February Fragments

Exploration can be a funny old business. Some months have obvious headline trips that steal the show whereas others are more a process of accumulation, squirreling away bits and pieces of activity when the weather allows. February 2025 has thus far fallen into the latter camp although my camera has been chipping away from time to time, and there are prized pints to report too...

- Truth and Art -

Let's start with Tuesday 18th February 2025 and a lunchtime walk around Wolverhampton City Centre. I quite often nip into the Art Gallery on Lichfield Street to peruse their latest exhibitions but this time around I focus on the decorative frieze that adorns the building's Grade II*-listed exterior. Classical figures from a variety of arts and crafts are depicted, representing pursuits including pottery, painting, architecture and metalworking with much detail to admire. 

- Shut the Box -

The Great Western on Sun Street has been a perennial pub favourite of mine for years, and a regular meeting point for the Chip Foundation since our days in public library employment. I'm very much a fan of their railwayana displays so close to the former Low Level Station, not to mention the lovely Holden's cask ales. This much-anticipated first visit of 2025 sees Nick and I partaking of Toffee Porter whilst Stephen ponders Heath Town housing renovations and Ken wonders if Birmingham City will be Wembley-bound in the Football League Trophy. On the games front, we have a bash at Shut the Box as a dice-based distraction in the conservatory although my victory was definitely more by luck than judgement. 

- His Majesty joins the Wolfpack at the Starting Gate -

After the Great Western, our Tuesday evening plan is to go to Penn Fields albeit the Bruford Arms isn't open tonight, depriving Nick of the chance to revisit one of his 1980s beer haunts. Thankfully the Starting Gate micropub on Birches Barn Road is on hand to claim our custom instead, and what's more they have Sting Spiced Cider at a mere £2 a pint - what a bargain! Wolfpack glassware and a store of metallic firkins add to the fun as we congregate in the back room of what used to be a branch of HSBC - you can still get a feel for the reinforced doors and security measures required during its banking days. 

- Trysull Village Hall -

Fast forward now to Friday 21st February which is grim and gusty to say the least. A bout of blusteriness can't put me off attempting a canal walk though, gritting my teeth through bitter raindrops to reach Trysull via Ebstree Lock and Awbridge. All Saints Church appears to be undergoing some significant renovation works at the moment and I still lament the loss of the Plough, an ex-Banks's pub that got converted into private housing a few years ago. My circuit of the village includes the little green patch opposite the local school while the Village Hall potentially counts as a new discovery near where Crockington Lane meets Feiashill Road. 

- A Holden's Hurrah at The Bell -

I don't know what it is about this time of year that makes me hanker after the Bell but Trysull's surviving boozer is in line for yet another February visit, following calls in 2017 and 2019; I'd have probably paused for a pint here in 2021 too had lockdown restrictions not intervened. I'm pleased to report that the place is as good as ever, from the beguiling bar with its oh so cosy main fireplace, to the more modern lounge area with Hoptimist stencilling. The beer is on point too, a fact confirmed when I pair Golden Glow and Bathams Bitter with quality scratchings!

- Cheers & Beers - 

Finally from Friday 21st comes a return to the Firs, a roadhouse pub serving the Castlecroft portion of westernmost Wolverhampton. Marston's disposed of this one last year, after which it has taken on a new lease of life as a Desi establishment although the layout and general feel of the place hasn't changed that much. A 'Cheers & Beers' strobe orange effect accompanies me to my chosen table for a steady supping of Worthingtons before I walk the short distance home, satisfied that the persistent drizzle hasn't prevented an enjoyable afternoon. Cheers!