Unicorn Fishing? You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!

The essence of Hub Marketing outings over the years has been a shared love of pubs, daft music and the potential for random acts of silliness, so although this evening bash around Bilston might only be a short session, it ticks all the right boxes…

- Drawing Inspiration -

It's Monday 4th March 2024 and - prior to any evening entertainments - Secretary WME spends his lunchtime perusing the latest exhibitions at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. These include a collection showcasing the urban sketches of local artist Ed Isaacs (complete with Heath Town cow depictions), as well as the British Museum's touring display titled 'Drawing Attention: emerging artists in dialogue' which has many thought-provoking contemporary pieces. The Secretary likes to visit the gallery every three months or so to keep abreast of what's new; the Glaze cafe comes highly recommended for coffee and cake too!

- Rising Sun Baldness -

And so to the main event with members instructed to be at Coseley railway station come half past four. Chairman D9 must be eager because not only is he on time (maintaining a recent run of commendable punctuality) but then promptly marches along Havacre Lane anticipating our first pint of the day. His target is the Rising Sun on Darkhouse Lane, a former Banks's throwback which now operates as a Desi Bar and Grill. The surroundings are grimly industrial despite the building of a new estate comprising Cannon Park Way and Iron Foundry Drive - as you can see, the bald spot seems to be making itself at home!

- The Secretary samples the wares -

Although the Rising Sun has been given something of a style makeover, it's nevertheless still easy to imagine the place being frequented by scrapyard workers and foundrymen back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Our pangs of nostalgia are perhaps helped by the fact the big screen is showing reruns of Minder with Arthur Daley and Terry McCann in their pomp. Secretary WME is in the mood for some wheeler-dealing of his own by securing cheap pints of Carling, then we settle in the front bay window watching the world go by for a while. Glasses glugged, we venture via Siddons Road and Rainbow Street to join the Bradley Canal at Highfields Road. 

- Unicorn Rescue Unit at your service! -

Even the shortest Hub Marketing gatherings can produce moments of mayhem and things don't get much more surreal than fishing cuddly unicorns out of the canal like it's an everyday occurrence! The sight of the Chairman spreadeagled on the towpath attempting to reach the stricken toy with a discarded tree branch is not easily forgotten and would rival the Tividale Shark in our all-time silliness stakes. He's not a man to be denied though and the rescue is deemed a success once the plushy is plucked from the water, a mission we celebrate with a daft ditty in the form of Elke Sommer's 1961 recording 'Be Not Notty'.

- Bert Turner Overdrive -

Running the gauntlet of geese at feeding time near Carder Crescent (we narrowly avoided a serious pecking), we proceed along Dudley Street into Bilston town centre. The Chairman has more music in mind when the presence of Bert Turner Boulevard prompts a rendition of 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet' - quite whether Bachman-Turner Overdrive would approve is another matter!! Bert and his brother Dennis were highly prominent in Bilston politics for decades, Bert serving as a councillor and Mayor of Wolverhampton whereas Dennis was a local MP; both men had campaigned tirelessly against the closure of Bilston Steelworks in the 1970s. 

- A Tikka Tavern Tipple -

Our Bilston pubbish finale involves a new find and an old favourite. First the newbie which sees us test out the Tikka Tavern on the corner of High Street and Dudley Street; admittedly this is predominantly a restaurant really but it is possible to call in for a drink - in our case of Cobra Lager - and the swish interior would make a nice spot to partake of a mixed grill. The jazzy environs of the Trumpet then bring the curtain down with legendary landlord Musti on hand to demonstrate his percussion prowess drumming along to Chuck Berry numbers. The Holden's Golden Glow hits all the right notes too although we must be grateful that Mr D9 didn't break into a rendition of 'Hello Dolly!' - thank goodness for that...