My goodness hasn't it been all go, go, go recently? No sooner has Rail Rover Week 2024 been filed for posterity than I'm back regaling you with tales of the Hub Marketing Board's Redditch sequel. You may recall that this Worcestershire dormitory town had provided the thrust of our Good Friday antics back in 2019, so it's only taken us the best part of five years to stage a second helping...
- Arrival at Redditch -
Working on the principle that our revisit is better late than never, we meet at the Grand Central tram stop at around half past eleven (Chairman D9 being fashionably delayed by forgetting his bus pass when first leaving the house). The 11:43 Cross City departure from New Street is the train we need, and rather than the standard Class 323 haulage we're treated to a ride on the newly-introduced Class 730s with bright orange livery flashes. A group of German tourists hop off at Alvechurch - potentially heading for a canal holiday from what little I could make out of their conversation - whereas we proceed to Redditch's single bay platform terminus.
- The Batchley Bald Spot -
Our mission should we choose to accept it (we do!) is to sweep up any outlying Redditch pubs we didn't get around to doing last time. A tour of the town's southeastern suburbs should fit the bill so we set out along Bromsgrove Road towards Batchley, staging an epic Harry Secombe singalong with the Secretary attempting his best warbling to 'If I Ruled The World' from the stage musical Pickwick. If that didn't frighten the natives, the sight of the bald spot prowling around Cherry Tree Walk might have instead. Either way, we pitch into the Queens Head Indian Bar & Grill for a Carling aperitif, the place having been given a high end Desi-styled makeover complete with swirly partition screens and enticing booth seating.
- Feeling foxy in Morton Stanley Park -
The Brockhill pub by Batchley shops (Willow Way) was turned into a mini-Tesco several years ago so we won't bother with that, instead sticking with Bromsgrove Road and Birchfield Road through to Webheath. Our quarry here is the Rose & Crown off Heathfield Road, part of M&B's Sizzling chain where the barflies are settling in for some Slovakia vs Ukraine Euro footballing action. An apparent lack of Doom Bar means the Chairman cops for the day's most expensive round (Mr WME having the Timothy Taylor's Landlord might not have helped), hence the bald spot is still smarting when we subsequently follow a long footpath into Morton Stanley Park to find carved fox sculptures and a skateboard facility.
- The Bramley Cottage, Walkwood -
Walkwood's entry on our quaffing itinerary is the Bramley Cottage, an Ember Inns affair which is positioned on the junction of Windmill Drive and Callow Hill Lane. It's a relatively modern effort which we presume was built to support Redditch's New Town expansion; it's Mr WME's turn to buy the round so imagine the Secretary's delight when an astute barman mentions the availability of a CAMRA discount - things are looking up! The result is two agreeable pints of St Austell Tribute and a seat by a coal burner, not that there's any need for a fire on one of the warmest days of 2024 so far.
- Anyone want to buy a brain? One careful(ish) owner -
The nice weather means we've been happy to spare the buses and proceed on foot thus far, meaning the D9 pedometer has been racking up the steps. The tally is further increased when we utilise Tidbury Close and Yvonne Road to approach Crabbs Cross, one of the older parts of Redditch which straddles the Evesham Road. The Eagle Inn has ominous scaffolding all around it so the sight of an 'Open as Usual' banner comes as a welcome relief; a traditional two-roomer, we partake of a nice drop of Marston's Pedigree while relaxing in the lounge. Elsewhere, the Chairman doesn't get any takers when trying to advertise his headspace as being up for sale, he may have to improve his estate agents patter to drum up more interest!
- Beardsmore Bleach in Oakenshaw -
So that's Batchley, Webheath, Walkwood and Crabbs Cross all covered, wherever shall we go next? Oakenshaw seems sensible, even though we go cross country through a local nature reserve (Oakenshaw Spinney) rather than circumnavigating Castleditch Lane. Our pub radar holds true when we emerge on Pheasant Lane ideally placed for a Duck Inn dalliance; the box boozer vibe is strong at this one, with frames of pool in full flow as the Secretary eyes up the prospect of supping some John Smiths (Mr B Senior's love for this smoothpour brew was placed on record as part of his funeral eulogy earlier in the week). Aside from the Duck, Oakenshaw is also notable for a large Tesco supermarket off Coldfield Drive.
- The Massalla Club -
Five different localities and five different pubs makes for a very successful contribution to our Redditch remit, and we round things off over in Headless Cross at the round-fronted Massalla Club (previously the Archers). An Indian mixed grill ensures we're suitably nourished for the journey back to the West Midlands, intercepting the 52a bus via Plymouth Road for a helping hand to the bus station. Even after two fairly extensive tours, there remain some gaps in our Redditch knowledge so we wouldn't rule out a third incursion at some future point. Cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment