Stratford: As Nick Likes It!

Chip Foundation birthdays are fairly evenly spaced through the middle months of the year, with Ken's in April, mine in June, Mr B Senior's in July and Stephen's in October. The missing person in that roll call of course is Nick whose big day falls at the end of August, hence Episode 71 of the Chronicles is arranged by way of celebration. This year our resident royal selects something Shakespearean as his chosen destination, but will Stratford be 'Much Ado About Nothing' or 'All's Well That Ends Well'?

- A train! A train! My kingdom for a train! -

Thereby hangs a tale as our motley ensemble converge upon the 10:46 train from Smethwick to Stratford-upon-Avon, Nick joining us at Solihull albeit still traumatised by Sedgley massage revelations from earlier in the week. Stratford Station has been significantly upgraded since I last saw it, with new glazing and an improved booking hall. Modern apartments have sprung up on the former Cattle Market site adjacent to the railway line while a series of five mosaics featuring the town's famous landmarks escort us out onto Alcester Road. With Nick leading the way, we progress along Wood Street and Bridge Street, dodging Bank Holiday weekend tourists when passing the Old Thatch Tavern, the Swan Hotel and Barclays Bank. 

- Thou polecat! Thou tortoise! -

Nick's immediate target is the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a world-renowned institution on the banks of the River Avon which very much appeals to his inner thespian. The complex was redeveloped in 2018 and comprises elements of the original 1879 Swan Theatre and the 1932 building as designed by Elisabeth Scott. We explore the gift shop and even indulge in some dressing-up antics - I'm told the ass's ears rather suited me! Besides such costumed japery, we test out the 'Insult Chair' to see what barbs are uttered our way. Mr B Senior is merely compared to various animals whereas I have to endure a lengthy diatribe questioning my honourable reputation; suitably admonished we exit onto Waterside for a riverside stroll.

- The Great Bard's Grave -

An essential component of any Stratford-upon-Avon outing has to be a visit to Shakespeare's final resting place in Holy Trinity Church. Having been baptised here in 1564, the playwright had a lifetime's association with his parish church and is buried in the prestigious family plot next to the altar. His grave carries a curse thought to have been penned by the man himself, discouraging anyone intending on disturbing his eternal peace: "Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, and cursed be he that moves my bones". We aren't about to invoke centuries-worth of wrath and so we politely pay our respects before heading off into Old Town. 

- The Birthday Boy in The Bull -

Nick is working from memory when navigating to our first pub of the day but his bearings hold true in bringing us to the Bull, a backstreet community local which hosts regular live music. Doom Bar, Guinness and the Bull house pale ale (brewed by Wye Valley) are duly consumed as Stephen keeps close tabs on the test match score - England seem to be batting well being as he isn't watching, surely just a coincidence?! A Boris Johnson-themed birthday card offers additional amusement before we relocate to the Windmill, a Greene King establishment near the District Council offices. Low ceilings add a touch of character as befits a place that is said to have been in existence since 1599, meaning Shakespeare and his contemporary townsfolk could well have quaffed here. Our tipple of choice is Prescott's Podium Finish, a 4.8% Ruby Port Stout that certainly perks up those of a princely persuasion.

- Seeking Stratford Sports Club -

Luncheon is served at the Golden Bee Wetherspoons where the Beardsmores demonstrate gammon-guzzling of the highest order, and 'Hullabaloo' happens to be the name of the beer rather than any unscheduled overexuberance. Although both Ken and Stephen had previous experiences of Stratford, their memories mainly concerned the cricket ground on the far side of the Avon. It therefore seems appropriate for us to call by for old time's sake, crossing the historic tramway bridge and passing the Butterfly Farm in the process. Not only does Stratford Sports Club evoke thoughts of yesteryear, it gives us chance to watch the action from Old Trafford - Ben Stokes completing his first Test century as England captain - and partake of Jimbo, a Purity Best bitter named in honour of the brewery's co-founder James Minkin. 

