Hub Marketing 2025: NORTH BIRMINGHAM

Various medical mishaps have been afflicting our Chairman over recent months, so although Hub Marketing progress hasn't stalled entirely, outings have by necessity been fewer and farther between. The good news is that Mr D9's recuperation has been going well hence our bastion to baldness is declared fit and able to join Secretary WME on a tour of North Birmingham...

- A Kenneth Budd Excerpt -

Friday 16th May 2025 dawns bright and clear in the West Midlands, extending the recent spell of warm bright weather into another glorious day. Board members therefore congregate at the Bradley Lane stop in readiness for a Midland Metro tram ride into the heart of Birmingham; one unusual character who immediately makes our acquaintance is a chap D9 often sees at Great Bridge Asda - he calls himself Spiderman and rechristens us as 'Lion' and 'Elephant' although we're not too sure whether that's a comment on the Chairman's wisdom or just an observation on his ability to grow a trunk. Either way, a glance around Old Square gives us scope for pictures of Kenneth Budd's 1967 sculpted mural featuring Doctor Johnson among other personalities. We're off and running once again!

- A Typical Birmingham Landscape? -

If it ain't broke don't fix it is as good a motto for life as any, so we'll adhere to our customary template of pairing a morning ferret with a breakfast-seeking remit. The number 65 bus whisks us up past Dartmouth Circus into Birmingham's Heartlands, whereby the Aston Expressway cuts a great swathe through what would have been dense urban housing with lots of corner boozers. Concrete flyovers with blue and white railings predominate as we investigate the area around Aston Road North, noting the secluded quadrant of Aston Brook Green as a separate mass of properties. The Albion pub is one that is still standing, nowadays calling itself Christopher's with a Caribbean emphasis although it doesn't look very open to us. 

- A Rising Cafe Cuppa -

Terraced backstreets like these are where one might hope to find an unspoilt Pepsi greasy spoon that's barely changed since 1970 but our breakfasting establishment is an altogether much more modern affair. The Rising Cafe is part of a charitable concern based within Anchor Point on the fork where Hubert Street meets Chester Street. Online reviews speak highly of the food and service here so we'll give it a whirl, sampling breakfast rolls and a Full English respectively. Ramekin baked beans, plump pork sausages and griddled little cherry tomatoes make for a good feed to keep the Secretary well and truly satisfied. Table 18 has a wooden spoon marker and industrial factory seating - we like it! 

- The Aston Inn -

Our afternoon pubcrawling destination has yet to be decided at this stage, what with Coleshill, Northfield and Chelmsley Wood all under consideration. As it turns out we opt for the merits or otherwise of North Birmingham, intercepting the number 65 by the clock at Aston Cross for the short journey towards the railway station. The daily silly songs are declared: Brian Murphy's 'The Great Gnome Robbery' is Mr D9's mad choice for utter 1960s daftness, my riposte being 'Lester the Lobster' by Stevedore Steve. Such enlightening entertainment passes the time en route to the Aston Inn, a former Social Club turned into a hotel with at least fifteen bedrooms. Pictures of Paul McGrath, Ron Saunders and Jack Grealish leave little doubt that we are deep in Aston Villa territory here, the pub already pulling in plenty of matchday punters even though kick-off against Spurs is several hours away yet.

- 'Spotted' near Aston Church -

Despite the inescapable sense of claret and blue allegiances, we enjoy our opening Carlings in the Aston Inn and it's an easy decision to proceed a few paces along Aston Hall Road to reach our second port of call. Nestled tightly beside motorway masonry, the Aston Tavern has been lovingly restored to resemble a classy Victorian premises complete with dimpled leather seating, tasselled curtains and period chandeliers. We have to ring the doorbell to gain access (nominally there's a £5 entry charge on football days to deter would-be troublemakers) but we are allowed inside, leisurely quaffing some Jute IPA as a zingy craft offering from the Salt Brewery. The Chairman likes his tastebuds being assaulted with tart hoppiness a little more than I do, and is therefore in a good mood when his bald spot defences are breached!

- Aston Villa Artwork -

Any hopes of the Holte giving us a trilogy of Aston boozers sadly come to no avail although we can admire the Parish Church as dedicated to St Peter and St Paul; worship has taken place on this site across the millennia with the tower said to date from 1480 and much of the remainder of the building being principally Victorian. Across the road is the iconic Holte End, possibly Villa Park's most partisan section, named after Sir Thomas Holte who paid for the construction of nearby Aston Hall. A nod to the current Villa squads is then provided by an eyecatching mural featuring Ollie Watkins, Rachel Daly and Emi Martinez.

