Station Surveillance with Towpath Turpin

Artemis II might have cast glances upon the far side of the moon but if you want edgy exploration what you really need is hardcore Black Country business with our resident royal. News that two local railway stations have reopened after a 60 year gap impelled us to take to the tracks...

These are exciting times for West Midlands transport developments. The Camp Hill Line has been reinstated for passenger services after an 80 year hiatus (we hope to report on Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road happenings in due course) while the Midland Metro tram network is being expanded in both Birmingham and Dudley. This particular trip is however dedicated to another key achievement in that two Walsall area stations are fully operational again. Darlaston and Willenhall lost their provision under the Beeching Cuts in 1965 and so finally in 2026 their rightful spots on the railway system have been resurrected.

- Darlaston Station -

Both of these new Black Country halts are currently being covered by an hourly frequency on the Shrewsbury to Birmingham via Tame Bridge Parkway service (admitting that at this stage there isn't a direct link into Walsall itself). Nick and I board the 10:55 Wolverhampton departure for an 11 minute journey into Darlaston, noting Heath Town, Deans Road and the Noose Lane level crossing along the way. Alighting on time at 11:06, we're immediately impressed by the scale of the facilities that have been built; Darlaston Station is a substantial affair above and beyond the basic halt we might have expected. Two platforms can each handle four carriage sets and a fully accessible liftshaft-cum-footbridge has been installed, plus there is ample car parking. Principal access is via Cemetery Road (off Bentley Mill Way) with a pedestrian gap onto Kendrick Road should you need it. 

- Steelworks Clues -

It is worth stating that the station is positioned at James Bridge, very close to the location of the original Victorian-era halt which functioned from 1837 to 1965. This does mean it is a fair distance from the town centre so a bus ride or a good walk might be required. Nick and I have beer matters in mind as usual, meaning our target is the Chestnut Tree on Axletree Way, part of the Junction 9 retail park complex beside the M6 motorway in Wednesbury. Much of the land hereabouts used to be part of the FH Lloyd steel foundry, the company being a major employer until succumbing to rationalisation of the industry in the 1980s. Two ornamental gates offer a nod to the past while the pub is nothing to write home about, a corporate Marstons carvery affair with a penchant for serving extra crispy roast potatoes.

- Charles Richards Imperial Works -

I have higher hopes for our second port of call although getting there involves seeing more of Darlaston's industrial underbelly. Given that HRH is used to the refined airs of Warwickshire these days, derelict factories and backstreet lock-ups can come as a culture shock with Heath Road entirely lacking in any kind of glamour. That's not to say there aren't items of interest here, most prominently the Imperial Works where Charles Richards & Sons were nut and bolt manufacturers of some renown. The firm was another casualty of the 1980s I'm afraid since when the factory has effectively lain empty, its ominous frontage still dominating this portion of Darlaston Green complete with some rather fine lettering. 

- A Crusty Cob -

 To The Crescent we next trot for the Robin Hood, easily our favourite pub of the day and my 11th stamp towards the 2026 Black Country Ales trail. An archery session is underway on an adjacent field so Nick wonders whether the participants improve their aim once they've had a pint or two - if it's anything like my darts, a calming ale could be a very good thing! Speaking of which, my Mallinsons Taiheke is a rather nice 3.8%er accompanied by a tiger bap cheese and onion cob - I like the burnt crusty cheesy pieces on top of the roll. A minibus tour sweeps in just after us and commandeers the inkpad so I have to slink back afterwards and hope the barmaid remembers my face - thankfully she does and my passport is duly decorated.

- James Bridge Aqueduct -

I've promised Nick a waterways segment so that he can reprise his role as Towpath Turpin, although if he's expecting improving vistas he'll be sorely disappointed. We cover a Walsall Canal segment from Bughole Bridge to James Bridge Aqueduct, passing under ramshackle works bridges that have been declared unsafe to deter would-be climbers. COVID microbe art is still detectable in places before I explain the significance of Forster Bridge as the gateway to the Anson Branch (which sadly looks that little bit more overgrown every time I see it). Both of us approve of the aqueduct's venerable heritage, carrying the canal over road and river, in this case the Tame. The best view is from Bentley Mill Way for a full appreciation of its twin arches and a Roman numeral date inscription for the year 1797. 

- A Willenhall Station Welcome -

Skipping back past James Bridge Cemetery and its pretty cherry blossoms, we linger again at Darlaston Station awaiting the 14:46 train. Willenhall is merely three minutes away so it isn't even worth sitting down, and we can soon survey our second new transport tick of the day. I must say this facility is a delight to visit, what with lock artwork giving it an additional edge aesthetically; Ideas, Growth and Innovation wording promotes positivity with lightbulb motifs very noticeable. Passengers have a choice of steps or a zigzag ramp onto Bilston Street, and again there are substantial liftshafts. Nick meanwhile is very excited by a British Railways-era running in board which might have been salvaged from the original station many moons ago; even if it is a faithful reproduction it certainly looks the part!

- Grinning in Gilbert's -

Willenhall's pub prospects have taken quite a battering in recent years with its Wetherspoons (The Malthouse) shutting and that real ale stalwart the Falcon also falling by the wayside. I'll therefore need to be creative to find us some interesting watering holes, beginning with the wildest of wildcards known as Gilbert's. Positioned on Field Street, it presumably must have been a members club of some description but is nowadays open to all and seems a friendly place. Dartboards are very much part of the attraction - they have at least four - and ITV's Grand National coverage from Aintree has many of the regulars transfixed. We partake of Weston's Vintage Cider and sit by the trophy shelf admiring movie star illustrations and motorbike diagrams. I sense Mr D9 would absolutely love it here...

