Bears on Tour: Cardiff 2026

I often state that my adventures are memorable, sometimes even highly memorable, but the few days which have just unfolded in Cardiff will take some beating when it comes to getting etched into the WME memory banks. Stephen and I were in town to see Warwickshire take on Glamorgan, little suspecting we'd have rather a lot of spare time on our hands...

- Dealings with Dragons -

What's more, there's a lot riding on this game with Warwickshire still in contention for County Championship honours alongside Nottinghamshire and Somerset. Beardsmore research has booked us a room at the National Sports Centre which should be very close to the ground at Sophia Gardens; I've never been to the South Wales industrial area before, let alone Cardiff, so the whole week is set to be one fascinating voyage of discovery. Catching the 12:30 train from Birmingham, the journey takes just under two hours and has the spectacle of Cardiff Central railway station at the other end. The architecture here evokes the golden age of the Great Western Railway with art deco platform flourishes and a frontage clad in Portland Stone. We even have a red dragon welcoming committee to prove we are in Wales.

- River Taff and the Principality Stadium -

With the match due to take place between Tuesday 8th and Friday 11th September, we travel down on the Monday aiming to get settled into our accommodation and find our way around. Cardiff is clearly an intensely proud sporting city and nowhere is this more apparent than with the majestic Principality Stadium, constructed at the turn of the millennium to host national events including football matches and (perhaps most famously) rugby. The stadium towers over the side of the River Taff as we cross Cardiff Bridge and find the cricket ground - we're literally staying right next door, although it is a novelty to be lodging in a leisure centre rather than a hotel! Monday evening has us mooching around the surrounding district of Pontcanna, finding the Robin Hood (which was a 2026 Good Beer Guide entry but currently doesn't serve any real ale) and the Cricketers (highly appropriate) by way of liquid refreshment. Jemima's Pitchfork is a golden beer from the Glamorgan Brewing Company based in Llantrisant, nice!

- Play Underway -

Tuesday morning starts off damp and the whole of the first session is wiped out waiting for the weather to dry up. Play gets underway at around half past one and we quickly get the sense this is not going to be an ordinary game. Glamorgan win the toss and choose to bat, hoping to get through any initial tricky conditions and pile on the runs, but in the blink of an eye they're 39 for 5 and Warwickshire's Ethan Bamber has taken all five wickets. Mr B and I are delighted with that start yet still expect some kind of resistance to emerge but no, the wickets just keep on tumbling. Bamber finishes his spell and is replaced at the Cathedral Road End by captain Ed Barnard who maintains the bowling pressure, bagging a miserly 3 wickets for 5 runs as the home side are dismissed for a meagre 69 all out. Colin Ingram top scored with a flighty 19 and was the only batsman to reach double figures. We're in shock!

- Mr B meets Morgan -

After the tea break, it's Warwickshire's turn to bat and the Bears top order thankfully make a better fist of things. The double Y opening pair of Rob Yates and Will Young ably negate the bowling wiles of Timm van der Gugten and the erratic Mir Hamza, so it's a surprise when the seemingly not very threatening spin of Ben Kellaway extracts Yates (35) and Dan Mousley (5) in swift succession. Young is steadily compiling runs though, reaching a valuable half century before Hamza gets his radar right and bowls the New Zealander for 60. There are no further alarms thereafter and the close of play is reached on 154/3, giving Warwickshire an already healthy lead of 85. In between times, we explore a little more of Glamorgan's SWALEC home, Stephen making the acquaintance of Morgan the mascot - they do like their dragons here...

- Cardiff Arms Park -

Tuesday evening has us venturing into the Canton district of Cardiff courtesy of the Cowbridge Road, with swathes of football fans making their way to watch Cardiff City play Stoke. The lvor Davies Wetherspoons had been extremely popular pre-match but the exodus enables us to get a bite to eat, noting how the pub takes inspiration from legendary actor and composer Ivor Novello's birth name. Wednesday morning sees me taking in more of Wales's sporting history with a glance at Cardiff Arms Park, primarily a rugby union ground which is dwarfed by the presence of the Principality Stadium next door. Bute Park and West Gate make for a lovely walking route while the wall leading towards Cardiff Castle is decorated with carved animals.

