Hub Marketing 2026: STOURBRIDGE

Evening commitments with the Woolfs at a Wombourne barn dance mean the Secretary is (mostly) on his best behaviour for this latest Hub Marketing excursion. Stourbridge and its pubs hold a lot of happy memories for Mr WME but there are a few gaps in the Chairman's collection that need plugging...

- Serious Steering on the 16 -

It's Friday 4th September and a 10:30am Wolverhampton rendezvous has been agreed, the Chairman arriving off his tram in relatively punctual order. We're still awaiting news of when the Midland Metro extension to Dudley might open with the launch date delayed again until later in 2026 or possibly early 2027. Stourbridge is in our sights today however hence we board the number 16 bus for the familiar journey along the A449 Penn Road and into the South Staffordshire villages of Wombourne, Swindon and Hinksford, Mr D9 saving his best scowling steering poses for extracting us around the endless Darlington Street roadworks.

- A Tea4Two Coffee Call -

Keeping a beady eye out for breakfasting opportunities, a few greasy spoon candidates could enter the equation although the Chairman draws the line at having lettuce and cucumber as part of his fry up. Tea4Two in Wall Heath looks a good bet and is partly a building site due to the cafe being extended into the gaming shop next door. Black polythene sheets protect the walls as we line our stomachs with a sensible portion of bacon, egg, sausage and black pud, all washed down with mugs of tea or coffee. They have one menu item called the Tea4Two Challenge which has a monstrous amount of stuff on it, presumably as a sharing platter.

- Wollaston's Bike Hub -

The bus stop outside Wall Heath Church is as good a setting as any for divulging this trip's silly song selections. 'I Like Birds' by Terry Scott was in line to be a future secretarial pick but the Chairman beats WME to it, although the "Valerie, Valerie" chorus of Richard Stillgoe's 'Suffering from Inflation' could well be a long-term earworm. The 16 combines with the 8 at Stourbridge Interchange to project us beyond Wollaston Farm, alighting on Bridle Road for a glimpse of the Bike Hub combining bicycle repairs with an associated coffee outlet. Next door is the Plough, one of the mainstays of the Enville Street pubcrawl route. It used to be an M&B establishment and we can see the results of a stylish makeover while supping Hop Shed's Crowd Surfer malty ale, our halves proving very agreeable to the D9 tastebuds.

- D9 Destroyer in Bisto Mode -

One pub above all others is central to the Chairman's aims this afternoon - he's absolutely insistent that we cover the Gigmill, a Marston's estate boozer between Wollaston and Norton. The number 7 bus gives us a helping hand past Stourbridge Crematorium, hopping off on The Broadway and venturing straight up to the bar. Spying an unoccupied dartboard, we settle in for a few legs of Carling-fuelled arrows, albeit WME Whirlwind has gone completely off the boil when it comes to hitting those all-important checkouts. D9 Destroyer is in inspired form, some might almost call it clinical: the result is a 6-1 thrashing that puts the bald one in pole position to win the 2026 Pub Games Champion Award. Very 'Bisto' (or should that be Bristow) indeed!

- The Waggon & Horses -

Despite a few closures, Stourbridge still seems to be stacked with a good proportion of inviting alehouses. The New Inn (on Cherry Street) and the Longlands Tavern (on Western Road) are both still going strong in the sidestreets off South Road, then we arrive on Worcester Street for a classic pairing of the highest quality. The Plough & Harrow used to be a Holt, Plant & Deakin (Holt's) tied house which retains some of the former Langley-based brewery's insignia; these days it is owned by Craddocks so we try to tame a glass each of Crazy Sheep. Back towards the town centre, the Waggon & Horses has long had a reputation for good beer and lives up to that promise again today. 'Dunk' is a collaboration involving Tiny Rebel and Titanic who have combined to craft a biscuit ale with a tinge of tea-tones about it, I'm most impressed!

