A Heatwave Hub Marketing Homage

The summer of 1976 has gone down in folklore as one of the hottest ever on record, with day after day of baking heat lasting for weeks. The young Chairman was there to experience it first hand, living near West Bromwich and being subjected to the Wurzels’ ‘Combine Harvester’ repeatedly by neighbour Mad Matthews. Fifty years on, another prolonged heatwave is taking hold so we have perfect conditions to relive D9's youth... 

- All aboard the 47 -

Trip Log: Thursday 16th July 2026 and it doesn't seem five minutes since we were last in the Wednesbury area, full of World Cup excitement. Alas the country is now recovering from the agony of England's semi-final defeat to Argentina but the Hub Marketing Board put aside any lingering melancholy when meeting at the Great Western Street tram stop. Chairman D9 is in charge of the evening's itinerary, picking out places that bring back personal memories of his schooldays - he had hair back then! - and his first instruction is to board the number 47 bus for a ride along Ridding Lane, Hydes Road and Crookhay Lane. To get ourselves into even more of a nostalgic mood, the WME Silly Song is Max Bygraves and 'The Drought of 76', complete with references to water rationing and Percy Thrower's radishes!

- The Coach & Horses -

Passing the Gough Arms as Mr D9 recalls a character nicknamed the 'Hateley Heath Beast' (she had a certain liking for bus drivers), we make our first port of call the Coach & Horses on Kesteven Road. This has been spruced up since we last came and has banners stating that it is under new management, although it still counts as a flat-roofed estate pub however much they try to make it look more fancy. According to the Chairman, some teachers at the nearby Menzies High School (nowadays renamed as the Phoenix Collegiate) might have been known to have a sneaky tipple in here back in the day. Our choice of lubrication is Carling, giving the Secretary a £3.50 discount which would seal spreadsheet honours as the trip unfolds. ODI cricket meanwhile shows on the big screens with Jasprit Bumrah batting for India at Cardiff.

- Remembering Menzies C Block -

Our very own Chairman was himself a pupil at Menzies in the 1980s so Marsh Lane has us travelling back in time, pointing out where the entrances to B Block (containing the school's library plus Maths and Geography classrooms) and C Block (housing the English, Drama and Art facilities) would have been. The athletics track appears to have been repainted and tidied up after previously falling into disrepair, although it's far too warm to contemplate running the 400 metres today. Instead we recreate the route a youthful D9 would have taken to get home at the end of a busy school day, briefly linking onto Jubilee Street before Princess Grove has apparently changed very little since the late 1970s. Some of the garden fences and concrete lampposts could well still be intact from when this part of the estate was originally built.

- Outside the former D9 family home -

It was back during the spring of 1976 when the Chairman first moved to what would be the D9 family home for his formative years. This means the likes of Caldwell Street, Walsall Road and Alexandra Terrace inspire fond reminiscing on the long hot summer, even though hearing the Wurzels ad nauseam must surely have driven everyone to distraction! Other tunes to resonate off the Chairman's playlist include 'Save Your Kisses For Me' by Brotherhood of Man and 'Let Em In' from Wings, the latter a reminder of the chimes on Mrs Morris's doorbell. D9 thoughts of next door neighbours and old friends come flooding back at this stage of our stroll, not to mention the lady who ran the local sweetshop.

- Pennyhill Primary School -

And the memories don't just end there. Next up is Pennyhill Primary School, occupying a site bounded by Hollyhedge Lane, Willett Road and Connor Road. When the Chairman attended lessons here, it was effectively two conjoined schools (Charlemont and Hollyhedge) with the current name adopted circa 2007 when these were amalgamated. Young D9 would have been taught in the Charlemont side, where provision had first been established in 1929, whereas the Hollyhedge counterpart was set up from 1964 onwards. Some of the school railings look as though they might have been around since the 1960s actually, and our accompanying soundtrack has now switched to hearty renditions of 'Jeans On' by David Dundas.

- Royal Oak (Newton Street) -

All this wallowing in the past has made us rather thirsty so a pit stop in the Crown & Anchor is deemed necessary. More commonly referred to as the Jinglers, this falls under M&B's Sizzling brand with a predictable offer in terms of both food and drink, majoring on stacked skillets and big burgers. A cool glass of Carling is sufficient for our needs, allowing the Chairman to recall when the Edwards family used to run the place. The Secretary is pining for quality cask ale however and gets his wish granted care of the Royal Oak, a homely free house just around the corner on Newton Street. We've been here a couple of times before but it suits us nicely for well-kept Enville White, watching the Open golf from the comfort of a very cosy lounge.

- Spotted near the Spinney -

Pressing onwards, the next location lined up for D9 reflection is the Charlemont estate where Beaconview Road offers glimpses of several blocks of flats. Marshall House was demolished many years ago but others have survived, notably Camberley and Briarley (the tallest tower) which still have the hallmark of 1960s construction albeit with modernisation over time. Of the local pub provision, the Mill is sadly no more after falling victim to fire damage, leaving us the Spinney to supply our next slice of Carling action. We begin indoors in the presence of signed Chris Brunt West Bromwich Albion shirts then move outside to a plain beer table so that the Chairman can fully appreciate what he calls 'proper scenery'.