- 65 All Out! Game Over -

Back at the cricket, Warwickshire buoyantly extend their advantage by amassing a total of 391 including half centuries from Sam Hain (76) and Barnard (51), not forgetting a handy 49 not out by wicketkeeper Kai Smith. The Bears therefore lead by 322 and we enjoy a productive lunchtime visit to the Museum of Welsh Cricket based in the Hugh Morris Centre, spotting vintage kitbags and learning about Glamorgan's 1969 County Championship winning team. The current incarnation are struggling in this particular fixture but surely can't bat as badly again, can they? At 42/1 things are looking a little more promising, but Mr Barnard seemingly has other ideas and a scarcely-believable period sees a procession of batsmen heading to the pavilion almost on repeat. 65 all out - I repeat, 65 all out - means the game hasn't even lasted two days, and Warwickshire have won by a colossal innings and 257 runs. Barnard grabbed 5/13 for match figures of 8/18 (wow) while across both innings, Manav Suthar took three tail end wickets without conceding a single run. We quite frankly are astonished!

- A Celebratory Thumbs Up -

Stephen and I would certainly have taken that result at the start of the week, the win keeping Warwickshire well in the hunt for title honours with another two rounds of matches to play - we still suspect Somerset might just edge things overall although you never know. We celebrate with a couple of pints in the heart of Cardiff, whereby our call at the City Arms stands out for my chance to sample Brains beer, the renowned regional brewery having been founded in 1882. A pint of their Dark proves smooth and creamy while we watch some of the Champions League football coverage, the pub then being taken over by members of a male voice choir complete with matching blue blazers. Tiny Rebel is on the next corner for a craft angle, Dunk making another appearance after I'd sampled it in Stourbridge recently, while the Mad Dog outlet at the other end of Womanby Street also receives a brief look for Bruin's Ruin.

- The Packet -

Right then, the match has finished very early so what are we going to do with ourselves for the blank couple of days? Cardiff's historic waterfront has been the subject of considerable regenerative activity from the 1990s onwards so after our regular Hwb Caffi breakfast, we plot our way along Bute Street where the offshoot roads might once have resonated to the sights and sounds of the dockyards. Butetown isn't the most affluent of locations and forms a sharp contrast with the glamour and investment on show in Cardiff Bay itself, although construction work is progressing with the provision of a new station to be served by tram-trains as part of the South Wales Metro. Amidst a lot of change, the Packet Hotel has remained intact as a Brains public house offering a nod to the wider area's heritage, recalling the days when it would have been known as Tiger Bay with merchant seamen and steam ferries to Bristol.

- Senedd Cymru -

The modern Cardiff Bay is spectacular, mixing historic aspects with striking contemporary amenities. The Mermaid Quay development contains several of your well-known eaterie chains such as Nando's and Pizza Express, making for a leisure destination at the water's edge. The Pierhead Building is a terracotta treat, representing the headquarters of the Bute Docks Company with some exquisite tiled staircases inside, while the Millennium Centre is a Welsh arts hub with an emphasis on opera, ballet, orchestral music and creative industries. The frontage dramatically features the Welsh phrase "Creu Gwir fel gwydr o ffwrnais awen"  and the English "In these stones horizons sing". Another must-see element is the Senedd, home to the Welsh Parliament, its central funnel design intended to represent transparency.

- Codebreakers -

After a drink in the aforementioned Packet pub (Brains SA in my case, watching the European T20 cricket league clash between Rotterdam and Glasgow), we continue to survey the bay by investigating the Mount Stuart Docks. Techniquest is closed for maintenance so we can't dip into its science and technology-related exhibits but we can admire the Codebreakers statue, paying tribute to sporting heroes who made the transition from rugby union to rugby league. Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan and Gus Risman are depicted in bronze while the names of ten other players are remembered too. Returning to the city centre, we have a quizzing evening courtesy of the Cricketers (finishing third) and still have another day to fill...

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!

Bears on Tour: HOVE

Warwickshire's 2025 cricketing season so far can be summed up as being solid without pulling up any trees, so while the Bears remain in contention on all fronts it would take something remarkable to win any honours. County Championship duties now resume after a T20 Blast hiatus and the next stop for Mr B and myself will be Sussex for some South Coast sunshine...

- Worthing Station -

The match will be played at Hove - a ground we haven't visited for thirteen years - but we're actually staying eleven miles away along the coast at Worthing, a refined seaside resort with a residential air about it. The journey down is something of an ordeal with our initial train having to be diverted via Stafford due to an incident near Coventry, and our onward connection from London Victoria being disrupted by a lineside fire. We make it to Worthing Railway Station eventually though and get our local bearings en route to checking in at our Travelodge accommodation on Marine Parade.