- A good portly man -

After that sporting diversion, Nick's intention is to conclude matters by sampling Stratford's brace of Good Beer Guide entries. The first of these is the Bear at the Swan's Nest, which produces some Beardsmore Senior alarm when it looks like we're heading into a posh bistro. Pierre's is spared but the Bear bar is rather refined nevertheless, and we rather fear Ken has drawn the short straw as regards the most expensive round of the day. The Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker is confirmed as being in fine form as we commandeer the kind of round table that could well make King Arthur feel jealous. We follow this with a brief browse around Bancroft Basin, the southern terminus of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. Narrowboats bob up and down on the water as we inspect the Gower Monument, a sculptural tour-de-force that features Shakespeare on a pedestal at its centre flanked by four of his most memorable characters - Hamlet, Lady Macbeth, Prince Hal and Falstaff.

- The Stratford Alehouse -

The last of that quartet would soon inspire our final ale of the day, but not before we've paid Henley Street homage to Shakespeare's Birthplace which continues to attract more than its fair share of Japanese tourists. To the Stratford Alehouse micropub we then troop, claiming a large barrel table just inside the shop door and collectively imbibing of Falstaff's Folly, deep copper in colour and malty in taste. Further analysis of the recent Elvis movie means John reprises his self-appointed role as the Chip Foundation's resident film critic while Stephen confirms that Ben Foakes has reached his century in Manchester. 18:03 is the designated hour for our homeward train and we depart on time in highly contented fashion. Measure for measure, it has been a great day all round - cheers!

Shunning The Wellington Sunshine?

Depending on your point of view, we've either been treated to some wonderfully warm weather lately or it's too hot by far. I've enjoyed the unbroken sunshine but the heat is a tad too oppressive for me, hence my preference was to stay indoors during my recent Wellington wander...

- Wellington Station -

It's Friday 12th August 2022 and the mercury is already climbing beyond 30 degrees as I take the train from Wolverhampton into Telford territory. My admiration for Wellington's traditional railway architecture has been placed on record several times now but I still insist on repeat pictures of canopy columns and footbridge details, including a brief inspection of bay platform number 3 which doesn't seem to get used all that often. The lychgate for All Saints Church is bedecked with glorious hanging baskets as I begin my survey of the town centre; the structure serves as the local war memorial hence the presence of several poppy wreaths.  

- Boots Galore -

There are many familiar sights waiting to make their latest imprints on the WME archives, not least the Community Clock and Seaton Sports (both within the Market Square). I confirm the whereabouts of the Boot micropub for later and note that the Dun Cow has had something of a facelift, but perhaps the most visual new additions are a sequence of brightly-coloured boots strung between the rooftops along Crown Street. A brief brush with the bus station - a handful of Arriva steeds on duty - precedes a sweltering stroll via Victoria Avenue and Regent Street to reach the New Bucks Head, home to AFC Telford United. I took photos of the West Stand last November so this time around I concentrate on the Haybridge Road side of the stadium, complete with Jack Bentley Terrace and a Learning Centre. The ground capacity is around 5,500 and meets National League standards with potential to upgrade further to Football League level if necessary. 

- The Cock Hotel -

Emerging onto Watling Street, I'm keen to see what Joule's have done with the Cock Hotel, a longstanding old coaching inn that has guarded the Mill Bank crossroads for absolute yonks. The building actually used to be part of the original Joule's Brewery estate up until the 1970s so there is a pleasing sense of things coming full circle again. It's only my opinion of course but I'm highly impressed with the refurbishment, which for me marries the heritage aspects I already so admired with a sensitive modern approach that should stand the place in good stead for years to come. Gravitating towards the club room on account of its hammered copper tabletops and billiards ephemera, I savour a pint of Blonde while cooling off a little. 