- A Gospel Oak nightcap -

It isn't only 1976 that the Chairman is keen to relive so the final two pubs on our mini-crawl enable him to dip into his 1980s catalogue. The Stone Cross is a large roadhouse midway between Walsall and West Bromwich, perched on a busy gyratory encircled by the A4031. The current pub building replaced the previous one in 1934, and after years of Mitchells & Butlers ownership it is now an Indian bar and grill. Yet more Carling is supped to the tune of Judy Boucher's 1987 smash 'Can't Be With You Tonight' and a bit of Bros might have entered the equation too. After helping hands from the 40 and 11A buses, our landing point ends up being the Gospel Oak near Tipton for a 1988-themed nightcap listening to the likes of Kylie and other Stock Aitken Waterman alumni. With that, our wander down memory lane is over but it goes to show how certain songs, locations and temperatures can really trigger vivid recollections of people and places that mean a lot to us. Cheers!

National Trust... At The Double!

The transition of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums to the custodianship of the National Trust means that they should be fully safeguarded for future generations, although Bookworm Bygrave and I haven't been able to make much use of our annual passes during the handover period. The flipside is that our yearlong tickets are now valid at other National Trust venues so the warm weather entices us to go exploring...

- St Cassian's Church -

Two local(ish) trips in two days is our agreement, with the Clent Hills up for consideration on Tuesday 14th July 2026. Wishing to make the most of the weather, let's throw in Chaddesley Corbett for added value - I'd not been to the village since an early 2011 Rog visit so a fifteen year gap is reason enough to have another look. St Cassian’s Church is at the heart of things, the flag of St George billowing from just below its spire, while Miss B finds decades-old Jim graffiti etched into the stonework. A separate churchyard building of arched windows looks most intriguing - could this be a former schoolhouse or parish hall we wonder? 

- Bathams Best Bitter at the Swan -

Chaddesley Corbett is home to three pubs although the Talbot only seems to serve alcohol at the tail end of the week, instead operating as a timber-beamed coffee shop and meeting place the rest of the time. One day I might get round to sampling the Fox but - just as with Roger - it's the Swan which really steals the limelight; this is a Bathams tied house, need I say more! I'll go many a mile for a cracking pint of their Best Bitter and this one is nectar of the highest order, matched only by the quality of the cobs (in our case, cheese served with bonus side salad to give Emily her daily cucumber fix). The lounge side has high ceilings and baronial chandeliers that would not look out of place in a medieval castle while the beer garden is a sun worshippers dream. Hopefully I'll make it back here well before 2041!

- The Four Stones (well, three of them) -

Delighted to see the Swan on such excellent form, we hop back in the car for the short drive to Clent, going through Drayton and Belbroughton en route. I usually associate the National Trust with stately homes and other historic examples of bricks and mortar but this overlooks their role as stewards of some of the country’s finest landscapes. The Clent Hills come under their jurisdiction and comprise circa 440 acres of wide open spaces, woodland and wildlife habitat to enjoy. Adams Hill acts as our gateway in, following arrows for the Buzzard Trail to reach a toposcope viewing platform pointing out some of the geological landmarks on show - the Welsh Black Mountains, the Malvern Hills, Turners Hill communications masts and even the glory of Wolverhampton. We check out the Four Stones as erected as a folly for Lord Lyttelton (a former Chancellor of the Exchequer no less, and resident of Hagley Hall) then troop back down the slopes for a restorative drink in the happily resurrected Hill Tavern.

- Bookworm Bygrave at Wightwick Manor -

Wednesday 15th July 2026 brings with it the prospect of Wightwick Manor, an acclaimed Arts and Crafts property on the fringes of Wolverhampton which was built for the Mander family between 1887 and 1893. The house is especially renowned for its examples of William Morris wallpaper and Pre-Raphaelite art, with a current exhibition celebrating the extensive influence of the Rossetti family (Dante Gabriel the celebrated painter, Christina the poet, William the critic and Maria the author). It's fascinating to see some of their works and learn about the impact they collectively had, challenging Victorian conventions with a bohemian spirit.

- Mander Brothers Ltd Memorial -

Emily and I enjoy a thorough wander through the main house, from the Great Parlour to the Dining Room (hearing about incontinent wombats as evidence of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's descent into madness), and then heading upstairs to the Indian Bird and Acanthus Rooms as named after their respective wallpaper patterns. The Malthouse Gallery showcases artistic works by Evelyn de Morgan and her husband William, the noted ceramic tile designer. The Mander family were prominent industrialists, especially in the manufacture of varnishes and paints, and the Mander Brothers Ltd war memorial can be found in a remembrance garden where it presents a Roll of Honour of workers who lost their lives during the two World Wars.

- The Peach House at Wightwick -

A second hand bookshop beneath the Malthouse Gallery was always going to elicit much Bygrave attention, and with two titles duly purchased, we stroll around the wider grounds. I remember the Kitchen Gardens almost resembling a pumpkin production line when I last came in October 2023 but this time around the sweet peas are more prominent, daintily swaying on the faint wisps of breeze. The Peach House dates to 1891 and is absolutely sweltering inside given the recent high temperatures; we catch glimpses of tomatoes and aubergines starting to ripen up nicely. It's great that the estate grows its own produce with some of the potplants being sold at the gift shop. Hot drinks and summer berry flapjacks courtesy of a tearoom housed in the old stables adds to the indulgent flavour, and we've enough time to call into the nearby Mermaid for further refreshment on the way home.

A Monday Meander Around Marylebone

Days out in London are a very rare event for me, and if I do cross paths with our capital city I'm usually just passing through en route to the cricket somewhere. Not this time though! Bookworm Bygrave has a book of recommended walks at her disposal so we're heading south for a Monday in Marylebone...

