A Codsall Collection

Friday 24th June should have been a day spent at the Stratford-upon-Avon Beer Festival with Nick, but the train strikes meant a jaunt across to Shakespeare Country wasn't really viable. Instead I sought out a few ales closer to home by visiting the South Staffordshire village of Codsall...

- No trains here -

My plan is a simple one: catch the bus across to Codsall, have a little stroll around and then see what the various pubs have to offer. The 10B is therefore on time from Compton at 9:44 for a ride via Tettenhall Wood, Perton and Heath House Lane, dropping me off at the Bakers Way terminus. My walk encompasses Wood Road, Chillington Lane (past Nursery Farm) and the old parish path - somewhat overgrown these days - that leads back up to St Nicholas's Church. A handful of pictures along Sandy Lane precede a pit stop at the deserted railway station where an apologetic scrolling display tells me that there are no trains until Sunday because of the industrial action situation. 

- First port of call is... -

The Station: being on the platform means I'm ideally placed for my opening pub, which just so happens to be based in Codsall's former railway house. The Station is operated by Holden's with many of their core beers available (Black Country Bitter, Special and Golden Glow) albeit I'm drawn towards the Hartlebury 'Bitter Strikes Back' guest ale, 3.8% abv and rather moreish. As you might expect, there are plenty of railway artefacts dotted around including a weigh bridge hut on the car park and some signalling equipment; anyone looking to park their car is warned that they need to leave enough room for the dray deliveries. A read of the newspaper and occasional cricket score checks helps me pass a very pleasant hour of quality quaffing. 

- Beer Garden Banks's -

The Bull: next up is a longstanding Banks's favourite in the very heart of Codsall, the Bull having stood in The Square for many a long year. I might have missed the dining rush at the Station but here there's no escaping the mass of retired folks all seeking keenly-priced grub. The traditional bar corner has its fair share of old boys staring into space while a rabble of hi-vis builder types are enjoying knocking off for the afternoon. I take my pint of Amber on a tour of the well-presented beer garden, ducking through pergola arches and plodding along pink gravel pathways. This would be a real suntrap should the weather oblige with brighter skies but it makes for a nice setting regardless with bees buzzing on the breeze. 

- The Crown Joule's -

The Crown: diagonally opposite the Bull and still very much right at the heart of the village, the Crown (Joule's) is usually my Codsall mainstay if I fancy a solo pint when in the vicinity. I'm more than happy to maintain that position today, nipping inside for a glass of Joule's Mild which is not an ale I've personally encountered before; the more familiar combinations of Slumbering Monk, Joule's Pale and Blonde are available along with Green Monkey lager. From what I can gather, the pub has a long history as a coaching inn but had suffered a decline in fortunes prior to Joule's taking it over. The Market Drayton-based brewery have applied their usual breweriana stylings, creating an effective library/gentleman's club vibe through a prevalence of timbers, nicknacks and mentions of happy pigs.

- Love & Liquor -

Love & Liquor: the newest arrival to Codsall's cask scene is a smart micropub based in an ex-tearoom shopfront between Lloyd's Chemists and the Nationwide building society branch. It's location on The Square means that you have this, the Bull and the Crown literally within yards of each other - pub heaven! In the interests of full disclosure, I took the picture above during my initial morning wander (hence the shutters being down) but it was fully up and running by 2pm with pavement seating for a spot of almost-continental cafe culture. A tight ale range includes representation from Salopian, Wye Valley, Ludlow and Enville - all breweries I rate highly - but it's the Enville Ale that wins out this time around, accompanied by a hefty cob. Considering the place has only been in existence for two and a half years, its a mighty fine achievement for them to be Wolverhampton CAMRA's South Staffordshire Pub of the Year 2022 - I'm very impressed, even if England's lame batting threatens to darken my mood. 

