An October Hub Hat Trick: Telford 2025

October hasn't been lacking in Hub Marketing action. First came Wet Wombourne, then the Darlaston Dash and now we'll make it a hat trick thanks to our long-awaited Telford Tickle. The Chairman has been primed for estate pub ecstasy so here goes...

- A Coffee Pot Cuppa -

Trip Log: Friday 17th October 2025 and our third trip of an increasingly busy month begins in Bradmore. A greasy spoon breakfast can line our stomachs for any Telford tipples to come so the Coffee Pot on Birches Barn Road gets the nod, just along from the Bradmore Arms and a mini Tesco supermarket. The speckled doorstep and simply laminated menus instantly tell us we're in for a real treat and so it proves, Secretary WME making sure to include a helping of his beloved black pudding. The Chairman meanwhile enjoys a restorative coffee although he is perhaps being taunted by the presence of a red 'Andy the Gas' van patrolling outside. 

- The Charging Hub -

Mercifully there are relatively few piano-pushing noises as we sprint for the 4, the driver taking pity on us just when we thought the bus was about to pull away. The 12:12 Shrewsbury train stages our silly song selections in an almost empty front carriage, meaning other passengers are spared the delights of 'The Sit Song' (an affectionate Barron Knights pastiche poking fun at 1970s dog training legend Barbara Woodhouse) or Ted Rogers and the Young Uns paying homage to 3-2-1 favourite Dusty Bin. Arrival at Telford Central is circa half past twelve but the Station Quarter is a mass of cranes and footpath diversions due to major construction works. We manage to find our way to the town's main shopping centre almost by accident, meaning Mr D9 can ably advertise the provision of a Charging Hub within the complex.

- The Randlay Farmhouse -

The Secretary has billed the day as an estate boozer bonanza and we can start cashing in once the number 3 Brookside bus has taken us the short distance to Randlay. A small precinct contains a Premier convenience store and Big T's chip shop but we're more interested in the Randlay Farmhouse, a Banks's number that hints at an agricultural affectation through horse harnesses and blackened timbers. We suspect the pub probably dates from the 1980s though that isn't to say there might have been a farmstead here historically. Either way, we partake of a Carling apiece and park ourselves in a comfy lounge corner pondering Jagerbomb promos and a cast iron Banks's fireplace lintel. A good start!

- Braced for Brookside -

Timing our exit to catch the next 3 very precisely indeed, we proceed into Brookside (an area not to be confused with Channel 4's famous Liverpudlian soap opera). There are admittedly plenty of cul-de-sacs here - each one beginning with B it seems - but again our concentration is reserved for pubby matters. The Mallard is flat-roofed, brown and approached with much trepidation as we dodge car park hazard cones covering broken drains. Our nerves settle slightly once we get inside, discovering framed pictures of mallards of the duck and train persuasion, and any place that serves D9 with discount £3 Carling is always going to rate highly in the Chairman's eyes - it isn't the prettiest but we like it regardless.

- Secretarial Scoring in Madeley -

Continuing on foot, we meander into Madeley via Bridgnorth Road with glimpses of Tweedale Industrial Estate access points. The Three Furnaces is a night-time entertainment venue so we make a mental note that if we ever do desire a Telford pint at 3 o'clock in the morning, we know where to go. Afternoon drinking is more our style so the Cuckoo Oak (Hungry Horse) supplies Beardsmore Bleach in the company of a Macmillan Cancer Support giant, then it's across to Prince Street for the Miners Arms. Mr WME knows this one from Chip Foundation correspondence back in 2019 and it does us nicely for a swift half of Amber, wielding long pegging boards used for backgammon, cribbage and dominoes. 