- Edgware Road Station -

Monday 6th July 2026 and I'm easily persuaded really - the mere mention of bookshops and historic pubs means this is far too good an opportunity to resist. Catching the 09:55 Chiltern service from Solihull sounds straightforward enough in principle, but a lorry has collided with a railway bridge in Gerrards Cross so we have to switch down via Oxford into Paddington, one of the great London terminals; I love the overhanging awning topped with GWR heraldic crest as evidence of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's original station design here. Exiting onto Praed Street, we quickly pass an attractive archway for St Mary's Hospital (founded in 1845) before further railway-related excitement presents itself courtesy of the frontage to Edgware Road Station complete with lettering for the Metropolitan Railway, London's original underground.  

- The Wallace Collection -

With photocopies in hand, Bookworm Bygrave leads us on our walk proper which commences on Chapel Street immediately outside the aforementioned Edgware Road tube stop. It doesn't take long for the historic discoveries to accumulate: St Mary's Church has a lovely rounded portico and faces down Wyndham Place towards Bryanston Square, originally constructed as part of the Portman Estate. A memorial fountain dedicated to Morning Post newspaper editor William Pitt Byrne is pointed out, then we navigate via Portman Square and Fitzhardinge Street to happen upon the Wallace Collection galleries based on Manchester Square. Always keen for a cultural intermission, we browse inside this national museum within Hertford House, formerly the principal London townhouse residence of the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace. Elaborate French cabinets and decorative arts abound but it's the vast display of princely armour which has me transfixed - such extraordinary battle attire!

- Grinning in the Golden Eagle -

It's a warm day in the Big Smoke so we're thankful that the route contains plenty of suggested refreshment stops, including some rather special pubs. The Coach Makers Arms sits on the corner of Marylebone Lane and Bentinck Street, where it is part of the Cubitt House portfolio and has three levels comprising a first floor 'chop house' restaurant, ground floor pub and a speakeasy cocktail bar in the basement. We stay at ground level for Allsopp's Best Bitter and some televised Wimbledon tennis action, cooling off a little. Marylebone Lane is also where we find the Golden Eagle, advertising regular piano singalongs although they're spared any WME recitals of 'Roll Out The Barrel' or 'Down At The Old Bull And Bush'. A small but perfectly formed interior provides a timeless bolthole for sampling of Fullers London Pride, chatting to Emily about her preferred bits of the Capital (Kew Gardens being a firm Bygrave favourite).

- Daunt Books -

The deal is simple - if I can claim prized pubs, the Bookworm gets to fulfill her bookshop fix and there are a couple of unmissable ones on our itinerary. We briefly weave towards Oxford Street via St Christopher's Place (a former slum area that has been transformed into a street of desirable boutiques), then zigzag amongst the renowned medical establishments of Harley Street, noting the headquarters of the Royal Society of Medicine at 1 Wimpole Street. Emily's side of the bargain is upheld with thanks to Marylebone's Oxfam store - rumour has it I raided their stocks of Tottenham Hotspur programmes for a 1970s Wolves edition - although it's the Daunt Books premises which truly captures the imagination. Their store is organised along geographical lines with fiction, travel guides and non-fiction arranged together by continent, region or UK locality. Creaky floors and crammed shelves, its a magnet for literature lovers!

- Bookworm in the Barley Mow -

Happy with her haul, Emily next guides us to Paddington Street Gardens as a little oasis of green space which is an inviting spot for lazing on the grass or seeking out a shady bench. We're nearing the end of our circuit but there are a couple more must-visit pubs in the vicinity which we're eager to try. The first of these is the Barley Mow on Dorset Street, said to be the oldest pub in Marylebone having been built in 1791 and trading since 1793. The interior is heritage listed on account of many original features such as two private lockable drinking booths beside the main bar counter. Monkey Brewhouse's Tollhouse Bitter slips down very smoothly at 3.8% as we're amused by some of the darts team names - 'We're Sexy and We Throw It', 'The Tungsten Tossers' and 'Till Death Do Us Dart' all raising a chuckle.

- Chiltern Trains at Marylebone -

Our final drinks stop will therefore be the Angel In The Fields, a Samuel Smiths establishment on Thayer Street. It doesn't stand out as much as some in terms of its understated exterior but inside it comes alive with dark wooden panelling and floral stained glass, not to mention a nice cask pint of Old Brewery Bitter. I'm told the London arm of Sam Smiths can be slightly more relaxed as regards the brewery's digital detox rules and that does seem to be the case here, albeit the atmosphere still benefits from that focus on old-fashioned conversation. Gloucester Place is our direct means of getting to Marylebone Station where we stock up on train snacks and progress to Boarding Area A while waiting for the Snow Hill service to be prepared on Platform 6. London can be busy, intense even, but it rewarded these two intrepid explorers with a wonderful day of Marylebone mooching. Bookworm and I could well return for more! 

Chasewater Rail & Ale with Mr D9

It's summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime and the Hub Marketing Board will be in session once more, lapping up the lovely July sunshine. If all goes to plan, long term targets could be sampled (of both a pub and breakfasting persuasion) plus there's a strong chance of a beer festival too...

- A Well Lane Cuppa -

Trip Log: Friday 3rd July 2026 sees Hub members converge upon Wolverhampton Bus Station for a delayed 10:30 rendezvous, the Chairman having been counting Wollaston grannies while Secretary WME waited in vain for a Perton bus to show up. Once reunited, our immediate task is to obtain a greasy spoon breakfast with Wednesfield's Well Lane Cafe top of the D9 wishlist as regards bacon, egg and sausage. Situated close to the local library and community centre, this place has been serving fry-ups since 1965 and has drivers queuing out the door awaiting sandwich orders. We find a spare table and settle in for a quality cuppa, noting a display shelf showcasing tributes to dearly departed customers. 'Bryan' must have been well known for his love of Torpedo sandwiches sliced in half and smothered in brown sauce it seems!