- Cricket at the Claregate -

The Claregate: I depart Love & Liquor with the cricket score on 55 for 6 in order to intercept a number 5 bus back towards Wolverhampton. Codsall has certainly compensated for missing out on the beer festival and I still have time to squeeze in one more stop on the way home. Cue the Claregate, a suburban Marston's roadhouse which older readers might remember being called the Fieldhouse. A Generous George makeover and the construction of a Tesco Express on the car park haven't totally detracted from what remains a community boozer at heart; I'm undecided as to whether I approve of the trendified fixtures and fittings but if I can watch the cricket I'm usually happy. Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Overton are sowing the seeds of what will be a spectacular partnership so things are looking up, and the Amber goes down nicely too. For a trip plucked out of the contingency basket it's all gone rather well - cheers!

Majesterial Marketing in North Birmingham

The Hub Marketing Board are meeting by royal decree for the first Hub outing of the 2022 summer season. The Chairman has chosen North Birmingham as his preferred destination and the weather looks set to be scorching... 

- A Right Royal Drive -

It's Friday 17th June 2022 and temperatures are set to soar towards 30 degrees on the hottest day of the year so far. Slathering on the sunblock, board members meet at Bradley Lane to catch the tram now that Midland Metro services have been reinstated again after recent safety issues. This trip will be notable for not one but two inaugural appearances as Chairman D9 and Secretary WME are being joined by a new hub mascot (a Twirlywoos character we've christened 'Woo Gary' as a nod to a certain radio DJ) and none other than Her Majesty The Queen. Her Highness is keen to get stuck straight into hub business and takes over driving demo duties as we board the 11C Outer Circle at Winson Green - good steering ma'am!

- The bald spot surveys Perry Barr regeneration -

Our first principal port of call will be Perry Barr, an area which is undergoing huge changes in line with hosting the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. Gone is the old A34 flyover while the Seventh Trap pub has similarly been consigned to history, much to Mr D9's dismay. Major roadworks are in place along Walsall Road near the One Stop shopping centre and the local bus interchange is fenced off pending its anticipated overhaul. Nearby, the transformation of Perry Barr railway station is now complete, updating the previously depressing 1960s facilities with something more befitting of the 21st century. The new frontage is a modern bold design with rusty-hued cladding and improved accessibility features. 

- Tame Valley Canal, nearing Spaghetti -

Further transport-related developments are also afoot as regards the National Express West Midlands bus depot, with the existing Perry Barr Garage towards the top of Wellhead Lane due to be phased out when its replacement opens nearer to Aston Lane this coming autumn. The Queen graciously inspects each site before we track down the towpath of the Tame Valley Canal via a Witton wiggle and Deykin Avenue. Urban scenery doesn't come much grittier than that on offer as we approach Spaghetti Junction, the famous mass of concrete ribbons having celebrated its 50th anniversary on 24th May - whether it looks good for its age is open to debate although Mr D9 certainly considers it to be a thing of beauty.

- A Pype Hayes Cuppa -

After a photographic sweep of Salford Junction and environs (girders, masonry and graffti aplenty), we exit onto Lichfield Road in order to catch a number 67 bus. The Chairman recalls the days when this route had a five minute frequency and served the many tower blocks of Castle Vale although currently it operates every fifteen minutes. A steady Tyburn Road trundle brings us neatly into Pype Hayes where the Bagot Arms is a fire-ravaged wreck with heavily charred roof timbers skeletally reaching for the sky - such a sorry state of affairs. Happier news is that the Pype Hayes Transport Cafe is still going strong with all of its vintage Pepsi branding and Dixieland pinball machines intact. An All Day Special Breakfast here is a must, especially with fried bread, porky-pink sausages and crispy bacon to savour. 

- The Woo Mascot at the Digby -

Regardless of the Bagot's sad fate, the Digby was always in line to be our first pub of the day on this occasion and can be found nestled off the A452 Chester Road close to Pype Hayes Park. The midday heat is bordering on stifling so we are grateful for the chance to cool off indoors, introducing our Woo Gary mascot to the joys of San Miguel lager - only a half mind while he's still in training! Suitably refreshed, we endure a sweltering stroll along Orphanage Road into Erdington, passing a bust of the industrialist and philanthropist Sir Josiah Mason. Our silly song selections are declared at this point too, Mr D9 choosing 'The Bucket of Water Song' as performed by members of the TV show Tiswas while the Secretary unearths Bill Maynard's 1975 single 'Pheasant Plucker's Son'.  