- Scooting through Sutton Hill -

Fun and games are on the agenda as we saunter towards Sutton Hill, utilising underpasses in the vicinity of Singleton. As if playing football with rotten fallen apples isn't enough sport, Mr D9 can't resist hurtling around on an abandoned pink scooter although its lack of brakes is a cause for concern. Thankfully the bald spot survives this precarious encounter and we can recover in the Madebrook, an independent carvery-focused hostelry serving up respective pints of Worthingtons and Carling. They do Indian cuisine as well as the roast dinners, and while it is definitely an estate pub there's a smidgen of architectural elegance to be had, meaning the Mallard is still leading the dive stakes appearance-wise.

- D9 drives the 1 -

If Brookside was all about the Bs, Sutton Hill is in thrall to the letter S with stubby offshoots called Stanwyck, Stebbings and Selbourne. The number 1 bus is a circular service (mirrored by the 2) which gives us a full terminus loop of the estate prior to more of Madeley. We stay on board through Woodside - where good old W is the alphabetical favourite - and Aqueduct, with Mr D9 getting word from back home about the identity of a mystery pub he'd spotted on family business in the Dawley locality. Having been reminded of the premises in question, he delivers a driving demo then instructs us to alight on Little Dawley's Trinity Road...

- Getting Down with the Dawley Cats -

The establishment being drawn from the depths of the Chairman's memory is the Unicorn on Holly Road, a standalone free house which looks rather tempting even without the revelation that it features in the 2026 Good Beer Guide. The WME wallet does the honours for Green Duck's Supersonic, described as having 'juicy fruit flavours with notes of lime and pine' so you can't argue with that. The resultant pints are high quality, and were it not for our earlier greasy grub The Secretary would have been all over the sausage roll and pork pie cabinet of wonder. Autumnal inflatables add an extra drop of sparkle - think novelty acorn and leaf balloons - but time is tight and we need to get moving. Even with the clock against us, there's always scope for floofing of friendly cats as the bald spot puts in another appearance.

- Mr WME in the White Horse -

Cracking on with our Dawley denouement, there are two more taverns to test out as Finger Road presents us with the White Horse. Shropshire seems to specialise in that kind of fusty musty watering hole that time forgot and this is another in that category - signs that have been in place for years, and shield-upon-shield of crib trophies for a scattering of silverware that would make most Premier League football teams jealous. The Wainwright Gold goes down smoothly here, as does the Banks's Amber in our final calling point, the Queens Head up on King Street. This place makes a good but brief impression as another community local, and we declare for the day by trundling back to Telford Central for the train home. Cheers!

A Telford Town Park Tour

Covering over 450 acres, Telford Town Park is one of the jewels within the Telford and Wrekin Borough area and has even won national titles to go with its Green Flag status. I've been visiting the park on and off since childhood, when we used to have family days out clambering over Malinslee Fort or testing our balance on the adventure play equipment. With plenty of industrial heritage to investigate, I summon Stephen for a leisurely stroll towards Stirchley and Hinkshay...

- Commemorating the Coalbrookdale Coalfield -

It's Friday 18th October 2024 and I meet Mr Beardsmore aboard the number 891 bus, a route which nowadays is operated by Banga Buses but was historically a Midland Red concern until Arriva withdrew their service. The £2 single fare price cap applies for a bargain journey via Albrighton, Cosford and Shifnal before we set down at the revamped Telford Bus Station circa quarter past eleven. Ignoring the charms of the New Look or H&M stores, we sashay through Southwater and pitch straight into Town Park proper, eyeing up a bright red pitwheel designed to remember those who worked on the Coalbrookdale Coalfield. 

- Telford Veterans Trail -

More moments of reflection can be gleaned over by the Queen Elizabeth II Arena (itself a sunken grassy bowl which can host open air events for up to 12,000 people). The Telford Veterans Trail comprises a series of mounted plaques snaking their way out from the town's War Memorial; together they aim to record the active service records of local personnel across all of the Armed Forces, both in the First and Second World Wars and more recent conflicts. After pausing for pictures and to pay our respects, we venture out near the Amphitheatre which seems to be in urgent need of running repairs overlooking Randlay Pool.

