Willenhall (Twice Weekly)

Strange how things turn out sometimes - you don't visit a place for ages, then suddenly you pitch up there twice within a matter of days. Willenhall has long been categorised under the heading of WME favourite locations, dating right back to childhood Saturday market visits or Geography coursework trips to the Rough Wood nature reserve, so it'll be good to catch up with the town and its pubs once more...

- A Carling Call in the Three Tuns -

My Willenhall reacquaintance quest begins on Tuesday 16th July in the company of Mr D9 Esquire as we stage another of our Hub Marketing evening extras. The Chairman is already waiting for me in the Three Tuns by the time I've caught the 529 over from Wolverhampton; the pub seems improved from when we last saw it (admittedly over ten years ago) although the external cladding remains the kind only Jack and Vera Duckworth could love. A Carling each is suitable refreshment on a warm day when it almost feels like it could be summer!

- Shepwell's Awaits -

Mr D9's insistence on a Willenhall workout was largely inspired by his curiosity to see what had become of the former Shepwell Green Social Club, which used to be a fading flat roofer with a vintage Carling Black Label flag sign. It's recently been subject to a major overhaul and now calls itself Shepwell's, complete with a pronounced liking for the colour orange. Internally it feels like a vast space with raised seating areas and a large performance stage, and there's plenty of room for playing pool or darts should that be your thing. We merely account for more Carling whilst sitting beneath a multitude of European football banners attached to the ceiling.

- Surveying Yale with the Bald Spot -

As ever with a Hub Marketing trip, there are silly songs to share and they don't come much sillier than a Goons-related double header. The 'Ying Tong Song' is an all-time classic (iddle-i-po, iddle-i-po) whereas Spike Milligan's rendition of 'Remember You're A Womble' is a lesser known oddity credited to Eccles and Bluebottle. The daft ditties soften the blow of seeing the ex-Yale Social Club site gradually decaying before our very eyes, but at least the bald spot's sorrow can be mitigated by rapid halves in both the County and the Ring o' Bells, the latter threatening to take Dive of the Day honours with its salt of the earth allure.

- D9 drives the 25 to Bilston -

The Crown is a traditional Banks's house that's very much to our liking (albeit with Marston's Smooth and 1987 MTV tunes in the absence of cask ale), and the Royal George is a lively haunt showing both horse racing and the England Women's football match. The Chairman's app tracking prowess comes in useful for intercepting the 25 into Bilston where we can finish off in the none-too-salubrious surroundings of the Horse & Jockey on Church St. Secretary WME always feels nervous about sampling this one but cheap Carling does earn him a devious discount to offset lurid tales of the Stowlawn Gobbler from D9's youth. Cheers!

- The Robin Hood -

After Tuesday evening's whistlestop wander, a Friday 19th foray with the Chip Foundation is altogether much more sedate. We're meeting up to mark what would have been Mr B Senior's 81st birthday (the day itself fell on Monday 15th July), so the 529 is again pressed into action. Our first port of call on this occasion is the Robin Hood as positioned on The Crescent on the way towards Darlaston. This Black Country Ales offering has been crowned Walsall CAMRA's 2024 Pub of the Year and proves a delightful setting in which to discuss Gunpowder Plot tomes and the apparent rise of Artificial Intelligence technology. The Curious Case of Mr Spock and the Exploding Sticky Toffee Pudding makes for a surreal start to the trip.

- Expired Hardware -

Via Birmingham Street and Doctor's Piece we gradually weave our way into Willenhall Town Centre, pausing on Lower Lichfield Street to recall Roy Birch's DIY and Hardware shop which has been empty since the long-serving proprietor retired. A large Morrisons store is certainly very popular but it is noticeable how the once-thriving street market has dwindled down to a handful of hardy stalls trying to keep tradition alive. A key component of remembering Mr B Senior involves us posing outside the former Willenhall Central School at the top of Stafford Street; John would have been a pupil here back in the 1950s although the premises is now used by Wedge Group Galvanizing Limited as some kind of training academy.