- Arleston Community Centre Mural -

Making sure to reapply my protective layer of sunblock/horseradish, I brace myself for even higher temperatures as the afternoon progresses. Last year's Arleston adventure had been reasonably comprehensive in terms of mopping up photo targets but I had omitted the parade of shops on the corner of Dawley Road and Kingsland. These include Sidhu's Newsagents, a halal butchers and a Loco store, the latter of which houses Arleston Post Office. Just around the corner, St Giles Close provides access to Arleston Community Centre and has garages painted with a community mural that features The Wrekin, Mickey Bushell's golden postbox and Norah Wellings, a toy designer known for producing 'Jolly Boy' sailor dolls. 

- The Boot Micropub -

Not wishing to end up resembling a lobster, I seek the shade of my next watering hole albeit King Street does remind me about the abandoned New College site. Having began life as the Wellington Girls High School in Edwardian times, the college merged with Telford College of Arts and Technology in 2017 and several of its former educational facilities have since been demolished. Back in the centre of Wellington, I home in on the Boot Micropub which occupies a prime spot on the Market Square. Quality cask and craft is the order of the day here so I partake of Salopian Brainstorm (a 4.2% golden ale) followed by Fownes Korvak's Burden - yes the second of those is a breakfast stout but no amount of scorching temperatures can sway me from the darker ales entirely, even if some of the cans in the fridge look tempting. 

- Platypus Porter in the Pheasant -

The Boot has only been operational for a couple of months or so and is the sister outlet to Ironbridge's Coracle which I also happen to rate highly - I expect it to do well and possibly challenge for Good Beer Guide contention. Curiosity resoundingly satisfied, I nominate the Pheasant on Market Street as my final sun-sheltering salvation. As this is Rowton Brewery's taphouse I probably should be opting for Apollo or an Ironbridge Gold but no, Salamander's Platypus Porter gets the nod and what a good decision even if I say so myself. I don't know what Platypus tastes of but I can detect a hint of blackcurrant in what is billed as an oatmeal stout; either way it's a very nice pint on which to round off a sunkissed session. Cheers!

Bull-ish About Birmingham

Commonwealth Games fever has swept Brum recently as the Second City celebrates hosting the 2022 edition of the international sporting spectacle. I was lucky enough to catch some of the Cycling Time Trial action when that visited Wolverhampton, and now on Saturday 6th August I'm Birmingham-bound to catch up with some bulls...

- Raging Bull at Centenary Square -

The Commonwealth Games got underway on Thursday 28th July with a memorable opening ceremony that showcased the proud history of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region as well as introducing the participating athletes. Stealing the show however was a mechanical raging bull with red eyes and smoking nostrils, an exhibit that was designed to represent female emancipation (with reference to Cradley Heath chainmakers) and Brum's many diverse migrant communities. After the ceremony the bull has taken up residence at Centenary Square where it regularly attracts flocks of fans, myself included. There had been talk that the structure would be dismantled once the Games have finished but a petition to retain it as a legacy feature will mean it hopefully is preserved for future display.

- Perry at Oozells Square -

Raging Bull has arguably stolen some of the thunder of 'Perry', the official Games mascot who nevertheless seems to have quickly become popular especially with young children. As part of an initiative to encourage exercise and get visitors to see more of Birmingham, Perry's Trail has been created utilising 17 physical statues and nine digital avatars at key locations across the city centre. Having enjoyed similar previous events involving owls, bears and snowmen, I was naturally keen to capture some of these on camera, starting with the installation at Oozells Square around the back of Brindley Place. This proved to be one of the quieter locations whereas some of the others attracted a significant youthful entourage!

- The Bear That Cares -

Plotting my way back through the crowds, I account for further Perry sculptures on Broad Street (beside the Black Sabbath bench), Summer Row (close to the Shakespeare pub), Colmore Row (within the grounds of St Philip's Cathedral) and outside Snow Hill railway station. Steelhouse Lane then leads me steadily down to Birmingham Children's Hospital where along with a Perry I can also reacquaint myself with 'Florence Nightinowl' from the Big Hoot and 'The Bear That Cares' from the Big Sleuth - they're getting quite a collection down here to be fair. One of the avatar screens is sited on Colmore Circus so you can strike your best pose with an animated Perry should you so desire.

