Feeling Bullish with the Chip Foundation

The second stage of my 'Bulls in the City' summertime campaign is a statuesque contribution in the company of Messrs May, Walker and Beardsmore. Here comes Episode 88 of the Chip Foundation Chronicles...

- Mr B with Birmingham Explorer -

The usual evening instructions apply for us to meet beneath Ozzy's gruff Grand Central gaze, hence we all assemble just before 5pm. The cattle crawl can commence immediately thanks to ‘Birmingham Explorer’ as sited on the shopping centre's mezzanine level. Up and down the escalators we go in order to inspect a Philippa and Rachael Corcutt design complete with sunshine head and pale blue body. Smaller details include a bus stop, a playtime scene and a girl in a yellow mac laden with shopping bags, while the familiar locations depicted cover Kings Heath Market, the Bull Ring and Birmingham’s Museum & Art Gallery. 

- JC Beef -

Across the New Street concourse past the station's own Wetherspoons we go, descending the Southside Steps to reveal ‘JC Beef' as a bright yellow excavator-esque bull. This is an imaginative take on the iconic JCB digger featuring orange warning indicator horns plus all kinds of mechanical coils, springs and pistons. Over the road, the former Crown pub has become an impromptu Black Sabbath shrine with the faces of band members emblazoned over the window panels, then we proceed via Hurst Street to meet 'Bull in a China Shop' with its oriental red, yellow and blue patternings in the sunken Arcadian courtyard. The first drinks stop of the day is our old friend the Craven Arms, sampling cider, coke or Cappuccino Stout amidst green leather seating with mirrored backdrops - I always love its vintage Holder's tiles.

- Deliverabull -

Two bulls are to be found somewhere in the vicinity of the Mailbox. ‘Deliverabull’ is a playful postal inspired Royal Mail tribute - think River Rea maps, envelopes, stamps and a postman's cap. We then head down the Inhale Exhale AstroTurf steps to reach ‘Bill Bull Barge’ which carries the feel of old-fashioned narrowboat paintwork on the little pontoon outside the malls. Displaying a nominal barge name of Sweet William plus a neat chocolate box rendition of Dudley Castle, his body is mostly green with a blackened hull and the quintessential floral effects you can see daily out on the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

- Pravha in the Gas Street Social -

 Thoughts now turn to our second watering hole of the evening so I suggest taking a trendy punt on a bar that’s part of the wider Mailbox complex. First impressions are that the Gas Street Social seems very refined but we’re okay to come in just for drinks, in which case make mine a half of Pravha. Nick follows suit and soon declares himself surprisingly partial to this Czech keg Pilsner, although we do note Guinness and Aspalls are on tap dispense from the back wall. Sitting on swivelly high chairs near a curtained-off restaurant section, I supply Ken with my footballing predictions for the fates of the various West Midlands teams during the upcoming season; let's just say I'm not optimistic about Wolves's chances but I reluctantly resist the urge to tip West Bromwich Albion for relegation!

- Canalside Bar -

Two more Gas Street establishments await, starting with the Tap & Spile as a basin mainstay with much to admire. We’ve done this once before, back in 2012 when the narrow depth of the building stood out, but it retains its waterside appeal and general sense of towpath charm. Of the cask contingent, Holden’s Special drinks well (and needs to at £5.50 a pint!) aided by a nourishing cheese and onion cob. Following that, we pitch into the Canalside Cafe when a blackboard mention of real ales provides all the inducement Nick and I require. They don't have many - Proper Job versus Davenports XPA - so we go with the latter as poured (I think) straight from the barrel. Like with the Tap & Spile, we’re in a thin slither of an interior with only just enough space for a hotchpotch of seating while lightbulbs of different colours sparkle in the window. The original waterways cottages were never very big so they cram in what they can here, and the fact it functions as a cafe as much as a bar is apparent from the All Day Breakfast menus. We'd do this one again, maybe in conjunction with the Botanist and the Waterside Tap, a newly-purchased Joules concern which doesn't open on Mondays.

- Bulls-Eye of the Tiger -

Drinking done, we haven't finished with our bullish brief quite yet. Via Black Sabbath Bridge and Brindley Place we gravitate towards Centenary Square to meet a tiger themed bull by the International Convention Centre. ‘Bulls-Eye of the Tiger’ has the classic black and orange stripes and fearsome glare you might expect of a powerful cat, allied to the bulls muscular frame for a very striking, instantly recognisable creation. Darkness is descending and our resident royal is mindful of train connections, so we'll squeeze in one more sculpture...