- The Royal George -

JB would have been no stranger to Willenhall's watering holes over the years so it is likely he would have frequented the Three Crowns at some point; we rather liked it as a no nonsense local boozer serving decent cask ale, in my case a solid pint of Pennine's Heartland deep amber. It helps of course that we can watch some of the Trent Bridge test match from the rudimentary comfort of the beer garden, albeit with England struggling to take wickets. The long-term closures of the Falcon (a much missed favourite of ours) and the Malthouse (which used to be Willenhall's Wetherspoons) mean a rapid revisit to the Royal George where I'm sure some of the faces from Tuesday evening are still resident - did they even go home?

- Grinning in the Grapes -

Two more boozers with firm Beardsmore family links will ensure we've paid a suitable homage to our elder statesman, although we can't include the Castle because that too is shut and very much looking like it might have pulled its last pint. A 529 short hop conveys us to Portobello, the area where John spent his formative years after first moving up from Truro. The Grapes on Moseley Road is a typically sizeable suburban roadhouse situated directly opposite the fishing pool of the same name - I'd hesitate to call it a beauty spot even if you do have Stowlawn flats on the horizon! We take occupancy of the bay window in the games area to ponder word puzzles, discuss coach holidays and hope England conjure up more West Indies scalps.

- Something Smooth to remember John by -

Last but not least is the Merry Boys on the corner of Deans Road and the A454 Willenhall Road, a hostelry where John used to regularly meet up with his brothers over drinks and a game of dominoes. It feels highly fitting for me to sample the Marston's Smooth in his honour whilst we consider the various cheeky canine portraits - pugs in sunglasses anyone? Stephen has been wearing his dad's Warwickshire cap as his own personal tribute, and although said headpiece doesn't attempt to drain our halves by a process of osmosis, we're pretty sure John is with us in spirit. Willenhall Twice Weekly = Mission Accomplished!

Beer On The Wye

Believe it or not, I haven't attended any beer festivals thus far in 2024, an oversight I'm sure you will agree needs correcting as a matter of urgency! To that end, let's try a highly regarded CAMRA event that I've never been to before - Beer on the Wye in the cathedral city of Hereford...

- Luna and the Moon -

Before we get down to beer festival business, I have more Birmingham Bear Hunt activity to report. Quite how I didn't spot 'Luna and the Moon' last Saturday is anyone's guess, given that she's prominently perched on the Grand Central mall levels in full view of New Street Station's main passenger concourse. Having admonished myself for such errant powers of observation, I can add an eighth sculpture from this summer collection. Marnie Maurri's design presents a midnight blue effect with golden strands of stars and a lot of red toadstools.

- Hereford Station -

Catching the 09:50 departure as planned, I arrive in Hereford below leaden skies at about quarter past eleven. The city's railway station has four main platforms with the Birmingham train terminating on number one; the central footbridge is a nice design feature and there is much netting attempting to deter pesky pigeons. The attractive station frontage has a Tudor feel to it but with Gothic elements and large gables. Outside, the Zipper free bus is loading passengers before the 33 to Ross on Wye parks up in bright orange Stagecoach livery.

- Edgar Street Construction Works -

I can literally count the amount of times I've been to Hereford on the fingers of one hand, but a recurring thread among my rare previous visits has been having a snoop around Edgar Street. Hereford FC's home ground is an atmospheric stadium with old fashioned turnstiles plus a bar named after the legendary Ronnie Radford. The presence of JCB diggers suggests that some improvement works are underway following the demolition of the Blackfriars End which used to house the away supporters. 

- Welcome to Beer on the Wye -

To the festival I now trot, seeking out Greyfriars Avenue from where Beer on the Wye can be accessed on the riverbank beside Hereford Rowing Club. An adjacent campsite is on hand for those intending to make a weekend of it, and why not with over 130 ales and a similar amount of ciders all waiting to be tasted. The entry package is £15 and CAMRA members such as myself are admitted from 12 midday onwards during the Friday afternoon session. 

