The Festive Forage 2021

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells... Hark! Is that a Festive Forage I hear? Yes folks, another of the WME blog's integral Christmas highlights returns to the exploration fold after a year away. There are lofty yuletide standards for us to maintain when Nick and I descend upon lovely Leamington Spa...

- The Fat Pug -

Friday 17th December 2021 sees me arriving into Warwickshire care of an Avanti West Coast train, as opposed to any reindeer-hauled modes of transport. Nick is on hand to meet me at Leamington Station (where the ticket barrier bloke comments on HRH's resemblance to Prince Charles), and we begin with a leisurely wander along the Parade passing the Pump Rooms and the Royal Priors Shopping Centre. A short hop on the number 1 bus conveys us to Rugby Road for the Fat Pug, setting for much canine cuteness and an opening half of Silhill Brewery's North Star hopped porter. The pub is part of a small pug-themed portfolio which also includes the Royal Pug (on Regent Street) and the Black Pug (in Warwick).

- Santa Nick is in the Neighbourhood -

After marvelling at a bright red Smeg fridge and Golden Syrup cutlery holders, we stroll back into the centre of Leamington via Guys Cliffe Road and Warwick Place. Our second port of call stretches the boundaries of what we can truly call a pub, for the Neighbourhood effectively combines elements of coffee shop, bar and street food market with pop-up business units. This is truly a creative concept and we rather enjoy taking our respective halves of Guinness and Lawless Lager (Purity Brewery) on a tour of the premises, noting the upstairs presence of Barebells Gym - lots of punchbags - and the Seismic Records vinyl specialists. 

- Leif, where candlesticks grow out of Guinness -

Central Leamington has other surprises up its sleeve too, although the Copper Pot probably counts as a predictably standard Greene King experience (even taking into account the LED-adorned Rockin' Rudolph pumpclips). Bedford Street is a jazz bar boasting seasonal scatter cushions - not to mention two sleigh-inspired biome domes in the rear courtyard - whereas the Clarendon has curious blue mannequins and a montage of film/gig posters. All of those get upstaged however by the Leif Piano Bar, festooned with botanical drawings in what used to be the Prince of Wales Inn (no wonder Nick is so intrigued by the place). There is much tinkling of the ivories as we are treated to recitals of 'In The Bleak Midwinter' and 'Silent Night'.

- Lillington Library -

We purchased a bus ticket earlier and we've barely used it but Nick's plan all along was to include a jaunt out towards Cubbington. The 67C route gets us half the way there as we pitch up at the Lillington estate, notable for a distinctly 1960s-era branch library. Buckley Road and Mason Avenue connect us to Crown Way where we alight near a Youth Club and the local shopping parade (stores include a post office, a fish bar and the Winson Chinese takeaway). We speculate whether there might be a pub in the vicinity but the likeliest candidate is now a Tesco Express having been converted from the Walnut Tree ten years or so ago.

- The Queens Head, Cubbington -

Lillington at dusk nevertheless made for solid exploring and I'd be tempted to return in daylight hours for further photographs. As for this evening, Cubbington now beckons with the 67A bus ready to give us a helping hand. A trundle along the B4453 Cubbington Road takes us outside of the Leamington town boundary before we negotiate Windmill Hill and hop off on Queen Street ready for our next half. The Queens Head is soon in our sights complete with vintage Ansell's lamps, a spluttering log fire and hi-vis locals in full Christmas banter mode. I partake of Adnam's Southwold Bitter while Nick opts for Wye Valley Butty Bach as we settle in and soak up the atmosphere of a long-serving community melting pot - my pub of the day I'd say!

- Baby Jesus, Cubbington St Mary's -

Despite practically being absorbed into the wider Leamington conurbation, Cubbington does retain the air of a distinctly separate village and there are some nice cottagey streetscapes to enjoy as we proceed along High Street. Dating from the early 12th century, St Mary's Parish Church is a fine Norman edifice crafted out of sandstone albeit the glowing nativity scene on show in the porch is an altogether more modern inclusion. I've mentioned the Queens Head so it's only fair we account for the Kings Head too; this homely old inn is situated towards the foot of Church Hill and we have to be swift when imbibing of Fuller's Jack Frost - we're not quite in the Leek Wootton league of 'neck it and run' but the return bus is due shortly...

- Hat-Raising Antics in Fifteen -

As it turns out, we make that impending 67A with ease and cruise back into Leamington eager to finish the outing in spectacular style. Nick's expert foraging skills therefore introduce us to Fifteen, a party bar on Spencer Street wherein our resident royal can demonstrate the erectness of his Santa hat (said headpiece was probably distressed by the thumping rhythm and bass tunes). Things are no quieter at TJ's Bar and Grill although the 1980s soundtrack is more to our liking as we round off a fine forage over a closing glug of Guinness. All that remains is for me to wish all blog readers a very merry Christmas - cheers!