- Who Wears The Crown? -

Elsewhere in Willenhall are a trio of previous Paul haunts each earning another airing. The Three Crowns is very much in horse racing mode, packed out with punters who aren't shy of having a flutter on the geegees. So full is it inside that we take our respective glasses of New Zealand Pale and Ossett White Rat out onto the rear patio, listening in as 'I Am Maximus' wins the famous old steeplechase. I should mention that the ale here is top drawer as befits entry in the 2026 Good Beer Guide. A trio of regal headpieces is not enough for our Nick so a separate call into the Crown on Cheapside tops up the coronet contingent, albeit much of the apparent draught offer is out of stock. We settle for Guinness and Marstons Smooth for the sake of admiring an unspoiled interior (the less said about the throwback outhouse gents loos the better), and the final say goes to a very busy Royal George for Golden Glow and Backyard Blonde overlooking the 529 bus stop. HRH's carriage home then awaits (a.k.a. the 18:03 to Birmingham New Street), and those two railway arrivals can consider themselves christened!

Waterways Walks: Lowsonford and Preston Bagot

Excellent weather over the Easter holidays needs to be maximised and what finer way of passing the time is there than staging a canalside stroll through the Warwickshire countryside. Bookworm Bygrave has researched a route for us complete with the prospect of pies and ice cream...

- Our Starting Point -

Trip Log: Tuesday 7th April 2026 and the temperatures are set to top 20°C, not bad for early April. After an Olton rendezvous to meet Emily, we park up at Lowsonford beside the Fleur de Lys pub (more of which later) ready to begin our walk along the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. The entire navigation connects the River Avon at Bancroft Basin with Kings Norton Junction where it meets the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, and I've steadily nibbled away at various segments over the years, often with a certain HRH for company. Bridge 41 at Lowsonford had featured on 2021's Beer Garden Safari - during that curious period where you could visit pubs but had to stay outside - so I'm delighted to reacquaint myself with Lock 31 and its associated barrel-roofed keepers cottage. It's a lovely spot in the sunshine, make no mistake!

- Bookworm Bygrave consults the instructions -

Emily has picked our suggested circuit from a 2008 Angela Jefferies book 'Drive and Stroll in Warwickshire' so we initially head in a south-westerly direction towards Wootton Wawen. The scenery is glorious with rolling fields, wispy blossoms and plenty of birdsong as we steadily descend the lock flight all while saying hello to dog walkers and cyclists. The canal narrows in places - possibly at the site of former bridges - with Lock No. 33 (Claverdon Top Lock) being accompanied by Bridge 44, one of those split structures where the central gap was designed to allow boats and horses to pass through without needing to unhitch the towrope. Ingenious!

- Yarningale Aqueduct -

The southern half of the Stratford Canal is notable for a sequence of three aqueducts within a four mile stretch of each other. I've covered the Edstone and Wootton Wawen specimens on previous explorations so my set can be completed courtesy of Yarningale. Originally built out of wood in the 1810s, it now comprises a 42 foot-long cast iron trough which carries the canal above the Kingswood Brook - it is easily the shortest of the three but that doesn't make it any less enchanting for photographic purposes...

- Bucket Lock Cottage -

... and my camera soon finds itself being totally charmed by the adjacent Bucket Lock which follows immediately on from the aqueduct. As if the name alone isn't cute enough, the cottage is very beguiling as a classic of the rounded-roof variety almost unique to this waterway; an immaculate garden is buzzing with insects and the property has been extended over time to function as a modern family home. By this stage Miss Bygrave is realising that my customary fixation on street signs also applies to lock balance beams whereby every number needs to be fully accounted for; we've just done No. 34 for those keeping count.

- Preston Bagot Lock -

Beyond Bucket Lock we proceed via Claverdon Bottom Lock (35) to encounter the three-lock portion around Preston Bagot. We're roughly a couple of miles east of Henley in Arden at this point and the photos keep on coming: another barrel-domed cottage (this time with a grand extension) and appropriate beam angles for Locks 36, 37 and 38 are duly recorded. Our guidebook actually requires us to leave the towpath at No. 36 but we add a little extra on, venturing as far as Bridge 48 for a bonus sighting of Preston Bagot Manor, a timbered farmhouse property that dates to circa 1550 with reddish-brown brickwork to admire.

- Preston Bagot Church -

Retracing our steps to Lock 36, we swap shimmering waters for paddock and pasture as the right of way traverses footbridges, fields and several stiles. All Saints Church is truly delightful, tracing its roots across a thousand years of worship and still proudly displaying a plaque from 1963 when it won a Best Kept competition. We pause to see motherly ewes tenderly guiding their newborn lambs - is there any better springtime scene? - then deftly negotiate a ford, managing not to get our feet too wet where the stream threatens to get quite deep. Add in pretty bluebells and a treacherous copse with thorny branches seeming intent on attaching themselves to my person, and it's been a cracking five miles full of interest.