- Grinning in the Greyhound -

Leaving Aston behind, we catch the 67 towards Castle Vale which in turn takes us to Tyburn. The Tyburn House is one of two Sizzlers we'll sample in quick succession (the other being the Yenton at Wylde Green) and has an inviting Tudor-styled brown stone frontage designed by C.E. Bateman in 1930. Beardsmore Bleach and US PGA Golf are the order of the day, Mr D9 resolutely sticking to the Carlings as is his wont, plus there is table reservation confusion to unpick at times. Fast forward next to Court Lane where the Greyhound presents the prospect of a Perry Common pint close to the grounds of Oscott Cemetery. We both rather like this one, a community local with a real sense of humour. The afternoon is going well!

- Hofmeister Helles -

With the sunshine insisting on sticking around for the duration, Boldmere beckons with the promise of further beer. We've mined the main street extensively for pub pickings over the years but hadn't yet frequented either the Lounge or 90 Boldmere, both of which are on the swisher side of the drinking spectrum. Give the Secretary a bear on a glass and he's happy, hence the Hofmeister Helles is an obvious choice for a slice of Bavaria. We're back on the Carling again at No. 90 but that won't detract from a relaxed little visit of sofa reclining proportions - Boldmere would make for a great crawl just on its own these days. 

- Mr D9 drives home -

The curfew alarm is preparing its warning so we grudgingly board the number 5 bus to West Bromwich via Kingstanding and the Scott Arms. The ride at least gives the Chairman chance to reclaim his rightful position behind the (imaginary) steering wheel, making good onward time through Pheasey and Queslett. Our speediness is such that a cheeky nightcap becomes a distinct possibility, albeit the choice of the Sandwell in its peak karaoke phase might be one we come to regret - 'Penny Arcade' by Roy Orbison and 'Words' by the Bee Gees have never sounded so awful. We leave the Friday night revellers to their fun and finish off with the tram back from Lodge Road, delighted that the Hub Marketing Board is still ticking off the trips.

The Warwick Wayfarers

Nick has made it his personal mission over the last few years to introduce me to a variety of Warwick watering holes, as well as showcasing the best of the county town's cultural offer. This is an ongoing task and he's got a few more discoveries lined up for me during this Saturday spectacular...

- A Great Day Out? We certainly hope so! -

Trip Log: 10th May 2025 with unbroken sunshine predicted so it should be a perfect spring day. The trains across from Wolverhampton and Birmingham Moor Street make a seamless connection, ensuring I'm readily in position for our intended 11:14 am rendezvous on Platform 2 of Warwick railway station. Construction work continues here to install a much-needed lift facility, meaning the pedestrian underpass is currently out of commission. We exit onto Lakin Road, confirming that the Wild Boar has transferred back into Everard's ownership and then discussing Nick's forthcoming holiday in the Lake District.

- Bridge 47, Grand Union Canal -

His Royal Majesty knows Warwick like the back of his hand and has picked out a suitable walk with which to get our investigations underway. Guy Street therefore leads to Coten End and onwards along Emscote Road, the main A445 towards Leamington. Pubs such as the Black Pug and the Elephant & Castle are familiar from previous adventures but we do cover newer territory courtesy of Charles Street, passing the Nelson Club function suite to briefly join the towpath of the Grand Union Canal. It may only be a short stretch between Bridges 48 and 46 but I still enjoy seeing it for the very first time, passing underneath All Saints Road to emerge alongside a large Tesco superstore. A quick peek at the River Avon - complete with a flotilla of Saturday morning paddleboarders - precedes our first drink of the day...

- Slaughterhouse Brewery Tap -

Nick can be a devious fellow on occasions and having teased me with the likelihood of the Nelson being our opening candidate, he casually has us stumbling upon the Slaughterhouse Brewery Tap as if by magic. I'd heard the local brewers had set up their own taphouse but had no idea as to its Bridge Street location, based in the very outhouse where they've done the vast majority of production since their 2003 inception. 'Poking the Bear' proves a refreshing golden appetiser while we get chatting to some chaps from Solihull who are similarly dropping by for their first visit. It's only a small venue, maybe room for three or four bench tables plus outdoor drinking, and the microbrewery plant comprises a four barrel operation with room upstairs for supporting the home brew community.