- Perry on Church Street -

I might have declined that selfie invitation but I'm not going to refuse the prospect of a quality pint, especially when the Wellington is waiting to claim my custom. This Bennetts Hill mecca has been a mainstay of the Birmingham real ale scene for several years and comes up trumps for a Coach House Strawberry Blonde, poured from pump 8 according to the menu screens. The pub's pet cats rule the roost here, hence the instructions not to let them out of the back door, and the place in general is bubbling up ready for a busy Saturday afternoon service. Appropriately refreshed, I resume my Perry search on Church Street with a specimen that faces out towards the Jewellery Quarter and appears to be waving at St Paul's Church.

- St Paul's Church -

Said place of worship is my next prime photographic target, once I've crossed a pedestrian footbridge and ascended Ludgate Hill past the Actress & Bishop. The church is Georgian in origin having first been consecrated in 1779 and stands amidst a well-preserved square that is home to several elegant townhouses, not to mention artisan coffee shops. My penultimate Perry of the day laps up the sunshine as a young girl asks her daddy if she can take him home - cue the poor parent trying to explain why it won't fit in their garden! Charlotte Street heralds the Queens Arms with its lovely Mitchells & Butlers Gold Medal Ales frontispiece on Newhall Street junction (opposite what used to be the Assay Office until they moved to Moreton Street), then I burrow deeper into the Jewellery Quarter. 

- Ready for some Rock & Roll? -

I've tracked down ten of the seventeen Perry statues and the last of those can be found off Warstone Lane practically behind the Rose Villa Tavern - I've certainly enjoyed attempting some of the trail so I can easily envisage kids really loving it. Finishing off in the Jewellery Quarter means there are an enviable number of ale options to choose from but I've got two establishments in mind that I'm most intent on revisiting. The Rock & Roll Brewhouse Bar on Hall Street is absolutely essential, producing vegan-friendly beer on the premises and playing  eclectic playlists every weekend. I partake in a pristine pint of 'King Kong' and get chatting to one of my old public library colleagues who I hadn't seen for years, wonderful!

- Raspberry Pale at the Jewellers Arms - 

The Elvis cardboard cut-out seems disappointed that I'm departing Rock & Roll but I simply must proceed to my closing port of call, namely the Jewellers Arms on Hockley Street. This Black Country Ales boozer served as Birmingham CAMRA's Pub of the Year from 2019 to 2021 and was a leading contender for the 2022 vote too. Titanic's Raspberry Pale has a pleasing pink tinge which I pair with a cheese and red onion cob for a tasty late lunch. The pub is very handy for the Jewellery Quarter railway station and that's where I ultimately head for my homeward train, keeping tabs on the football scores as Wolves start their 2022/23 campaign with defeat at Leeds. Birmingham was brilliant today and that's no bull!

The Chip Foundation's Tamworth Treat

In a week that saw Aussie soap opera 'Neighbours' air its final ever episode, it's comforting to know that another long-running serial is very much still going strong. Having commenced back in 2010, the Chip Foundation Chronicles reaches its 70th instalment with a Staffordshire celebration for a certain septuagenarian...

- Sir Robert Peel's Statue -

It's Friday 29th July and this trip has been arranged in honour of Mr B Senior's 79th birthday - the big day itself was actually a couple of weeks back but we won't let such technicalities get in the way of a good excuse for an outing. Birmingham New Street is basking in the glow of Commonwealth Games fever as we catch the 10:49 Nottingham train, Nick bumping into a Derby-bound acquaintance called Ron. A twenty minute journey gets us to Tamworth where we are greeted by a spear-wielding sculpture on the roundabout outside the railway station. Victoria Road tickles us into the town centre for historical sightseeing on Market Street - the Town Hall takes pride of place here (complete with Doric columns supporting an assembly room), all watched over by Sir Robert Peel, founder of the Metropolitan Police Force and a two-time Conservative Prime Minister (1834-35 and 1841-46).