- Worthing Pier -

Luggage dropped off at Room 202 and a bit of necessary freshening up performed, we head out to see the sights of Worthing. The beach is all pebbles with little in the way of sand but the promenade is nevertheless an inviting place to be, a gentle breeze offering some relief from the very warm temperatures - and things are set to get hotter! Worthing Pier first opened in April 1862 and is made out of iron with traditional wooden planking; there is an amusements arcade halfway along and an elegant domed bar room at the far end. The Pavilion Theatre is equally as eyecatching as part of the same stretch of seafront, then we branch off to find the main shopping thoroughfare (Montague Street, with a variety of your standard High Street chain stores) whilst Warwick Street is populated by various bars.

- Hare & Hounds -

Our initial pick of the pubs involves the Three Fishes for food (this local Wetherspoons being named for the trio of fish that appear on Worthing's corporate coat of arms), followed by the Corner House on High Street, a place which claims to have the best beer garden in town and we're not inclined to disagree. After being treated to a dancing spectacle and some 90s rave tunes, we finish our first day in Sussex at the excellent Hare & Hounds. Tucked away along Portland Street, this is a 2025 Good Beer Guide entrant where the Harveys Sussex Best is every bit as good as I'd hoped for. A warm welcome encourages us to stop and watch the England U21s beating Germany in the European Championship finals. A cracking night!

- Lunchtime, Day One -

And so to the actual cricket, commencing at 11am sharp on Sunday 29th June. Hove is only a twenty minute train ride from Worthing so we're soon at the ground, as indeed are many other people taking advantage of the free admission. The resultant impressive attendance creates a lovely family atmosphere as Warwickshire win the toss and elect to bat first. Rob Yates and Alex Davies make a very solid start until the latter holes out for 37, but at 113/1 at lunch Mr Beardsmore is a reasonably happy bunny. The only downside to his demeanour was a slight collision with an unexpected speedbump whilst I was distracted eyeing up an ice cream van!

- The Essential Ice Cream Van -

Said Mr Whippy is doing a brisk trade with the thermometer readings climbing sharply for the rest of the day. Cones with flakes are critical sustenance as we watch the Bears innings unfold with Yates and Sam Hain the chief run-getters (93 for the opener and 87 for our middle order mainstay). 372/7 at the close of play is healthy enough although the suspicion is that the pitch is very good for batting and we might not quite have cashed in. Sunday night back in Worthing is then spent sampling the Rose & Crown - a friendly Craft Union boozer on Montague Street - and JB's Bar, where we endure a mixed bag of karaoke performances. One guy belts out 'An American Trilogy' with great gusto (we didn't mind him at all) but the less said about the rendition of 'Little Willy' the better. Our eardrums are still traumatised!

- West Worthing Station -

Me being me, I like to squeeze in aspects of exploration around the cricket and pubs. As such, Monday morning has me venturing along Marine Parade and Grand Avenue into the suburb of West Worthing which has its own railway station - and an impressive one at that, dating from 1889 with an Italianate main frontage (I note that a corresponding station at East Worthing is very much an unstaffed halt with basic platform shelters and little in the way of architecture). Tarring Road has a Co-op, a sequence of other shops, the Conservative Party constituency offices and tempting cafes, plus the Foresters micropub so it's a distinct community for sure. 

- Sussex Building Steadily -

Resuming our watching brief at the County Ground - only this time from the Sharks Stand as opposed to the Cromwell Road End - we can witness the end of the Warwickshire first dig on 415, a cameo of 24 from Ethan Bamber being enough to bag an extra batting bonus point. The hosts' reply is all about laying firm foundations without too many flourishes, so there are relatively few wicket-taking opportunities for the Bears bowlers. Australian off spinner Corey Rocchiccioli looks the most dangerous by a distance and claims the three scalps to fall, as well as bemusing everybody about how we should pronounce his surname. Sussex opener Daniel Hughes had ploughed his way to 151 before being pinned lbw with the day's last ball.

- Railway Hotel Refreshment -

Stephen declares himself to be fairly content at the match position and you can never moan too much about the joys of watching cricket in the sunshine. Monday evening's entertainments entail pubs at either end of our train ride; the Station is literally next door to Hove's awning and taxi rank, and apparently used to be called the Cliftonville Hotel. I partake of their own-badged Station Pale Ale (refreshing enough on a hot day) before we switch to Worthing and try out the Railway Hotel straight outside the station's main entrance. I was seriously impressed by this one, mostly on account of its Victorian heritage appeal but that's not to downplay the quality of more Harveys beer. It still operates as a functioning hotel business too, 35 rooms bookable.