- Pie Perfection -

Our reward for coming full circle back to Lowsonford is a leisurely lunch at the aforementioned Fleur de Lys. Readers of a certain age may recall when the pub's pies were a common sight at fish and chip shops across the country, becoming a national brand prior to being taken over by Pukka. Things might not be produced on quite that scale here now but pies remain a key part of the menu so we partake of pastry-encased goodness in the form of chicken, leek and bacon for the Bookworm and superb steak and kidney for me; chunky chips, jugs of gravy and a medley of vegetables make this a very satisfying meal indeed. For an establishment tucked away on a quiet Warwickshire country lane, they don't half pull in the punters. Most folk have chosen to sit outside, savouring the narrowboat views on offer from the extensive beer garden although we enjoy the rustic comfort indoors. Wadworth 6X is a decent pint too, good stuff!

- Perkins Prescription at the Henley Mile Tap -

The walk may be over but the day is not, hence we relocate to nearby Henley in Arden and relax awhile in the lovely Jubilee Gardens behind the Church of St John the Baptist. As if a Lowsonford pie was not enough of a culinary pleasure, we obtain dessert from the Henley Ice Cream Company, a family business that has been operational since 1934. Flavours such as Toffee Crunch and Salted Caramel might not have been part of their range 92 years ago but certainly hit the spot with us today! The constant queues outside the shop tell their own story as to how popular their wares can be on sunny days. Two pub interludes finish things off nicely, so it's a shout-out to the Henley Mile Tap serving their own ales based on historical happenings - Perkins Prescription is named after a local pharmacist who travelled the length and breadth of the pre-Beeching railway network - and the Black Swan. The latter is part of the Heartwood Inns Group and sees Emily's Bygrave brain cells being tested through the 1% Club board game. Mental gymnastics successfully performed, it's been a special day. Cheers!

Springtime Essentials

March has been an exceedingly busy month and it hasn't finished yet. I need to bring you bang up to date not just with any old outings but with two of the trips that are nailed-on certainties at this time of year. My annual Stafford Spectacular has been successfully staged, followed closely by that Chip Foundation imperative of a jaunt to mark the anniversary of Nick's retirement. Hold onto your hats!

- Highfield Manor -

Firstly we have Stafford on Saturday 28th March where I'm intending on gaining another two stamps towards the Black Country Ales trail. Before any pub-going comes the small matter of some local exploring, beginning as ever with Victoria Park and the statutory sculptural sighting of W G Grace - you'd think after all these years he'd have actually bowled his shot by now! A little mooch along Rowley Avenue brings back fond memories of the Blessed William Howard School, host venue for the Heart of Staffordshire Beer Festival on several occasions, where Nick and I might frequent buddy benches whilst eating oatcakes. The area around Rowley Park Hospital is private property and I don't want to incur the wrath of any security patrols, hence I head the longer way round by passing the gateposts for Highfield Manor.

- Things Turning Desperate? -

The Highfields estate was last mentioned in WME despatches back in 2020 when I braved the Oxleathers for a pint and also noted other local amenities, especially around Western Downs. The area is now ripe for a revisit and this time my focus will be on more of West Way, spotting a family butchers shop, a pharmacy and a Spar store. One open patch of land offers a mural based on comic characters from Desperate Dan to Popeye and Garfield by way of Dennis the Menace and Gnasher. Averill Road presents downbeat flats leading towards the Rowley Park Stadium and then Highfield Grove feels more approachable, revealing 1930s bungalows and the local primary school. Many of the roads are named after famous poets (think Swinburne Close and Coleridge Drive) which reminds me of The Scotlands in Wolverhampton.

- Hawkshead Dry Stone Stout -

Arcing back to Stafford town centre, I make sure to visit that pair of pubs I'd been promising myself. The Bird in Hand has always seemed very busy on my previous encounters there so an early doors sampling makes sense. Oakham's 'The Hare and the Hedgehog' Light Bitter is pleasingly refreshing as I sit in the front bar, chatting to a group of chaps who've headed down from Sandbach for the day - perhaps Black Country Ales need an outlet in Crewe? Their other Stafford contender then beckons in the form of the Shrewsbury Arms on Eastgate Street which can furnish me with Hawkshead's Dry Stone stout, conjuring up visions of Lake District walls. A cheeky Hobson's Pale in the Pickled Pig is an excellent bonus; the Bank House prior to this had been a Thai restaurant and a coffee shop so to see it turned into a rustic ale bar last year is a most agreeable development indeed - I'm impressed!

- A Blustery Beacon Walk -

If Stafford is one March mainstay, the other essential excursion when spring has sprung is the Chip Foundation's Eastertime gathering to mark another year of happy retirement for Nick. In 2026 the allotted date falls on Monday 30th March with Episode 94 of our ongoing chronicles commencing with a Sedgley summoning. Twelve years of leisure is something that needs to be marked so the gang are instructed to gather at the Beacon Hotel circa midday, although those of us who are of an energetic persuasion have the option of a bracing walk beforehand. It's very breezy to say the least but our selected climb soon has us in position to enjoy the wide panorama atop Sedgley Beacon's covered reservoir, whereby you can easily see Birmingham’s skyline in one direction and the Shropshire Hills in the other.