- A Headless Chicken perchance? -

Getting my bearings as regards the main marquee, performance stage and outside seating zones, I get stuck into the extensive beer list. First up is Hop Shed's Headless Chicken (not that I resembled one trying to find my way around) for a hoppy hit that is apparently brewed in an old chicken shed somewhere in Suckley. The festival naturally showcases Herefordshire's finest breweries so I also account for Lucky 7's Beertrix Porter, a divine drop of the dark stuff which presumably is approved by Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Miss Tiggywinkle et al. 

- Inside the main marquee -

Another top Herefordshire tipple is Corn Brewery's Irish Boy Stout, the festival programme noting this to specifically be the Mocha edition, and very nice it is too. I'm always a sucker for a silly name so the Triple FFF Pressed Rat and Warthog is an essential sampling, the tasting notes commenting that "one can only hope that neither the rat nor the warthog were harmed in the brewing process". I purchase enough extra tokens to allow a cider and perry interlude, thus partaking of Innocent Pilgrim's Pimpernel Perry (gorgeous stuff) and Newton Court's Gasping Goose, which doesn't quite leave me struggling for breath but is a cracking cider.

- Holy Moly at the Orange Tree -

A happy few hours are spent in friendly company alongside the Wye and it's something of a wrench to reluctantly bid the festival farewell. The prospect of leaving is softened however by the fact I'll be checking out two of Hereford's finest taverns, starting with the Orange Tree on King Street (noting a lovely streetscape with views of the cathedral). A cheese and onion cob is a standard purchase whenever I'm in a Black Country Ales establishment so this one lives very much up to my lofty expectations, as does the Wilde Child Holy Moly chocolate doughnut stout in maintaining the quality I'd been savouring earlier. Add in a 1960s soundtrack featuring the Byrds and Dusty Springfield and you really can't go wrong!

- The Britannia -

My second Hereford pub pick is the Britannia on Cotterell Street, slightly out of the centre but as a Wye Valley tied house I needed to investigate (partly because I'd been so beguiled by the Vaga Tavern during the Chip Foundation's Hereford Happenings of 2019). My navigation skills don't let me down and soon enough I'm contentedly quaffing an excellent pint of Bitter amidst traditional surroundings. The Wimbledon tennis is on while the banter is flowing and the barfly discussion focuses on England's chances of Euro 2024 glory against Spain - come on lads! With that I hotfoot it back to the station for the 18:28 Shrewsbury train, my beer festival duck for the year well and truly broken. Cheers!

Going On A Birmingham Bear Hunt

Birmingham seems to be a big fan of public art collaborations, having hosted Hoot and Sleuth events not to mention several iterations of fun festive trails involving penguins, snowmen and snowdogs. The latest Central BID initiative is a summer holiday selection of sculptures based on the popular 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' children's story...

- Jester -

Inspired by Michael Rosen's much-loved tale and Helen Oxenbury's picture book illustrations, ten large bears have taken residence at various city centre locations where they'll be on show until the start of September. Saturday 6th July gives me chance to get acquainted with most of them, starting in Piccadilly Arcade where 'Jester' takes pride of place. Designed by Amanda Quellin Art, the jester costume theme is a reference to how bears were historically exploited for entertainment purposes.  

- Biodiversity Bear -

Where New Street meets Victoria Square (i.e. just below the Floozy in the Jacuzzi) you can find 'Biodiversity Bear' as created by Jodie Silverman. Foxes, rabbits and owls conjure up a woodland scene where the animals and plant life are seen to live in harmony together; indeed, some of the other bears also have similar environmental or conservation messages at heart.  

- Bobby -

Next up is the Great Western Arcade for a meeting with 'Bobby', a visually striking bear whose Cubist leanings appear to have been heavily influenced by the works of Pablo Picasso. Jenny Leonard is the artist responsible for this one, fashioning bold lines and block facial portraits into the mix for a very playful abstract effect.  