- Moo-seley -

Beckoning across the square outside the library is ‘Moo-seley’, a sporting sight dedicated to Moseley Rugby Club in red and black kit. Studded boots and a stitched rugby ball for its head augment the effect, and the 1873 date is a nod to the club’s year of formation. Ken can recall Moseley's heyday in the 1970s as one of the leading amateur rugby union sides in the country and although they've fallen away a little in the professional era, consolidation has come from a new home at Billesley Common. Nick duly scurries to Snow Hill, meaning the rest of us can meander back to New Street for our train home. Cheers!

The Great British Beer Festival

I love going to beer festivals - especially those local to me in the West Midlands region - so when I heard that CAMRA's countrywide ale extravaganza was making its way to the National Exhibition Centre I'd cleared the date in my calendar months in advance. This my friends is the big one, the Great British Beer Festival 2025...

Nick and I have previously attended CAMRA's National Winter Ales event a fair few times - at Derby’s Roundhouse, Birmingham’s Bingley Hall and Burton Town Hall - but this is something else altogether, on a completely different larger scale. Unsurprisingly given its significance as the campaign's festival flagship , this sprawling showcase mainly used to be held in London (with host venues historically having included Covent Garden, Alexandra Palace and Olympia) but now it's got itself a new home right here in the West Midlands.

Catching the 10:45 Euston train from Wolverhampton, we arrive at Birmingham International circa 11:30. Traversing steps, corridors and weapon detectors, we follow helpful arrows to the allocated exhibition space and quickly get in with our pre-booked tickets. Festival programmes are £2 extra as we scope out the likely layout, most importantly identifying that Stand B11 is the cider stall in Hall 2. The beers are arranged across two vast rooms with food wings, game zones and a central shopping space for all your memorabilia needs. Some of the bars are named after rescued boozers (the Roscoe Head, the Woodman and the Drewe Arms being among them) while the dedicated brewery stands cover Harvey's, Green Duck, Thornbridge and many others. Expectant crowds are gradually massing in the initial foyer area by the Carlton Arms dispenses; hazard tape ropes things off until exactly midday and then the hordes are unleashed, whereby we make a beeline straight for the far corner to grab a table closest to the ciders. Let the drinking commence!

- Poised for Beer -

My first tipple is Egyptian Cream a.k.a. "the beer the pharaohs wish they had invented" - cue much lovely lactose, flaked oats and a velvety mouthfeel. This is a sumptuous Nene Valley Milk Stout as plucked from the Roscoe Head section, served using the purpose-built bank of handpulls installed at each station. Jane and Nick are both adopting a cider and perry remit, availing themselves of Beardspoon Ciderfect and Hogan's Perry respectively. We also have our collective eye on the scratching, crisp and brownie stalls so I doubt we'll be going hungry during our stay. Sweet treats, salty treats and luscious libations - what a combination!

- The Cider and Perry Bar -

Having raided the breweriana boxes for vintage beermats and a 1986 Good Beer Guide back copy, I next seek out Wilde Childe's Brownie Hunter for a satisfying dose of liquid cake; if the tasting notes insist on stating "dessert in a glass" there's no way I'm missing out on that. Nick partakes of the Tutts Clump Rum Cask (very definite hints of rum there) and locates the 22-person table football whereas Miss Woolf goes sweetly Welsh courtesy of the Llanblethian Orchards May Day cider, the programme sparking our curiosity as to what 'chaptalised' might mean. Answer = it's a technical process for adding sugar to increase alcohol yield during the fermentation stages, an act frowned upon in the making of truly traditional real cider and perry which relies on unadulterated natural pressings instead.

- Biddenden Strong -

His Majesty Nick busily scouts out the gourmet crisp stand without buying anything just yet - his amiable technique of circling for free samples is a case study in regal cheekiness - while Appletreewick's Traditional Medium Dry Cider keeps him mostly out of mischief. As if one royal presence isn't enough, I make the acquaintance of the Prince of Denmark courtesy of Harvey's own perch - seriously powerful, this is deep resinous stuff that's intensely dark at a mere 7.5%. That percentage is however dwarfed by the mighty 8.4% of Biddenden's Strong, a cider that both Nick and Jane can't resist from investigating with appropriately appreciative noises as a result. The Woolf is particularly taken with this one!

- Something mildly plummy? -

Eventually Nick does relent and purchase some Wild Duck plummy flavoured snackage to devour, just what you need after the Biddenden's intake. I steadily work my way through an Extra Special Marble (getting the clear tones of marmalade if less of the promised toffee and biscuity elements) and a slurp of Alright Treacle, a sweet stout produced by Ben's Brewery of Lancashire - I'll look out for their concoctions again I think, especially as this one does hit the heights of dark chewy toffee and molasses very nicely. A band performing Status Quo covers is on the main stage, hence Caroline, Paper Plane and Pictures of Matchstick Men are in their pounding set list. The halls are filling up markedly as the afternoon progresses.