- Spotted at the Uxbridge Arms -

Happily fed, we feel ready to take on the rest of the day, the centrepiece of which should be a visit to the Chasewater Rail & Ale Festival at Brownhills West Station. We'll go the long way round to get there, including popping to Pelsall to satisfy some D9 curiosities en route. These mostly relate to the Fingerpost (for St Austell's Tribute ale and an inspection of the replaced Yorks Bridge on the Wyrley & Essington Canal) and the Old House at Home (a fairly average Marston's effort closer to the village centre). We've earmarked the number 8 bus to convey us through Clayhanger into Brownhills but the route is on diversion due to High Street roadworks. Instead we pitch up at Chasetown Clock where the Uxbridge Arms attracts bald spot glances.

- Chasewater Heaths Signal Box -

It would have been rude not to have availed ourselves of Black Country Ales refreshment at this juncture and the Uxbridge Arms is more than up to the task. Lymestone's Stone Cold is a strong bitter which keeps us lubricated during a titanic darting tussle. Somehow or other, WME Whirlwind manages to find the finishing prowess to win all three legs played, despite an initial inability to throw straight - the Secretary's 74 checkout in the second leg proved particularly decisive, leaving poor D9 Destroyer dumbfounded. A Church Street wander then has us in position to investigate some of the Chasewater Railway's halts and stations, following tracks skirting the edge of the reservoir. These effectively are a throwback to the former colliery line, reminders of Cannock Chase's proud mining heritage. Chasewater Heaths has a signal box beside a level crossing, plus part of the buildings here have been converted into a cafe.

- The Victoria Club -

The stops at Chasetown (Church Street) and Norton Lakeside currently both look a little drab in all honesty, shorn of any signage and probably in need of some TLC, but the railway runs on a charitable basis and we all know times are hard at the moment. Our Chasewater roam is accompanied by silly songs extolling the virtues of Stockport (courtesy of Frankie Vaughan) and Central Milton Keynes, not to mention Frankie Yankovic's polka polemic 'In Heaven There Is No Beer'. Luckily for us there is still some beer in this corner of Staffordshire, most notably at the Victoria Club on Norton East Road. Chairman D9 loves this place, getting all nostalgic about crusty pitmen frequenting the social club in years gone by. These days it serves up an appreciated WME £3.40 Carling discount and a variety of World Cup opinions.

- Prepared for Action? -

After that very enjoyable brush with Norton Canes, we are clear to proceed to Brownhills West Station which serves as the Chasewater Railway's flagship location. The Sidings Tearoom and railway shop can be found here, serving up cakes and stocking a range of model locomotives respectively, while there is also a bric-a-brac selection inside an old carriage for those seeking to unearth bargain curios. Secretary WME eyes up the engines which work the two mile track (including the notable section crossing The Causeway near Norton Lakeside) with both steam and diesel enthusiasts catered for, subject to the timetable. Mr D9 meanwhile considers if he ought to sign up for a triathlon group, eventually deciding he prefers less energetic pursuits!

- Beowulf Feortig -

And now to the day's main event, Chasewater Rail & Ale as held in conjunction with Walsall CAMRA. 37 real ales are poised inside the Engine Shed hence we check in with the volunteer hosts and procure an £11 token card each, covering us for three pints or six halves. These are put to excellent use straight away in exchange for Beowulf's Feortig, a Saxon-sounding tipple  billed as a sessionable offering laden with hints of grapefruit and mango. The Chairman finds something exceedingly hoppy very much to his liking and similarly approves of Green Duck's Shoreline even though it counts as a tarmac in D9 terminology. My second pick thereafter is Kynn Brewery’s Scottish Meadowsweet Ale which has a curious mellow herbal flavour

- Brownhills West Traction -

The beer is great but there's no denying a big part of the attraction is the railway setting, being able to admire heavy duty rolling stock with our plastic glasses in hand. Retaining hints of its Northern Rail livery, carriage 55570 is part of a Class 142 set complete with Warrington blinds, whereas a former Burton-based shunting locomotive carries a 1929 plate for the Worthingtons Brewery. My tokens are then spent out on Lemon Greg and Bees Knees, contrasting blonde beers. The former hails from Fixed Wheel with all the zesty citrus the name implies, whereas the latter is a Revolution Brewery creation described as ‘buzzing with flavour. In between times, Mr D9 has an encounter with a Forest Elk, said to be Norwegian Red in style. Nice!

- Cheers to England! -

The Chairman lives to tell the tale after that Scandinavian interloper and is fighting fit to pursue a nightcap or two within the wider Walsall area. Intercepting the 937 bus near the Rising Sun roundabout, we breeze into the outskirts of Aldridge to seek out the Hop Station, a micropub based within the shopping parade by the Lazy Hill Tavern. Barstools and banter mark this out as a great discovery, especially with Green Duck's Overlord on top form (it's a 4.5% fruity pale ale brewed as one of their May monthly specials). A well-timed scurry for a number 7 bus fresh out of Castlefort allows just enough wriggle room for a WS1 Lounge finale over in Walsall town centre - cue the remarkable sight of Mr D9 busting a groove on Andy's Dancefloor. This party bar, in common with many venues, has really embraced the World Cup spirit so we raise a final glass to Thomas Tuchel and the lads in their ongoing bid for glory. Cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - June 2026

We've seen with some of the FIFA World Cup results that June has proven the month of the underdog, what with Curacao and Cape Verde picking up historic draws while other teams such as Canada, Egypt and even Scotland have registered notable victories. The WME photostream is obviously not in the same league as such a prestigious global tournament but the minnows have been holding their own here too...