- The Chairman gets a Standing Ovation -

Indeed, Mr WME's pick was inspired by our next watering hole, the Pheasant Plucker being a bar and grill affair close to the fire station. Both this and the Church Tavern (on the High Street up by St Barnabas's) occupy the earthier end of Erdington's pub spectrum, lively haunts with folk having fun in the sunshine but perhaps not the kind of places normally frequented by Her Majesty. Nor do we suspect that the Queen usually has cause to sing along to 'Ride on a Tractor', a cheeky slice of Irish innuendo that probably crops up regularly on the Church Tavern's jukebox. In between times we attend to more formal Board matters by staging a photocall at the Standing Ovation Hub, part of the almost-vacant Central Square precinct.

- The New Inns, Erdington -

As much as we enjoyed the Pheasant Plucker and the Church Tavern, our favourite Erdington find has to be the New Inns on Summer Road. Frosted front windows are a promising heritage sign but it's the Irish hospitality that really wins us over, from tricolour-painted panelling to the framed hurling sticks or a whole array of Gaelic football jerseys pinned to the ceiling. Alas it's too warm to truly appreciate any Guinness so we stick to the Carling Shandy approach while keeping abreast of happenings at Royal Ascot. The 77A bus is then on hand from Six Ways to whisk us towards Walmley via Minworth Asda; this Walsall - Sutton Coldfield service has been extended off-peak to cover the Erdington gaps left behind after Claribels stopped running the 167 and 168 routes. 

- Darting motivation at the Oak -

You all no doubt know by now that Mr D9 loves his flat-roofed boozers on far flung housing estates so us stopping off at the Oak on Calder Drive shouldn't come as a surprise. The 1980s breezeblock frontage belies quite a smart interior whereby we swiftly set up base in the rear sports bar. WME Whirlwind's darts form has been utterly dismal lately but here he seems to be a man possessed, nailing checkout after checkout as if spurred on by the astroturf board surrounds or cartoon catchphrases (see above). Poor D9 Destroyer simply can't get a leg in edgeways and suffers a Walmley whitewash - chalk that down as 5-0 to the Secretary if you please! Our subsequent Sutton Coldfield connection arrives in the form of the X14 provided we ignore an impromptu street barbecue underway outside Falcon Lodge shopping parade.

- The Queen in the Queen Inn -

From Sutton we opt for Boldmere as something sensible on the way home, meaning we can sample the Cask & Craft microbar/bottle shop to break our journey. 'Extra Special Beans' is part of the Siren Brewery's Project Barista concept that seeks to combine beer and coffee in inventive ways - the resultant tipple is very drinkable if perhaps an acquired taste. Chairman D9 insists we undertake some robustness checks on the route 5 timetables so we requisition a table on the Sutton Park's side patio and pass the DUAG (Drink Up And Go) challenge with flying colours. Last but not least is a West Bromwich nightcap for which Her Majesty gets the casting vote on choice of venue; naturally the Queen Inn seems a highly appropriate option and our sovereign seems suitably content with the resultant drop of Doom Bar. Cheers!

The Chip Foundation Go Platinum!

Eagle-eyed readers hopefully won't object at my bit of numerical manipulation here, for technically this is Episode 69 of the Chip Foundation Chronicles and strictly speaking we're one short of our own platinum achievements. However, the chance to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign is not something we could miss out on hence a mooch around Malvern seems suitably regal...