- Rocchiccioli Spins His Web -

Day three at Hove sees Sussex piling on a sizeable total, albeit not with any huge urgency. Their overnight 278/3 is converted into 533 all out, James Coles joining Hughes in getting to 150 to press home the advantage. The Warwickshire bowlers really toiled in the heat, with the luckless Hannon-Dalby sending down 30 overs for no reward. There were a couple of strikes for Bamber who bowled one miserly spell, but the biggest threat again came from Rocchiccioli who deserved his 6/173 through sheer persistence across a mammoth 54.4 overs, I know I'd be absolutely shattered! The Bears are 118 runs in arrears and have knocked off 88 of those for the loss of Yates as the game drifts towards a seemingly inevitable draw.

- The Watchmakers Arms -

Tuesday's liquid libations mostly come courtesy of two very enticing micropubs. Goldstone Villas, just down the road slightly from Hove Station, is home to the Watchmakers Arms which is Brighton & South Downs CAMRA's 2025 Pub of the Year. It's easy to see why: they brew their own ales on the premises, including my choice of Elderflower, and also try to cater for a range of tastes with stouts, milds and ciders available. As for Anchored in Worthing, they pride themselves on supporting Sussex producers hence the presence of Silly Moo Cider from the Trenchmore Farm of Cowfold near Horsham - gorgeous stuff! A 'Bring Your Own Vinyl' night is underway so we enjoy the husky strains of Tom Waits followed by Northern Soul; the pub is on Montague Place, literally in the shadows of the Giant Wheel attraction on Worthing Seafront.

- Hain Holds Firm -

There is technically still some jeopardy on the game as Wednesday 2nd July heralds the last day of the Hove fixture. Sussex could theoretically push for victory if they manage to grab any early wickets, but Alex Davies and particularly Tom Latham look resolute either side of a rain delay and it's soon apparent that the draw is the likeliest outcome. When both are dismissed (for 58 and 69 respectively), Sam Hain takes it upon himself to nullify the home attack when amassing an unbeaten 53* without stroking a single boundary. Honours even then and hardly the most thrilling of finales in truth; even the ice cream van didn't bother turning up!!

- Harveys in the Hare & Hounds -

A meandering draw keeps both sides firmly mid-table in County Championship Division One and we've had a superb time irrespective of the outcome. Our concluding night in Worthing yields one more pub discovery in the form of the Egremont (or the 'Eggie') on Brighton Road, once owned by the Kemptown Brewery with Wine Office and Dolphin Ales. Quirky fixtures and fittings include a light montage fashioned from brass instruments and a French advert for foie gras. They're preparing for a quiz night but we've already committed ourselves to attending the Hare & Hounds equivalent, whereby Bears On Tour finish a respectable third despite our limited recognition of excerpts from the musicals. Cheers, and Come On You Bears!

A Second September Selection

September has seen me busy with many explorational bits and pieces, all broadly bound together by beer festivals and the tail end of the 2024 cricket season. After Tamworth, Worcester and Moseley there are now tales from Shrewsbury and Nottingham to bring you - read on to find out more...

- Bring On The Beer! -

Shrewsbury's Beer, Cider & Perry Festival has easily established itself as one of my personal favourite events over recent years, even if it hasn't quite managed to displace Dudley Winter Ales Fayre in my ultimate ale affections. A big part of its appeal is the stunning setting of St Mary's Church, barely five minutes wander up the hill from the railway station, so when the designated date rolled around again Jane and I made sure to investigate. Admission was £9 for CAMRA members (£12 otherwise) so we trotted along on the opening Wednesday to see which tempting tipples were being showcased this time around. Pentrich's 'Soul Doughnut' certainly proved an alluring aperitif, billed as a caramel custard milk stout with all of the sweet indulgent notes I could have wished for!

- St Mary's Stained Glass -

Also very much in my sights were 'Walnut Porter' (a North Riding concoction which was as decadently nutty as it sounds), Pig & Porter's 'Apparition' (complete with its suitably spectral creamy stout head), and the bizarrely-named 'Sharks With Laser Beams', a hazy Tiny Rebel IPA that resembled murky grapefruit juice but tasted terrific! Equally as joyous is the stained glass for which St Mary's is deservedly renowned, the collection containing several English and continental pieces installed during the 19th century when William Gorsuch Rowland would have been the incumbent minister. 