- Pig Meets Woolf -

What next? Well it's no humorous matter when Jane deigns to try the Laughing Juice, a Three Saints full-flavoured perry hailing all the way from Monmouthshire - mark that down as another Welsh discovery!! After raiding yet more 12-for-a-quid beermats, I helplessly succumb to the lure of a comedy piggy hat when collecting my half of Iron Pier's Cast Iron Stout; beerwise this tastes very roasted and coallike, my tongue tantalised with acridness. The porky headwear is met with fearful astonishment by my two accomplices who probably dread having to wear it themselves. Nick deliberates profusely before committing to the Ayrshire Riviera Egremont Russet 8.5% cider with its Victorian variety origins. As per his usual festival custom, HRH is intent on concluding his personal haul with an absolute big hitter! 

- The Table Football Maestro -

Despite that powerhouse finale, Nick is still able to show off his table football prowess when beating the combined talents of Jane and myself 6-4. Miss Woolf finishes with Ross on Wye's Suzie's Catch - apparently named after a much loved farm cat - whereas I land on that old favourite Beartown Creme Bearlee for another slice of pudding-ish perfection. We bump into some of the Heart of Warwickshire CAMRA crew (branch leader Julie is a hugging force to be reckoned with), then Beer Festival law always dictates that we must have a go on the tombola before leaving. The Every 1's A Winner approach therefore sees Nick pocketing a t shirt and a pint glass, hence much rearranging of his carrier bag receptacles. Bearing in mind I'm already adorned with pink felt headwear, the volunteer sounds most apologetic in presenting me with another silly hat, this time a St George football cap with dragon tail. This all makes for a most eclectic haul coming back to Wolverhampton, and for festival fun GBBF can't be beat. Cheers!

Bulls In The City

The Wild in Art team are up to their antics again by collaborating on yet another Second City sculptural spectacular. We've had owls, we've had sleuth bears, we've had various Christmas creations (snowmen, snowdogs, nutcracker soldiers, reindeer, penguins) but for Summer 2025 the theme is... Bulls! There are several - large and small - to find around the City Centre, not to mention further herds in Harborne and Boldmere...

I'm hoping that over the course of the next couple of months, I'll be able to get around most of the trail but my first attempt at rounding up some cattle came during an evening with Emily in the heart of town. Aside from the artistic fun, Birmingham was in mourning for the loss of Ozzy Osbourne with the Black Sabbath frontman having passed away merely days after the band's farewell concert at Villa Park. Victoria Square was already hosting a display of album covers which seems all the more poignant now. Anyway, to the bulls...

We're underway with 'Bosco the Bull' which comprises a nifty monochrome shiny effort in Church Street Square, within sight of the Old Royal pub. Bosco's freehand form is intended to showcase natural shapes and patterns through black and white contrast. Trail maps can be picked up from a variety of city centre locations, with the main Herd HQ being on the Great Western Arcade. There's also a downloadable app so that you can pose with each bull when you find it.

Snow Hill Station beckons for 'Parkers Goals' as positioned on the station's Colmore Row forecourt. This one has blocks of colour as if wearing a sports jersey - quite effective as well - and was produced by Megan Heather Smith-Evans. The goals theme is intended to reflect West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker’s endeavours to create jobs, homes and regional growth by bringing businesses, government and communities together. Whatever your political persuasion, the region does need such investment.

Great Western Arcade often lends itself to the siting of statues and this time around is playing host to 'Bronco Bully'. He's a lot of fun, representing a cowboy design complete with lasso, spurs, pistols and a rodeo hat, all whilst attracting plenty of admiring Good Intent onlookers. The aforementioned Herd HQ meanwhile features 'Astro the Memorabull' in its main shop window; aside from the punning name, this is a thoughtful design because members of the public can arrange for the names of loved ones to be written on in memory of friends and family.

Chamberlain Square is the location of two bull statues, starting with 'Rainbow' with its Brum loveheart. 'Found in Paradise' is then perched below Dishoom; Emily loves its floral theme, incorporating a pale blue acorn leaf head followed by stems and pretty petals along the main flanks. Birmingham’s green spaces are in focus here, with an underlying environmental message echoing previous trail creations.

Over on New Street is a contender for - in my opinion - the best Wild in Art design ever! 'Cadbully' is an all-time classic, themed like a bar of Dairy Milk chocolate (or Dairy Moo, judging by the lettering). Hands down this is my favourite so far - even ahead of Bronco Bully - because of its purple wrapper, textured gold foil effect and general sense of humour. The signature Cadbury’s packaging is captured so perfectly I’m half expecting Emily to try to take a bite out of it!