June has seen plenty of activity from galleries that are usually quiet and I begin this round-up with news that WME Coventry and WME Solihull have both located a new arrival down the back of the sofa. Coventry's addition is an archive glimpse of Sutton Stop on the Oxford Canal back in 2011, and from the same year comes Solihull's successful recruitment of the Toby Jug pub at Kingshurst. Hardly earth-shattering stuff I grant you but every little helps!

Okay, fine. One measly added item each isn't enough to cut the mustard with some sticklers among my readership so WME Walsall can genuinely boast good progress. There have been several nice nuggets gleaned from Walsall town centre, including a 1970's Day promotional piece at The Crossing, an Old Square shopping centre logo and a tempting cask pint at the Black Country Arms. Taxi companies battle Guildhall shiny lettering for attention, then there's an intriguing sighting of a Walsall Wood angler sculpture, but perhaps the weirdest find of all goes to the papier mache tiger model at the Fountain pub. Grrrowwlll!

As well as Walsall has done, the race for the Golden Boot has been led by the unlikeliest of challengers. Kane, Mbappe, Haaland and Messi are all sticking the goals away for fun in North America, seemingly inspiring WME Telford and WME Warwickshire to follow suit. I have Wellington to thank for Telford's excellent form - the Cock Hotel, boot bunting and chip shop signage have all contributed - whereas Warwickshire has leaned heavily on principal creators Stratford (Sheep Street) and Warwick (the Black Pug, Greville Road and a motley assemblage of famous Ronnies).

WME Staffordshire can't quite match those heavy-hitters for pace but nevertheless weighs in care of Tamworth and Tutbury; if you like reclaimed millstones or war memorial inscriptions that's where you need to be looking, although you may prefer the artistic horse illustration I spotted at Uttoxeter railway station. WME Birmingham takes on a playmaker role, conjuring nuggets from Walmley - "Unbelievable Jeff", I kid you not - then WME Sandwell tackles hard in Tividale for Danks Street interest and two admiring pictures of the Wonder's pub frontage.

Staring at the prospect of early elimination are WME Worcestershire (this despite the start of a prospective surge involving Tardebigge Locks) and WME Shropshire, the former police station at Much Wenlock not being enough to guarantee a slot in the next round. Surprisingly struggling most of all is one of our pre-tournament favourites. Yes, WME Wolverhampton is having a shocker with only Tettenhall's St Michael & All Angels to its name. How the mighty have fallen! Eyes peeled in July to see which gallery goes on the lift the trophy...

Rail Rover Week 2026

June is turning into a monumental month for summertime exploration. Hot on the heels of Dudmaston, Droitwich and Scarborough comes my annual assessment of the Heart of England railway network. Rail Rover Week 2026 is go! 

- Trinity College -

Day One: Tuesday 16th June 2026 and I still feel as though I've got that North Yorkshire sea breeze gusting through my hair as I join forces with Bookworm Bygrave for an Oxford outing, the 'City of Dreaming Spires' being ours for the taking once we've endured an exceedingly full CrossCountry Trains journey down from Birmingham. Bee-themed murals and honeyed stone help us acclimatise to the august academic architecture, picking our way through streets busy with students and bicycles. You can almost sense yourself absorbing centuries of education simply by being close to famous seats of learning such as Brasenose and Trinity Colleges.

- Ancient Egypt in the Ashmolean -

As ever, Emily's excitement is piqued by visiting bookshops in which case Blackwell's is one of the most prestigious booksellers in the entire country having been operating from their Broad Street site since 1879. Their flagship store occupies several units but with a pub in the middle (the White Horse); naturally I approve of such an arrangement although said inn is not on our hitlist. A craving for culture leads us to the Ashmolean Museum to see their curated collections of art and antiquities. There are five floors taking you from ancient civilisations to the modern day, far too much to see in the time we'd allocated but we make sure to include the Egyptian exhibitions with their engraved stone tablets and mummified relics. At one stage I become wildly enthusiastic about a massive pot so Miss B has been teasing me about it ever since.

- Oxford Trinity in the Rose & Crown -

We might have declined the White Horse but there are other Oxford alehouses on the agenda, most notably the Royal Blenheim as a Titanic Brewery exponent tucked away along St Ebbe's Street. The Raspberry Pale here proves much to my liking, boasting a slight rosy tinge but will get upstaged in the pinkishness stakes by the external appearance of the Rose & Crown on North Parade Avenue. Listed on CAMRA's Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors, this place has been operated by the same licensees for over 40 years and hosts weekly Sunday jazz nights; my pint of Oxford Trinity in a dimpled glass is a winner. In between times we also called in at the White Rabbit on Friars Entry, enjoying its playful nod to the Alice In Wonderland stories.

- Long Eaton Library -

Day Two: Wednesday 17th June has me in the mood for East Midlands exploration, picking an intermediary stop on the line between Nottingham and Derby. Long Eaton gets the nod, many years after I first set foot there on the original Rail Rover of 2006. I didn't really get anywhere near the actual town centre back then so this time around I'm determined to tackle Tamworth Road, discovering a glorious library frontage illuminated with Pax Lux lettering. The central mosaic tympanum in my picture above depicts the classical figure of Learning against a golden sunburst backdrop. Impressive stuff indeed! 

