- Dudley Street Metro Sign -
The date is Friday 2nd February as Secretary WME makes his way towards West Bromwich in advance of the scheduled rendezvous. A bright but chilly morning is set fair for photography so some solo shot-gathering is permitted, starting at Dudley Street (Guns Village) metro stop. The West Bromwich Working Mens Social Club is an intriguing find nearby (is it still going?) then Claypit Lane allows for an update on the Park View housing development, whereby Living Well Street is firmly in place as a residential crescent stretching down towards the open spaces of Greets Green Park.
- Greets Green Community Hub -
Further Greets Green picture potential comes in the form of the Fox & Goose pub just beyond Belper Bridge before Hambletts Road supplies a circuitous approach to Hanbury Primary School. The Secretary isn't expecting to come across any initial hub potential so the discovery of Greets Green Community Hub is certainly a surprise, especially given its location on the Chairman's workplace doorstep yet Mr D9 hadn't noticed it. The balding one makes his appearance at the allotted time and members can board the 4M bus for Cradley Heath via Oldbury and Blackheath.
- Roe, chips and batter bits! -
The 4M drops us off practically outside our first watering hole of the new year, the Waggon & Horses on Reddal Hill Road being an 'Ostler's Urban Ale Venue' whatever that means! Tiger print wallpaper and pop art depictions of Debbie Harry make for an eyecatching experience as we sample some Malvern Spring ale from the Malvern Hills Brewery. Pint supped, we head over the road to Ivan's Fish & Chips for a rather special lunch; this family business has been operating for over 60 years and has become something of a local institution. The roe, chips and mushy peas special really hits the spot, all topped off with a scoop of batter bits in time-honoured fashion.
- 'Spotted' on Corngreaves Road -
We eat our chips among the hallowed surroundings of St Luke's churchyard on the corner of Upper High Street and Corngreaves Road, both of us sensing that the location isn't quite how we remember it. We then realise that the church itself is no longer here, St Luke's having been demolished in late 2016 after repair bills made the building unviable (the last service was held in October 2014, bringing to a close nearly 170 years of worship). Corngreaves Road then has the Chairman trying to sniff out closet remains - leaving the bald spot unguarded in the process - while the Plough & Harrow contributes a tasty drop of Ludlow Gold.
- Judge D9 drives the 129 -
The Secretary has bad memories of the 129 misbehaving when the Chip Foundation were in the area two weeks ago, but this time around the bus arrives reasonably promptly. The Chairman is therefore able to perform a top deck costume change, transforming himself into 'Judge D9' with his adopted theme tune being 'Your Honour' by Pluto Shervington (plenty of mentions of closets you see). Some judicious steering guides us to Shell Corner for a closer look at Shell-ter complete with more Albion Pale Ale for Mr WME. This distinctive micro bar has a few interesting props (a vintage typewriter and a field telephone) plus a back room where the walls are graffiti-tagged with the names of recent visitors.
- Dusky Navigation -
One micropub is swiftly followed by another as members proceed to Causeway Green, picking up a pint prescription in the Old Dispensary. The 'medicine' in question is Gentleman's Nectar from the Box Social Brewery with a proper smack of American hops - tasty! We then engage in darts at dusk, the Navigation beside the Titford Canal serving as the setting for another oche battle. The New Year means all scores are reset and D9 Destroyer has a fresh chance to claim his maiden championship; alas WME Whirlwind is keen to hold onto his title and thus administers a 5-2 victory with something approaching ruthless efficiency.
- WME in the Wernley -
Our Warley wanderings comprise a couple of other calling points, both from the Sizzling stable. The Wernley is a large roadhouse on the A4123 Wolverhampton Road where D9 gleefully grabs a £2.35 round of Bitter. The George meanwhile is one of Warley's most defining landmarks where a quick half of M&B Mild costs the Secretary a mere £2.30 - the discount duel is hotting up! With our respective wallets now slightly lighter, we board the Oldbury-bound 128 (via Bristnall Fields) and then interchange onto a 4M once Mr D9 has homaged the remains of a former cafe closet.
- No Barking on the Lyng -
Our finale on this occasion is a little lingering on the Lyng, the estate having undergone wholesale regeneration in recent years. Among the new residences and fancy apartments, two pubs cling on as links to the past - the Prince Albert and the Old Vic. A swift half in each sees this trip through to its conclusion, and the Chairman is glad he hasn't got his pet pooches with him when noting a stern 'No Barking' warning. Without the slightest woof, we locate our homeward Metro and that's that - the first Hub trip of what will hopefully be another epic year.
No comments:
Post a Comment