The Route 1 Pubcrawl: D9 at the Double

The storm season has arrived with a vengeance as Austen and Boelo have wreaked their collective might upon the West Midlands. The Hub Marketing Board were due to meet for a Shropshire session but scaled back our plans in favour of a local pubcrawl aboard the number 1 bus between Dudley and Tettenhall - the idea proved so tempting, we completed it across two separate outings...

- Our driver is in position -

Part One of our twofold tale takes place on the afternoon of Friday 23rd October 2026 when soggy Shrewsbury gets jettisoned in favour of Upper Gornal and Sedgley. The Board are no strangers to wet weather contingencies although the elements have thrown up particularly unpleasant conditions, hence our Pipers Row rendezvous being accompanied by an almighty downpour. Splashing our way to St George's Parade, we intercept the trusty 1 for a TUAG (Turn Up and Go) rumble into Gornal where the Britannia can provide solace from the storm. Bathams Best Bitter in Sally's Parlour is always hard to beat, munching our way through the pub's latest cob delivery while old boys chat about the poor beer quality at their Golf Club.

- The Bald Spot spies a Stripey Oss -

The Secretary doesn't need much persuading to revisit Gornal, knowing that he can cash in a sleeve surprise if the cards fall right. The Stripey Oss on Kent Street's 1960s shopping parade had its shutters down at the first time of asking but obligingly opens up after 1pm; the zebra theme is good fun but our darting exploits become a trial of back room endurance. For once, WME Whirlwind is hitting the board regularly but he lacks the clinical edge for those crucial checkouts. D9 Destroyer by contrast is hitting trebles all over the shop (albeit mostly going bust as a result) and takes a 5-1 lead to the Jolly Crispin. The scoring there is tighter, a 3-3 draw being powered by Neepsend's 6% Typhon pale ale, meaning the Chairman ends up 8-4 in credit. Some Whirlwind consolation is gained from a crafty 101 outshot and the ale is great.

- Rebel Rosie's -

One Upper Gornal pub we won't be able to sample is the Spills Meadow, which is currently all boarded up with skips outside. With that crossed off our agenda, the number 1 briskly powers us into Sedgley for a sampling of Sanzibar (partaking of Draught Bass and Three Tuns Cleric's Cure) followed by the White Horse, the latter a bastion of Carling and avid horse racing on this evidence. Friday's Silly Songs are duly traded: 'Statutory Right of Entry' by Richard Stilgoe from the WME playlist, then the Mrs Mills piano-peddling version of 'Second Hand Rose' - she's no Barbra Streisand is Gladys! Another bus ride brings us back into Wolverhampton, alighting on Snow Hill to check out The Bricks which turns out to put much more emphasis on the kitchen than the bar in terms of its 'Kitchen Bar' operations. Rebel Rosie's is interesting, occupying industrial buildings which were once part of Express & Star news production.

- The Secretary takes a DIVE -

The Chairman takes quite a shine to Rebel Rosie's actually, and we could envisage returning sometime to test ourselves on their glitzy darts lanes or shuffleboards. It is pitched at students and sport lovers so could get lively when a big match is on, but we found it likeable enough. Mr WME's sleeves then start twitching again: we all know that D9 loves his dives but a venue actually called DIVE is a new one on us, and can be found above the ex-Exchange pub (or De Fusion in modern parlance) via three flights of dimly lit stairs. Worries that we are about to enter a Sinderella's strip club are thankfully allayed by the sight of a drinking den with its own vintage pinball games room. Tall glasses of Freedom lager help us to feel at home, then the Secretary makes a sharpish exit to attend to quizzing matters in Tettenhall. A Team Bears debut for Bookworm Bygrave results (or coincides) with a long overdue victory - hurrah!

- Back aboard the number 1 -

Speaking of Tettenhall, that end of the #1 route must not escape hub scrutiny so the Board reconvenes on Monday 26th October for an evening blast. Little has changed since Friday in fairness - the weather is still awful, the Secretary is still wearing his red tent anorak and the Chairman's hair hasn't miraculously grown back. Flagging down our steed on Lichfield Street opposite the Art Gallery, we make speedy progress out to the Newbridge as an A41 roadhouse landmark operated by the Stonehouse group. Daily carveries are the stock-in trade here but we swerve the roast dinners in deference to glasses of Carling, Mr D9 digesting bombshell news regarding the imminent works departure of Head Hub.

- On yer bike, Chairman? -

From this point on, the pubs are all reasonably close together - certainly within easy walking distance - although this doesn't stop the Chairman from contemplating using one of those Lime e-bikes that seem to be everywhere now. The Swan on Lower Street is another Carling contender and has been opened out more since we last saw it (which admittedly was the best part of twelve and a half years ago). 1970s Wolverhampton Wanderers programme covers are the Secretary's kind of decor and sports fans are well catered for thanks to numerous screens. Old Hill has us rapidly revising my assessment about 'easy' walking distance; it's actually quite a steep climb to reach the Two Greens, an establishment some readers may remember better as being called the Rock Hotel. Greene King ales and comfortable surroundings are the result, albeit perhaps upstaged by a Ronnie Barker silly song - 'There's A Lot Of It About' you know!

- The Carpenters Arms -

There are two further taverns to complete our Tettenhall Village set, Mr WME taking pity on D9 by not insisting on revisiting the Crown at Wergs (scene of an all-time expensive round). The Chairman instead finds himself in line for a nifty discount courtesy of the Dog & Gun over on Wrottesley Road, £3.50 each for good quality Plum Porter and Jaipur isn't bad going these days. We can then finish at Tettenhall's newest addition, the Carpenters Arms as based in a High Street premises which used to be the Chill Wine Bar, and a dressmaking shop before that. The refit seems very tasteful, creating a vibe which feels very much like a traditional alehouse with extra capacity via a lounge room upstairs. The beer is on top form tonight, Hobson's Town Crier and Purple Moose's Dark Side of the Moose both meeting with our esteemed approval while the cobs are massive. What a lovely landing point - cheers!