- Bacchus Beginnings -

Saturday 4th June 2022 falls within the specially-extended four day Bank Holiday weekend arranged to mark Her Majesty's unparalleled longevity, and the full Foundation are therefore summoned to meet at Birmingham New Street circa 10:40am. We hit a glitch almost straight away when it transpires that our intended 10:50 Hereford connection has been cancelled, meaning we've a spare hour in Brum at our disposal. We put this to good use by visiting the Bacchus, a Nicholson's establishment hidden away deep below the Burlington Hotel. It's a mindbogglingly spectacular setting for a cheeky morning half, taking in a mishmash of world history from Egyptian friezes to medieval tapestries and even a headless suit of armour!

- The Festival Theatre -

The 11:50 train thankfully is running and proves unsurprisingly well populated with rugby and racing fans heading for Worcester. We stay aboard to Great Malvern where I've long been an admirer of the station's architecture but much of the ornate detail is screened from view by unsightly hoardings pending canopy restoration works. A steady if steep stroll into the town centre yields sightings of Malvern Council House and the Festival Theatre, the latter having been historically noted for its George Bernard Shaw productions. Walk leader Nick plots a route through Priory Park and then up Church Street, pointing out the Victorian bandstand plus a couple of bridges spanning the ornamental lake. 

- Getting into the party spirit -

Indeed, Nick is very much at home amongst the town's spa-related opulence and has fond memories of walking the Malvern Hills and frequenting the area's pubs. One hostelry he hasn't previously visited is Weavers of Malvern, a newly-launched micropub based in a former hiking store. Instead of selling mountaineering attire, the unit now purveys fine ales and we appear to have gatecrashed their jubilee festivities. It is only right and proper then that we don plastic hats and wave miniature union flags whilst partaking of the free buffet. Nick and Ken seem particularly partial to patriotic cheese and pineapple chunks whereas Stephen is more reticent, mainly concerning himself with handfuls of ham sandwiches. I should of course mention the beer, in which case my Hop Shed Corgi lives up to its platinum pale billing - very good!

- Elgar looks on -

Continuing up Church Street, we reach the main A449 Bellevue Terrace from whence Edward Elgar's statue gazes appreciatively across the surroundings - the renowned composer drew much inspiration from the Malvern Hills and wider Worcestershire. The Unicorn meanwhile is said to be one of Great Malvern's oldest buildings but has perhaps a penchant for rock music these days, demonstrated when one of the regulars asks Alexa to play a Led Zeppelin track. Across the road, the Foley Arms Hotel has long been a Malvern mainstay with its refined Georgian coaching inn appearance and is named after a prominent local landowner. It is nowadays part of the Wetherspoons empire which means Stephen gets his gammon wishes granted while Nick shocks us all by eschewing beer in favour of refillable coffee, the horror!

- A Royal Presence at Malvern Link? -

Mr B Senior is almost aghast at such behaviour so Nick has to redeem himself as we proceed down the hill towards Malvern Link. Our resident royal has earmarked the Nags Head on Bank Street as one of his esteemed GBG-listed favourites but the place is absolutely heaving with a beer festival in full swing - even despite the promise of an Oasis covers band it's too busy for us to consider stopping if we won't have anywhere to sit. Ever resourceful, we rejoin the A449 and flank part of Link Common, passing the Malvern Community Hospital and a fire station. Nick's navigation skills get us safely to Malvern Link where he bestows the metallic village sign with his seal of approval on account of its reference to Morgan automotive heritage. 

- Beaming in the Bakery -

A final couple of Malvern Link watering holes should conclude matters nicely and both of our selections could be classed as proper no-nonsense boozers. The Gloster Arms is a good find, tucked away in the Merton Road backstreets where we watch some of the Hungary v England Nations League football; naturally Stephen's sporting thoughts are concentrating more on test match happenings at Lords. A restorative Wye Valley HPA awaits once we get past a yapping welcoming committee, then we finish off at the Bakery Inn on Worcester Road where Mr B Senior declares our Wolves allegiances when chatting to someone in the toilets. Luckily the regulars themselves approve of Molineux's finest so we can claim our halves of Banks's Amber without fear of reprisals. This pub seems particularly lively with a whole host of characters getting stuck into their Saturday sessions, everyone thoroughly enjoying life.

