompted by the Netherton Tunnel's ventilation vessels - we'd also caught site of the Royal Oak as was, a pub we'd mistakenly written off as a shop conversion only to discover it's still an operational watering hole. These days it calls itself the Royal Harji Bhaji, making us wonder if it might be purely a restaurant but there is a public bar. Once inside we instill our own brand of oche argy-bargy at the dartboard where WME Whirlwind summons up a rare double finish.

- Hub Happenings with the Bald Spot -

With the 140 bus once more on hand we next proceed into Dudley, weaving our way through the town centre past the Magistrates Court to confirm the sad closure of the Shakespeare on Stafford Street - alas no tarmac to be tasted here today! Compensation comes in the shape of a bonus hub photocall, although whether the Chairman's bald spot qualifies as an immigrant is open to some debate! The edges of the Russells Hall estate allow for discount Ansells Mild in the White Swan (Holland Street) with the presence of a fiery cob inspiring a silly song rendition of Susan Christie's 'I Love Onions'.

- Red Cow, Grosvenor Road -

Milking Bank and Lower Gornal take care of our early evening agenda with Dibdale Street eliciting memories of D9 driving lessons (so that's where he learned the art of pizza platter steering). The Hilly House and the Meadowlark are standard corporate brand entities (Marston's and Sizzling respectively) so it's the Red Cow that holds the most interest for us. Tucked away on a spur of Grosvenor Road, the pub scores the Secretary a satisfying sleeve success not to mention an excellent pint of Abbeydale Absolution. The place is packed so we aren't the only ones enjoying some top notch Black Country hospitality.

- Upper Gornal Closet -

From the bovine to the ursine with the Black Bear on Deepdale Lane being another must-visit Gornal boozer. The house IPA comes courtesy of the Kinver Brewery as the pub perches on the hillside, part-supported by sloping buttresses. Its a steadfastly old-fashioned kind of pub very much to our liking, and something else that most definitely floats D9's boat is the old Upper Gornal toilet block adjoining what was the Green Dragon. The closet is captured on camera to conclude the day's business, and with that the hub brigade head safely homeward without further mishap. Cheers!