- Trent Lock -

Long Eaton High Street reminds me of some you may find in the Black Country, slightly scruffy despite separate sections being cordoned off for public realm works. I could just as easily be in Bilston or Darlaston given the types of discount shops on show, although one lovely find is Rowells Drinking Emporium, a converted drapers store with a keen eye for ephemera. 'Hex Marks The Spot' is a Wilde Child stout that tantalises my tastebuds with caramel sensations, perched next to a stained glass peacock. Happily refreshed, I revert back via Tamworth Road to join the towpath of the Erewash Canal. The navigation in full links to the Cromford Canal at Langley Mill But I'll merely cover the shortish stretch to Trent Lock where it meets the river.

- Sawley Village Sign -

Trent Lock is a waterways location of some significance it seems, with boaters having the pick of an elegant lockhouse tearooms or two pubs if they be in need of sustenance. I didn't think any pub could rival Rowells for sheer novelty today but the Steamboat comes very close - it's not every day you meet a red Dalek, read old Beano comics or encounter a carousel horse called Bella. A steady walk into the nearby village of Sawley has me approaching Long Eaton Station from the south, photographing a totem sign en route. I've left myself just enough time to pop into the Sawley Junction micropub (overlooking the roundabout just beyond the station car park) for my fix of railwayana and more excellent beer. Britain Beermat would be proud!

- Prees Village Stores -

Day Three: having skipped a day on account of having evening Hub Marketing commitments, my story resumes on Friday 19th June over a slice of rural Shropshire. Prees is a request halt served by the Shrewsbury to Crewe local stopping service, so I ask the conductor for the train to set down there. At first glance I could be in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farmers fields with just the occasional tractor for company, but a mile-long stroll down hedgerow-lined lanes brings me into a small settlement to the north of Hawkstone Park. The Prees Village Stores (otherwise known as Jackie's) is a charming yet essential amenity, housing the local post office and supplying general grocery provisions to residents of the adjacent streets.

- A Wem Welcome -

Prees lies just off the A49 and is roughly equidistant between the towns of Whitchurch and Wem. I could go to either for my afternoon activities but pick the latter because I'd not been there for years, plus it has two Joule's pubs to keep me out of mischief if required. Wem's railway station is slightly more substantial than that at Prees - if not by much - but has now been shorn of its signalbox, replaced by remote working of the level crossing. I manage to obtain a few pictures of the Castle Hotel before the skies cloud over then mostly concentrate on its Joule's counterpart the White Lion which carries all of the attention to detail I'd expect from the Market Drayton-based brewery. A surprise discovery with an amusing name is the Warbling Tit down by St Peter & St Paul's Parish Church; it loosely follows the micropub model albeit with less of an emphasis on cask ales. A wall of Famous Wemmers keeps me entertained, recognising Greg Davies, Sybil Ruscoe and the essayist William Hazlitt.

- The Cross House Tavern -

Day Four: at the risk of rovering fatigue starting to set in, I summon up the energy to give good old Gloucestershire a whirl on Saturday 20th June. This time my chief accomplice will be none other than his Royal Highness himself, Nick being as keen as I to get a taste of Tewkesbury. The closest station is at Ashchurch but its infrequent direct links to Birmingham require us to change at Cheltenham first. This does seem to work well, especially with the 71 bus being punctual to take us the last couple of miles into Tewkesbury town centre. We've just begun to marvel at the main street's many timbered properties when the Cross House Tavern blows us away with a fantastic selection of real cider - cue Yarlington Mill for HRH and Severn Medium Perry for yours truly. The interior has a mind-boggling display of vintage breweriana from Toby jugs to cider flagons to walls plastered top to toe in decades-old beermats. Pub heaven!

- The Riverside Royal -

We're not just here for the pubs - there's also Tewkesbury Abbey demanding a full inspection.  Originally a Norman structure utilised for Benedictine worship prior to the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Abbey has been functioning as Tewkesbury's Parish Church ever since 1540, hence parts of the building would have been in situ when the Battle of Tewkesbury was fought during the Wars of the Roses. Highlights include a ceiling quire representing the House of York (victors in said 1471 skirmish) along with the Milton Organ and the Denny Windows, the latter being two amazing modern stained glass creations made to mark the 900th anniversary of when the monks first moved here from Dorset. Having had our history fix, we take a stroll beside the Mill Avon, crossing onto the floodplain meadows of the Severn Ham.

- All over at Ashchurch -

Tewkesbury is famously sited on the confluence of the Severn and the Avon, regularly hitting the headlines at times of rising waters. There's little danger of that today so we reach the Olde Black Bear safely; this terrific timbered townhouse claims to be Gloster's oldest inn, reputedly dating back to 1308. Uley's Black Bear Bitter is obtained from a very busy bar, although it's the jam-packed beer garden stretching down to the river which is really pulling the punters in. The Berkeley Arms entices our custom too for a wedge of Wadworth's hospitality, then we finish off at Ashchurch Station with me making the most of some belated sunshine for pictures of the zigzag footbridge ramps and numerous running-in boards. I've therefore travelled north, south, east and west in the finest of rovering traditions and can't wait to do something similar in 2027.

World Cup Fever in Wednesbury

The FIFA World Cup is underway in North America with 48 teams vying to lift the trophy. England are in with a decent chance - assuming they play well - so across the nation, our public houses are getting firmly behind Thomas Tuchel, Harry Kane and the team. Mr D9 and I offered our own form of assistance by raising a few Wednesbury glasses in the squad's honour...