- Contemplating Ciders and Pondering Perries -

Jane is a fan of traditionally-produced ciders and perries so she soon acquainted herself with that particular corner of the stillage serveries. Although she mainly prefers the classic taste of apples and pears without embellishment, she's not averse to trying out slightly more unusual flavourings (purely in the name of research you understand) and declared herself partial to the floral flourishes of Gwatkin's Elderflower. 'Sweet Anita' and 'Panting Partridge' likewise get her seal of approval although she sadly emerged empty handed on the charity tombola. All of the luck came my way instead, although my winning of a 'Naked Ladies' pumpclip raised more eyebrows than the accompanying Mild In May Wenlock Pottery mug.

- Cocktail Time at The Alb -

Whilst in Shrewsbury we sought out a couple of post-festival libations, starting with the Henry Tudor Inn on Wyle Cop. Joules have done a spectacular job breathing new life into one of the town's most historic properties; it is said that the future King Henry VII stayed in the building en route to the Battle of Bosworth Field so if it was good enough for him it'll do us nicely too. Slumbering Monk and Aspalls Cider were duly sampled among cigar, taxidermy and mounted fish displays before we relocated to the Alb (previously the Albert) next to Raven Meadows Bus Station. Jane enjoys the occasional cocktail within reason so a Bramble apiece crowned the day while I puzzled over the pink bicycle hung on the wall. Chin chin!

- The Radcliffe Road End -

To cricketing matters where Warwickshire's capitulation at the hands of Essex last week had left them still needing a handful of points to ensure Championship Division One safety. Trent Bridge played host to the Bears' final fixture of the season with Stephen and I heading across to Nottingham to see the third day unfold. Notts had amassed a healthy 324/6 during a rain-interrupted first couple of days and had yet to guarantee their own survival, although much would depend on how Lancashire got on in their match at Worcester. Hopeful but perhaps a little apprehensive, Mr B and I took up a perch in the Hound Road Upper Tier to watch on...

- The Lunchtime Score -

Despite a couple of welcome wickets for part time off spinner Rob Yates, Nottinghamshire had the better of the morning session in reaching 440/9 aided by their South African wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne's imperious unbeaten century. Nottingham Forest were due to play Fulham at home later that afternoon so the Trent Bridge Inn and other surroundings pubs were heaving come lunchtime, and the queue outside the chip shop would have required untold levels of patience too. The afternoon action saw Notts progress to 487 all out (Verreynne 148 not out) before the Warwickshire openers were dismissed cheaply. At 6/2 the alarm bells were ringing!

- Hain Holds Firm -

Thankfully the combination of Will Rhodes and Sam Hain rode to the rescue, quietening the jitters as news filtered through that Lancashire were struggling over at New Road. Even when young Farhan Ahmed started to weave his magic - accounting for Rhodes (37) and Mousley (a duck) within the same over - we suspected that Warwickshire were going to be clear of the relegation mire, if only by the skins of their teeth. The strains of Mull of Kintyre emanating from the City Ground informed us that the Forest match was underway, Fulham going on to win that thanks to a Raul Jimenez penalty kick.

- Cheers to Championship Survival -

After a belated meal in the Trent Bridge Inn once the football fans had dispersed, we settled in the Radcliffe Road Stand to watch what for us would be our last session of live 2024 cricket. The 'Hain Train' was latterly joined by Ed Barnard for a relatively serene partnership in the late afternoon sunshine, meaning Warwickshire were poised on 143/4 when stumps was declared circa quarter to six. In terms of this particular match that meant a deficit of nearly 350 runs, but confirmation of Lancashire's relegation had us breathing huge sighs of relief all the way home to Wolverhampton. Let's hope the 2025 season will bring more Warwickshire wins - Cheers!

An Early Autumn Assortment (2024)

Leaving aside last week's raid on my photographic back catalogue, the last you heard from me in an explorational sense was at the Tamworth Beer Festival so what else have I been up to in September? The 2024 County Championship cricket season is nearing its denouement (with Warwickshire inching away from peril almost despite themselves) and I've been on the prowl for even more animal artistry - time for a catch-up post?