- Deep in Discussion -

That gusty chunk of sightseeing ensures we reach beer heaven at the allotted hour, just after 12 o'clock. Nick’s love of the Beacon Hotel stretches back to his ‘Woodcross Years’ when he was based nearby for work so we've made it our mission to return here at least once a year ever since. Ken has arrived in advance and commandeered the front left snug on our behalf; this is an evocative room of William Morris-styled wallpaper and a black varnished piano, just perfect for respective pints of Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild and the Purple Peril Beardsmore equivalent. Monday lunchtime is one of the quietest sessions here so we can happily chat about Cornish holidays and the US-Iran Conflict uninterrupted. When the world seems to be going mad, it’s reassuring to have a timeless escape, great company and excellent beer to help reset one’s equilibrium. Things don’t necessarily stand still here though: last time we came we had the pleasure of sitting in the plain parlour after that was opened up for public access, and the conservatory has since been given a reboot to provide additional seating. Clearly the place is so popular they need ever more capacity to meet demand!

- Swanning about with a Town Crier -

Sedgley has a number of enticing pub possibilities and it would be rude not to include more of its Good Beer Guide contingent. The Bulls Head therefore supplies Holdens hospitality with a bovine streak, Stephen previewing the forthcoming cricket season as wafts of Thai ingredients permeate through from the associated restaurant. The Swan is a new one on Nick, although I had been a couple of times previously. The grey fire door off Ettymore Road is their preferred means of access at the moment, somewhat offputting until you step inside and realise it's a genuinely comfortable old boozer. Plum Chesterfield seating and Hobsons Town Crier make for a highly satisfactory call, speculating about whether HRH will be as active in his 80s.

- Chip Contentment -

Operated by Carolean (an independent bus company I can't recall ever riding on), the 224 bus conveys us to Bilston via Ettingshall Park Farm and Lanesfield. Upon alighting, we collectively swoop upon Chaplins for that avowed local delicacy, battered chips. These have a particuarly pronounced orange hue but hit the spot nicely - chief taster Stephen certainly approves - and with that staple requirement sorted we relocate to the Trumpet in order to catch up with Musti, Lynne and Diane. Holden’s Mild to the strains of Nat King Cole and Gregory Porter is hard to beat, sitting among the displays of saxophones, record covers and the legendary drum kit. If we weren't intent on finishing at the Great Western I could have stayed all evening, but Sun Street awaits (via a 530 Banga bus journey through Rough Hills), and the Chip Foundation's spiritual home can rightfully close proceedings. Holden's '5' Black Country Stout is a fitting finale and - with a bit of luck - we'll be back to do it all over again in 2027. Cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - March 2026

Sprouting daffodils, bounding lambs, increased birdsong, butterflies on the breeze - spring is truly upon us and so are your March additions to the WME Flickr photostream. We have street signs (quelle surprise), comic book brains, tinsel-clad mannequins and much more besides - here's what has been occurring...

Refusing to break the habit of a 2026 lifetime, WME Dudley retains its top billing for the third month in a row. This time around its lofty status has been forged on pictures from lovely Lye (Polypipe advertising, the Lye Cross Clock, railway station signage) and Lapal (where I must declare a fondness for the old Co-op frontage on Manor Lane). Kingswinford hasn't been slacking either, bringing forth Beefeater branding and Swan pub pluckings, then Stourbridge has the curious sight of a stretching decorator in street art form adorning the brickwork at Katie Fitzgeralds.

Although not able to match Dudley for a near-deluge of arrivals, WME Staffordshire has been steadily accumulating a healthy batch of its own. Leek has announced itself with a promising selection of Moorlands morsels, the first time that this corner of the county has gained itself a photostream foothold. Fish and Chips, Mandy's Greengrocers, the Cattle Market boozer and the predictable assortment of street names give me something to build on. Other than that, Lower Penn provides Peaky Blinder portraits, Kidsgrove Station a helping of handprints. 

What about WME Birmingham you may well ask? Jewellery Quarter correspondence brings news of Bernard Lowe typefaces and Hockley Street homages, not to mention a remnant of the Swatkins Group's collection and delivery service for their prized trophies. William West & Sons join Shipton & Co Ltd in representing the district's jewel-making roots, then elsewhere in the Second City we find a smiling sun mosaic brightening up Lea Hall's railway environs.

It's not very often that WME Wolverhampton gets overshadowed with repeated regularity but it has taken this demotion from chief contributor with considerable grace (all while probably plotting a return to the top spot). It rumbles along regardless courtesy of Horseley Fields engineering enterprises, Heath Town Working Men's Club and Loxdale's Lester Street. WME Telford meanwhile is of an Ironbridge persuasion for riverside views and a glimpse of the Chez Maw restaurant whereas neighbouring WME Shropshire homes in on Heathgates lettering out among the Shrewsbury suburbs.

The Malvern area can be delightful at this time of year although whether glances at Graham Road quite deliver natural glory is up for discussion; WME Worcestershire weaves in Malvern Link murals and the Retired Soldier pub by way of added persuasion. All of which leaves us with WME Warwickshire for an eclectic mixture containing the previously mentioned brain character (a table reservation card at Leamington's Drawing Board) alongside the Apehangers mannequin in Santa hat and green frock. Until April, enjoy the pictures!

Burton Beer Festival 2026

Hot on the heels of Chelmsley Clubbing with Mr D9 comes this East Staffordshire excursion to sample ales at the home of brewing. Burton Town Hall and its Wurlitzer organ await for me and Miss Woolf...

- A Town Hall Taster -

Surviving a crazily busy sardines ordeal on the 10:49 Nottingham departure from New Street (during which we are 'treated' to a chorus of Madonna's 'Into the Groove' by a carriage full of Cheltenham Town supporters), Jane and I arrive at Burton intent on an initial wander. Borough Road presents an underwhelming railway station frontage straight out of the 1960s before old favourites the Coopers Arms and the Devonshire earn my photographic admiration. Off to the main event we then go, joining the growing expectant throng outside the Town Hall in catching a few warming rays of sunshine. We start queuing up circa 11:45 so we're in a good spot for when the doors open at midday, and there's quite a snake of similarly eager folk stretching along King Edward Place behind us. 