- Walk This Way -

Trip Log: Thursday 18th June 2026 and this outing serves as a Rail Rover intermission for the Secretary, who has otherwise been busy investigating Oxfordshire and Derbyshire so far this week. Sandwell slams itself into the mix care of an evening sprint around fair Wednesbury, Mr WME making sure to position himself in Moxley ready for the Chairman's impending arrival. As is Hub custom and practice, Mr D9 is slightly delayed in getting himself to Bradley Lane tram stop, but once in position the day's topical silly song can be announced. Given current footballing happenings, it is highly appropriate to select Peter Dean's 1986 Cockney-inspired classic 'I Can't Get A Ticket For The World Cup' although neither of our Hub Marketing members can comment on seeing the Taj Mahal or the pyramids of Egypt, please note.

- Railway Reflections with the Bald Spot -

Having endured that paean to the tournament held in Mexico forty years ago, we limber up for the current iteration by progressing to Wednesbury Great Western Street. The Midland Metro calls here now but the site has railway heritage, especially when you consider the presence of the former goods shed which remains visible near the junction with Potters Lane. It's a JCB digger and bulldozer storage site these days but it's easy enough to envisage how the lines towards Darlaston and Dudley used to pass through here. There actually used to be two separate stations in this vicinity: Wednesbury Town and Wednesbury Central.

- Beer in the Bellwether -

With the bald spot having staged its own kind of nostalgic homage to lost branches, we're free to get down to beery business. Our first port of call is the Bellwether, a Wetherspoons outlet on Walsall Street opposite the derelict Walker's Bingo Hall. The Chairman has been known to frequent this place of a Thursday afternoon, usually sitting at his adopted beer terrace tables ordering two pints at a time on the JDW app. Upholding the mantra that if it ain't broke don't fix it, we partake of Stan the Man, a seasonal 4.2% ale with tropical flavours brewed by Gadds' of Ramsgate. This proves a suitably quenching start to our mini-tour, although the constant traffic vrooming towards High Bullen isn't perhaps the most desirable of quaffing companions.

- A Turks Head Tribute -

Declaring the 'Belly' as having duly been bagged, the Chairman leads a foot-to-the-pedal full throttle circuit of three taverns scattered around the Market Place (but only after confirming that Churchill's - the renamed Conservative Club - doesn't open on Thursdays). Our second calling point is therefore the Turks Head on Lower High Street, a place that's also been known as both Seven and the Tavern in recent memory. Large St George's flags leave us in no doubt regarding England allegiances while Mr D9 is in his element clutching Carling in loud, brash surroundings. The punters here are certainly intent on having a good time!

- Going for Goals in the Golden Cross -

Hoping that our traumatised eardrums will recover at some point, we nimbly relocate to the Golden Cross which some readers might remember being called the Pig & Trumpet. It has a distinctively rounded protruding front bay appearance and is part of the Craft Union stable, meaning drinks promotions and sport are to the fore. More Carling and more flags echo our Turks Head experience albeit the noise levels are positively soothing by comparison, hence Secretary WME takes his turn providing a Cheers pose with a St George's Cross backdrop.

- A Royal Sideline? -

The third of this speedy trilogy is the William Archer (previously the George) as located on the corner of Union Street and Upper High Street - I would say in all its flat-roofed angular glory but the frontage is buried beneath a heap of scaffolding at the moment. It is open despite the ongoing repair works and what's more delivers us a welcome discount, £2.95 on your Amstel continental lager. A wall-length internal frieze depicting Wednesbury in the 1960s is a pleasing aspect, sitting in the lower room facing out towards Nick's News - has our resident royal given up his majesterial duties in favour of selling scratchcards and bus passes? The Market Clock then mournfully ticks around to 7pm to indicate that our frivolous fun must end so back to Great Western Street for the tram we go. Cheers... and Come on England!

Bears on Tour: Scarborough

The cricket season has been up and running for a couple of months with Warwickshire solidly in the mix for County Championship honours (albeit making a complete hash of their T20 Blast campaign). Next up is the away fixture against Yorkshire which gives Mr B and I our long awaited chance to experience seaside cricket at Scarborough...

- Scholar's Bar -

To say this is bucket list territory and then some is quite an understatement - Stephen and I have coveted outground cricket in Scarborough for many years, and were infamously denied in 2020 by a small matter of the COVID pandemic. Thankfully there aren't any global health emergencies to stop us this year, although there is heavy Wolverhampton rain to contend with while we wait for our coach to arrive. The journey north involves battling plumes of motorway spray and a soggy stop at Tibshelf Services but Scarborough itself seems drier. We check in, polish off our evening meals and then see about getting a drink or two around the town centre. As such, the Scholars Bar is an itch that needs to be scratched at the earliest opportunity on account of being the reigning three time local Pub of the Year winner. One glance at the range of handpulls and you can see why; Five Towns Black Crunchie Stout has a honeycomb hit hailing from Wakefield as we admire a fine selection of non-league footballing scarves.

- First glimpses of North Marine Road -

The main cricketing action commences on the morning of Friday 12th June at North Marine Road, a venue which has been hosting fixtures since 1863. The ticket office is squeezed between a line of tall guesthouses and the playing field is in a dip below benched terraces - quite a sight for the outground enthusiast. It's filling up rapidly but we navigate the turnstiles, take a seat at the Trafalgar Square End and delightedly note that there are two ice cream vans in attendance. Warwickshire win the toss and elect to field but meaningful breakthroughs are hard to come by. Yorkshire openers Lyth and Luxton seem well set in putting on 102 for the first wicket before the former is despatched for 29, caught behind off Barnard.