- Play Underway at New Road -

It's fair to say that 2024 hasn't been a vintage year for the Bears with only one Championship win to their name all season. True they have accumulated a high proportion of draws but were nevertheless perched a little too close to the relegation trapdoor by the time the derby fixture at New Road rolled around. Stephen and I were there to see the second and third days play with Worcestershire definitely in the ascendancy, the home side boosted by Tom Taylor's career-best bowling figures of 6/28 in dismissing Warwickshire for a limp 128 all out.

- Blue Penguin -

Solace from such batting aberrations came in the form of more Waddle of Worcester penguins as I added to the initial haul I'd located with Mr D9 in August. This time around Stephen and I had the pleasure of meeting 'Little Blue Makes A Wish' in Cripplegate Park, followed by two riverside specimens along Bromwich Parade ('The Swan', so styled to support the Severn's swan sanctuary designation, and 'Doing the Worcester Wiggle' with an emphasis on tropical fish decoration). A particularly nice find awaited on the opposite bank where 'Blue Penguin' is based on picture book illustrations and celebrates the importance of friendship. 

- Chocolate Sponge -

Made to follow on, Warwickshire admittedly made a better fist of their second innings with Alex Davies (65) and an unbeaten century from ex-skipper Will Rhodes ensuring the match would finish up as a rain-affected draw. Worcestershire might think they were slightly robbed by the weather but the Bears had restored parity by the time the terminal precipitation arrived; one crucial treat that must not be overlooked was being able to sample cake from the Ladies Pavilion, a New Road tradition that has assumed legendary status. A generous slice of chocolate sponge was more than enough to keep me very satisfied!

- OHD appeals for LBW -

And so we move on to the final home game of the season, an Edgbaston clash against Essex which could hardly have gone much worse from a Bears batting perspective. 78 all out gave Warwickshire a mountain to climb, even though the bowlers did relatively well to restrict the visitors to 232 in reply. Oliver Hannon-Dalby has been a shining light leading the attack all season and claimed two early wickets, including the scalp of South African test match opener Dean Elgar. Craig Miles and Ed Barnard were also in on the wicket-taking action but a breezy 69 from Shane Snater would prove crucial in setting up an easy Essex innings victory.

- The Pub at Moseley -

Disappointed about such feeble scorecard impressions, we at least cheered ourselves up with talk of childhood television memories and by teasing Ken Peakman about his West Bromwich Albion allegiances. An evening investigating Moseley's fine hostelries also helped to lift our collective spirits, starting with The Pub at Moseley on the Alcester Road/St Mary's Row traffic lights; previously known as Bohemian (and The Junction before that), this is the sister venue to an emerging chain of similarly titled establishments in Bearwood and Kings Heath. A solid Belhaven Best at £2.90 a pint proved considerably cheaper than the prices being quoted for Carling inside Edgbaston Stadium, that's for sure!

- "One Rather Likes Jaipur" -

Elsewhere in Moseley, we checked out the craft credentials of the Dark Horse for the liquid Crunchie bar that is Blue Monkey's Cinder Toffee Stout - even Stephen was able to sniff out its pronounced honeycomb fragrance from several paces away. The evening was rounded off in style at our old friend the Prince of Wales, which showcased all of its community qualities by hosting writing group meetings and Irish music rehearsals. Whether Nick and Ken would be dab hands with a tin whistle remains to be seen but they did approve of their halves of Jaipur, a Thornbridge tipple that always goes down well where our own resident royal is concerned.

- Well Active Bear -

The fact Warwickshire contrived to lose to Essex in barely a day and a half meant that Mr B and I were at something of a loose end come Friday 20th September. I couldn't say whether Handsworth would normally be high on the list of potential Beardsmore destinations but the promise of a different kind of bear lured us along Nineveh Road and Grove Lane to reach Handsworth Park, a prime example of a Victorian public space which first opened in 1888. Features of note include a bandstand and boating lake but we were primarily interested in a couple of Big Sleuth sculptures which are on permanent display here, beginning with 'Well Active Bear' who depicts various exercising poses outside the local leisure centre. 

- Handsworth Cricket Club -

Our second sleuthing specimen guards the Community Garden near the Holly Road railings, with 'Sun Guardian' standing sentry over the flowerbeds in all his boldly-patterned glory. Both bears are part of the Handsworth Park Public Arts Trail which also comprises carved tree trunk seating, a 'Memory Chest' installation, and the Here & Now bench created specifically for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In between admiring these al fresco exhibits, we made sure to wander over to the Handsworth Cricket Club which boasts a breezeblock pavilion and some practice nets within the wider park grounds. Stephen assured me that despite his extensive umpiring experience, this was his first time visiting this particular cricketing location.