- The Obligatory Eastgate Picture -

Having poked the bear and lived to tell the tale, Nick makes good on his Nelson promise albeit this pub is certainly different now to how I remember it from our 2017 Festive Forage. Having seemingly dispensed with the 'Lord' bit of the title (along with any associated nautical themes), it has transformed into an Indian bar and grill with an extensive range of vegetarian dishes. Meat eaters are catered for too, hence we both partake of the chicken biryani as served in stove pots with burner clasps below. The food is very moreish, complete with a curried fried egg and just the right amount of spicing for my tastebuds. The meal sets us up nicely for seeing more of Warwick, including the ever-compulsory photo of the historic Eastgate.

- Dough & Brew -

Keen to ensure I'm sampling hostelries I haven't previously frequented, Nick next suggests a couple of widely contrasting establishments. The Warwick Arms Hotel is a grand old coaching inn on High Street and has had some notable guests among its clientele down the years, such as a certain Mr Frank Sinatra. The current building replaced an earlier inn and presumably dates from 1717 if the lettering is to be believed; we partake of a relaxed half of Wainwright Gold whilst slumped in a very comfortable sofa before relocating to Brook Street for Dough & Brew, a trendy pizza emporium with something in the region of eight craft taps. Church Farm IPA is the Warwickshire offering from these drinks options whilst the pizzas are grouped into cultural pairs such as Rene and Yvette (for French flavourings),Lord and Lady Ponsonby (for any fans of asparagus) or Mork and Mindy (for zany American toppings) - intriguing!

- A Saintly Corner in the Old Post Office -

Our desire to uncover fresh haunts must not come at the expense of revisiting any favourites, and in Nick's case they don't come much more favoured than the Old Post Office. He's been a fan of this West Street micropub since it started trading in 2014, and we're pleased to report the place seems as good as ever. Mellow live music is underway today thanks to a bearded chap playing acoustic guitar, but there's space at the back for a quiet slurp of Liquid Light's Dark Hollow porter amongst the ecclesiastical portraits and prayer boards. We refrain from uttering the Magnificat in favour of chatting about politics, covering recent Presidential antics in America as well as the worrying developments between India and Pakistan. Scary times!

- Living la Vida in the Kings Head -

It's Race Day at Warwick Racecourse so we feel a tad underdressed compared to the fancy frocks and sharp suits flocking to study the equine formbooks. Vittle Drive prepares us for a Saltisford swansong whereby Nick has picked out a final couple of pubs we haven't been to for several years. The Antelope is close at hand for a cracking half of Theakston's Quencher, an ale I'll look out for again in future; there is a military association here with the fact that the Royal Warwickshire Regiment had an antelope called Bobby as their prized mascot. Further up the road is the Kings Head which seems to have switched allegiance portrait-wise from James I to Henry VIII. Old Golden Hen and the Bournemouth v Aston Villa evening kick off make for the notable aspects here, aside from some funky floral decorations.

- Scouting history at Priory Park -

After that most excellent crawl, all that remains is for us to steadily plot our way back to the railway station. The footpaths of Priory Park thus beckon, the grassy expanses having formed the grounds of the former Warwick Priory until it was dissolved during the monastic purges of the aforementioned King Henry VIII. Warwickshire County Records Office occupies part of the site and a plinth recalls the two times (in 1958 and 1979) when the park played host to Scout gatherings, hence a reference to Amikaro meaning 'welcome' in Esperanto. We pick our way through the trees to reach Platform One in plenty of time for our trains home, job done!

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

What lovelier place is there to spend the May Day Bank Holiday than at Birmingham Botanical Gardens? Designed in 1829/30 by the eminent garden planner John Claudius Loudon, the grounds have been showcasing Birmingham's horticultural excellence for nearly 200 years yet I'd never had the pleasure of visiting them until now...

- Glasshouse Entrance -

I have my friend and library colleague Emily to thank for inspiring this particular outing, with the Westbourne Road location being just down the road from Birmingham City University's City South campus. I duly make my way across to leafy Edgbaston, noting the queues forming at the reception desk - it seems plenty of other people have had the same idea about how to spend their extra day off. Standard adult admission is £9 but well worth the money when you get to investigate the Grade II* listed landscape in all its glory. The site covers around fifteen acres all told, based upon Holly Bank Farm as historically leased from the Calthorpe Estate.

- Trailing Wisteria -

The main entrance and gift shop feed directly into four fascinating glasshouse zones where you can really sense the humidity in the air. These in turn comprise tropical, subtropical, arid and Mediterranean sections with wild banana trees and flaming swords among the species to initially catch the eye. Venturing down through the Alan King Alpine Garden, there are pretty purple and lilac wisteria plants hugging the far brick walls whilst small greenhouses display miniature succulents. The koi carp tank has some very beady-eyed fish!