- Stirchley Chimney -

Accompanied by disconcertingly ghostly groaning noises emanating from the Wonderland themed attraction, we pick out the path passing between bodies of water on the eastern flank of the park. Randlay Pool is the largest of the constituent pools and was constructed to supply water to a former brickworks, whilst nearby Blue Pool has a similarly industrial origin having been the quarrying site used by the same firm (gaining its name from the underlying clay minerals which give the pool a distinctive blue colour, especially in summer). Probably the most obvious clue to the area's manufacturing past is the towering presence of Stirchley Chimney, although Stephen and I don't spot it until the very last second because it is well screened by surrounding foliage. Erected in 1873, the chimney along with associated blast furnace remains are currently opened for occasional educational visits.

- St James's Church -

Beyond the chimney, we pass the scarrings of disused slag heaps to reach Grange Pool in Town Park's south-eastern corner. At this point we detour off to investigate Stirchley Village (an older settlement which considerably predates the New Town estate which also holds the Stirchley name). A cluster of amenities would have seen a post office, butchers shop, pub - the Rose & Crown, still seemingly trading but not open on this Friday lunchtime - and St James's Church all bunched together. The latter landmark is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust and has some 12th century Norman architectural elements. 

- Stephen at Stirchley Platform -

Continuing along Stirchley Lane, we reach the Silkin Way leisure footpath which follows the course of a disused railway line (namely the branch that connected Wellington with Coalport) and is named in tribute to Lewis Silkin, the Minister responsible for the New Towns Act in the 1960s Labour Government. Evidence of the route's transport provenance is apparent in the form of Dawley and Stirchley Station where the platform remains have been restored with the help of community grant funding. Passenger services ceased here in May/June 1952 although freight operations (mainly involving coal) persisted until 1964 after which the line closed.

- The Three Crowns -

The lack of activity at the aforementioned Rose & Crown means our next best option for a refreshment stop is the Three Crowns on Hinkshay Road, flirting with the edges of Dawley. This is a long-time Marston's boozer standing side-on to the lane and presumably given the brewery's wet-led marketing makeover blueprint - cue barrel emblems and tiled diagrams of the beer-making process. My hopes of a quality pint of cask ale are thwarted when all of the handpulls are out of use so a Thatcher's Gold cider has to suffice instead. Parking ourselves on a tall table, we natter about cricketing capitulations (a theme of the entire summer) while keeping half an eye on some ladies tennis from the Ningbo Open. One amusing feature is the parade of rubber ducks lining the bartop, from mermaid specimens to sailors, Scottish saltires and even a black punk rubber duck with a well-styled mohican - what splendid fun!

- Telford Hornets Rugby Club -

Resuming our Town Park trail, more of Hinkshay Road has us heading northwards in the general direction of Dark Lane car park. I walked this section back in June 2008 when the White Hart pub was just about still standing (albeit in a very tumbledown condition) but that old hostelry has long since vacated the scene, replaced by the new housing of Jerry Rails Avenue and Ever Ready Crescent. The next notable feature for our attention is the Telford Hornets rugby ground complete with well-appointed clubhouse and several training pitches; the club competes in the Counties 1 Midlands West (North) Division - quite a mouthful! 

- A Wonderland Welcome -

Our loop has almost come full circle back to Meeting Point House although we are briefly lured across to the Exotic Zoo and Wonderland main entrance by the combined presence of the startled White Rabbit and grinning Cheshire Cat. We're a little too old for either attraction's target audience so we instead convene in the Wrekin Giant (a Hungry Horse establishment over at Southwater) for a gammon lunch with bonus puddings. Further cricketing discussions are interspersed with previewing the Wolves vs Manchester City match - we don't hold out much hope of a home win - and that's our Town Park trip done and dusted. The whole walk was around four miles in total, giving us a great insight into Telford's past - cheers!