It has been a couple of months since the Hub Marketing Board were last in exploration action, so the time is decidedly ripe for more marketing mayhem. July's refined Outer Bromsgrove surroundings have been traded for a less exotic Black Country remit as September's episode concentrates on Wordsley and Wollaston...
- Holy Trinity, Wordsley -
Trip Log: Friday 22nd September 2023 and board members are tasked with congregating in Wordsley by high noon. Naturally the Secretary aims to get there with time to spare, hence catching the number 16 bus and alighting by the Old Cat at twenty past eleven. Mr D9 is not as fortunate, getting held up by broken down vehicles and Brierley Hill congestion, so some initial photography helps pass the time while awaiting the Chairman's arrival. Holy Trinity is Wordsley's parish church and stands high on the hillside with its tall Gothic tower dominating the landscape. The church was consecrated in 1831 on land donated by the Earl of Dudley.
- George recommends Bathams Best Bitter -
After what sounds like an extremely convoluted bout of bus-hopping, Chairman D9 belatedly makes an appearance and we can convene in the hallowed setting of a Bathams pub. The New Inn faces down Wordsley High Street and is an ideal opening haunt for partaking of Best Bitter and prized cheese, onion and black pudding cobs - that'll do us for a belated breakfast! Mascot George gives his purr of approval to the brewery's branded glassware as we discuss plans for future trips and Mr D9's 'grande finale' scheduling commitments. It doesn't take long for the place to fill up with nattering regulars ensuring a healthy supply of banter.
- The Lawnswood -
Two establishments we hadn't visited previously are high on our afternoon agenda, and to say they form quite a contrast from each other is something of an understatement. The first of these is the Lawnswood, a proper precinct pub with a roof so flat you've no need for a spirit level - all that's arguably missing is a barking Alsatian. It's actually a very presentable local boozer, tagged onto the end of a shopping parade that also includes a Spar supermarket and the Holbeache Travel shop. Owners Stonegate offer a CAMRA discount on cask ales so we sample the Wadworth 6X while noting a display of national flags representing participants in the Rugby World Cup; alas the Scottish barman fears his team might suffer from being in a Group of Death alongside South Africa and Ireland.
- The Roe Deer -
From the sublime to the ridiculous next - or is it the other way around? - as we follow that humdrum piece of pub architecture with a building that looks very fancy indeed. Tiptoeing across the county boundary into South Staffordshire, we discover the Regency elegance of the Roe Deer, previously known as Lawnswood House when it was built for the Foley family in the early 19th century. Brunning & Price are the current custodians and offer a civilised dining experience amidst high ceilings and cultivated lawns. Chairman D9 feels underdressed for such a venue but is allowed to remain on the premises so as to quaff a Ludlow Blonde while the Secretary avoids riffraff expulsion by chancing the Titanic Steerage pale ale. Classy doesn't begin to cover it but the WME wallet is fearful of an extremely expensive round.
- Getting down with the cats! -
In fairness, the Roe Deer prices (circa £4.35 a pint) aren't that eye-watering in the current climate so any collateral budgetary damage is largely avoided. Exiting past a gate lodge, we take the lane back towards Wordsley before branching off via the Ashwood Park estate where some of the roads are named after royal palaces (Balmoral, Sandringham. Kensington etc). There once was a time when we would often encounter feline friends on our travels but the cat population has conspicuously kept its distance more recently, so we're almost out of practice when one inquisitive moggy demands we make a fuss of it. Duly stroked, said puss skulks off elsewhere leaving us free to proceed into Wollaston Farm care of a public footpath over the Stourbridge Canal at Bells Mill Bridge.
- Raspberry Ripple in the Kingsbridge -
With the famed 'Enville Street Run' pubcrawl sequence to go at, you're never short of drinking options in the Wollaston area. We won't be attempting the full set today but will nibble away at a few of the calling points, including the musty charms of the Foresters Arms furthest out on the Bridgnorth Road - cue Timmy Taylor's Landlord and a superb black pudding pork pie, very tasty indeed! Secretary WME is particularly keen to try the Kingsbridge, a microbar housed in a reclaimed television repair shop (although we speculate that the building might have been a pub historically). The interior has been stylishly kitted out with a very relaxed vibe, embracing coffee culture as well as offering a neat line in ciders. We test out the Snails Bank Raspberry Ripple with a side order of curry-infused Simmons Pork Crunch for more quality snackage.
- A Spin Cycle Bald Spot? -
The Kingsbridge certainly offers something different in terms of Wollaston variety, especially when you consider that the Unicorn (Bathams) and the Princess (Craft Union) are blokeish venues. Neither the Plough nor the Britannia appear to be trading - in fact the Plough has a skip outside which perhaps doesn't bode well - and Katie Fitzgeralds doesn't open until 7pm on Friday evenings, meaning the Queens Head (Black Country Ales) is probably our best bet for continuing our quest. It's an easy decision to stop by for a quick look and we're rewarded with a great glass of Titanic's coffee-laden Cappuccino Stout. As if all our ale antics aren't sufficient fun on their own, Mr D9 becomes besotted with a relic of a launderette shopfront complete with coin operated self service lettering. It's enough to put the bald spot in a spin!
- The Family Hub Photoshoot -
Our leader's excitement levels go even deeper into overdrive when we account for a photo opportunity at the Family Hub, a facility tucked away beside the Royal British Legion Club. Having performed the necessary poses, we aim to finish off in Stourbridge itself care of a nightcap half of something crafty in the Hop Vault; the shelves here are laden with tempting cans and it's clear that local beer aficionados have really embraced the bottle shop's ever-changing line-up. The Mitre meanwhile holds memories of Ken Dodd soundtracks and the Gurkha Bar serves up Nepalese cuisine in what used to be the Old Bank. For us though its the trusty number 16 which takes us homewards to Wolverhampton - cheers!
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