Hub Marketing 2019 - Coventry

As soon as the season turns to autumn, there’s a certain place that becomes foremost in the minds of all Hub Marketing members - Coventry. Since our original sky blue excursion in 2012, we have completed seven annual pilgrimages to Godiva’s fair city with Friday 1st November 2019 having long been reserved as the designated date of number eight… 

- Pigeon fancying, Black Country style -

It's a drab and damp West Midlands morning as the Secretary attempts to get a few starter photos prior to meeting the Chairman. Mr WME's aim is to account for the Funny Things festival, a celebration of Black Country humour that has been taking place in Wolverhampton over the half term holidays. Combining a joke trail with a full programme of comedic performances, the event has also seen the creation of the 'Anthinaerium', a mechanical automata displayed in the Mander Centre which references pigeons, Noddy Holder, Bathams Brewery and the Dudley Bug. 

- Powering up at Coventry Station -

The Chairman is perfectly punctual for the recommended 08:45 rendezvous and we arrive in Coventry just after half past nine as intended. Mr D9 is immediately put to work testing a 'Human Power Station' set of outdoor exercise equipment, ensuring he's fully charged up for the ordeal fun that lies ahead. Bull Yard and Smithford Way allow us to admire some of Coventry's 1960s shopping architecture although there are improvement works underway in preparation for 2021 UK City of Culture status. 

- All kinds of everything inside -

The centrepiece of our morning ferret is a mooch around Coventry Market, a thriving emporium which prides itself on selling all kinds of everything. Thankfully we aren't inspired to break out into song (unlike the musical video which featured on Midlands Today and Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule), but we can grab a cuppa from the in-house cafe and enjoy the bustle and banter of a busy facility. The building is notable for having stalls arranged in the round and was officially opened in November 1958, meaning it will imminently reach its 61st birthday.

- Fargo Street Art -

Elsewhere in the City Centre, the Coventry University Campus supplies some hub photocall locations and we declare the silly songs of the day (Lieutenant Pigeon's instrumental version of 'I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen', and Bert Convy with 'The Monsters Hop', ideal for Halloween). The Phoenix is doing a brisk trade in student breakfasts to a backdrop of the New Zealand v Wales rugby match, then Far Gosford Street proves as quirky as ever with a plethora of eyecatching street art designs. 

- From the 2019 Quiff Catalogue -

The moment Mr D9 has been waiting for is now upon us when our first bus ride of the day coincides with the 2019 quiff unveiling. To great fanfare his latest masterpiece is revealed, lovingly crafted out of old garage rags stapled together with newspaper padding. The stage is thus set for a rock and roll singalong as the 13 powers its way down the Binley Road, passing the Biggin Hall to the tune of Blue Moon before subjecting Willenhall Lane to the sounds of Who Put The Bomp (extra rama-lama-ding-dongs are purely optional). 

- The bald spot admires the byways of Binley -

The 13 drops us off in prime position for a belated breakfast, the setting for which is the Standard Bearer on Santos Close. Roofs don't get much flatter than this as the pub/cafe combination adjoins the local supermarket; we partake of the £4.50 standard Full English from the comfort of the lounge, the egg and bacon helped down by John Smiths or copious cups of coffee. We're soon at liberty to burrow through the back alleys of Binley, the bald spot getting distracted by the council housing - perhaps the Chairman should have kept on wearing the quiff?

- The Glade, Willenhall -

Our next target is Willenhall, a place we visited briefly back in 2012 but haven't explored since. Quorn Way offers a closet conundrum (the Chairman thinks a hut now used as a taekwondo base might previously have been a public conveniences) and St James Lane keeps us heading in the right direction. The trusty pub radar is working well when Winnalthorpe coaxes us to the Glade, a proper M&B number with fixtures and fittings that look original from when it first opened in the mid-1960s. Here some darts can distract us from lunchtime news bulletins waffling on about Brexit; WME Whirlwind edges a closely-fought skirmish, prevailing by four legs to three after D9 Destroyer was allegedly put off by the sight of Nigel Farage on the tv screen.

- Willenhall Library -

The Glade is the only pub left on Willenhall these days because the Bear got converted into a shop a few years back. Turning our attentions to the centre of the estate, we reacquaint ourselves with Remembrance Road where the 13 and 21 routes both terminate outside the Haggard Community Centre. A Heron Foods outlet features among the local stores while a primary care facility, St John the Divine Church and the Willenhall Social Club require some photo action. Secretary WME also notes that the library has moved to be squeezed in at the rear of the Haggard complex, somewhat heavily fortified by the looks of it!

- Going potty in the Humber -

Catching the 21, we hope to land the Royal Oak at Whitley but it doesn't open until later in the afternoon. Instead we navigate through to the Humber Hotel via Acacia Avenue and Gosford Park Primary School, spotting a disused corner shop with vintage Coke advertising. The Humber is a lovely landmark which the Chairman appreciates even more having gained revenge for his earlier darts defeat by taking two tight frames of pool. Solace for the Secretary comes courtesy of the Twisted Barrel Brewery Tap back at Fargo Village, the Oatmeal Stout proving very nice indeed.

- Secretary in the Stag & Pheasant -

The remainder of the outing involves more riding on the 13 - this time towards Whitmore Park - and a dusky drink in Holbrooks (the New Parkgate Hotel being an excellent discovery we weren't previously aware of). Lockhurst Lane stakes a late claim thanks to the Stag & Pheasant, a lively Desi-type establishment near the former Courtaulds works. Widespread train delays threaten to play havoc with our journey home but we do just about have time for a Birmingham nightcap, hence a crafty call at Bonehead just off John Bright Street. So concludes another Coventry caper - cheers!