Springtime Essentials

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

- Highfield Manor -

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

- Things Turning Desperate? -

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

- Hawkshead Dry Stone Stout -

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

- A Blustery Beacon Walk -

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

- Deep in Discussion -

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

- Swanning about with a Town Crier -

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

- Chip Contentment -

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

The Chip Foundation Calendar Crawl

The festive season is all about traditions - Christmas trees, crackers, roast turkey, sprouts - and one of my personal favourite customs is the annual presentation of Chip Foundation calendars at the Great Western, my way of saying thank you to Stephen and Nick for putting up with my photo requests over the preceding twelve months. As has been the case in the last few years, we make a little trip out of the occasion so here's a quick summary of what we got up to...

Mr B and I meet at midday for the number 1 bus across to Sedgley where Nick is already warmly ensconced within the bosom of the Beacon Hotel having maintained his preferred trick of being there bang on opening time. A couple of things have changed since we last came in April, namely that the conservatory has been refitted into more of a drinking zone, and a small room off the main corridor has likewise been brought into public use having previously always been a staff quarters - I guess the pub has become so popular now they need all the space they can muster. The famed Dark Ruby Mild is as good as ever, washed down with an essential and highly drinkable 8% Sarah Hughes half of Snowflake which definitely warms the back of one’s throat! His Majesty meanwhile gallantly does battle with a huge cheese and onion cob so big it takes him ages to eat until it succumbs to inevitable consumption eventually. Stephen is still traumatised by the latest Ashes and Wolves defeats so we avoid sporting topics in favour of more cheerful discussions about political ineptitude and the prospects of war.

- Beacon Hotel Sign -

Onwards and we’ve business in mind in Upper Gornal where a new micropub (the Stripey Oss) has recently opened on Kent Street precinct, just across the road from the Spills Meadow. A willing 1 gets us there easily enough and we locate the arcade unit which used to be a painting and decorating supplies store. The name alone is a novelty - referencing the Black Country dialect's description for a zebra - so some of the incumbent artwork references said animal, as do posters seeking to set up darts and poker teams. They’ve not been going all that long (I think it first launched in mid-October) so there’s a whiff of fresh paint and DIY to contend with. Cask ales mainly get delivered in readiness for the weekend so although they have an Ickle Brewery clip on show we have to make do with the craft keg stuff this time around, Salt’s Alpacalypse being an amusing take on a sessionable pale ale.

- The Stripey Oss -

A few doors up the road is our old friend the Britannia, purveyor of Bathams beers which means Nick and I might get chance to sample the special XXX beer that eluded us at the Lamp Tavern recently. The longed-for dark bull pumpclip is indeed on display so we linger for a relaxed half, recalling fond memories of our first joint Christmas trip back in 2010 when we took up station in the Games Room. Fifteen whole years on, we’re back once more only this time around we prefer to sit in Sally’s Parlour, a classic unspoiled realm of mottled green leather, framed family portraits and antique cash registers. A sprinkling of festive decorations - an elf on a shelf, a toy workshop, tinsel around the carriage clock - gives a yuletide flavour to make the setting seem even more special.

- Pork Crunch in the Parlour -

Catching the bus back to Wolverhampton, I’m keen to pay an inaugural visit to PACK on Queen Square but it isn't open (their trading hours will apparently settle down once more staff are recruited). The Lych Gate Tavern thus gets summoned from the substitutes bench to fill the void. It’s never a hardship coming here regardless, Nick being eager to give it a whirl especially when we realise the dark ales have Saltaire’s Montezuma Triple Choc Stout among their number. A downstairs seat among the tartan upholstery over on the left works well, it not being overly busy although there are a few folks about. Mr Beardsmore leads us on a Review of the Year, reflecting back on notable events and happenings, including his season-long commitment to watching Warwickshire here there and everywhere.

- Holden's Old Ale -

And finally to the Great Western main event, once I’ve snuck into work to retrieve the all-important calendars from my locker. Ken has been in touch and is joining us after playing whist in Harborne - he certainly gets around does our Mr May - so we find him at the kitchen hatch table just inside the conservatory extension. Following on from Snowflake and the Bathams XXX, I complete the Holy Trinity of local heavy hitters by procuring a pint of treacly deep Holden’s Old Ale (£4.95 a pint and worth every penny) - we’re so lucky to have such notable yuletide brews produced on our doorstep. Various Christmas cards are exchanged and now comes the big moment itself. Stephen first had one of my calendars in 2010 with Nick getting one the year after, so the handover has been a seminal gathering for well over a decade. The 2026 editions feature Mr B flanked by Hove deckchairs, red-nosed Rudolphs and recreating his Friar Tuck role at White Ladies Priory whereas His Highness has Jane frickles, Kenilworth sword poses and bits of bellringing to adorn his wall next year. Cheers!