Talking of my bull-spotting accomplice, we take a break from the arty action by calling into Flight Club for a bash at Social Darts. There are six different games so we work our way through them all over 90 minutes, with Emily proving especially adept at the Demolition and Shangai options - it's not for nothing we rechristen her as Bullseye Bygrave! Despite my best duck-shooting efforts at Quackshot and a nice win at Snakes & Ladders, it is Miss B who takes the overall victory and doesn't she look pleased!

After that, one more sculpture should prove a fitting finale in which case we can bid good evening to 'Bull Brum Lines' outside the Cathedral on the way to Snow Hill. The overall effect utilises a graphic design motif of circles, triangles, crosses, stripes and arrows to appear very impactful. With twelve bulls accounted for in total, that means there are 28 of the big ones still to track down, not to mention some of the smaller ones designed in partnership with local schools. The quest continues...

WME Flickr Focus - July 2025

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! So goes the plaintive wail of the newspaper seller - do you even see those anymore? - but the phrase applies equally well to my latest precis of photostream progress. As in June, it's Exploration Extra which has been ploughing the loneliest of furrows to keep the content coming...

Last month I brought you batches from Castle Douglas, Burnham-on-Sea, the Bristol district of Clifton and lovely Chester, so what has July been busying itself with? Our answer starts in the Cheshire town of Congleton where I have developed a mild obsession over Warrington Anglers Association day ticket warnings on canal bridges. The Prince of Wales pub on Lawton Street lends its Joule's Brewery lettering while there's limited headroom on a listed aqueduct.

I've recently reported on visits to Aberystwyth and Rhyl so the Welsh thread holds on Flickr too with a Fishguard flourish from my 2018 archives. Harbourside glimpses of stacked boats and fishing creels mix with unspoiled pub memories of the Fishguard Arms and the Globe, then we have religious ruminations courtesy of St Mary's Church Institute. Nearby Goodwick gets in on the act courtesy of the Methodistiaid Adeiladwyd detailing on the Berachah Calvinist Chapel.

Next up I give you Gloucester through a combination of dock warehouses (Llanthony, Albert and Alexandra), cathedral carvings - or cloisters, should that be of more interest - and pubs. The Imperial Inn's Bass allegiance was always likely to catch my eye but Robert Raikes's House is a Samuel Smiths affair in a handsome timbered property, and the Gloucester Brewery has its beer garden right on the quay. 

That's almost everything I need to tell you about, apart from another cheeky Clifton candidate (Cotham Hill's fruit and veg shop), followed by a dash of Dumfries in the form of the romantic Robert Burns mural 'A Merry Squeeze'. There's just time to call in a couple of components from the Crewe Rail Ale beer festival, namely a bus registration plate plus a set of signalling levers (with not a pint in sight I might add), and it's over to August to continue the saga...

Wolverhampton then Wales

I simply haven't been able to get enough of Wales lately. First came Knighton during Rail Rover Week, then that memorable weekend in Aberystwyth with Jane, and now I'll be heading across the border again when joining Stephen for a daytrip to Rhyl. Before the coast comes calling however, there's the small matter of an ale adventure closer to home...

- Chicken Run Characters -

Believe it or not I haven't attended a beer festival all year - there aren't quite as many events locally as there used to be - so the Wolverhampton CAMRA 'Summer of Beer' showcase has been ringed on my calendar for months. Nick and Jane are similarly keen to partake and we duly join forces on Friday 25th July, finding time beforehand to check out the 'Come As You Really Are' exhibition at the city's Art Gallery. Spread across three rooms, the displays are a huge amount of fun, comprising hobbyist creations from toys to fashions to knitted items to vintage football programmes. Where else can you find a crocheted Freddie Mercury, a Lady Penelope Thunderbirds car, Chicken Run homages and mock pop bottles all in one go? The collection was conceived by Hetain Patel in conjunction with Artangel.

- A Special Royal Cob Creation? -

Ambling down to the newly-rechristened Wolverhampton Arts Centre on Newhampton Road, we arrive just after midday opening time and soon settle in the main marquee armed with the usual kit of tokens, glasses and festival programmes. HRH Nick decides to accompany Miss Woolf on the ciders and perries on this occasion, leaving me flying the lone ale flag. I step up to the plate by partaking of Birt's Bitter (from All Nations in Shropshire), Murder She Oat (an excellent name and outstanding brew from Green Duck) and Uttoxeter's Dark Horse Mild. My accomplices meanwhile extol the virtues of Storm Damage cider, Gwynt y Ddraig Two Trees Perry and Sam's Autumn Mix Scrumpy. Nick gets suspiciously preferential treatment in being presented with a bespoke egg salad cob, whereas Jane undertakes intense negotiations with the ladies on the tombola stall, securing permission for us to wear a 'Sod Off' traffic cone hat. 