- A Sociable Secretary -

There are enough pub possibilities within the confines of Stourbridge Ring Road to keep most people occupied should they so wish, in which case the Hop Vault and the Crafty Jar would be worth seeking out if you favour the more refined style of surroundings. The latter serves up a tasty Easy Tiger (Green Duck Brewery) and has surprisingly spacious toilets if like Mr D9 you notice these kind of things. Although our remit is to target places the Chairman hasn't covered before, there's always room for a WME wildcard and the Stourbridge Social will be that venue this time around. Situated within a River Rooms industrial unit below Domino's Pizza, it has a vast courtyard appearance lined on one side with padded booths, and even features a large blown-up photo of the 1977 incident when a train smashed through the wall at Stourbridge Town Station and was left dangling over the road. Hobson's Town Crier is a cask bonus here.

- White Horse, Amblecote -

We're nearing the end of our pub collecting expedition but there's still time to tickle the Old Wharf (close to the Bonded Warehouse) for a classy half of Mallinson's Wiggle Room, enticed by the psychedelic wavy lilac pumpclip. This is quite an upmarket haunt, far removed from the days when the Moorings Tavern was on its last legs so the owners have done well to breathe new life into the place. I need the 16 for my critical dancing link to Wombourne so we stroll the short distance up to Amblecote where the Chairman is deposited in the White Horse with his Boddington's nightcap. Readers might know this one better as the Maverick - complete with carved chieftain - but it has reverted to its historic name and lost a few of the Country and Western touches which made it more distinctive; still a solid pub though. Cheers!

Hub Marketing 2026: Mr D9’s Wombourne Wishlist

The Hub Marketing Board’s summertime saga continues with another of our squeeze-one-in-on-the-sly type outings the Chairman likes to sneak under his dragon’s radar. We have a few leftover strands from last autumn to attend to after our Greensforge Gallop and Wet Weather Wombourne trips still left us with a few South Staffordshire holes, so Mr D9 has issued instructions for a speedy Monday meeting…

- The Student Hub -

Trip Log: Monday 3rd August 2026 and a rendezvous near Wolverhampton Art Gallery has been arranged in the region of 4pm. Chairman D9 must be eager for not only does he arrive earlier than the Secretary, he's taken up a prime position for advertising the Goose's Student Hub credentials - his commitment to the marketing cause is ever unwavering! The plan for the next couple of hours is duly confirmed and we'll proceed with the express intention of mopping up a handful of outlying Wombourne watering holes which have yet to receive a Board visit. 

- D9 drives the 16 -

A Stourbridge-bound number 16 bus is soon on the scene, allowing for top deck views of Market Square reconstruction activities; the new development off Salop Street will apparently be called Smithgate and combines urban living with diverse shops and leisure opportunities. The A449 Penn Road is the recipient of the latest D9 driving masterclass, powering past the Mount Tavern, Hollybush and the Lloyd Hill roundabout into Staffordshire. Wombourne isn't very far and we're under orders to alight at the New Inn, a pub we can't do today even if we wanted to. Sadly this one has been shut for a few months now, which explains why the beer garden looks so overgrown and the building is starting to fall into disrepair; no, our first tipple of the trip will have to be sourced elsewhere...

- Enville Ginger in the Round Oak -

Marching along Ounsdale Road past the Leisure Centre and the adjacent renamed secondary school - now simply called Wombourne High - we reach the Round Oak as invitingly situated alongside the Staffs & Worcs Canal (next to Houndel Bridge). Gleaming glasses of Enville Ginger, a beer with a nice little kick to it, can slake our growing thirst while we home in on a well-ventilated raised rear lounge. On very warm days such as this, it's always a relief when pubs have good fan provision for cooling folk down. Large potplants and trellis-like partition screens add to the garden-like ambience here, plus there are some lovely vintage frosted window panes to give Mr WME his history fix too. A 1980s soundtrack is proving fun until 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' reminds the Chairman of his domestic bliss status!

- Mount Pleasant -

Spicy Enville beer quaffed, we continue on our merry way to guarantee our intended call at the Mount Pleasant. As with the Round Oak, Mr D9 can't remember ever setting foot in this place before although the Secretary has enjoyed some hospitality here previously. The Chairman's wallet is prepped to take advantage of the promotional prices on Carling - it doesn't seem that long ago when £3.95 would have been our most expensive beery outlay, not the cheapest! If the Ounsdale Road boozers were engaging in a tussle for blowy one-upmanship, the Mount Pleasant is ahead on points thanks to a huge industrial fan circulating air around the lounge. We find a mottled brown booth behind a central chimney breast to debate plush toys, bus timetabling matters and generally set the world to rights.  