- Groovy Bear-by -

Corporation Street then transports me to the 1960s era of Flower Power and the Summer of Love thanks to the presence of 'Groovy Bear-by' - I particularly like the floral motifs and pink sunglasses! Caroline Daly is the designer in this case, and it seems fitting that the bear is sited directly outside the Cass Art store just down from the Midland Metro tram stop.

- A Walk On The Wild Side -

Heading across to John Bright Street, I'm amused by a sculpture with something of a split personality. 'A Walk On The Wild Side' seems to be half leopard half zebra so you can decide whether you prefer spots or stripes. Several other exotic creatures also feature, from snakes to parrots to chameleons and even a rather dapper skunk!

- We Are Bearmingham -

Waiting for us just around the corner (at the bottom of the Mailbox's front steps) is the thought-provoking multicultural melting pot that is 'We Are Bearmingham'. The idea is to capture the vibrancy of Birmingham's many varied communities and ethnicities, with illustrator Ekaterina Sheath basing the portraits on local people she saw in passing during the design stages. 

- Homaging Holders at the Craven Arms -

All this bear-hunting can make one thirsty you know, and whenever I'm in the vicinity of the Mailbox there is always one watering hole which jumps to the top of my hitlist. The Craven Arms cannot be ignored any longer, beckoning to me with its blaze of yellow and blue tiles which recall the long-defunct Holders Brewery. Inside is an oasis of calm - such a welcome escape from the usual Brummie bustle - so I eagerly avail myself of Bradley's Finest Golden (Black Country Ales's flagship BFG brew) followed by a Lenton Lane Twist & Stout, wowing me with powerful doses of cherry and vanilla. Dustily-floured cobs and a bag of scratchings ensure that my lunch needs are taken care of too, making for a contented hour well spent.

- Clarence the Climate Bear -

Happily refreshed, I've one more sculpture to seek before I head home to Wolverhampton. 'Clarence the Climate Bear' guards the Station Street steps at one entrance to Birmingham New Street Station, and boldly represents the intertwining of humans, nature and climate considerations in tones of blue, olive green and bright orange. There are three more bears awaiting my attention at some point over the summer but for now I'll settle for the seven I've seen and switch my attentions to Euro 2024 footballing matters. Come on England!!!

Bears on Tour: Taunton 2024

Cricketing escapades have naturally had to go on the back burner in recent months although Stephen and I have been avidly keeping tabs on Warwickshire's County Championship fortunes (namely no wins, two defeats and six draws). However, the away fixture with Somerset now gives us chance to roll out the Bears on Tour bandwagon again for the first time in 2024...

- The Coopers Associates County Ground -

There's a bittersweet aspect to this sporting getaway - it's great that we'll be watching cricket once more but sadness that Mr B Senior isn't there to share the experience with us this year. Nevertheless, Taunton beckons and the M5 motorway is no match for the trusty Beardsmobile as our Sunday morning drive to Somerset is completed in time for us to take our seats without missing a single ball. The hosts have won the toss and elected to field, meaning Warwickshire need to negotiate a tricky morning session of perilous batting. Things aren't looking good at 40/4 but Will Rhodes and Ed Barnard stabilise the innings nicely. 

- Pretorius marks out his home turf -

Although Rhodes (63) and Barnard (92) would subsequently depart the crease, the Bears' first day batting star is undoubtedly wicket-keeper Michael Burgess whose entertaining 126 not out leaves us handily placed on 373/8 at the close. Of the Somerset bowling attack, the standout performer is Migael Pretorius with four wickets to his name - in the lead-up to the General Election, it seems rather appropriate to spot his initials 'MP' scrawled onto the grass when inspecting the outfield during the lunch interval. 