- Woolf Meets Wolf -

I should probably be grateful that said piece of headwear did not come into our possession on a more permanent basis, although our actual winnings do include a wolf-faced coaster (seen being modelled by our own Woolf), and a diabetic calorie-counting boardgame! The festival is as excellent as ever, and our follow-up tour of Whitmore Reans hostelries isn't bad either. Both the Summer House and the Newhampton have tempting tipples available and are your classic Victorian street corner boozers, but stealing the show is definitely the Stile with its promise of homecooked Polish cuisine. Jane gamely tries to demolish a plate of polonez (pork with a pile of sauerkraut) but admits defeat to the hefty portions, whereas Nick manages to gobble down a chicken kiev and I eagerly munch my way through beef goulash and potato pancakes. Yum!

- Beardsmore by the Beach -

I've just about digested those Eastern European delicacies when Saturday 26th July presents my third Welsh incursion, and this time I'll be heading for the shores of North Wales courtesy of Rhyl, a sometimes-maligned seaside town in Denbighshire. Stephen has booked us onto a coach trip with the Low Hill Community Association so we gather on Kempthorne Avenue at 8am along with seemingly most of the local housing estate! Three coaches will be making the journey along the M6 and A55, setting off at quarter to nine and reaching the Rhyl seafront roughly three hours later (via sightings of Flint and Prestatyn). The weather is a little overcast to begin with but that doesn't stop Stephen from posing near the sands.

- Foryd Bridge, Rhyl -

From the coach layover area we proceed along West Parade, noting landmarks such as the SC2 swimming complex and a square clock tower. Rhyl is scheduled to receive £20 million of investment funding over the next ten years and some of that is already being spent upgrading the promenade area, hence the building site vibe and fenced-off sections near the fairground. There are interesting views to be had looking out across the harbour, where the River Clwyd curves in below the nature reserve promontory of Horton's Nose with its marram grasses and sand dunes. The bright blue metallic features of Foryd Bridge are also very apparent, its bowstring girders spanning the river in connecting us over towards Kinmel Bay.  

- Rhyl Railway Station -

The lack of gammon on Wetherspoons menus these days means Mr B favours Hungry Horse establishments if of a pork persuasion, and the Harbour is well-placed to supply our lunching needs here. It's not the most glamorous of pubs in truth but we can see the Pont y Ddraig lift bridge when looking through the feature front windows, and I never say no to an onion ring! A closer look at Horton's Nose sets us up for a wander into Rhyl town centre, whereby High Street has a few of your standard holiday gift shops selling buckets, spades and inflatable flamingo rings. The town's railway station first opened in 1848 when it was served by trains between Chester and Holyhead, a function it still performs today. The frontage has some appealing touches of typical Victorian stylings while the adjacent bus interchange offers connections to Llandudno (the number 12) or Town Circular routes the 35 and 36.

- Coke in the Cob & Pen -

An archway just to the side of the railway station leads in turn to my pub pick for the day, the Cob & Pen being a 2025 Good Beer Guide recommendation in a locality perhaps not blessed with a wide range of real ale options. The barmaids are being run off their feet such is the constant level of demand, although the fact the beer garden is hosting a Northern Soul All Dayer might have something to do with that. I can't fault my Facer's pint of Flintshire Bitter while Stephen is content watching the Old Trafford cricket on the big screen, willing England to take more Indian wickets. A very melty ice cream is another highlight of the day and we make sure to browse a few charity shops in search of Beardsmore hedgehog trinkets.

- Rhyl Lifeboat Station -

Having covered West Parade earlier, we now target East Parade for the sake of completion, venturing as far as the Eisteddfod standing stones near Old Golf Road. The brooding hulk of the Royal Alexandra Hospital has a certain seafront presence and deals purely with outpatient appointments these days, then we pay our respects at the Garden of Remembrance with its soldier statue commemorating Boer War casualties. Cute frog fountains and the Pavilion Theatre can't escape our attentions entirely but we finish off at the Min Yr Haul (Sun Verge) modern Marston's carvery effort for pre-coach refreshments in the sunshine. Come half past six its time to bid the seaside farewell again, the homeward trundle taking two and a bit hours. Rhyl might still not be the prettiest place but with sun, sand and sea it was well worth a visit.

Aberystwyth: A Welsh Weekend

Apart from a few hours there en route to and from Fishguard in May/June 2018, my main memories of the Ceredigion coastal resort of Aberystwyth hark back to family camping trips in the early 1990s. I'm in need of getting to know the town much more, and who better to guide me than university alumnus and Aber superfan Jane over the course of a Welsh weekend...

