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!

Wolverhampton then Wales

I simply haven't been able to get enough of Wales lately. First came Knighton during Rail Rover Week, then that memorable weekend in Aberystwyth with Jane, and now I'll be heading across the border again when joining Stephen for a daytrip to Rhyl. Before the coast comes calling however, there's the small matter of an ale adventure closer to home...

- Chicken Run Characters -

Believe it or not I haven't attended a beer festival all year - there aren't quite as many events locally as there used to be - so the Wolverhampton CAMRA 'Summer of Beer' showcase has been ringed on my calendar for months. Nick and Jane are similarly keen to partake and we duly join forces on Friday 25th July, finding time beforehand to check out the 'Come As You Really Are' exhibition at the city's Art Gallery. Spread across three rooms, the displays are a huge amount of fun, comprising hobbyist creations from toys to fashions to knitted items to vintage football programmes. Where else can you find a crocheted Freddie Mercury, a Lady Penelope Thunderbirds car, Chicken Run homages and mock pop bottles all in one go? The collection was conceived by Hetain Patel in conjunction with Artangel.

- A Special Royal Cob Creation? -

Ambling down to the newly-rechristened Wolverhampton Arts Centre on Newhampton Road, we arrive just after midday opening time and soon settle in the main marquee armed with the usual kit of tokens, glasses and festival programmes. HRH Nick decides to accompany Miss Woolf on the ciders and perries on this occasion, leaving me flying the lone ale flag. I step up to the plate by partaking of Birt's Bitter (from All Nations in Shropshire), Murder She Oat (an excellent name and outstanding brew from Green Duck) and Uttoxeter's Dark Horse Mild. My accomplices meanwhile extol the virtues of Storm Damage cider, Gwynt y Ddraig Two Trees Perry and Sam's Autumn Mix Scrumpy. Nick gets suspiciously preferential treatment in being presented with a bespoke egg salad cob, whereas Jane undertakes intense negotiations with the ladies on the tombola stall, securing permission for us to wear a 'Sod Off' traffic cone hat. 

- Woolf Meets Wolf -

I should probably be grateful that said piece of headwear did not come into our possession on a more permanent basis, although our actual winnings do include a wolf-faced coaster (seen being modelled by our own Woolf), and a diabetic calorie-counting boardgame! The festival is as excellent as ever, and our follow-up tour of Whitmore Reans hostelries isn't bad either. Both the Summer House and the Newhampton have tempting tipples available and are your classic Victorian street corner boozers, but stealing the show is definitely the Stile with its promise of homecooked Polish cuisine. Jane gamely tries to demolish a plate of polonez (pork with a pile of sauerkraut) but admits defeat to the hefty portions, whereas Nick manages to gobble down a chicken kiev and I eagerly munch my way through beef goulash and potato pancakes. Yum!

- Beardsmore by the Beach -

I've just about digested those Eastern European delicacies when Saturday 26th July presents my third Welsh incursion, and this time I'll be heading for the shores of North Wales courtesy of Rhyl, a sometimes-maligned seaside town in Denbighshire. Stephen has booked us onto a coach trip with the Low Hill Community Association so we gather on Kempthorne Avenue at 8am along with seemingly most of the local housing estate! Three coaches will be making the journey along the M6 and A55, setting off at quarter to nine and reaching the Rhyl seafront roughly three hours later (via sightings of Flint and Prestatyn). The weather is a little overcast to begin with but that doesn't stop Stephen from posing near the sands.

- Foryd Bridge, Rhyl -

From the coach layover area we proceed along West Parade, noting landmarks such as the SC2 swimming complex and a square clock tower. Rhyl is scheduled to receive £20 million of investment funding over the next ten years and some of that is already being spent upgrading the promenade area, hence the building site vibe and fenced-off sections near the fairground. There are interesting views to be had looking out across the harbour, where the River Clwyd curves in below the nature reserve promontory of Horton's Nose with its marram grasses and sand dunes. The bright blue metallic features of Foryd Bridge are also very apparent, its bowstring girders spanning the river in connecting us over towards Kinmel Bay.  

- Rhyl Railway Station -

The lack of gammon on Wetherspoons menus these days means Mr B favours Hungry Horse establishments if of a pork persuasion, and the Harbour is well-placed to supply our lunching needs here. It's not the most glamorous of pubs in truth but we can see the Pont y Ddraig lift bridge when looking through the feature front windows, and I never say no to an onion ring! A closer look at Horton's Nose sets us up for a wander into Rhyl town centre, whereby High Street has a few of your standard holiday gift shops selling buckets, spades and inflatable flamingo rings. The town's railway station first opened in 1848 when it was served by trains between Chester and Holyhead, a function it still performs today. The frontage has some appealing touches of typical Victorian stylings while the adjacent bus interchange offers connections to Llandudno (the number 12) or Town Circular routes the 35 and 36.