- Somerset Cider in The Plough -

The conclusion of play has us heading to the Taunton North Premier Inn to perform checking-in formalities at our hotel, timing our arrival so as to witness England's remarkable Euro 2024 recovery against Slovakia. Taunton's town centre pubs are predictably busy with relieved yet celebratory football fans but we manage to grab a Wetherspoons bite to eat before sampling two contrasting pubs on Station Road. The Ale House seems very friendly and has the added attraction of stocking Thatcher's Cheddar Valley Cider (so orange it looks like liquid rust), while the Plough opposite is a classic free house arranged over multiple split levels. More cracking cider here is the perfect way in which to settle into the Somerset way of life! 

- Burgess's Batting Brilliance -

The match resumes on Monday morning but we've barely seen one over when a squall sets in and wipes out the rest of the morning session - not quite what the gathered throng of excitable pupils coming along for Schools Day would have wanted. Things thankfully soon dry up for the afternoon, meaning Warwickshire can progress to 412 all out (Burgess the last to fall for 147). The home reply threatens to unravel at 57/3 until the combined Toms - Abell and Banton - put on a century stand. Three late scalps for the mighty OHD (Oliver Hannon-Dalby) swing the game back in Warwickshire's favour, Somerset closing on 208/6 over 200 runs behind.

- A Chip Shot (minus seagull entourage) -

Monday evening for me and Stephen means an encounter with Howard's chip shop, feasting on a generous portion of potatoey goodness but attracting the attentions of the native seagulls in the process. We manage to placate a couple of said birds but when more of their friends start to swoop down we know we need to eat up quickly! The Brewhouse arts complex beside the River Tone is close to Taunton's Independent Quarter where there are a range of giftshops and boutiques worthy of closer investigation. Mr B does precisely that across the week and comes up trumps with a range of cricketing birthday cards for his personal collection. 

- London Pride in The Cricketers -

Having narrowly avoided recreating Hitchcock's The Birds in seagull form, we decamp to our chosen pub which in this particular instance is the Cricketers on Taunton High Street (with a name like that it simply had to be done). Inflatable footballs and strings of Euro flag bunting raise our hopes of watching the evening kick-off but their weekly quiz is underway instead, hence we find ourselves trying to remember the name of Postman Pat's cat (Jess) rather than keeping abreast of Portugal versus Slovenia. Stephen's Peppa Pig knowledge really comes to the fore at one stage whereas I'm more in tune with some 1980s music questions.

- Taunton Railway Station -

And so onto Tuesday 2nd July whereby my morning constitutional stroll takes me by the way of Taunton railway station, a sizeable provincial facility that befits county town status. A survey of the outbuildings has me admiring architectural flourishes while the Great Western Hotel is something of a looker in its own right. Trains run regularly between London Paddington and key South West destinations such as Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter St Davids, Plymouth and Penzance. Other landmarks being captured on camera include St Andrew's Church with its associated school nearby, and a Tesco Express store housed in the ex-Gardeners Arms.

- Towards the Ondaatje Pavilion -

Reclaiming our seats in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion - one of several stands named after legendary Somerset players - we enjoy early breakthroughs courtesy of Michael Booth with Abell unable to add to his overnight 61. OHD takes care of the tail in securing excellent figures of 6 for 56 before a productive opening partnership from Rob Yates and captain Alex Davies sees Warwickshire to 100 without loss. Both players depart in quick succession but the Bears lead continues to mount, aided by further contributions from Rhodes (36), Sam Hain (a rather painstaking 43) and Jacob Bethell, who played many eyecatching strokes in his enterprising 66. Stephen would have liked a cheeky declaration to give the home side a few evening overs to survive although 281/8 means we are over 400 runs ahead. Things are looking good! 

- The Somerset Inn -

Our second Wetherspoons meal of the week precedes a backstreet gem of a place which we hadn't previously had the pleasure of frequenting. Situated mid-terrace on Alfred Street, the Somerset Inn is in many ways just a homely average boozer with a largely local clientele. Pub games are the main attraction here, especially the skittle alley which is getting a lot of use on this particular occasion; every so often we hear loud yelps of celebration emanating from the rear quarters, presumably because someone has scattered the nine pins with a well-directed cheese. We're however content just watching the Turkey vs Austria Euro 2024 clash over a pint or two of lemonade and blackcurrant or Thatcher's Cider - simple pleasures!