- Malvern Link Station Sign -

Keeping a close eye on both the time and the cricket score, we take our Bakery leave by 6pm and relocate to Malvern Link railway station. Facilities here have improved greatly since I first took pictures of the site, hence the previously shed-like 1960s waiting rooms have been replaced by modern platform buildings done out in GWR period style complete with sawtooth canopies. The 18:13 train behaves itself for our homeward connection and we are even 'treated' to a Wolves singalong when some slightly sozzled racegoers board at Worcester. Overall consensus is that we certainly did the occasion justice with our platinum pubcrawl, leaving just the closing remarks of saying thank you to Her Majesty for her unstinting service. 

A Scottish Interjection

The half term holidays combined with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations provided an ideal opportunity for a WME family getaway. It was therefore Destination Dumfries and Galloway as we spent a relaxing few days in the south of Scotland...

- Southerness Lighthouse -

Just as the motorway gods had been kind during the recent Bears on Tour visit to Headingley, so they consent to a smooth M6 passage during the long drive up from the West Midlands. Our base for the week is the small coastal resort of Southerness, situated just over 16 miles south of Dumfries. The village is home to some sprawling caravan parks but is mainly noted for its historic lighthouse which used to guide trading boats safely along the Solway Firth. Although the facility is no longer operational - it was decommissioned in 1936 - the lighthouse remains an impressively rugged landmark and becomes my photographic muse for the week. 

- The 19th Hole -

Monday 30th May is predominantly a day for getting our bearings, whereby Southerness offers seashore walks towards either Carsethorn or Mersehead (the latter being an RSPB reserve). The beach mingles rockpools and mudflats with sandy stretches which together prove popular with inquisitive holidaymakers, as indeed do the local drinking establishments. The 19th Hole is part pub part cafe and shows live sports as well as holding regular karaoke sessions whereas the Paul Jones is a restaurant bar named after the founder of the American Navy. We draw a blank finding any cask ale so Belhaven Best will be our adopted tipple here.

- Castle Douglas Cattle Market -

Come Tuesday 31st May we've settled into our accommodation and are ready to explore the wider area. Our first stop is Castle Douglas, designated as Scotland's 'Food Town' because of its commitment to local produce. An immediate discovery is Wallets Marts Ltd who operate the cattle market and are seemingly in the process of selling some sheep; livestock auctions have taken place weekly on this site since 1888. Various coaching inns catch my camera's gaze including the Imperial, the Crown and the Kings Arms although I won't be partaking of any pints at this point. I also spot the Sulwath Brewery HQ before pausing for pictures at Carlingwark Loch, a beauty spot that boasts a wide variety of birdlife.

- Mytilus at Kirkcudbright -

From Castle Douglas a short drive via the A711 brings us to Kirkcudbright, a name confusingly pronounced kir-coo-bree as if to catch out uninitiated Wulfrunians! Parking by the Stewartry Museum, I'm keen to see the harbour area down beside the River Dee estuary - two of the boats moored up are Mytilus and Arcturus from Belfast and Ballantrae respectively. A Royal Burgh since 1455, the town has a reputation for attracting creative artists and there are many sculptures to be investigated outside the visitor information centre or back at the museum. 

- Kirkcudbright War Memorial -

Another of Kirkcudbright's principal features has to be MacLellan's Castle, a fortified tower house that was designed with domestic comfort rather than dramatic battles in mind. Sadly the castle is currently out of bounds due to ongoing masonry inspections so I have to admire it from afar, simultaneously offering a nod to the town's war memorial complete with depiction of a sword-wielding warrior. In other news I'm pleased to report better luck on the real ale front, the Kirkcudbright Bay Hotel coming up trumps when serving Five Kingdoms Rebus, a limited edition session pale that makes for quality quaffing in the back snug. 