- Coke in the Cob & Pen -

An archway just to the side of the railway station leads in turn to my pub pick for the day, the Cob & Pen being a 2025 Good Beer Guide recommendation in a locality perhaps not blessed with a wide range of real ale options. The barmaids are being run off their feet such is the constant level of demand, although the fact the beer garden is hosting a Northern Soul All Dayer might have something to do with that. I can't fault my Facer's pint of Flintshire Bitter while Stephen is content watching the Old Trafford cricket on the big screen, willing England to take more Indian wickets. A very melty ice cream is another highlight of the day and we make sure to browse a few charity shops in search of Beardsmore hedgehog trinkets.

- Rhyl Lifeboat Station -

Having covered West Parade earlier, we now target East Parade for the sake of completion, venturing as far as the Eisteddfod standing stones near Old Golf Road. The brooding hulk of the Royal Alexandra Hospital has a certain seafront presence and deals purely with outpatient appointments these days, then we pay our respects at the Garden of Remembrance with its soldier statue commemorating Boer War casualties. Cute frog fountains and the Pavilion Theatre can't escape our attentions entirely but we finish off at the Min Yr Haul (Sun Verge) modern Marston's carvery effort for pre-coach refreshments in the sunshine. Come half past six its time to bid the seaside farewell again, the homeward trundle taking two and a bit hours. Rhyl might still not be the prettiest place but with sun, sand and sea it was well worth a visit.

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 Double Dose of Mr D9

Maintaining my recent liking for 'buy one get one free' trip reports, this latest blogpost recounts back-to-back meetings of the Hub Marketing Board. Firstly the Chairman and the Secretary enjoyed an early evening sampling of Chapel Ash hostelries, then came a more in-depth raid upon Kingstanding and Streetly. Here is the tale of both outings...

- Cruzcampo in the Lupo Lounge -

Ever a slave to logic, let's start at the beginning which in this instance involves a Tuesday 15th May rendezvous in Wolverhampton. Chairman D9 has specifically requested we investigate Chapel Ash as it's been several years since we last ventured that way together, but he is not averse to having an opening drink somewhere in the centre of town - provided the Secretary is paying for it that is! Cue the Lupo Lounge, a bar/eaterie on pedestrianised Dudley Street where the Cruzcampo lager stings poor Mr WME to the tune of £5.30 a pint - ouch indeed. Admittedly the setting is a nice one with masses of portraiture and mirrors, not to mention a long speckled brown sofa that reminds me of the settee my Nan used to have in the 1980s.

- Crazy in the Clarendon? -

Chapel Ash is a busy little area just outside the city centre where the A41 (Tettenhall Road), A454 (Compton Road) and Merridale Road all fan out like spokes radiating away from the main Ring Road. Banks's Brewery is a major feature here so we're contractually obliged to visit their nominal brewery tap - the Clarendon Hotel - although we do go slightly rebellious when opting for the Brooklyn Lager rather than any Amber, Wainwright or Sunbeam. In some quarters this might be enough to warrant disciplinary proceedings so the Chairman tries to disguise himself with glasses, a hi-vis 'skirt' and some very strange facial expressions!!

- 'Spotted' by the former Eye Infirmary -

Besides the brewery, another important Chapel Ash landmark has to be the old Eye Infirmary. Opened in 1888, the building has seemingly been rotting for far too long after services were transferred to New Cross Hospital in 2006; there have been signs of progress in more recent months so hopefully the blight is merely temporary. A certain bald spot digests the scene then we complete our Chapel Ash crawl at three absolutely cracking boozers. The Combermere Arms is a gem of cottagey proportions, serving up a perfect glass of Twickenham Spring Ale while an elderly cat prowls around behind the bar; the Royal Oak on Compton Road is a red brick treat with a real community focus, unsurprisingly full even though it's just an ordinary Tuesday evening; and the Chindit is one of Secretary WME's all-time favourites, supplying Fixed Wheel's Top Ganna amongst a selection of blonde, pale and golden ales. Excellent!