- Inspecting the Platinum Jubilee Garden -

Further heritage interest is close at hand in the form of Tamworth Castle, a Norman fortress although the site was also of Anglo Saxon significance when Tamworth was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. The castle guards the confluence of the Rivers Tame and Anker whereby both Beardsmores attempt some fish-spotting. The Castle Gardens resound to big screen triathlon commentary as we admire a Platinum Jubilee installation, the centrepiece of which is a large number 70 plonked among the flowerbeds. A riverside stretch means we can cross the lovely Ladybridge with its six segmental arches. Carved friezes within the pavement tell of significant moments in Tamworth's history, such as being laid siege to by the Vikings. Hopefully there won't be any encounters with the likes of Ivar the Boneless today...

- Purple Peril in the Market Vaults -

Enough with the tour guide act, it's time for the pubs! First up is the Market Vaults, a Joules Brewery taphouse that still bears etched windows from its previous Banks's ownership. Mr B Junior gamely grapples his lemonade and blackcurrant as we converge on a table near the back hearth, admiring vintage enamelled Keen's Mustard advertising in the process. Nick and Ken do their best to make sense of recent political developments including the downfall of Boris Johnson, albeit Nick is typically evasive when we quiz him on his preference for who should become the next Prime Minister. Joules' seasonal 'Bob On' ale is a refreshing tipple while Mr B Snr interrogates a poor unsuspecting regular before deciding to have a Blonde. 

- St Editha's Church, with added anchors -

One nice half down with more to come but we're back on the culture trail next. The Tamworth Heritage Hub on Middle Entry is staffed by enthusiastic volunteers who fill us in about the Peel family tree. Stephen creates a minor spillage when accidentally kicking over a doggy water bowl - you can't take him anywhere - and then it's the turn of St Editha's Church to beguile us. Editha ranks as one of the more obscure and mysterious Anglo Saxon saints, possibly being of royal descent and said to have been an abbess at nearby Polesworth. The church building is medieval in origin with 14th, 15th and 19th century elements while an adjacent anchor-themed artwork pays tribute to the wartime sailor Colin Grazier - he lost his life when recovering German codebooks from a scuttled U-boat in 1942 and was awarded a posthumous George Cross in recognition of his bravery. 

- Deal Deliberations in the Bole Bridge -

Our second beer-related port of call is the Sheriff of Tamworth, situated in a grand Colehill townhouse which until recently had been home to a firm of solicitors. Of the two cask ales we collectively opt for Church End's 'What the Fox's Hat?' (careful how you say that) apart from Stephen who sticks to the soft drinks. Barrel tables with high tractor stools aren't perhaps the most comfortable of seating arrangements - especially when you're in the older age bracket - so we're relieved when a bench comes free. Nick likes the fact that the building historically served as the Sheriff of Warwickshire's residence back in the days when Tamworth came under the jurisdiction of Staffordshire's neighbouring county. For lunch we decamp down the hill to the Bole Bridge Wetherspoons, partaking of Fishy Friday and gammon deals with John manfully devouring a 10 oz platter of the latter. An old lady at an adjacent table has a dizzy turn although rumours she was overcome by Ken's masculine charm are just idle gossip.

- The Old Bank House -

Tamworth has seen a veritable boom in the number of real ale establishments since I last set foot in the town and two more such haunts are on our afternoon agenda. The Tamworth Tap has award-winning credentials on Market Street having been crowned CAMRA's Staffordshire Pub of the Year for 2022 and acts as the taproom for the Tamworth Brewing Company. We're mightily impressed both by the beer quality and general ambiance - Wilde Child Event Horizon Cherry Oatmeal Stout is absolutely glorious stuff while the decor ranges from dried hops to Burton Union checking boards. I raid a stash of LAST Orders back issues (the local CAMRA newsletter being prominently on show) before we switch to the Old Bank House on Ladybank. Like the Sheriff earlier, this is another heritage property that's been given a new lease of life and we soon make ourselves at home in one of four lavishly-presented rooms. North Riding's Bakewell Tart Stout is a dreamy tipple laced with hints of cherries and almonds - I could drink this all day although that wouldn't be very wise. Two absolute crackers in a row there!

