Coventry for Ken, Tamworth for Mr B Senior, Stratford for Nick and Malvern for yours truly: that just leaves one Chip Foundation member still awaiting their celebrational birthday outing. Stephen's turn has arrived at last and we're all set for Staffordshire where we can party in the Potteries...
- The Birthday Boy lands a Whopper -
Mr Beardsmore Junior's big day actually fell at the end of October but it isn't until Friday 4th November that the gang is able to assemble and mark the occasion. Despite ongoing strikes affecting local West Midlands railway services, the Avanti Cross Country connection towards Manchester behaves itself so we reach Stoke-on-Trent Station just before 11am and jump aboard a waiting 25 to Hanley Bus Station. Our first target is the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery on Bethesda Street, which as you might expect houses an outstanding collection of ceramic wares as well as a selection of paintings by L.S. Lowry. Stephen however is most impressed by the wall of mounted fish, the likes of which he's never caught himself!
- Mock Chips in the Potteries Museum -
Elsewhere inside the Museum there is a Spitfire Gallery featuring Mark XVI Spitfire RW388 - its presence reflects the fact that aircraft designer Reginald Mitchell was born and brought up in North Staffordshire. Another gallery displays prized artefacts from the Staffordshire Hoard, including warrior equipment and sword fragments, but perhaps our favourite section is the Local History area for recreated High Street scenes complete with mock pub, chip shop and scullery. Stephen refrains from helping himself to plastic chips while Ken and Mr B Senior recall days of washhouse mangles and chalk slates.
- Arnold Bennett's Statue -
Hanley effectively acts as the city centre for the wider Stoke-on-Trent confederation of six historic towns, and has long been the commercial hub for the region. Having completed our mooch around the museum, we say hello to Arnold Bennett's statue - this prolific local author brought the Potteries to life in his novels and has a smoked haddock omelette named after him. A gentle stroll through the main streets then offers sightings of Piccadilly (where we spot the Regent Theatre) and Market Square, passing Brassington's old-fashioned cobblers shop and a branch of Lloyds Bank.
- The Woodman -
The sun is over the yardarm so it's time to claim our opening drink of the day, for which I've picked out the Woodman on Goodson Street as an example of a high quality restoration; the chaps are relieved that the nearby Franky's Bar isn't my intended destination, even though it has graffiti declaring a distinct dislike for Jacob Rees Mogg. No, the Woodman proves ideal for a relaxing natter over respective halves of Burton Bridge Bramble Stout, Guinness, lemonade and blackcurrant or Wincle's Straight Furrow. Radiogram shelving and the lovely walnut finish of the woodwork adds to the sense of enchantment as we debate the cost of living crisis.
- His Majesty in the Golden Cup -
We can't fault the Woodman in the slightest and it's a wrench to leave, albeit any sorrows are tempered by the knowledge that there are more classic pubs to come. As a case in point, we wend our way via terraced backstreets to goggle at the Golden Cup, itself happily rejuvenated after an extended period of closure. I've admired the gorgeous 'Bass Only' glazed frontage previously so I'm keen to see what the interior is like and boy is it a feast for the eyes, what with busy floral wallpaper battling the heavily-patterned carpet. Our chosen snug perch feels very luxurious as we speculate as to the likely electricity bills with so many lightbulbs on full beam. Ale-wise it has to be Draught Bass, the pristineness of the beer matched by the spotless appearance of polished copper tabletops. A treat in more ways that one!
- The Coachmakers Arms -
Luncheon beckons as we decamp to Hanley's Wetherspoons, named after Mr Mitchell the aforementioned Spitfire creator and based in the former Tontines meat market building. We've timed our attendance to be after 2pm so as to partake of the Afternoon Deal offers, meaning cheaper meals in these times when we all have to watch the pennies. All Day Brunches, Fishy Fridays and Wiltshire hammings duly digested, we carry on down to the Coachmakers Arms for more pub perfection. This Lichfield Street hostelry has earned many a Good Beer Guide listing and is recognised for having a now-rare multiroomed layout branching off its central passageway. Draught Bass again is on cracking form as discussion focuses on Stephen's advancing age and our prospects for covering other Potteries locations for future trips.
- Money-Saving Musings in bod -
There's life left in this particular outing yet and things don't get much more exuberant than the Albion Hotel, chosen because of its close proximity to the bus station. Before we know it we've gatecrashed a 1960s disco and are singing along to selected highlights from 'Jesamine' to 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'; everybody is so friendly and we're even allowed to raid the cob platters - that's Mr B Senior's supper sorted! A brisk ride on the 23 back to Stoke Station ensues and we've allotted ourselves enough of a window to bother 'bod', Titanic's cafe-bar on the southbound platform. Here Ken continues to espouse Martin Lewis's sage money-saving advice while Nick and I gleefully taste test the Plum Porter. Cheers!
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