- The Run Chase Gathers Momentum -

Hopes are high on Wednesday as we get our tickets zapped in for the final day of play at the Coopers Associates County Ground. As Mr B had demanded, the Bears have indeed declared on their existing 281/8 thus setting Somerset a fairly hefty 410 runs to win. Messrs Umeed and Kohler-Cadmore set out briskly but we're still confident at 77/2 and 144/3. Alas that's about as good as it gets for Warwickshire, with first innings mainstays Abell and Banton once again getting into their batting groove. Even Banton's dismissal for 81 can't derail the Somerset charge, and it's highly fitting that Abell secures victory by hitting a massive six, posting his personal best first class score of 152 not out as the Bears are vanquished. Disappointed as we are to lose, you have to applaud a well-judged chase that took the match the distance.

- Bathpool Canal Cottage -

Licking our wounds, we drown our sorrows over in Priorswood, a housing estate north of the town centre where the Waggon flat-roofer almost deafens us with its MTV coverage of David Guetta's greatest hits. Mr Beardsmore delivers his cricketing postmortem yet remains very confident that Warwickshire will avoid any relegation struggles - I'll reserve judgement on that matter for now - then the final act of our five day stay sees me indulging in an early Thursday canal stroll to Bathpool Swingbridge and Bridgwater Road (Bridge 29), making the most of the lovely morning sunshine. Win or lose it's been a pleasure to be watching cricket again so here's hoping we get to see a bit more before the season is out. Come On You Bears!

WME Flickr Focus - June 2024

Believe it or not, when I haven't been off Rail Rover gallivanting with Nick or raiding the pubs of Redditch with Mr D9 there have been moments of progress on the West Midlands Exploration Flickr account - in fact, my photostream now contains over 7,000 published images. Various pictorial candidates have been seeking election over the past few weeks so let's catch up with the recent hustings...

Bidding earnestly for our vote is WME Staffordshire which has been busy canvassing doorstep opinion around Chasetown and Chase Terrace. The Miners' Rest on Highfield Road is keen to declare its allegiance to the Joules Brewery (both through external lettering and the presence of Stone Ales beermats), whereas Lorne Street, New Street and Churchill Groves Accountants are more inclined to sit on the fence. Sporting scenery from Finchfield & Wightwick Cricket Club in Castlecroft boosts the ballot numbers alongside Cheslyn Hay's Kestrel Way street signage.

Also putting a lot of effort into its party political broadcast is WME Birmingham, whose June manifesto revolved around City Centre artworks (pink eyeballs in the vicinity of Smallbrook Queensway) and two iterations of the BID Christmas sculpture trail. A grumpy cat therefore represents the Penguin Parade faction while from the Snowman wing we have 'Eight Ladies Dancing' and 'Ten Lords a-Leaping'.

Relegated to third place in our exit poll is WME Wolverhampton, despite another strong performance on the debating circuit. Additions including Castlecroft Primary School, the Chubb Building and the Clarendon Hotel might not have been enough to sway the electorate on this occasion. That said, I am pleased to see the Bushbury Lane Co-op stanchion in photographic circulation, a remnant from when the site played host to the Butlers Arms.

Fringe parties collecting a handful of protest votes are WME Shropshire (further Bridgnorth pledges such as a 'Pardon The Weeds' missive); WME Dudley, which secured the backing of Bromley and Bryce Road over towards Pensnett; WME Walsall with Johal's News on The Butts; WME Sandwell courtesy of a Claypit Lane bus stop; and finally WME Telford which earned back its deposit thanks to a Bucks Head footballing turnstile snapshot. Of course, the fate of the real General Election has yet to be confirmed, but by the time my next Flickr Focus posting rolls around we should know the make up of our next Government. Until then, enjoy the pictures!