- Mr B Senior shows off his Halo -

After that brace of newbies we round off at a WME favourite that itself hasn't been around all that long. Lower Gungate is where we find the King's Ditch micropub serving ales straight from the cask - you can watch the barman pouring them on the tv screen if you wish. More stout in this case means Glass Half Empty from Pentrich Brewing, a half that maintains the stellar standard we've enjoyed all trip. John tends to avoid the darker beers and is given a Halo instead, hence the comedy pose in the picture above - he's not usually so angelic! Space can be at a premium but we find a table upstairs and peruse a pumpclip display grouped into brewery order. Some cricket and Commonwealth Games scorechecks punctuate the chat and then it's time to head homeward courtesy of the 17:36 Brum train. Cheers to terrific Tamworth!

WME Flickr Focus - July 2022

It's not very often that a month's-worth of updates manages to tick most of my gallery boxes but July 2022 has provided a little bit of everything - well, almost! Admittedly Exploration Extra and WME Solihull didn't quite get in on the act but all of the other WME constituents have received new material recently...

You may recall that June was a remarkably productive period for WME Staffordshire and that resurgence has continued unabated deeper into the summer. The Rickerscote area of Stafford leads the charge with street signs and H.L. Boulton access markers, aided and abetted by the town's former rugby club and a sniff of the Star & Garter. Elsewhere I can report more pickings from Penkridge (Preston Hill Farm) and Pool Hall (private fishing grounds near Trescott).

Not to be overshadowed, WME Wolverhampton puts in a strong showing with an emphasis on the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve. Canalside meadows join various vegetation shots and even a smiling globe as one of my prime lockdown boltholes comes to photographic prominence. Other Wolverhampton arrivals include Regis Road - pretty Tettenhall terraces there - plus a nod for Springfield's Brownfield Research and Innovation Centre development. 

Skipping across to WME Shropshire, we acknowledge respective additions from Shifnal and Shrewsbury. The first of those locations supplies archival representation from the Beehive, a pub that has since perished at the hands of the wrecking ball. Shrewsbury meanwhile grants us a gander at the Loggerheads and the Albion Vaults whilst pausing for a peek at Pengwern Road. In related news, near-neighbour WME Telford paraded around Priorslee picking out painted pebbles displayed around The Flash - the local schoolchildren clearly got quite artistic during the original 2020 lockdown period.

WME Walsall hasn't earned much fanfare thus far in 2022 so the presence of four more items definitely counts as tangible progress. The Brown Lion in Pleck is probably the main attraction here just because I really like the vintage Highgate Brewery frontage but that's not to dismiss the value of Queslett's Old Horns or Short Heath's Duke of Cambridge. There are then some fallen leaves at Holly Bank Basin if you prefer my glimpses into the natural world. 

Quickfire shout-outs go next to the Brum/Dudley/Sandwell triumvirate which take delivery of three new photos apiece. WME Birmingham secures Sheldon Country Park and a flashback to platform entrance construction at Snow Hill railway station; WME Dudley dutifully stops off at Sedgley to scoop up pub piccies of the Leopard, the Bulls Head and the Mount Pleasant; WME Sandwell lingers at Spon Lane Top Lock (i.e. under the M5 motorway, never the most appealing of sights) then raids my back catalogue for Reddal Hill Primary School.

What's left after all of that lot? Well, WME Warwickshire goes truly cultural by visiting the grave of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon while WME Worcestershire retrieves a Redditch running board - in the dark no less! The final word goes to WME Coventry which snares itself a Sewall Highway street sign from somewhere out in the wilds of Wyken Croft. Whether as many galleries garner attention again in August remains to be seen, but until then please enjoy the pictures...