- The Wurlitzer Wonder -

The layout is familiar from previous editions whereby ciders and local beers are in the Lingen Room, the main hall is organised alphabetically by brewery and (most importantly) the mighty Wurlitzer organ is present and correct. Plunging straight into our task, Jane tries something distressingly pink in the form of Hunt's Raspberry whereas I opt for Tollgate’s Old Rasputin, a richly dark stout with the promise of a thick creamy head. We gravitate to the balcony where I always love to sit for the best views of the Victorian interior, perfect for peoplewatching in that we're on the lookout for impressive beards, very sparkly dresses and outrageous mullets. Miss Woolf chances upon Farmer Jim's Rhubarb Bob for her second selection while I tackle a pale ale prospect in the guise of Nene Valley's Release the Chimps. No apes were harmed in the drinking of this brew, and we're delighted when organist Steve starts tinkling the ivories for a lunchtime recital comprising ‘Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye’ and ‘Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs Of Dover'. 

- Purple Haze -

Broadoak's Purple Haze continues Jane's full spectrum of fruity hues, followed in her case by the same company's traditional perry which is a definite hit. I go very local for a slurp of Ale to the King as produced by Tower right here in Burton, venturing next onto Vulcan Bitter which hails from the Neepsend Brewery. The Wurlitzer soundtrack keeps us entertained for most of the afternoon, other classic tunes being played include 'Babyface' and 'Strangers in the Night'. It is however Steve's Phantom of the Opera medley which really brings a smile to the Woolf face, that and the presence of an 8.4% cidery force to be reckoned with called The General. My personal finale is Peasants Revolt, threatening to unleash my revolutionary urges as the whole room sings along to 'Delilah' and 'Sweet Caroline', reliable crowdpleasers every time.

- Brother Rabbit at Inn-Uendos -

Our final festival drinks duly downed, we vacate the balcony and return our glasses - let's see about getting some pubs shall we? First up comes Burton's Black Country Ales establishment for my seventh stamping towards the 2026 Ale Trail; at the Dog, Jane samples Purbeck's Katy Perry for an apple and pear blended cider - the punning name is fun - whereas I try Enville's Old Porter, a top quality pint with very smooth notes of chocolate. Inn-Uendos beckons with its seaside postcard take on saucy humour (think Carry On wordplay with a smutty side) and supplies respective halves of Thornbridge Brother Rabbit versus Lilley's Rhubarb. This means we sidestep tongue-in-cheek cocktails (Penis Colada is probably best avoided), and once the football fans filter through we finish off at the Arches, Outwoods Brewery's taphouse being under the railway bridge. The corrugated steel shell here is reminiscent of an air raid shelter and it's very popular too with most seats taken inside and out; we just about find room for a closing combination of Dancing Duck's Dark Drake and Lilley's Mango prior to our train. 

Chelmsley Clubbing with the Hub Marketing Board

The month is March and that means the Hub Marketing Board like to aim for East Birmingham on a date as close to St Patrick's Day as possible, with the Chairman keen to recall his legendary colleague Pattie Hughes of the Old Coventry Road. This year the calendar has fallen nicely for us, so strap yourselves in for a full-on blast during which we'll go clubbing in Chelmsley Wood...

- Pattie drives the X12 -

Trip Log: Friday 20th March 2026 and the day commences with Midland Metro tram action from Bradley Lane. Driver familiarisation training is underway ready for more new stops to open as the network is set to expand in the near future; change is also afoot down by Priory Queensway due to the demolition of The Square shopping precinct, meaning sections of Bull Street and Dale End are cordoned off for safety reasons. It takes us a while to work out where the X12 bus now departs from but once aboard we can settle in for a speedy grunt along the Aston Expressway and through Spaghetti Junction - those interlocking concrete ribbons are quite a sight when seen from the top deck of a National Express bus!

- Bromford Hub Business -

Alighting on Bromford Lane, we get down to the main business of the day. Decorative mural panels at the gateway to the Bromford Bridge estate include a reference to 'The Hub' so the Chairman is deployed to apply his trusty seal of approval. The Heart of Birmingham Vocational College nearby has its own separate hub facility - giving us two spottings in swift succession - plus there is chance to recall the days when Drews Lane played host to the Wolseley Motors factory (latterly LDV before the site was cleared). Sadly our top greasy spoon target of 'Come Dine With Us' on the corner of Fairholme Road is shut, so we need a replacement option...

- Silly Sausage, Stechford -

A nifty bit of Googling therefore has us jumping onto the 11C Outer Circle for the short ride via Ward End to Stechford so that we can seek out Silly Sausage on Flaxley Road. Part of a run of small business units that otherwise includes The Bed Centre and Flaxley Tyres, this takes care of our breakfasting needs through the deliverance of bacon, sausages, eggs and fried bread. Mr D9 stoically munches his meal down despite the considerable risk of gourmet gas, then has to suffer a secretarial silly song in the guise of Ken Dodd's Nikky Nakky Noo (with a chorus of high-pitched diddymen). The 14 route has us on one of Pattie's old patches, passing Lea Hall Garage and covering Kitts Green to deposit us at the Meadway Lidl by Mackadown Lane. There aren't all that many drinking options left in this part of Brum but we have an idea...

