- Hunter hails the bald spot -
Friday 11th August 2017 whereby the afternoon begins with some immediate wolf action in and around Wolverhampton City Centre. Secretary WME has been gathering pictures of the various sculptures for a few weeks but hadn't until now seen 'Beanstalk', a pantomime-themed design appropriately located in the Grand Theatre. It is however Hunter, the black and white wolf by the University Art department, that has the pleasure of meeting the D9 bald spot.
- Zeus -
A brief Molineux detour means members can clock in at the Apprenticeship Hub (formerly the Feathers pub) prior to more wolf photo-calls around by the Civic Centre. Zeus - an Olympic-inspired wolf from Highfields School - looks out over the piazza while Wolf Ver-Hampton's mayoral robes guard the main entrance to the council offices. At this point we feel a bit of liquid refreshment is in order so we trade rather pricey rounds at the Cuban Exchange (where Che Guevara's portrait is a persistent feature) and the Grain Store (Sharp's Wolf Rock Red IPA is the obvious ale choice given our brief for the day).
- With Claude in a Clothes Shop -
Of all the wolves on the trail the most elusive is Claude, an ambassadorial 'wandering wolf' who crops up in different locations each week. The @Wolvesinwolvo Twitter team provide a helpful clue as to his whereabouts and we track him down in the MRG designer clothes store on Victoria Street. Mander Wolf (in the Mander Centre, funnily enough) is much easier to find and seems a popular target with deckchairs, a sandpit and a Minions book tree for company.
- Tying the Kangaroo Down -
Pleased with our sculptural haul, we proceed towards the second half of our agenda with the Chairman being press-ganged into driving duty aboard the 255. For reasons best known only to himself, Mr D9 seems intent on doing a kangaroo impression involving some leaden-footed throttle and braking manouevres. It is a relief to alight at Wall Heath!
- Wall Heath Closed Closet -
Wall Heath offers two pubs for our delectation on this occasion, the Horse & Jockey and the Prince Albert facing each other across the High Street - the former has a cottagey appeal to complement the quality Banks's Mild whereas the latter is a hotchpotch of an old inn that seems a bit down on its luck. Some silly songs involving cooing babies (Papa Loves Mama) and surfing scat (courtesy of the Trashmen) are endured before the Chairman contemplates a closet closure by the local shopping parade - the public conveniences here shut down over six years ago so it is a good job the D9 bladder is actually behaving for once!
- The High Acres -
Every self-respecting Hub Marketing outing requires a darts destination and for this trip we take a punt on the High Acres, a flat roof special on Rangeways Road. The promise of Enville Ale entices us inside and the vacant dartboard is soon put to good use for that rarest of outcomes - a draw! Over the course of eight legs, D9 Destroyer and WME Whirlwind each take four apiece, trading steady scoring and almost clinical checkouts blow for blow. Perhaps it was the cobs that fuelled us to such exceptional (for us) heights?
- The Crestwood -
Honours even on the oche then but Secretary WME ensures he takes the day's sleeve plaudits when revealing the Crestwood, another place that easily qualifies as an example of D9's favourite pub architecture. Sharp's Atlantic is our tipple therein, supping away to a soundtrack of 1980s chartbusters which prompts the Chairman to declare a detailed knowledge of the American band Atlantic Starr.
- Beaming in the Britannia -
All too quickly the evening is encroaching and members must once more head homeward, but only after our requisite nightcap stop. Holding the curfew back this time around is the Britannia on Queens Cross, just up the road from Dudley Cemetery - not the most glamorous location we'll admit but we hadn't done it before and are curious about the prospect of cheap Carling. A closing pint is thus procured and we consider ourselves most satisfied with our efforts at wolf and pub collecting. Until next time, cheers!
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