- The Wombourne Closet Bald Spot -

Retracing earlier footsteps, we hurtle down Windmill Bank where the Chairman’s ever-reliable closet radar detects a toilet block by the maypole sculpture; apparently D9 may have utilised these facilities during his 1990s bus driving shifts, hence the bald spot's sense of nostalgia at being back again. Pub number three awaits whereby the Old Bush is an essential secretarial request being as it fits neatly on the way to our ultimate Red Lion landing point, plus its Black Country Ales-ness makes it a no-brainer with Mr WME in urgent need of some sustenance. Ashover’s Elderflower Ale is a risky selection but the floral flavour thankfully doesn’t become too overpowering while the critical cob is of generous proportions, chunky cheese and onion exactly as I’d been longing for.

- Snug Seating in the Red Lion -

Our finale comes at the musty Red Lion down Battlefield Hill where we both have very fond memories to recall. It’s ticking over reasonably well here for a Monday night with a scattering of folks in the beer garden plus a few stalwart barflies to keep the tills ringing. We collect a pint of Holden’s Golden Glow each - top quality ones at that - and bonus packets of Gill’s white label pork scratchings before parking ourselves on the table which nudges inside the lounge hearth. This half of the pub is particularly homely, you just need to be careful not to wallop your bonce when standing up - ouch! All that then remains is a sprightly A449 scurry to the Billy Bunns Lane bus stop and our mopping-up mission is declared a success. Cheers!

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!

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!

Darlaston Clubbing with Mr D9

After an enforced gap in April because of family commitments, Chairman D9 declares himself in need of a Hub Marketing session. Donning our thinking caps, we settle on a Darlaston Doorstep arrangement which should account for a couple of interesting club-type venues. Here comes the tale of the trip...

- The Fiery Grill -

Trip Log: Tuesday 19th May 2026 and our starting point is a very familiar one. Admittedly the Fiery Grill (previously the Fiery Holes prior to its Desi-style makeover) usually serves us as a nightcap location, but its proximity to Bradley Lane Metro stop makes it the ideal place for the Secretary to await Mr D9's arrival. A bar side perch amidst hexagonal patterned fabrics works well enough when armed with £4 pints of Carling, and the pub seems to be doing a brisk trade in curry orders whilst still having a steady supply of early evening regulars. The Chairman's appearance brings news of driver wakes and missed buffets with the bald one lamenting not being able to attend a celebration of life at Smethwick Labour Club.

- Studious Steering on the 79 -

Venturing deeper into the housing estates of Moxley, Charnwood Close and Queen Street combine so that we can intercept the 79 on the A41. We're not on board very long, the bus serving as a helping hand to get us into Darlaston where we will alight opposite the Asda, but there is time enough to showcase a certain someone's famed steering technique. Memories of the Stowlawn Gobbler and D9's bus-hopping youth come flooding back before attentions turn once again to matters of beer. We mustn't dilly dally as there's a lot to squeeze in and the Chairman is insistent that dead mileage is not an option - to the next haunt we must go...

- Cheerful in the Con Club -

The said second port of call is the Con Club on Little Cross Street, a venue we chickened out of sampling last October so there's added determination to include it tonight. Two large rooms give a choice of plush bar or an entertainment lounge with us picking the latter, obtaining more Carling in the process. Whenever we do anything with a Tory bias there's always a worry that one or other of us will burst into flames through political disgruntlement but there's no risk of spontaneous combustion here; in fact, you wouldn't really know it was a Conservative Club at all these days and any mention of Mrs Thatcher is thankfully kept to a minimum. Groceries and toys are piled high on the stage, perhaps through some kind of food bank operation unless an extremely well-stocked raffle is imminent. 

- The Green House Effect? -

Picking our way over wobbly Con Club car park steps past colourfully-painted planters made out of old tyres, we shuffle across to Blockall where some conveniently positioned temporary traffic lights delay the number 37 bus enough for us to reach the stop. Another short ride soon has us bearing down upon Willenhall Road, eyeing up the former Garringtons offices which now function as a sauna suite. We're not keen on the idea of disrobing in a steamy room with lots of strangers although the building's frontage does distract the bald spot momentarily. We would however like to try Garro's Pool Hall next door but it isn't open yet, despite a growing throng of potential punters congregating outside wanting to put their cues to good use.

