- Ward Street Drinks Hub -
A Monday evening spent in the back end of Bilston doesn't sound like the most enticing of prospects but Chairman D9 and Secretary WME are made of stern stuff. Our original plan had been to meet in Coseley but Mr D9's intended 229 connection went AWOL, meaning a Bilston Bus Station rendezvous was hastily arranged instead. Priestfield is but a short tram ride away and on Ward Street we confirmed that the former Old Bush pub has been turned into a Drinks Hub off licence store. Two doors further down, the Orange Tree is still going as a local boozer and has recently been renovated in high-end Desi style - the owners are presumably trying to cash in on the surrounding new estates of Northolt Drive and Tangmere Road.
- Boddingtons in the Gate -
Our Orange Tree sojourn was notable for Carling, The Chase tv quiz show and bright floral wallpaper backed with neon tube lighting. A family party arrived to take over one half of the place so we left them to their celebrations and headed to the other end of Ward Street, calling into the Angel on Stowheath traffic lights. More Carling there helped us to digest our silly song offerings ('Who Stole The Keeshka' - a Frankie Yankovic polka tune - and 'Monster Gonzales', Tommy Bruce's spooky take on a Pat Boone classic) before the Gate on Bilston Road yielded a very smooth Boddingtons by way of a nightcap. A few pints and a good chat, who could ask for anything more? But our tale isn't over yet...
- A Cafe Neo Cuppa -
Indeed, we'll skip merrily forward into Friday 20th October 2023 when Storm Babet is lashing the entire country with very unpleasant weather conditions. The ensuing railway disruption at Birmingham New Street is no surprise in the circumstances, leaving our hopes of Redditch reconnaissance thwarted by widespread cancellations on the Cross City line. Worcestershire in the wet would not have been much fun anyway so a Birmingham contingency makes better sense. A breakfast interlude will give us time to plot out another plan so we convene at Cafe Neo down in the Bull Ring's market halls; an £8 Full English is suitable fuel for taking on the downpours, and the cafe patrons are a motley cast of characters complete with Stavros Flatley and Chris de Burgh lookalikes (albeit minus any sign of a 'Lady in Red').
- D9 drives the 16 to Hamstead Hill -
The number 16 bus terminates nearby on Upper Dean Street alongside the outdoor market pitches, hence we hop aboard that for a damp ride towards Great Barr. Always happy to show off his expert steering skills whatever the weather, Chairman D9 takes a front seat perch when powering along Hockley Hill and Hamstead Road. Landmarks spotted along the way include Handsworth Park and St Mary's Parish Church, as well as the leafy environs of Hamstead Hill. We alight by the swollen River Tame just where the metropolitan boundary would have us about to cross into Sandwell, and it's time to pick up where Monday night left off pub-wise.
- Curry Clock in the Hen & Chickens -
First up for our attention is the New Garden Gate, a gabled roadhouse on the junction with Cherry Orchard Road. Part of the premises is in use as a hand car wash - there isn't much call for their services in these conditions - while the remainder is a bar and restaurant with Desi leanings. It looks like they're still clearing up after the night before but we swerve broomstick obstacles to obtain the necessary glasses of Sharp's Atlantic and position ourselves watching Hip Hop Evolution on MTV. One quick drink later, we take the return 16 back towards town and get soaked trying for a no avail at the Observatory in Lozells. Thankfully we can dry out again at the Hen & Chickens, a fine purveyor of cask ale and curry on Constitution Hill. All of the tables here seem reserved, so either its extremely popular or they strategically keep them free for walk-in foodies. The Purity UBU is on good form regardless.
- 'Spotted' at the Yew Tree -
With no sign of the rain relenting, we intercept a Perry Common-bound number 7 bus on Summer Lane for our onward link into Witton. The route burrows its way through Newtown and Aston although we can't see too much along Witton Road because the windows are all misted up. Our prompt to alight is the Yew Tree on Brookvale Road, an establishment that would also qualify for any Outer Circle pubcrawl itineraries. A certain bald spot ponders the building's charms in anticipation of sampling Carling and World Cup cricket once we're safely inside. This place seems popular with the Caribbean community as well as Aston Villa fans, and there are plenty of screens for watching the Pakistan vs Australia match.
- Wolf Whereabouts -
From the Yew Tree, we dodge some seriously large puddles in progressing back past Witton railway station to the Witton Arms, a large tavern just off the local square (diagonally opposite the former Aston Hotel). Another warm welcome awaits here as a Desmond Dekker playlist accompanies respective pints of Carling and John Smiths. The main bar is nicely furnished with chevronned brown fabric and there's a pool table room to the left; outside, the Friday afternoon traffic is really starting to snarl up with motorists looking exceedingly miserable. Windy wild Witton has served us well but now it's time to harvest more of Hockley, hence a visit to the Wolf craft bar is required. They pride themselves on an eclectic range of 16 beers and ciders here so we're somewhat spoiled for choice, even if the Secretary predictably eyes up the Anspach & Hobday London Black nitro stout (and very nice it is too!)
- Sheltering in the Barrel -
Hockley is a curious mix of the old and the new, part gentrified (especially when you get closer to the Jewellery Quarter) and part industrial wasteland that feels stuck in 1975. Our closing circuit aims to keep us relatively dry while ticking off more places from our combined wishlists; cue the Barrel with its rounded frontage, a one-time Banks's house which nowadays acts as yet another curry-led emporium. Bundesliga highlights supplement our Carling supping here, then we splash our way over to Burning Soul's microbrewery outlet in a rollershuttered lockup unit on Mott Street. The Dark Necessities Stout is utterly delectable - made even better when we're told one of the regulars has already paid for our beer as part of his birthday celebrations - and we finish off memorably at the Hockley Social Club making sense of their gourmet food concessions and DJ decks. This is a very modern take on the notion of a social club so you don't get musty dusty furniture or stewards called Stan, at least not to our knowledge. Cheers!
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