- Marine Terrace -

This Cambrian saga commences on Friday 18th July with the journey across from the West Midlands, 'Puppy' the Woolfcar being deployed to excellent effect coping with the twists and turns of the A458 between Shrewsbury and Welshpool. Our opening stop is at Machynlleth to meet Kate, James and Alison, allowing Jane to start several days of reminiscences as we make introductions and catch up over a bite to eat. We make sure to pop into the bookshop where Kate works (the Literary Cat, quite a treasure trove) and peruse family artworks on display at the town's museum, a lovely few hours indeed. It's then onwards to Aberystwyth where we check into our Premier Inn accommodation and get some initial seafront bearings courtesy of a sun-blessed stroll along Marine Terrace.

- Kicking the Bar -

Aberystwyth has a long and varied history having hosted Iron Age settlers and been protected by a Norman castle. Nowadays it attracts West Wales holidaymakers during summer months as well as being a noted seat of learning due to the presence of the local university, formerly a constituent college of the federated University of Wales. Most of our itinerary for the weekend involves reliving some of Jane's formative student experiences, and there's one tradition she insists on almost immediately. Apparently it is custom to 'Kick the Bar' - touching the far railing at either end of the promenade - in order to guarantee good luck on your course and ward off evil spirits from the town's ghostly gallows. A more personal Jane ritual is to go for a paddle in the sea, although in this case the waves bite back by drenching the Woolf derriere.

- The Ship & Castle -

An amble through the castle grounds gives time to dry off slightly before we launch into Aber's Friday evening nightlife. We're saving the full student-centric crawl for Saturday so our aim is to cover a more discerning selection of pubs and hostelries in the hope of finding quality beers and ciders. To that end, the Ship & Castle gets us off the mark in great style, yielding Salopian Living the Dream Pale Ale and Sussex Seacider. The gaffer here has recently celebrated 20 years at the helm and we like the varnished seafaring galleon mural in the far snug. Keeping to those lofty standards will be difficult - as a brief Carling in the Vale of Rheidol can testify - but we also strike gold in the Bottle & Barrel, a microbar on Cambrian Place. Here the locally brewed Two Rivers Aur is one of my standout pints of the weekend, while Miss Woolf is just as enamoured by the Gwynt y Ddraig Perry Vale perry. The place is absolutely rammed due to a works reservation, and gets even fuller when students in golfing visors descend for added fun.

- Yr Hen Lew Du -

The Bottle & Barrel wasn't around during Jane's degree years but - believe it or not - there are some longserving establishments that she never set foot in despite being resident in the town for the best part of five years. One notable gap in her repertoire had been Yr Hen Lew Du (the Old Black Lion) so we correct that with a sampling of Old Crow cider, powerful stuff at 7.4%. A trio of further relative newbies round off the evening in leisurely contentment, hence we chat to the on-site brewers at Mashed over an informative half of stout, then catch some of the Real John Lewis's rockabilly performance at the Bank Vault (he's quite a character mixing Eddie Cochran covers with his own compositions like the 'Botox Boogie'). Saving arguably Jane's favourite for last, we pitch into Ty Seidr where the range of ciders on show is truly impressive. What would you have out of Pheasant Plucker, Lilley's Tropical, Bee Sting or Gladiator?

- View from the Consti -

Friday had been a lot of fun and yet we still have the main event to come, so I warm up for Saturday's endeavours by climbing Constitution Hill at the northern tip of the promenade. My liking for quieter morning strolls means I'm too early to hitch a lift on the Cliff Railway (778 feet long and operational since 1896, it has carriages named Lord Geraint and Lord Marks). The views are spectacular even on a relatively grey day, and there's a Camera Obscura on the top for added novelty value. The coastal path to Clarach and Borth also ascends the hill in a very serpentine fashion for those feeling especially energetic. As much as I like the idea of doing the five miles to Borth, there's the small matter of a Full English breakfast to attend to. 

- A Gorgeous Frog? -

Said breakfast is obtained at Jane's recommendation from the Home Cafe on Pier Street, one of the regular spots where the younger Woolf would meet her fellow would-be graduates. The combination of bacon, eggs, sausage, black pudding and pictures of paddling elephants is a definite winner, lining the stomach for the challenge ahead. Without delay, we duly make it to Yr Hen Orsaf Wetherspoons where the student crawl can begin in earnest over a solid Loddon Hullabaloo or a Black Dragon cider. So far so good but the next place fills me with trepidation; for weeks in advance I've been hearing about the Cambrian and their legendary cocktails, so lo and behold I find myself trying to fathom wall upon wall listing various concoctions in the form of rounded disc-like illustrations. The 'Squashed Frog' of the mid-2000s is alas no longer on the menu but a 'Gorgeous Frog' can achieve the same kind of result; it's drinkable enough with a highly dubious greeny-blue colour but we both live to tell the tale. 