- The Banbury Club -

Guided once again by Google, we navigate to Granby Avenue in the industrial portions of Garretts Green. The Club is a sports bar majoring on pool, snooker and darts; membership is required for using the games equipment but we are welcome to climb the stairwell and partake of £4 Carling in the dimly-lit dartboard corner. We've unwittingly set our theme for the day now because we'll subsequently undertake a tour of similarly constituted establishments over the course of the afternoon. A heritage-styled double decker on the 72 survives Tile Cross to link us to Chelmsley Wood where we successfully plot our way through the shopping centre when tracking down the Banbury Club. This building seemingly has no windows but is surprisingly luxurious inside; we savour M&B Mild in the lounge while the function room bingo is packed. The amount of mobility scooters stationed outside is a testament to how popular this place is, and we exit to the strains of Pick of the Hub Pops with guest presenter Pattie counting down the charts from 2025, complete with Cilla Black, Lester the Lobster and missing gnomes.

- Rumours Bar & Grill -

If you'd said beforehand we'd spend the day 'clubbing' in Chelmsley Wood I'd have raised a concerned WME eyebrow but the brief has been set and we're game for the challenge. Next up, we ferret across to Fordbridge by way of Chelmsley Road to see what has become of the former Fordbridge Social. After a bit of sprucing up (externally at least) it is now calling itself Rumours Bar & Grill so a crafty Carling will suit us while a broken-down building supplies lorry causes utter gridlock outside. The Chairman loves his flat-roofers so this is right up his alley, as indeed is the C's Bar over on Bosworth Drive where we pass the security check to gain access (Mr D9 must have been smiling appropriately). The staff are busy preparing for a 40th birthday party but we're fine to stay for a quick drink, the premises seemingly being closely linked to the St Anne's Catholic Church next door. We could get used to this clubbing lark!

- Cast Iron Closet Inspections -

Setting aside any pretensions of covering Coleshill today, we figure that our St Patrick's Day trip should probably dabble a little with Digbeth. The 97 can get us there even if the Bordesley Green traffic tries its best to detain us, then the sight of an intact cast iron urinal on Great Barr Street definitely attracts much D9 excitement (and a certain bald spot for good measure). Over the road is the Son Caney Cuba Bar which some people might recall being the Forge Tavern for many years; we've never done it in either guise so a first ever look is a must. It's quiet but we can admire some of the original bar fittings as well as getting into a Latin American spirit - fun, friendly, and something that little bit different from the norm.

- An Irish Coffee -

Digbeth seems to specialise in the unusual these days so you never really know what might lurk around the next corner. Low Places bills itself as a Dive Bar inspired by US honky tonk haunts so we don't need much persuading to try out the Pabst Blue Ribbon lager amidst a wall of truck registration plates. It's relaxed, it's quirky and it has a comic cover for Thor in the gents toilets. Knowing Digbeth's long links with the Emerald Isle, it makes sense that we round off with a couple of modern takes on Irish hospitality hence Hennessey's and Norton's both get a whirl - the first of those is an impressive bar-cum-function suite with a penchant for Guinness toucans, the second is housed in the vast units of a former hydraulics works and serves up a cracking drop of Church End's Irish Coffee stout. There's just time to sample Subside (a rock and alternative music emporium which stocks real ale) before Scruffy Murphys memorably brings the curtain down with its own rock-leaning tastes. What an exceptional crawl!

And So It Begins...

Yes, the 2026 version of the Black Country Ales Trail is happily upon us. Every year during the months of March, April and May, the brewery invites intrepid pubgoers to collect stamps across their estate with potential prizes to be won. This year there are 55 pubs taking part, with the rewards for anyone who visits at least 25 of these being a rugby shirt plus a £25 gift card. I've claimed my passport so let's get going...

- Lych Gate Allegiances -

There are Black Country Ales establishments as far afield as Hereford, Leicester and Rugby but my first stamp comes closest to home with a pint at Wolverhampton's Lych Gate Tavern. The date is Friday 6th March and Stephen is joining me for the afternoon fresh from his latest stint of exam invigilation duties; we meet just after midday with me already in situ, part way down a lovely glass of Froth Blowers Cloudburst Porter accompanied by a tasty samosa. Mr Beardsmore also avails himself of the snacks cabinet for a meaty sausage roll - he is quite a connoisseur of all things pork is our Stephen and gives this a sound thumbs up. Any doubt as to the Lych Gate's footballing loyalties are dispelled by the presence of a massive Wolves flag.

- The Black Country Arms -

For me much of the fun of the trail involves getting round to places you haven't been to in a while, or to borrow a cliche it's the taking part that counts! Walsall presents a double stamping opportunity once we've survived any Friday traffic on the 529 bus route through the notorious Junction 10. The M6 is actually moving surprisingly freely hence we reach the Black Country Arms in good time, remembering the days when the local rag market would have passed its front door and stretched up the hill to the foot of St Matthew's Church. I digress and need to discuss beery matters so I'll place on record that my second inking is secured courtesy of Front Row's Red Roses cherry-infused stout, sitting upstairs amidst unexpected dangling birdcages. The Black Country Arms always rates highly in CAMRA circles and is the 2026 Walsall Pub of the Year, a most deserving winner it must be said.

