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!

Wet Weather Wombourne

Beware the wicked letter 'W', it has magical powers when it comes to Hub Marketing escapades. Over the years, a pattern has emerged that the worst weather conditions have been reserved for trips that begin with that very symbol of sogginess... think of Wellington, Warley, West Bromwich and now Wombourne!

- Double Golds in The Cross -

Storm Amy is wreaking her wateriness across the West Midlands with high winds and heavy rain forecast for much of the day. Nevertheless, there's a task in hand and that is to pick back up where our Greensforge Gallop left off, so the heavy duty anoraks are unleashed and out into the deluge we go. At the Chairman's insistence, members should meet at Kingswinford's Cross Inn Wetherspoons where we won't be the only folk sheltering from the squall. Spare tables are hard to come by here and it takes all of Mr D9's powers of negotiation to stop two grannies from stealing his chosen perch. A slight communication mishap means that we end up with more drinks than anticipated but the duplicated pints of Autumn Gold are soon gulped down, Secretary WME sticking to his preferred tarmac care of Hook Norton's Pick Me Up Mild.

- Himley House Hotel -

It isn't a day for lingering long outside so news that we've missed one potential 15 connection prompts a speedy revisit to the Bridge Inn. Black Country Ales have worked wonders with this place, stocking it with great beer, tempting cobs and patterned fabric upholstery to the extent that it has made the 2026 edition of the Good Beer Guide. Mr WME's eyes light up at the sight of large cheese and onion rolls to go with his half of Weetwood Eastgate, sitting by a freshly stoked fire. It's almost a shame to go but we daren't dodge another bus, and sure enough we can squelch up to the Himley House Hotel for new heights in refinement. The Chairman does the gallant thing and cops for the round in here, £6.50 a pint for Greene King's Level Head craft beer means the D9 wallet is rapidly emptied in the pursuit of a hoppy zing.

- Depicting the Dudley Arms -

Once we'd gotten over the trauma of the pricetag, there's a lot to like about the Himley House Hotel. Low sofas, lacy lampshades, flamingo wallpaper and several outhouse bedrooms for on site accommodation spring to mind - you just have to limbo under the car park barriers to get inside. No special gymnastics are required for the Dudley Arms over the road, although as a Marston's carvery affair it does feel like something of a comedown after such luxuries. We like the way different zones are named after Black Country towns (Brierley Hill and Tipton among them), and the Courage Bitter is decent enough. Apparently King Edward VIII spent some of his last days as monarch in the Himley vicinity, and I doubt there are too many pubs in the country which are adorned with a large mural of Ms Wallis Simpson. 

- Drenched Driving on the 15 -

Determined not to abdicate from our own tour of duty, we board the next 15 along so that Mr D9 can grimace his way through another steering masterclass - you have to be extra careful in the wet don't you know! Having hoovered Himley we pitch straight into a Wombourne workout, alighting by St Benedict Biscop Church and dripping into the Vine. Although not quite as posh as the Himley House earlier, this is still very fancy and a half each of Timothy Taylor Boltmaker doesn't come cheap. Green pouffe stools and wooden shelving compartments are noteworthy pieces of furniture but we concentrate more on nattering about timetable scheduling matters, tendered council services and general bus-related stuff.

- Old Bush Baldness -

This particular corner of South Staffordshire must have had a thing for shrubbery historically because three of its watering holes had been christened the Old Bush. We did the Swindon one last time out along with the latterly-renamed Hinksford equivalent so now it's the turn of the Wombourne variety, which happens to give us our second slice of Black Country Ales hospitality today. Like the aforementioned Bridge Inn it has gained GBG recognition and if there were a guidebook for cracking cobs I'd vote it in without hesitation. A hunger-slaying wedge of cheese, onion and black pudding goodness soaks up the Secretary's slurping of Stancill Summer Breeze whereas the Chairman makes the acquaintance of Fixed Wheel's Gorilla, a potent 5.2% Extra Special Bitter with a very moody great ape pumpclip. I doubt a disgruntled gorilla would take kindly to our silly songs, 'Susan's Tuba' versus 'Demon Driver' whereby Freddie and the Dreamers do battle against Russ Abbot.

- Soggy Secretary in the Fox & Goose -

The precipitation shows little sign of abating as we proceed into Penn, stopping off at Miller & Carter (previously known as the Penn Cottage) for steakhouse sensibilities on the side of the A449. Despite being set up for dining, we're very welcome to drop in for a drink - in our case of Aspall's Cider - whilst working up to our big finale. Yes, after a near miss with the Fox & Goose in September we are happily able to celebrate its resurrection over gorgeous dimpled pints of Stout Brummie. The new owners have done a remarkable job of bringing the pub back to life after years of either outright closure or restaurant operations; half of the building has been styled like a traditional alehouse, the other side is a community cafe and the overall effect is highly impressive (as indeed is the beer quality). We will be back for sure - cheers!