- Stephen stakes out the Ice Cream Van -

Almost as important as what's happening on the pitch is the prospect of treats awaiting us at the boundary's edge. Beacon Farm's twin purveyors of dairy delights will see us partaking of their wares each lunchtime, Mr B sticking to his tried and tested vanilla remit while I dabble with flavours of either rum and raisin or cinder toffee. We need the sweetness because it is proving a testing day for the Bears bowling attack; the home side progress to a healthy 386 for 6 by the close, underpinned by a magnificent 167 from Will Luxton (his maiden first class century no less, although on this evidence he'll surely make many more). Handy contributions elsewhere come from Whiteman 55 and Revis 40 while a certain Jonny Bairstow has 49*; followers of the England test side in recent years will know how destructive he can be.

- Chocolate Orange Porter -

As the players head back off to the pavilion, we exit the ground in search of Good Beer Guide plunder although the North Riding Brew Pub is being swarmed by eager topers so we swerve it for now and see what else we can find. Scarborough Borough Council Employees Welfare Club on Dean Road is the kind of timewarp place I dream about discovering and originally was established in 1935 as a bolthole from the local council offices. The sound of snooker balls being potted rivals a BBC Look North news bulletin as I partake of a nice Chocolate Orange Porter, my liking for the dark side unaffected by being away from home. We're not sure how lively Scarborough might get on a Friday night but manage to dodge any party crowds by following up with relaxed drinks in the Scarborough Arms (Peculier Assassin registering as a collaboration between Theakstons and Roosters) and the Golden Ball, Samuel Smith's operating the latter with gorgeous views of the harbour.

- Harbourside Winch -

Talking of the quayside, it is in my sights on the morning of Saturday 13th June whereby blue skies entice me out towards the lighthouse, spotting craft such as 'Puffin' and 'Diana' bobbing about at their berths. Marine Drive takes me around the headland to North Bay although I'd miscalculated how steep the climb would be at the other end. Somewhat breathlessly, I meet Mr B to retake our cricketing seats and watch Yorkshire reach 469 all out. Mr Bairstow makes a bullish 68 and is ably supported by lower order hitting from George Hill and Hasan Ali; as for the Warwickshire bowling attack, there were three wickets apiece for Barnard, Bamber and Manav Suthar, an Indian spinner parachuted in to cover this game and the match at Taunton.

- Breezy and Bracing -

The Warwickshire reply begins with Alex Davies and Dan Mousley both chopping onto their own stumps, things looking wobbly at 38/2. Rob Yates and Sam Hain help steady the ship a little until White Rose pace bowler Jack White busily extracts Hain and Webster in very quick succession: 92/4. Having basked in warm sunshine for most of Friday, suddenly Scarborough takes on a different nature as leaden grey skies and a biting wind match the attritional aspects to the Bears' batting - I'm glad I've got all of my layers on while some other members of the crowd resort to wearing gloves, yes, in the middle of June! Wickets seem to be tumbling in clusters of two today for Yates and Malik succumb to the wiles of Dom Bess's offspin for 65 and 0 respectively. Yates hasn't looked at his fluent best but still grinds out a valuable half century, a feat being matched by captain Barnard who is 60 not out come the close of play.

- North Riding Biscoff Stout -

225 for 7 means Warwickshire are very much in arrears and have it all to do to avoid defeat. Scavenging seagulls swoop in for leftover chips once the spectators drift off home, although a fair few of our fellow sporting enthusiasts have the same idea as us and drift off to the North Riding Brew Pub instead. It isn't quite as packed as it was on Friday night hence we give it a whirl, rewarded with a tasty slurp of Biscoff Stout which carries implied hints of caramelised biscuit brands. Some of the ales sold here are brewed on the premises whereas others are brought over from North Riding's main base in Snainton, you can't get much more local than that! It's too busy to fully appreciate the building's 1930s hotel flourishes but I am impressed, and the same applies when we track down the Alma, a superb backstreet boozer which is the sister establishment to the Frigate micropub. One peek inside and I'm hooked by 1970s style square furniture, full length Magnet Ales advertising panels, a bumpy old floor trodden over by countless shoes, and a cask ale range that excites me, resulting in a great glass of Maxim's Sansom Ale referencing a Vaux Sunderland mainstay. Top quaffing!

- South Cliff Gardens -

Sunday 14th June will be our last day at the cricket, our coach itinerary meaning we won't see the end of the game. My morning constitutional takes me by way of South Cliff Gardens and the elegance of Scarborough's Spa suite, a theatre and conferencing venue which had hosted the Trefoil Guild's annual meeting for former Girl Guides, some of whom have been staying in our hotel. Trooping back across to North Marine Road once more, Stephen is hopeful that the Bears can mount a rearguard action albeit Warwickshire are only able to add another 38 runs before being dismissed for 263. Ed Barnard held the second half of the innings together well, ending on an undefeated 83*, but Hasan Ali (3/50) and the accurate George Hill (2/47) were able to mop up the tail without too much bother.

- Mr Beardsmore surveys the outfield -

Despite engineering a first innings lead of 206 runs, Yorkshire prefer to bat again themselves rather than enforcing the follow on. Will Luxton certainly cashes in, making a flowing 69 to add to his earlier feastings, but there are bowling inroads too. At one stage the score is 115/5 after Oliver Hannon-Dalby finds his stump radar, only for Bairstow and Hill to combine with forceful strokeplay that cements the home side's ascendancy. A declaration at 246/6 sets a nominal target of 453 for Warwickshire to win but survival is really the object now; Yates and Davies are going steadily second time around until the former perishes, edging Hill to slip. The game is in the balance at 44/1 as we relocate to the Albert, keeping half an eye on the Germany v Curacao FIFA World Cup happenings. Our Monday journey home is uneventfully smooth, Mr B undertaking regular scorechecks as Warwickshire graft out the day to secure a hard-fought draw. This maintains mine and Stephen's record of never being beaten in Yorkshire. Cheers!