- Peanut Caramel & Chocolate in the Pretty Bricks -

Second place in that esteemed competition has been awarded to the Pretty Bricks on John Street, a little cracker of a backstreet pub that belies its otherwise grim industrial setting with a very warm welcome. Making ourselves at home in the cosy front bar next to a set of mounted ornamental beer taps, I eagerly partake of New Invention's mouth-watering Peanut, Caramel & Chocolate Stout as brewed literally up the road (well, a couple of miles away to be precise) in Bloxwich. Make no mistake, this is immediately right up there as one of my best pints of 2026 but I do have a sweet tooth so anybody giving me liquid pudding is going to win my affections. Mr B and I ponder footballing and political matters, chatting away in time honoured fashion.

- The Three Horseshoes -

The trail thread is next picked up on Saturday 14th March when I stitch a couple of Sandwell stamps into my logbook. A tram ride across to Black Lake puts me in prime position for getting the Three Horseshoes on Witton Lane, collecting sunny pictures of Hateley Heath and Hill Top along the way. Although I arrive not long after midday, the place is already utterly rammed due to a combination of pre-match West Bromwich Albion fans and a 60th birthday party (the lady in question turns up just before 1pm and is promptly serenaded by the entire pub). Settle's Old Smithy Porter delivers the dark ale I'd been hoping for, and I must commend the company on their recent refurbishment here, everything looking very spick and span indeed.

- The Rising Sun -

It's a gorgeous spring afternoon so a towpath tickle into Tipton is ideal for stretching my legs and earning my next stamping. The Tame Valley Canal from Holloway Bank to Toll End offers vistas for the purist, if you happen to like pylons and National Grid substations that is. Better 'scenery' awaits on Horseley Road in the form of the Rising Sun, a one-time National Pub of the Year champion where I grudgingly concede that a wall of Baggies memorabilia is almost acceptable. The beer is good - Golden Duck Tinner's Tipple backed with Downton's Elderquad - but is eclipsed by a generously filled chicken tikka salad cob that sends hunger packing. A large screen shows Coventry losing at home to Southampton as the Saturday sporting action commences while Reggie the dog prowls about hoping for discarded pork scratchings.

- The Jewellers Arms -

The fine weather holds firm through to the evening of Tuesday 17th March when Bookworm Bygrave and I will be on quizzing duties in the Jewellery Quarter. Prior to the Barrel Store's testing trivia, we call into the Jewellers Arms on the junction of Hockley Street and Spencer Street. Painted signwriting for Hand Pulled Ales entices us inside to discover a characterful interior of tiled fireplaces and vintage local photography, very much in keeping with the Black Country Ales house style. Beartown’s Creme Bearlee is a beer I'm always pleased to see, laden as it is with sweet stout notes plus a smidgen of Madagascan vanilla no less. Quiet corners are perfect for chatting about a whole range of topics (well libraries mostly) then a respectable fourth place is as much as we can muster at Attic's arches bar quizwise, falling foul of Madonna's earliest #1 singles and lack of knowledge about famous Patricks. Cheers!

Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #43

Nearly seven years on from my first Lost Pubs posting, it's a sad and depressing fact that pub closures look likely to continue. These are tough times for the sector, with concerns over footfall (or lack thereof), business rates and alcohol pricing relative to supermarkets just some of the issues our local boozers are having to contend with. How many more will disappear the way of these five bygone boozers?

- The Royal Oak -

I hadn't intentionally planned it to be the case but each of our quintet this time around is from Staffordshire, starting with the Royal Oak at Halfpenny Green. A three-storey Banks's property situated on Six Ashes Road from whence it overlooked the triangular patch that forms the local village green, this place might have been convenient for visitors to Halfpenny Green Airport or Highgate Common back in the day. It closed circa 2015 with planning permission granted to convert it for private residential use.

- The Nesbitt Arms -

The outlying estates of southern Stafford beckon for our second offering, whereby the Nesbitt Arms served the residents of Rising Brook and Burton Manor. Originally a Butlers pub built in the mid-1950s, it could be found on Churchill Way near the junction with Morton Road - I first remember taking pictures of it during my Eccleshall excursion of January 2008 although this photo was obtained a few years later. The building has since been flattened to make way for new housing, leaving the Royal Oak as the only pub in the area.

- The Norfolk Inn -

The Stoke-on-Trent suburb of Shelton is where I happened upon the Norfolk Inn during a nosy moment branching away from the Caldon Canal. Perhaps it was my explorational instincts that led me to investigate Norfolk Street, and I'm glad I did because this ex-Marston's number was already up for sale with a distinct likelihood that it would never reopen as a watering hole. My understanding is that a pharmacy now operates out of these premises.

- The Birds -

Finishing with a couple of Cannock candidates, our next establishment is not to be confused with the famous Alfred Hitchcock film of 1963. I doubt Tippi Hedren has ever had cause to visit Pye Green either but that's where The Birds resided as a fairly functional feature of Bradbury Lane. The pub didn't look as scary as its namesake movie but any risk of avian attacks has surely been extinguished given that the cul-de-sac of Wenlock View now occupies the land.

- The Robin Hood -

All of which brings us to the Robin Hood, an A34 landmark on the approach to Churchbridge Island just north of Great Wyrley. It looked fairly basic at the time of this snapshot, complete with England flags and a Barclays Premier League banner; the pub survived the construction of the nearby M6 Toll motorway but ultimately met its fate at the hands of housing developers with new homes springing up along Lock Basin Close. 