- D9 drives the 5 through Scott Arms -

Whether we'll encounter quite the same quality come Friday 17th May remains to be seen but we'll give Kingstanding and Streetly a whirl regardless. A malfunctioning phone makes for a very stressful WME morning but the Secretary parks himself in the Wheatsheaf at West Brom hoping that the Chairman will have seen his scrambled messages; luckily Mr D9 is eventually present and correct having earlier attended the funeral of a bus driving colleague, so once the necessary Golden Glows are consumed we're all clear to proceed with our afternoon agenda. The number 5 towards Sutton Coldfield is the route we require, grunting up near Sandwell Valley Park and Hamstead to negotiate the notorious Scott Arms bottleneck crossroads.

- Mascot Moments in the (second) Kingstanding -

We alight just beyond Kingstanding Circle and intercept a helping hand 33 down to Warren Farm Road. Things have the potential to get confusing now because two of our target pubs have very similar names but we locate the Kingstanding Inn easily enough, overlooking the Conker Island play area amidst an oval of local amenities (a medical centre, primary school, Christ the King Catholic Church and so forth). The pub in this case used to be Kingstanding's Ex-Servicemen's Club so it still has the unmistakable air of a social club setting with its lobby area - it even seems to offer accommodation upstairs. M&B Mild is a Brummie throwback that seems suitable for the occasion, then we set off via Hurlingham Road so as to find our second Kingstanding-named watering hole in swift succession...

- Kingstanding Precinct -

Whereas Tuesday evening's silly songs were very safety conscious (Beverley Bunt telling us how to cross the road correctly on 'The Queen's Highway' for example), our Friday selection is more religious in tone with various Hallelujahs and Praise the Lords thrown in. Kingstanding Pub #2 is based in a function suite next to what used to be the local police station (but is now a Dominos Pizza outlet); from what we can gather, this bar effectively replaces the derelict boozer which burnt down on the other side of the Circle roundabout. Anyway, it's a very lively haunt with Aston Villa flags aplenty and sepia photos of the old Odeon cinema-turned-Mecca Bingo. A Carling each helps us blend in, mascot George makes the acquaintance of a rocking unicorn, and we can survey what's left of the boarded-up 1960s shopping precinct which is hopefully due to be replaced by a Lidl supermarket in the not-too-distant future. The sooner this happens the better really because the current mess doesn't do the area any favours.

- Elephant Riders in the Brew House -

Satisfied with our Kingstanding endeavours, we'll now switch our attentions towards Streetly whereby the 935 bus can give us a handy link onto the Hundred Acre Estate (crossing from Birmingham territory into Walsall in the process). The block of shops on Boundary Road is home to the Brew House, a popular one-roomed micropub which has deservedly won the CAMRA 2024 Pub of the Year title for Lichfield, Sutton & Tamworth Branch's portion of the West Midlands (the exact geography of these things always confuses me). Anyway, up to four rotating cask ales are usually available, complemented by ciders and craft beers too; judging by the array of previous pumpclips on show, they've stocked a lot of ales the Secretary is very partial to which must bode well. Today's tipple is Elephant Riders by Fown'd, perched on a high stool munching cobs while one of the regulars receives some birthday gifts. Well worth seeking out, isn't it surprising what treasures you can find on an average housing estate?!

- Farmer Johns, Aldridge Road -

Part of the reason for the Brew House's popularity might be that the other alternatives nearby aren't especially exciting, although our commitment to the ale cause means we're going to try them just for the sake of completion. Saying that, the Foley Arms and Farmer Johns (both Marston's) plus the Queslett (Ember Inns) must all be doing something correctly because they're certainly pulling in the punters this evening - presumably the good folk who live along the Aldridge Road corridor enjoy going out for Friday meals. The Foley is probably the more down-to-earth of the three while Farmer Johns has more of a refined dining emphasis, and the Queslett is exactly what you'd expect of an Ember with a decent drop of Adnam's Ghost Ship.

- A Cat & Fiddle Nightcap -

Hitching a lift on an incoming 997 back through to Pheasey, we've just enough wriggle room for a box boozer nightcap. The Cat & Fiddle is a presentable enough Greene King effort which faces up Collingwood Drive from its position on Beacon Road, not far from the Barr Beacon nature reserve in fact. In keeping with several of today's establishments, this one is very full (the presence of black-tied mourners might explain the busyness here) but we can squeeze in for the briefest of Carlings near a Staff Champions noticeboard. With that, we make sure we're aboard the next 5 onwards to West Bromwich and for once the Chairman is home in line with his permitted curfew time. Two for the price of one? I think we got a pretty good deal there!

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!