Waterways Walks: Wightwick to Wombourne

It's Saturday 3rd February 2024 and another round of train strikes mean I'm not inclined to be relying on public transport during my next spot of explorational exercise. The towpath of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal seems more enticing instead, giving me chance to file my first Waterways Walk posting of the year...

- Near Castlecroft Bridge -

Much of what I'll be covering this trip is very familiar territory, although sometimes it's simply nice to get out of the house and put some miles into your legs. Picking my way along nature reserve paths through Smestow Valley, I join the Staffs & Worcs at Wightwick Mill Lock a little west of Compton. The playing fields of Smestow Academy hug the far bank as I proceed in turn past Wightwick Lock and Wightwick Bridge (Windmill Lane) to enter South Staffordshire countryside beyond the Mermaid moorings base. Faint wisps of blue sky gradually get edged out by cloud but it's pleasantly mild for the time of year, making for good walking weather as Castlecroft and Mops Farm Bridges are next for my attentions. 

- Something Stumpish at Dimmingsdale -

Bidding good morning to the usual mix of dog walkers and cyclists, I arrive at Dimmingsdale where any lock happenings are studiously scrutinised by one of those stump characters you see dotted all along the towpath here. Dimmingsdale Bridge appears to be undergoing yet more repairs so I wonder if it has suffered from another traffic collision - it always seems so susceptible to having its brickwork part-demolished by careless drivers! Sankey's fishing pool and Ebstree Lock offer additional camera opportunities before I reacquaint myself with Awbridge Lock not far from Trysull - alas I won't be sampling The Bell today.

- Bratch Top Lock Cottage -

I am however intending on fully inspecting one of my favourite canal locations anywhere in the country, namely the staircase sequence that is Bratch Locks. Three conjoined chambers make for an ingenious example of James Brindley's engineering that has served as something of a tourist attraction visited by Black Country folk over the centuries. Top Lock has a charming cottage for company then Middle Lock is topped by a distinctive octagonal tollhouse complete with semi-circular arched windows. The canal first opened in 1772 while the tollhouse itself dates from about 1800, meaning you've easily got 200+ years of history at your disposal. Bratch Pumping Station is beguiling in its own right, built by the Bilston Corporation in a fairytale ornate Gothic fashion and currently owned (if not used) by Severn Trent Water. 

- Bumblehole Lock -

Beyond The Bratch the canal hugs Wombourne's western extremities via Bumblehole Lock (with steep slanted parapet and well-worn whitewashed keeper's house) and Houndel Bridge (which stands beside the Round Oak pub). Giggetty Wharf is my prompt to exit the towpath in readiness for some village investigations although the Wom Brook is in the vicinity too for fans of watercourses in general. I reckon I've walked just shy of five miles so far, taking me two and a bit hours although you'd have to factor frequent photo stops into the timings there.

- The Church of the Venerable Bede -

I know Wombourne pretty well thanks to several previous forays but there are undiscovered aspects for me to get to grips with. The Church of the Venerable Bede is a good case in point, based on Giggetty Lane in a building that dates to 1957 (hence being much younger than its sister church St Benedict Biscop). A block of shops on Common Road corner include Bromley Butchers and a Boots Pharmacy, then Sytch Lane has a lawn cemetery and Blakeley Heath Primary School, neither of which I can remember ever noticing until now. Greenhill combines with Rookery Road as I home in on Battlefield Hill which may or may not be the site where the 910 AD Battle of Tettenhall took place - its exact location is subject to much conjecture!

- The Old Bush -

I'm in the market for a pint or two to ward off the risk of feeling thirsty, albeit my initial target (the Red Lion) isn't open yet. Not to worry, the Old Bush is only around the corner so I'll be able to assess what Black Country Ales have done with the place. At first glance it doesn't look too different from its years under Banks's stewardship, but I think they've opened it out more inside and the range of real ales stocked has increased significantly. I obtain a Little Eaton Old Mill Stout then struggle to find a spare table - it appears that the whole world and his wife have made this their Saturday lunchtime Wombourne watering hole of choice. A stool by a shelf comes to my rescue so I've somewhere to park my gigantic cob (cheese and onion with a healthy slathering of mustard), listen to Lonnie Donegan's 'Cumberland Gap' and polish off a second ale in the form of Beowulf's Chasewater Pale Bitter. 

- Enville Excellence at the Red Lion -

Judging by the sheer amount of custom, the Old Bush is definitely a hit and come 2pm the Red Lion should have unbolted its doors - oh good, it has! Nestled almost unnoticed below the A449 dual carriageway, I've had a soft spot for this old inn ever since Nick and I dropped by years ago for a high class slurp of Enville Ginger. The homeliness makes it in my eyes, helped by a 60s Soul soundtrack and the prospect of Bostin' Scratchuns for a tasty treat - one of the Lion's regular canine visitors seems equally as enthused about the scratchings, cue much whimpering. Enville Ale (minus any gingery flavourings) is spot on this time around so I account for a couple of those prior to a number 16 bus ride home. Cheers!