Bostin' Black Country Beer with the Chip Foundation

Around Eastertime last year, the Chip Foundation convened a special pubcrawl in order to celebrate ten years since Nick retired. We enjoyed the day so much that we decided to make it an annual event, so here comes the 2025 version to mark HRH's 11 years away from the daily grind...

- Pink Petals on Cranford Road -

Spring has definitely sprung here in Wolverhampton and there are plenty of pretty blossoms waiting to be documented in the vicinity of Finchfield, Merry Hill and Castlecroft. One street I always make a point of revisiting with my camera in hand is Cranford Road where the cherry pinks are consistently spectacular year-on-year, the current display being as enchanting as ever. Bantock Park is no stranger to bounteous boughs either, the last of the daffodils still clinging on gamely as the colours of the season really shine through.

- All Aboard the 1 -

An 11:15 rendezvous at Wolverhampton railway station sees me joining forces with Nick and Stephen in readiness for a ride on the number 1 bus. It's interesting to see the City Learning Quarter taking shape off Old Hall Street, whereby City of Wolverhampton College are in the process of building a brand new campus in time for the 2025/26 academic year. As part of the same project, our former Central Library stomping ground is undergoing renovation work and is currently open as normal despite being encased in swathes of scaffolding.

- Scanning the Sedgley Beacon horizon -

Alighting by the Beacon Centre for the Blind (a charitable concern supporting those with sight loss and visual impairments), we take the well worn path across Sedgley Beacon. On a clear day such as this the views are fantastic, looking right out towards Herefordshire, Shropshire and Wales with Titterstone Clee and The Wrekin on the horizon, not to mention Birmingham skyscrapers or the telecoms mast at Sutton Coldfield. Nick is eager to point out any geological landmarks whereas Stephen concentrates more on Heath Town flats and Mander House.

- Dark Ruby Mild at source -

Proving that we are nothing if not predictable, we yet again find ourselves on the hallowed doorstep of the Beacon Hotel, eager to partake of Sarah Hughes' brewing wares. The 6% Dark Ruby Mild is one of my all-time Desert Island beers and doesn't disappoint, served in dimpled glassware in the time-honoured fashion. The pub's rear smoke room is a beguiling setting for chatting about cricket, coach holidays and cobs, Stephen very much still beaming after Warwickshire's nail-biting victory in Durham. The Sedgley Surprise 5% premium bitter is also on song, and we hear that the pub's conservatory might be in line for improvement works.

- Trumpet Art -

I'd earmarked the 224 bus at 13:17 for our onward connection to Bilston but a late running 229 beats it to the punch; it turns out the driver is struggling to get to grips with the vehicle's new kneeling capabilities so the ride through Coseley and Ladymoor feels like an experiment in low floor accessibility. By and by we make our way to the Trumpet, that legendary jazz venue on Bilston High Street where Holden's XB is our tipple of choice. Nick and I don't get here as much as we used to but it's always great to meet up with Musti who remains an absolute tour-de-force behind the pub's resident drumkit. Chuck Berry, Elvis and the Everly Brothers are on the playlist today as we marvel at his musical mastery. 

- The ever-essential chip shot -

Bilston's Outdoor Market site is currently a mound of rubble as plans for a brand new facility gather pace. In the meantime, stallholders have relocated to temporary pitches along Church Street and High Street which certainly give the town a lovely buzz. We aren't particularly intent on shopping for bargains ourselves, instead concentrating on a more critical component of the day... chips!! Major's would ordinarily be a no-brainer as a Bilston institution but the queues encourage us to try out the competition in the form of Chaplin's, closer to the Town Hall. The resultant orange chips still get the Beardsmore seal of approval while the mushy peas have a very deep green artificial colour but taste very nice nevertheless.

- A Great Western Gathering -

As with the 2014 and 2024 equivalent outings, we finish off back in Wolverhampton with two of the city's finest hostelries. The Great Western at the bottom of Corn Hill is iconic, framed by cobbled streets and railway walls with Holden's being its custodians (hence Golden Glow or more XB can be quaffed). The side snug resonates with framed locomotive pictures, mostly from the steam era, and mounted pressure gauges while we are joined by Dad for a catch-up chat. Last but not least comes the Lych Gate Tavern in the shadows of St Peter's Church, a Black Country Ales offering with a wide range of real ales. Nick reflects on retired life and the consensus seems to be that we must do it all over again next year. Cheers!

A Good Friday for the Chip Foundation!

Anyone up for some Easter exploring? Believe it or not, it's approaching ten years since Nick, Stephen and I left the public library scene for pastures new. Back in 2014, we celebrated Nick's retirement with a special pubcrawl visiting some of his favourite hostelries and now - a whole decade later - we're going to stage a similar trip in order to mark this notable anniversary...