- Remembering Benjamin Zephaniah -

As if we hadn't seen enough already, Handsworth Park's artistic attractions extended to two excellent murals celebrating black culture. The first of these was a montage celebrating local reggae acts from Apache Indian and Pato Banton to Ranking Roger and Musical Youth, while the second was a moving tribute to people's poet Benjamin Zephaniah who sadly passed away in 2023. Adorning the Sons of Rest building, the latter contains a salient quote stating "the people of Handsworth want liberty but that must come through unity and that must come through harmony, through you and me, through I and you". 

- Bemused Beardsmore beside the Astle Gates -

Having marched poor Stephen across most of Handsworth Wood, our efforts are rewarded with a bacon and egg sandwich at the Wattville Cafe greasy spoon followed by a memorable pint at the Royal Oak, a Holyhead Road Desi bar and grill which does much to remember the late hip hop musician Sidhu Moose Wala. Against our better judgement, we concluded our ramble at The Hawthorns home of Wolves' fierce Black Country footballing rivals. A sighting of Tony Bomber Brown's statue was fair enough although Mr B seemed less sure about posing next to the Jeff Astle Gates (which incidentally immortalise Albion's 1968 FA Cup-winning goalscorer). It was deemed best for all concerned that we swiftly caught our tram in case either of us became too indoctrinated in the ways of blue and white stripes. Cheers!

Bears on Tour: Taunton 2024

Cricketing escapades have naturally had to go on the back burner in recent months although Stephen and I have been avidly keeping tabs on Warwickshire's County Championship fortunes (namely no wins, two defeats and six draws). However, the away fixture with Somerset now gives us chance to roll out the Bears on Tour bandwagon again for the first time in 2024...

- The Coopers Associates County Ground -

There's a bittersweet aspect to this sporting getaway - it's great that we'll be watching cricket once more but sadness that Mr B Senior isn't there to share the experience with us this year. Nevertheless, Taunton beckons and the M5 motorway is no match for the trusty Beardsmobile as our Sunday morning drive to Somerset is completed in time for us to take our seats without missing a single ball. The hosts have won the toss and elected to field, meaning Warwickshire need to negotiate a tricky morning session of perilous batting. Things aren't looking good at 40/4 but Will Rhodes and Ed Barnard stabilise the innings nicely. 

- Pretorius marks out his home turf -

Although Rhodes (63) and Barnard (92) would subsequently depart the crease, the Bears' first day batting star is undoubtedly wicket-keeper Michael Burgess whose entertaining 126 not out leaves us handily placed on 373/8 at the close. Of the Somerset bowling attack, the standout performer is Migael Pretorius with four wickets to his name - in the lead-up to the General Election, it seems rather appropriate to spot his initials 'MP' scrawled onto the grass when inspecting the outfield during the lunch interval. 

- Somerset Cider in The Plough -

The conclusion of play has us heading to the Taunton North Premier Inn to perform checking-in formalities at our hotel, timing our arrival so as to witness England's remarkable Euro 2024 recovery against Slovakia. Taunton's town centre pubs are predictably busy with relieved yet celebratory football fans but we manage to grab a Wetherspoons bite to eat before sampling two contrasting pubs on Station Road. The Ale House seems very friendly and has the added attraction of stocking Thatcher's Cheddar Valley Cider (so orange it looks like liquid rust), while the Plough opposite is a classic free house arranged over multiple split levels. More cracking cider here is the perfect way in which to settle into the Somerset way of life! 

- Burgess's Batting Brilliance -

The match resumes on Monday morning but we've barely seen one over when a squall sets in and wipes out the rest of the morning session - not quite what the gathered throng of excitable pupils coming along for Schools Day would have wanted. Things thankfully soon dry up for the afternoon, meaning Warwickshire can progress to 412 all out (Burgess the last to fall for 147). The home reply threatens to unravel at 57/3 until the combined Toms - Abell and Banton - put on a century stand. Three late scalps for the mighty OHD (Oliver Hannon-Dalby) swing the game back in Warwickshire's favour, Somerset closing on 208/6 over 200 runs behind.