Berkswell and Balsall Common

2026 has proven to be a very sociable year thus far so my usual habit of staging solo adventures has taken something of a back seat. A spare Saturday at the very end of February does however see me venturing out on my own, casting a Solihull spotlight upon the neighbouring villages of Berkswell and Balsall Common...

- Berkswell Station -

Trip Log: Saturday 28th February 2026 and I've not set foot in either of my target locations for several years. Berkswell Station hasn't changed much since I last saw it although I can't help remembering the days when it had platform awnings, a station house and a level crossing - the current brick bunker seems sadly soulless by comparison with just a small hatch window for dispensing tickets to would-be passengers. The Coventry-bound platform is flanked by the many pools of Lavender Hall Fisheries which perhaps look even more watery than usual after heavy rain yesterday evening and overnight. Taking time to get my bearings again, I realise that the Railway Inn is all boarded up so I might have to rethink my pub plans for the day; it always struck me as a traditional homely boozer with lots of train memorabilia on display.

- HS2 Works at Berkswell -

I was already aware that Berkswell lay in the path of the HS2 works but to see construction up close really does confirm how mammoth a project this is. Ominous rafts of concrete masonry have been slotted into position while a long tranche gouges its way through the landscape, just about bypassing the aforementioned pools. Road closure signs abound as I take Baulk Lane, seeing how the earthen ribbon of cleared ground streaks off way into the distance. Litter pickers and horse riders offer company as I head up past Ram Hall, noting sheepy fragrances and hurdling the occasional overflowing puddle. Emerging onto Spencers Lane with sprouting crocuses on the waterlogged verges, I soon reach Berkswell village centre where Coventry Road intersects with Lavender Hall Lane. Chocolate box cottages and a telephone box repurposed as a book exchange suggest this is a place that will suit me very nicely.

- Brown Beer at the Bear -

I've earned a drink and in keeping with the adjacent architecture, the Bear Inn is a stunning olde worlde rambling proposition operating under Greene King's Chef & Brewer division. Old steps lead to a protruding porch of flagstone flooring then the main interior has cosy nooks for dining and drinking, not forgetting the Cromwell Bar up in the eaves with more beams than you can shake a stick at. The timbered frame dates from the C16th so there is much age to ponder over a solid pint of Wadworth 6X (the Greene King IPA glass in my picture is a red herring). Soulful music and the earnest arrival of lunching parties give a hum of ambiance although it's the deep brown panelling and sense of history which is ticking my boxes.

- St John the Baptist Church -

 A wider look around the village is a must hence Lavender Hall Lane allows access to Church Lane. A charity barbecue is underway on the little green outside Berkswell Stores while the church itself lurks off the fork, just past its associated primary school. Dedicated to St John the Baptist, it's a striking hodgepodge of Norman and medieval features, the tower being made of stone (with a Packwood-style sundial) but the jettied porch is of timber with yellowed render. Daffodils among the headstones add a splash of colour plus a hazard notice warns of paths getting slippery when wet or frosty - I'll take extra care just to be on the safe side. It's easy to imagine this being an idyllic corner of central England when the sun is shining, giving a taste of Warwickshire's past even though we're technically nowadays in the West Midlands. 

- Long-term blockage at Lavender Hall Lane -

The next segment of Lavender Hall Lane is completely closed off due to HS2 happenings; there's no pedestrian access whatsoever but all I can see beyond the barricade is a mound of sandy-hued earth that I wouldn't be keen to traipse over anyway. I've therefore no choice but to backtrack the exact same way I came - via Baulk Lane - and go the longer way round into Balsall Common. Brightening skies are encouraging as Hallmeadow Road effectively acts as a Balsall Common bypass, sneaking beside Lavender Hall Park where a football pitch plays host to the Hornets whoever or whatever they are. My second dose of refreshment comes at the George in the Tree, primarily a Beefeater chain effort accompanying a Premier Inn hotel on the main Kenilworth Road. I won't get overly gushing about having Carling and watching the BBC News Channel but it satisfies my curiosity which is the main thing.

- The Old Saracens Head -

Something more exciting theoretically awaits in Balsall Street, once I've navigated Dengate Drive's excessive wiggles with all manner of cul-de-sac offshoots. As with the Bear Inn earlier, the Old Saracens Head is a real looker of a building, fashioned out of sloping beams but with low ceilings that could pose a significant danger to people of my height. Managing to avoid walloping the WME bonce on anything painful, I collect a pint of Marston's Pedigree and end up sitting outside - yes, in February. The temperatures are such that I'm hardly going to freeze and with the sun out it's actually rather pleasant sitting on wicker garden chairs underneath a domed pergola. The pub sign features a portrait of a swarthy Arabian tribesman but I'm more distracted by a wiry set of ornamental lambs - what are they all about?

- Cottagey Charms in Balsall Common -

Berkswell is certainly the prettier of the two villages yet Balsall Common is not beyond having its own thatched charms, as indeed evidenced by an attractive property on Balsall Street East. Taking the Gipsy Lane turning past the Heart of England Secondary School, I reach my final watering hole in the guise of the White Horse. Part of the Wells & Co group, this is a bright and breezy standard all-rounder offering drinks promotions, a typical menu and plenty of scope for watching sport. Brewpoint Anchorman lives up to its fresh and fruity billing for a quick slurp in the side snug as champagne corks pop to welcome a wedding party in the function room; I'll quietly leave them to their celebrations and catch the 15:25 train home.