- Bantock Park Magnolia -

Good Friday (29th March 2024) is close enough to the exact date of Nick's escape from working life that it fits well for meeting up, and what's more I can indulge in some springtime photography en route to joining the chaps in Wolverhampton. Bantock Park looks especially pretty with pathside daffodils and magnolia trees in full bloom, and its heartening to hear the bumblebees buzzing around in search of pollen and nectar. Bantock House and surrounding grounds were bequeathed to Wolverhampton Council on the death of Albert Baldwin Bantock in 1938, with the main house subsequently becoming a museum. 

- Mr Beardsmore points the way from Sedgley Beacon -

Nick and Stephen are ready and waiting for me near Wolverhampton railway station so we can easily hop aboard the number 1 bus bound for Sedgley. An invigorating stroll should get us in the mood for the ales to follow, and the bracing winds up on Sedgley Beacon certainly help to clear any lingering cobwebs. One of the highest points in the Black Country, you can spot numerous West Midlands landmarks from such a lofty elevation including BT Tower, the Bond Wolfe block in West Bromwich, plus Wolverhampton's Mander House with Victoria Halls. One particularly strong gust almost sends the Beardsmore baseball cap spiralling off towards Ettingshall Park Farm but Stephen nimbly retrieves his miscreant headwear from the gorse.

- Dark Ruby Mild? Don't mind if we do... -

Keen that Stephen should not risk losing any more items of apparel, we dodge beneath the Beacon Tower (erected in 1846) and into the Beacon Hotel, home of Sarah Hughes Brewery and their prized Dark Ruby Mild. Intercepting Ken on the doorstep, we've timed our arrival not long after midday opening and yet the place is already very full with Bank Holiday merriment. Dimpled glasses and Taddy Lager beermats add to the effect as we commandeer the far table in the smoke room, always an evocative space in which to imbibe of 6% gorgeousness. Alas the special barrel of Snowflake winter ale has quickly sold out so the still-excellent Sedgley Surprise steps in for my follow-up half while conversation covers recent holidays in Cromer, Exmouth, Scarborough and Great Yarmouth.

- The Classic Beardsmore Chip Picture -

The 229 bus is due straight outside the pub at 14:03 and arrives promptly to whisk us off to Bilston, where we've time for a legendary chip shop lunch before Stephen has to leave us. Major's on Church Street has been a renowned local institution for nigh on fifty years, and although the business changed hands in 2023, they still serve the bright orange battered chips for which Bilston has become famous. Mr B gives them his special seal of approval albeit we have to scamper for the shelter of the bus station when a nasty shower sets in.

- Remembering Reg in the Trumpet -

As the rain relents and our resident Beardsmore bids us farewell by catching his 25 bus link into Wednesfield, the rest of us have a date with another Bilston mainstay. The Trumpet is a wonderful Holden's boozer which specialises in live jazz under the stewardship of Musti and Diane; many is the evening we've spent here over the years, listening to the likes of Patsy Gamble, Sheila Waterfield, Henry Newman and the much-missed Reg Keirle. Claiming our Golden Glows and Holden's Bitters respectively, we nudge below framed portraits of Tommy Burton and Louis Armstrong to chat about music, politics and travel in the time-honoured way. I particularly like the caricature sketches of the various musicians who've graced the stage here down the decades, not to mention a wide array of musical trinkets and figurines.

- Grinning with Glow in the Great Western -

Two pubs done with two more to come so we'd best get heading back to Wolverhampton. The number 82 bus offers a helping hand via Portobello (Moseley Road) and Deansfield, then we soon find ourselves descending the distinctive Corn Hill cobbles to reach the Great Western, nostalgically framed by its railway bridge approaches. An all-time classic, this pub is another of Holden's finest establishments with a neat line in railwayana, cobs and coal fires. Claiming our customary seats in the conservatory, we account for more Glow, Bitter and Woodsetton Pale Ale as the whole place seems alive with good natured Bank Holiday banter. 

- The Lych Gate Tavern Finale -

The fourth of our intended quartet sees us finishing off exactly as we did in 2014, by pitching into the Lych Gate Tavern just off Wolverhampton's Queen Square. Black Country Ales are the custodians here having brought the historic beamed interior back into public use in 2012; it had been an office space prior to that so it's good that the timber elements can now be fully appreciated again. Beartown's Creme Bearlee battles Birmingham's Stout Brummie in our darker ale affections albeit Ken takes a trip along memory lane by opting for Brew XI, the Midlands brew he forged his beery tastebuds on. The only things missing are the Catholic priests who kindly wished Nick all the best on his retirement ten years ago, but we've had a cracking afternoon with or without any such ecclesiastical interventions. Cheers!