- A Chip Shot (minus seagull entourage) -

Monday evening for me and Stephen means an encounter with Howard's chip shop, feasting on a generous portion of potatoey goodness but attracting the attentions of the native seagulls in the process. We manage to placate a couple of said birds but when more of their friends start to swoop down we know we need to eat up quickly! The Brewhouse arts complex beside the River Tone is close to Taunton's Independent Quarter where there are a range of giftshops and boutiques worthy of closer investigation. Mr B does precisely that across the week and comes up trumps with a range of cricketing birthday cards for his personal collection. 

- London Pride in The Cricketers -

Having narrowly avoided recreating Hitchcock's The Birds in seagull form, we decamp to our chosen pub which in this particular instance is the Cricketers on Taunton High Street (with a name like that it simply had to be done). Inflatable footballs and strings of Euro flag bunting raise our hopes of watching the evening kick-off but their weekly quiz is underway instead, hence we find ourselves trying to remember the name of Postman Pat's cat (Jess) rather than keeping abreast of Portugal versus Slovenia. Stephen's Peppa Pig knowledge really comes to the fore at one stage whereas I'm more in tune with some 1980s music questions.

- Taunton Railway Station -

And so onto Tuesday 2nd July whereby my morning constitutional stroll takes me by the way of Taunton railway station, a sizeable provincial facility that befits county town status. A survey of the outbuildings has me admiring architectural flourishes while the Great Western Hotel is something of a looker in its own right. Trains run regularly between London Paddington and key South West destinations such as Bristol Temple Meads, Exeter St Davids, Plymouth and Penzance. Other landmarks being captured on camera include St Andrew's Church with its associated school nearby, and a Tesco Express store housed in the ex-Gardeners Arms.

- Towards the Ondaatje Pavilion -

Reclaiming our seats in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion - one of several stands named after legendary Somerset players - we enjoy early breakthroughs courtesy of Michael Booth with Abell unable to add to his overnight 61. OHD takes care of the tail in securing excellent figures of 6 for 56 before a productive opening partnership from Rob Yates and captain Alex Davies sees Warwickshire to 100 without loss. Both players depart in quick succession but the Bears lead continues to mount, aided by further contributions from Rhodes (36), Sam Hain (a rather painstaking 43) and Jacob Bethell, who played many eyecatching strokes in his enterprising 66. Stephen would have liked a cheeky declaration to give the home side a few evening overs to survive although 281/8 means we are over 400 runs ahead. Things are looking good! 

- The Somerset Inn -

Our second Wetherspoons meal of the week precedes a backstreet gem of a place which we hadn't previously had the pleasure of frequenting. Situated mid-terrace on Alfred Street, the Somerset Inn is in many ways just a homely average boozer with a largely local clientele. Pub games are the main attraction here, especially the skittle alley which is getting a lot of use on this particular occasion; every so often we hear loud yelps of celebration emanating from the rear quarters, presumably because someone has scattered the nine pins with a well-directed cheese. We're however content just watching the Turkey vs Austria Euro 2024 clash over a pint or two of lemonade and blackcurrant or Thatcher's Cider - simple pleasures!

- The Run Chase Gathers Momentum -

Hopes are high on Wednesday as we get our tickets zapped in for the final day of play at the Coopers Associates County Ground. As Mr B had demanded, the Bears have indeed declared on their existing 281/8 thus setting Somerset a fairly hefty 410 runs to win. Messrs Umeed and Kohler-Cadmore set out briskly but we're still confident at 77/2 and 144/3. Alas that's about as good as it gets for Warwickshire, with first innings mainstays Abell and Banton once again getting into their batting groove. Even Banton's dismissal for 81 can't derail the Somerset charge, and it's highly fitting that Abell secures victory by hitting a massive six, posting his personal best first class score of 152 not out as the Bears are vanquished. Disappointed as we are to lose, you have to applaud a well-judged chase that took the match the distance.

- Bathpool Canal Cottage -

Licking our wounds, we drown our sorrows over in Priorswood, a housing estate north of the town centre where the Waggon flat-roofer almost deafens us with its MTV coverage of David Guetta's greatest hits. Mr Beardsmore delivers his cricketing postmortem yet remains very confident that Warwickshire will avoid any relegation struggles - I'll reserve judgement on that matter for now - then the final act of our five day stay sees me indulging in an early Thursday canal stroll to Bathpool Swingbridge and Bridgwater Road (Bridge 29), making the most of the lovely morning sunshine. Win or lose it's been a pleasure to be watching cricket again so here's hoping we get to see a bit more before the season is out. Come On You Bears!