- Beard Close Indignation -

The amount of derelict factories in the vicinity is an unmistakable sign of Darlaston's industrial decline, and with the prospect that Garro's might still be gettable later, we head to the Robin Hood on The Crescent to fill the gap. This Black Country Ales establishment is very dangerous as far as the Chairman is concerned - he has been known to have extended sessions here in the company of old scheduling colleagues - so the Secretary has to be very strict about this being a one pint only visit. BFG and Mallinsons Columbus are the tipples in question and the quality of both the beer and the pub as a whole really shines through. Returning to Darlaston, we declare our silly songs - a brace of Joan Sims novelties, 'Oh Not Again Ken' and 'Hurry Up Gran' - then pose for photocalls at both the Bargain Hub and Beard Close, with the latter seemingly eliciting a certain degree of D9 mock grumpiness.

- Grappling with Garro's -

There's still no joy at Garro's, although we are told that the staff are on their way, so a further contingency call is required. We first sampled the Nags Head at Darlaston Green on a Myvod Moments trip in April 2015 and it doesn't appear to have altered much - a down-to-earth vibe punctuated by shelves full of sporting trophies, plus window art promoting their satellite sport subscriptions. One swift Carling there precedes it being third time lucky back at Garro's which has now belatedly opened. It has a basic set-up very much focused around a multitude of pool tables and the lager here is very frothy, meaning Mr D9 gets given some extra dregs free of charge. A friendly place with a huge dog bouncing around for added fun factor, we're very glad we put the effort in trying to include it. With that, time is fast running out but an obliging 79 connection means we can make it a Fiery Grill double before the curtain falls. Cheers!

Chelmsley Clubbing with the Hub Marketing Board

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

- Pattie drives the X12 -

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

- Bromford Hub Business -

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

- Silly Sausage, Stechford -

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

- The Banbury Club -

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

- Rumours Bar & Grill -

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

- Cast Iron Closet Inspections -

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

- An Irish Coffee -

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

Hub Hoovering in Bearwood and Smethwick

When we said we wanted to do some mopping up around Bearwood, Smethwick and Oldbury, I don't think either D9 or myself expected there to be quite so much water about. Nevertheless we can cope with the week-long deluge during our second Hub Marketing happening of 2026...

- A Great Western Breakfast -

Trip Log: Friday 6th February 2026 and we're back on the hunt for places we haven't hubbed previously. There's no denying it's another wet morning in a month where the sun has barely shone but a bit of persistent drizzle won't deter us from getting out and about. A Bradley Lane rendezvous is scheduled for half past ten but a work-related phonecall makes the Chairman late, meaning he has a penalty to pay off once the tram drops us in West Bromwich. Based in a former pub premises on the High Street, the Great Western Cafe enables Mr D9 to settle his dues courtesy of a £4 small breakfast drizzled in brown sauce. As greasy spoons go, this one is doing a very brisk trade given that it has space for plenty of tables and is very good value.

- The Malcolm X Mural -

 The 80 bus at midday is overrun with students but we sit downstairs for a Spon Lane short hop, navigating a set of pesky roadworks to jump off near Mallin Street. The Ivy Bush awaits at the top of the road and was a Holden's tied house many moons ago but has long been a Desi-type pub and a very smart one at that. It hasn't long opened for the day when we troop inside for preliminary halves of Carling, hence the landlord is still going about his usual routine of checking the pipes and putting cash in the till. A plum leather perch has us monitoring bus tracking apps for news of route 49 progress, but my favourite aspect here is actually a large scale mural painted to celebrate the milestone moment when activist Malcolm X visited nearby Marshall Street in 1965, a seminal point in the quest for racial equality. The artwork references the Indian Workers Association so Mr D9 poses next to their 'United We Stand' slogan.

- Saphari, Causeway Green -

The 49E is on the scene much as the app had indicated, meaning the Secretary can aim for his Causeway Green wildcard to be included. The former Hen & Chickens pub on the traffic lights at Wolverhampton Road has been through various guises and is currently trading as the Saphari buffet restaurant, specialising in a wide range of worldwide cuisines. Importantly for us, they have retained a dedicated drinking area so we can partake of Poretti Italian-styled lager (nowadays owned and brewed by Carlsberg) without stuffing our faces on curries, stews or pizza. The decor veers from exotic birds to surreal moustaches and most things in between while a mellow soundtrack features covers of 80s classics 'Africa' and 'Forever Young'.