- Devorgilla Bridge, Dumfries -

As May gives way to June, Wednesday 1st sees me dabbling with Dumfries and I can hardly think of a finer place in which to spend my birthday. A two-hourly bus link from Southerness is available (the 372 route as operated by Houston's Coaches) but we stick with the car, pulling up by the six sandstone arches of Devorgilla Bridge. Dumfries stands on the River Nith and is a county town of considerable importance - it's colloquial name 'Queen of the South' will be recognisable to anybody familiar with the Scottish football results. 

- Burns' House -

Dumfries has proud links to two of Scotland's national heroes, namely Robert the Bruce and Robert Burns. The former was responsible for the killing of the Red Comyn at Greyfriars Kirk and would go on to become King of Scots, defeating the English at Bannockburn; the latter is a famed poet and cultural icon who was living in the town at the time of his death in 1796. Indeed, Burns's former residence is now preserved as a museum and his mausoleum can be visited in St Michael's Churchyard. I enjoy surveying some of this rich history as well as taking a stroll along the High Street, passing Burns's statue and the Midsteeple.

- The New Bazaar -

Aside from the sightseeing, Dumfries proves productive in terms of pub contemplations. The aforementioned Robert the Bruce lends his name to the local Wetherspoons (surely there can be no greater tribute?) wherein we partake of a Scottish breakfast, the best bits of which were the crispy black pudding and a square potato scone. As enjoyable as that undoubtedly was, it gets upstaged in my affections by the New Bazaar on Whitesands overlooking the river. The building is Victorian in origin and the small public bar is alive with conversation as I collect a top notch pint of Theakston's XB. The place is up for sale so I hope it survives intact.

- Southerness Lighthouse -

Thursday 2nd June is our last full day in Scotland and we decide to soak up a little more of the Southerness jubilee atmosphere. Many of the caravans are decked out in Union flag bunting and the Queen herself (in cardboard cutout form) puts in numerous appearances too. Bright holiday skies are ideal for getting even more pictures of my favourite lighthouse and we're otherwise content strolling the beach trying not to get tripped up by slippery seaweed. The afternoon has us watching test match cricket in the 19th Hole and the homeward drive then awaits us on the morning of Friday 3rd. The holiday was over all too quickly but that quiet little corner of southwest Scotland has certainly left a lasting impression - cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - May 2022

I'm putting together this particular monthly summary in between coming back from Headingley and preparing for a few days break in Scotland, so forgive me if I'm still in the holiday spirit. May might have contained some cricket-based distractions but I still managed to inch out some photostream updates...

I'll begin this month with a shout out to both WME Solihull and WME Coventry, not because either gallery has been especially active lately but they tend to be so starved of updates that any new arrivals become big news. Solihull therefore welcomes Olton Friary (or the Catholic Church of the Holy Ghost and Mary Immaculate to give its full title) whilst Coventry pays a spooky Halloween visit to the Maudslay pub on Allesley Old Road.

My next port of call needs to be WME Telford, which itself tends to be generally quiet on the additions front. That's not the case recently however as Newport and Oakengates have leapt into action; the former supplies glimpses of the Barley pub, The Smithfields and Wellington Road whereas the latter remembers the Claddagh (a disused boozer near Oakengates railway station) and the town's 2015 Christmas decorations.

Back in the Black Country, we've received correspondence from WME Dudley about Norton (another appearance from the Greyhound) and Oldswinford (a Bathams lamp at the Bird in Hand plus a second sighting of the Shrubbery Cottage). WME Sandwell squeaks in with the Old Hill Cafe and some Oldbury-ish industrial nuggets, namely the Weatherite works and Liberty Performance Steels - it isn't all pubs and street signs you know!

After a brief acknowledgement for WME Birmingham - grateful recipient of New Bingley Hall (Hockley) and Oaklands Primary School (Acocks Green) pictures - I'll close off with my almost statutory mention for WME Wolverhampton. Much focus here has been given to the Old Nursery portion of the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve, including pond views and marker signs, but there are also snippets of Northycote Farm pigs and Northwood Park Primary School to note. Until next time, enjoy the photos!