- Edgbaston Archery & Lawn Tennis Society -

Cameron Path flanks the courts of the Edgbaston Archery & Law Tennis Society, itself a proud and prestigious organisation which holds the record for being the oldest surviving lawn tennis club on the planet (who am I to argue with a blue plaque). Some kiddies coaching appears to be underway as drop shots, smashes and ace serves are attempted with varying degrees of success. The Hugh Nettlefold Rock Garden meanwhile originates from 1895, the Nettlefolds having been a prominent local family with interests in the manufacturing of screws.

- A Riot of Rhododendrons -

Arguably the most spectacular part of the gardens - especially at this time of year - has to be the Rhododendron Walk, where tall bushes line either side of the winding path and present a cacophony of colours: pearly white, blood orange, blushing pink and vibrant red. Such sights are backed up by the sensuous perfume filling the air, leading neatly towards the bog garden where the discovery of newts requires specialist wildlife conservation techniques. Elsewhere, the fern garden offers fluttery fronds with hints of a statuesque classical lady beside a pool.

- Historic Glasshouses -

Doubling back towards the reception area, its impossible to resist the lure of cakes from the Medicine Bakery - raspberry blondies, walnut-topped carrot cake, giant chocolate cookies and your classic scones are all available making it oh so difficult to pick which one you want to eat. Once you've settled on an indulgent treat, it's an absolute pleasure to sit on the grassy bank gazing out over the Peter Sowerby Bandstand. A talented harpist is expertly plucking strings to the tune of 'Dancing Queen' and 'Let's Go Fly A Kite' - you don't often get ABBA and Mary Poppins on the same playlist!

- The Alpine Garden -

A second full circuit of the entire grounds gives scope for further photography, in which case the Alpine Garden really shines through thanks to precarious clumps of planting in amongst the stony crevices. A Black Country Woodturners exhibition is underway inside the function suite with one charming elderly craftsman telling of how he's been woodworking all his life, fashioning little puzzle trinkets that have had folk baffled until you know the knack - I still haven't been furnished with said secret! The well-stocked gift shop has a book exchange alongside much in the way of gardening inspiration. A Bank Holiday well spent, cheers!

Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #39

There's a definite Black Country bias to this next installment in the Lost Pubs Series, with bygone boozers to report from each of the four council boroughs - which ones of these five do you remember, if any?

- The Swan -

I'll begin over in Bilston and a Banks's pub I have a lot of affection for, the Swan having been a wet-led traditional tavern towards the west end of the High Street. I can happily recall visits here with both Nick and Mr D9, enjoying the simple ambience of the bar whilst supping Bitter or Mild among the various trinkets of brewing heritage. My understanding is that Marston's sold the building to Lidl to facilitate expansion of the adjacent supermarket and its car park.

- The Crown -

Almost the very definition of an estate box boozer, the Crown and its exceedingly flat roof could be found on Simms Lane in the Netherton district of Dudley. The spartan appearance here meant I approached with considerable trepidation when the Hub Marketing Board called by for a Christmas drink back in 2015 (Mr D9 naturally being much more enthusiastic than I ever was); the latest I heard is that the place is to be demolished to make way for shopping units, some of which will be accessed from Halton Street.

- The Yew Tree -

Still within the bounds of Netherton, we'll next pay homage to a Hockley Lane hostelry in the form of the Yew Tree, an establishment which served the hilly crests above the Dudley No. 2 Canal near Lodge Farm Reservoir. I never quite managed a drink in this one, the closest I came being in May 2011 when it was closed for a private party. By 2015 the site had been flattened to make way for houses.

- The Plough -

So that's one from Wolverhampton and two from Dudley so what has Sandwell up its sleeve? How's about the Plough in Tividale (just along from the Burnt Tree roundabout) which itself can also easily be labelled under the basic Banks's banner. Handsome enough in plain brick with gold lettering, it must have been shut for at least twelve years if not longer; the building now operates as a restaurant-cum-takeaway business with a hand car wash on the side.

- The Royal Exchange -

All of which means we must finish with a Walsall contender in which case I present the Royal Exchange, a Stafford Street specimen with hints of Brewers Tudor beams. Perched on the junction with Hospital Street, the updated signage suggested it had become the premises for Happy Times Ltd (whatever their line of business was), and more recently the building has borne branding for Harvey's Autos car dealership.