- Woolf on the Pier -

Neither the Mill nor Rummers are trading at the moment - the latter being a harbourside haunt that is attempting to recover from storm damage - so the Angel gets bumped up the listing for a heavy metal-tinged half sitting below a cricketing poster. We arrive at the Royal Pier perhaps a little earlier than we'd anticipated but it's all good; we can sit out on the boardwalk section trying not to get dive-bombed by ravenous seagulls, as well as checking out the contrasting bars upstairs and downstairs. The first floor version has 8 ball pool tables and murals of Welsh sporting legends from Ray Reardon to Gareth Bale; our turn on the beize ends in stalemate, one frame each after I accidentally potted the black too early. Down below, the Inn on the Pier has stained glass detailing and cinematic tip-up seats, plus artistic ceiling patterns which reference the starling murmurations of Aberystwyth sunsets. 

- Coopers Arms Hotel -

One university activity we definitely won't be recreating is a visit to Pier Pressure, a nightclub facility which now plays host to a children's bouncy castle - I'm slightly relieved about that, and Jane gets nostalgic merely being in the room again. We take a break from the crawl to indulge in Pink Cow ice creams which we think are made in Aberdyfi; their flavours are very tempting from honeycomb to salted caramel to mint chocolate chip to rhubarb. After relaxing back at the hotel for a while, we're ready for a steady Saturday evening session ticking off more haunts. Cwps (or the Coopers Arms) makes an impression as a bit of a timewarp place closest to the Halls of Residence. Felinfoel's Double Dragon drinks very nicely here, sitting in the lower snug with Jane holding court from throne armchair corner. Much of the surrounding conversation is in Welsh so I might need to brush up on my understanding of the native language, which currently amounts to knowing that 'moron' = carrot!

- Aberystwyth Castle -

Saturday concludes at Ty Seidr again - so good we had to visit more than once - over a few games of Guess Who, my successes at deducing Jane's mystery characters making up for the earlier pool mishap which robbed me of a precious victory. Sunday morning then dawns bright and clear, just perfect for surveying the ruins of Aberystwyth Castle in more detail. Built during the reign of Edward I and having seen its fair share of Welsh uprisings, the concentric layout had towers, wards and a moat in an overall diamond-shaped plan. It's fun clambering over the rubble stones before heading down to the adjacent quayside, noting the Harbour Master's offices and eyeing up pictures of craft 'Look Lively' and 'Spoof II'. 

- Machynlleth Station -

With Jane's day being dedicated to churchy stuff and meeting up with more old friends, I treat myself to a ride on the Cambrian Coast railway line, something I've always wanted to do. The 10:29 departure for Shrewsbury therefore click-clacks its way via Bow Street and Borth before flanking the southern reaches of the River Dyfi estuary, such beautiful scenery. By the time I arrive in Machynlleth the weather has clouded over somewhat, although I nevertheless enjoy getting more to grips with the Ancient Capital of Wales. This notable claim to fame stems from Owain Glyndwr having held his Welsh Parliament in the town back in 1404 but my focus is mostly on getting pictures of the railway station and clock tower (built via public subscription to celebrate the 21st birthday of Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest, the Viscount Castlereagh). My pub pick meanwhile is the Wynnstay Arms coaching inn for Grey Trees' Black Road Stout.

- Borth Seafront -

Passing through it in the morning, Borth was an itch I needed to scratch even if I only end up staying for a rain-affected hour. One long street hosts two pubs - the Victoria and the Railway - plus a bungalow post office and a sprinkling of guesthouses. At one point the properties back directly onto the pebble beach with little stile barriers before you can perambulate atop the glistening grey stones. Borth railway station faces out towards open fields and has a single platform so be mindful of the Direction of Travel sign; Wills Gold Flake advert enamels add a vintage feel alongside flowerbed running boards - there is also mention of a museum which preserves the station fabric but only opens a couple of afternoons each week. 

- Seagull Spotting -

With Jane having returned from her Llanbadarn Fawr lunching, we reconvene in Aberystwyth at half past four and plot out our final hours in Wales. The Glengower (or Glen for short) is a must, being a place she occasionally frequented with colleagues from the English or Celtic Studies courses; in fact, we sit in the selfsame window she remembers from years hence, looking out across Cardigan Bay as dusk begins to fall. Monday morning heralds an Athro Lounge natter with Alison over coffee, pondering the eclectic ex-schoolhouse's approach to nick-nacks amidst a litany of tasselled lampshades. Having debated a wide range of topics from student life to artificial intelligence to the primacy of original printed sources, we bid the Welsh coast farewell with one very last Pink Cow dairy treat and pose beside cheeky artworks of seagulls sporting daffodil headgear and clutching rugby balls. The West Midlands beckons again but that Welsh weekend in Ceredigion has been brilliant. Cheers!