- Bentley Bear at Lightwoods Park -

Getting back on track with the Chairman's Bearwood itinerary, we next account for the Miller & Carter followed closely by the Dog, two Hagley Road haunts that needed doing for completion purposes. The first of these was historically known as the Cock & Magpies and serves up an expensive WME round of Beavertown Neck Oil whereas the latter is an Ember Inns effort oft frequented by Mr D9 and his ex-dragon back in the day. A swift Timothy Taylor's Landlord in there ensues we don't steal Sharon's reserved table any longer than absolutely necessary, then we nibble into nearby Lightwoods Park where the pathways look damp and the playing pitches are totally waterlogged. The resident Big Sleuth bear Bentley doesn't seem to be too bothered by the weather though, stoically coping with the gusting breeze. 

- A Gridlocked Bald Spot -

Besides such ursine connections, the park has another ace up its sleeve in the form of a bar within the magnificently restored Lightwoods House. 1000 Trades first came to prominence in the Jewellery Quarter and have now branched out into this second offering based within such impressive surroundings. The resurrected park building is a marvel especially as it was under threat - Mr D9 remembers it being derelict in the 1990s and I know from my own early outings that it was closed for a considerable period, so to have it returned to working use as a coffee shop cum pub is a revelation. Salopian Brainstorm is our atomic blonde ale pick here and the interior is a beguiling mixture of green throne armchairs, wooden benches and throstle scatter cushions. Heading back out into the rain, we quickly realise that Bearwood High Street is one long traffic jam and that our intended 82 helping hand bus is going nowhere fast.

- Smiling Secretary in the Woodlands Club -

No matter, we simply walk it to the Windsor Lounge which makes a welcome Hub Marketing reappearance nine years since we last saw it. An impressive refit has occurred since 2017 although its snooker club heritage is still apparent. Several tables are available for hire plus a dartboard in one corner and a separate room is kitted out as a multi-lane bowling alley. The Chairman thinks he is quids in when nabbing a Happy Hour £3.30 discount on our Caffreys pints only for the Secretary to strike gold when we relocate t'other side of Cape Hill to check out the Woodlands Club. We both loved this unspoiled backstreet social club affair nestled on Woodlands Street in tones of battleship grey; some of the fixtures and fittings probably haven't changed in decades and I'm very smitten with the vintage adverts for Bacardi or Guinness.

- Mixed Grill Moments at Amritsari Tarka -

Noting the Nash's Coaches depot on Raglan Road - we briefly get chatting to one of their drivers - we shuffle on into Smethwick to see what has become of the Park Hotel, a Victorian era terracotta boozer which stands on a busy High Street gyratory opposite the local park. It has been a purveyor of Punjabi cuisine for quite a while and is currently linked to the Amritsari Tarka restaurant. We admire an ornamental motorbike in the foyer then pair Kingfisher lager with a very tasty mixed grill comprising lamb, fish and chicken delicacies - yum! Worsening rain prevents us attempting a grand Oldbury finale so our old friend the Blue Gates gets the nod instead, wallowing in a 1970s Melanie soundtrack over our closing glasses of Carling. Smethwick has served us so well over the years as a Hub Marketing heartland and long may that trend continue; we've defied the weather and had a wonderful time as always. Cheers!

Mr D9's January Jumble

If at first you don't succeed... rearrange your Hub Marketing plans! After the snows of Storm Goretti forced the postponement of our originally intended meeting on Friday 9th January, Board members soon sorted out an alternative slot in order to stage their first trip of 2026. Wednesday 14th January will be the day in question with the backstreets of Wolverhampton nominated as our pubcrawl destination...

- Not the Chairman (or so he says) -

Happy New Hub Marketing Year! We begin our tale with the Secretary meeting another noted accomplice (namely Mr Beardsmore) for lunch at Tunwall's, a cafe housed in the former Lindy Lou shop on Wolverhampton's Victoria Street. This beguiling building should be very familiar to generations of Wulfrunians, and it's lovely to sit upstairs tucking into sausages, beans and chips among the carved beams. Embroidered Wolves-head seats and a gallery of manga-like sketches add extra curiosity value while one of the rooms has become the new home of the Stay Loose record shop, creating a community hub all under one rather historic roof. Chapel Ash then supplies seasonal street art in the form of the Grinch and a warmly-attired Snoopy.

- This is the Chairman, pondering PACK -

The main Hub Marketing action commences after 4pm, whereby Messrs D9 and WME intend on converging at PACK on Queen Square. This new pub venture stands for Perfect Ale Cask & Keg and launched to much acclaim last November. Based in a disused KFC store - or for older residents the former Mike Lloyd Music shop - it boasts an extensive range of up to 27 beers, while having an interesting collection of steampunk artefacts and fearsome handheld drills dotted about. The Secretary arrives first, furnishes himself with a pint of Bristol Beer Factory's excellent Espresso Martini Stout and explores more of the interior, including a first floor area displaying reclaimed pub signs. The Chairman maintains hub decorum by turning up fashionably late but soon settles in with his glass of Tiny Rebel's Cwtch Welsh Red Ale.

- Jacks Cafe & Bar -

PACK certainly made a positive impression there and it's highly likely we'll stage more visits in future. For now though the backstreets beckon, with the Secretary's nose for a surprise taking us beyond the St John's Retail Park to Frederick Street, Just along from the ex-Star Works car factory (latterly KK's Steel Mill venue for live rock music) is Jacks Cafe & Bar, itself situated in premises that could best be described as industrial. The corrugated beige frontage belies a comfortable interior that majors on food with Indian leanings; they open early for breakfast orders before curries take over in the afternoon and evenings. We call in for a Carling each, sitting by the pool table and revealing more of the treasured 2026 Hub Calendar - Ashmore Park bald spots and Penn Hospital battered sausages may feature heavily!

- Charles Pemberton Rowbottom III's Review of 2025 -

Where next? Well, a little sidestreet shimmy brings us swiftly to Graiseley Row where the Kaz Bar awaits amongst rudimentary workshops and engineering firms. Smoke from a major fire in nearby Blakenhall pervades the air as we check out what used to be the Queens Arms, which hosted CAMRA meetings back in the early days of the Wolverhampton branch (a certain HRH possibly attended some of those). Lager is the go-to drink here these days and despite a few detectable Bollywood trappings, it's nevertheless easy to envisage this being a proper boozer brimming with a simple traditional feel. As such, esteemed Hub Founder Charles Pemberton Rowbottom III grants us with his presence to deliver his 2025 Review of the Year speech, in between bouts of snoring and dozing off. He only gets exhumed for special occasions!

- Smiling Secretary Going Golden -

The Secretary's sleeves are proving productive this evening and he's got another gem lined up tucked away off Lea Road. The Oaklands Bowling & Social Club originated in 1904 and had croquet as part of its remit, although I can't imagine Wolverhampton being a hotbed for that anymore. Latterly the clubhouse premises has operated as the Golden Bar & Grill, making it another curry contender very much in keeping with our theme for the evening. Mr D9 drools upon seeing a vintage green Banks's sign and is delighted once we get inside to sample yet more Carling, sitting below large screens showing the Masters snooker and noting some sparkle from leftover festive tinsel. The extended process of calendar unveiling is finally completed with pictures representing Birmingham reindeer and Telford estate pubs.

- D9 Drives Home -

After going Golden, we relocate to the Bruford Arms in Penn Fields which last received a Hub Marketing visit on our Pintathlon outing during the 2012 Olympics. A mere thirteen and a half years later, we're belatedly back again so that Charles Pemberton Rowbottom can declare the 2026 Hub Awards: Pub of the Year was Penn's Fox & Goose, the Dive could only ever be the Mallard at Brookside, and the Cafe of the Year was a close call between Penny's, the Coffee Pot and the New Stadium greasy spoon at Longford (the Bradmore option just about edged it). With all formalities duly administered, we leave CPR to soak up the Bruford's musty ambiance and catch the 2 into town care of some D9 driving - he's lost none of his steering skill has the Chairman although the bald spot was gleaming at times. A closing nightcap at the Mountain Bar & Grill on Queen Street seals the deal and we're underway for another year. Cheers!