A Wednesfield Workout

Where would the Hub Marketing Board have been this year without our occasional Evening Blasts? Full - or even half - day meetings have proven trickier to arrange, but much essential business can be conducted during a three hour speedy session as this full throttle tour of Ashmore Park and Wednesfield will testify...

- Feeling Thirsty? In a word... yes! -

Hasn't the weather been hot again recently? We seem to have been subjected to successive heatwaves with temperatures nudging 32 degrees at times; I enjoy the blue skies but suffer as soon as the heat starts to get too stifling. Heading into Wolverhampton, a 'Thirsty?' sign seems to have read my mind as regards needing refreshment, so thankfully I know there should be a few drinks to be had when the Hub Marketing Board is in session. Mr D9 has suggested a Wednesfield area remit to continue our recent focus on Wolverhampton outposts - game on!

- D9 drives the 59 -

The Wednesfield Road corridor through Heath Town and New Cross is particularly well served for bus routes, no doubt on account of making the local hospital as accessible as possible. We require the number 59 to Ashmore Park which operates a very regular frequency for much of the day, heading through Wednesfield Village and then along the A4124 Lichfield Road as far as Peacock Avenue. The Chairman reminisces about driving duties on the 559 (back in the days when most Wolverhampton routes had that extra '5' prefix) and encountering gaggles of grannies outside the bingo, but this time around he concentrates on hi vis-skirted steering. We join Griffiths Drive to the strains of 'The Lonely Goatherd', the Ronnie Ronalde version of the song featuring some very enthusiastic yodelling segments.

- Griffiths Drive Baldness -

Still with that classic from The Sound of Music ringing in our ears, we alight for the Rogers Close stop at the top end of the Ashmore Park estate and beat an urgent path straight to the True Briton on Snape Road. This is a box boozer straight out of the Banks's mould with the building said to date from the mid-1970s. Most of the regulars are huddled together watching the nail-biting conclusion to the Lords test match, England eventually taking the last Indian wicket to seal a 22 run victory but it was mighty close. The pub is unapologetically a haunt for locals but has a nice community atmosphere to go with a vintage bin that catches the D9 eye. Perhaps the Chairman could have used it to protect his exposed bald spot from sun rays?

- Checking out the Ashmore Park Hub -

Topping up our tans, we proceed along Acorn Road and Ashmore Avenue where it is Mr D9's turn to declare his daft ditty of the day. Cue much 1970s campness courtesy of Larry Grayson and 'Shut That Door', a composition inspired by the comedian's notorious catchphrase. It only takes a few minutes for us to resurface on Griffiths Drive near the possibly disused Corpus Christi Social Club (with hints of Banks's branding through the overgrown bushes). A photocall outside The Hub at Ashmore Park is a must; this important amenity acts as a library, sports hall and community centre all rolled into one although the Secretary can very fondly recall working at the previous branch library closer to the shopping precinct.

- The Lancaster (formerly the Albion) -

The Ashmore pub is next on the agenda, its car park having partially been sacrificed to allow the creation of a Co-op store a few years ago but at least it is still going. Considering Mondays are usually a quiet day for the trade, this place seems very popular and we enjoy joining in with some pool table banter as two old chums merrily exchange insults. Apparently the Sticky Bingo (whatever that entails!) is due to start imminently so we - probably wisely - relocate via Linthouse Lane to the Lancaster on Lichfield Road. The Secretary always knew this as the Albion when he was growing up but the change of name references a wartime plane accident when a bomber crashed nearby in May 1945, sadly claiming the lives of seven crew members. Theakstons Tarmac meets Carling here as we briefly repose by a barrel table. 

- An Angelic Finale? -

The turn-up-and-go credentials of the 59 bus are fully tested as we breeze back into the heart of Wednesfield and avail ourselves of more thirst-quenching hospitality. The Dog & Partridge stands at the Neachells Lane end of the High Street and boasts historic beams plus a huge blackened fireplace that looks like it ought to belong in a museum. Ringwood Fortyniner here precedes a Monday Club cheap pint at the Royal Tiger Wetherspoons - you can't argue with Byatt's Cosmic Jungle at 5.9% for £1.76 can you! - then we round off at the Angel, possibly more against our better judgement but friendly enough to offset our worst dive fears. Cheers!