Hereford Happenings

Every once in a while the Chip Foundation likes to cast its horizons beyond the immediate West Midlands area by exploring somewhere a little further flung. Shrewsbury, Warwick and Ironbridge have all been graced by visits over the years, and now it is Hereford's turn to tickle our fancy...

- Arrival at Hereford -

Plans have been devised and finalised in advance of the designated date, so come Friday 15th March all we have to do is congregate at Birmingham New Street ready for the 9:50 departure. West Midlands Railway operate an hourly service from Brum to Hereford via Bromsgrove, Worcester and Great Malvern, so we commandeer a table aboard the class 170 set and keep watch on the weather. Additional entertainment comes from Mr B Senior's tales of cruiseship choirs and nosebleed dramas, then we pull into platform 1 just before quarter past eleven. 

- Edgar Street -

This is my first ever look at Hereford railway station and I have to say I rather like it, the facility having originally opened as Hereford Barr's Court in 1853 - there are four platforms and the main frontage has a provincial Tudor style with Gothic elements. We get our bearings with an initial stroll along Station Approach, passing a potential canal restoration site (the Hereford & Gloucester Canal historically terminated at a basin around here somewhere). Edgar Street soon beckons as the footballing home of Hereford FC, a phoenix club created following the sad demise of Hereford United. They currently play in the National League North having risen through the non-league pyramid. 

- Cathedral Crypt -

Trudging past atmospheric turnstiles, we ponder the former location of Hereford Cattle Market (the land now used for modern shopping malls and associated car parks) before heading into the city centre. We dodge annoying drizzle by sampling an opening half in the Lichfield Vaults although the Butcombe Original isn't quite on song, Nick's exposure to such vinegar prompting a full repertoire of disapproving facial expressions! Decorum is restored at Hereford Cathedral, an utterly majestic monument where we lap up the ecclesiastical environs of the crypt, Lady Chapel and the nave. The cathedral is said to have been founded in the year 696 and famously houses the Mappa Mundi, a Chained Library (the world's largest) and a 1217 copy of the Magna Carta.

- Windswept on Wye Bridge -

The history lesson continues with Gwynne Street, possibly the birthplace of the actress and royal mistress Nell Gwynne (1650-1687). There aren't any romantic dalliances on offer today but we do emerge opposite the Black Lion, a characterful black and white inn where my intention is to keep dry out of the rain. Alas I haven't factored in the clumsiness of a certain Stephen whereby a manoeuvre henceforth known as the 'Hereford Hurl' sends the contents of his lemonade and blackcurrant glass gushing in my direction! Having mopped up the spillage, we decamp but a very short distance to the Old Wye Bridge, an ancient river crossing that provides an ideal vantage point for admiring the breezy scenery.

- Thumbs up in the Vaga Tavern -

The river has burst its banks in places, flooding an adjacent rugby field so we have to go the long way round to our next pub. Belmont Road and Hunderton Road combine (eventually) to lead us to the Vaga Tavern, a backstreet boozer owned by the Wye Valley Brewery. The main bar here has a down-to-earth ambience with dimpled leather seating and a sporting emphasis (two dartboards, a pool table, a skittle alley and a multitude of trophies). The regulars are gearing up for the racing action at the Cheltenham Festival as we sup respective halves of Butty Bach and Wye Valley Bitter (thankfully minus any unexpected tidal waves of purple pop).

- Hunderton Bridge -

A short riverside stroll confirms the extent of the flood as we reach Hunderton Bridge, a lattice structure that spans the River Wye in carrying a leisure footpath along what used to be the Barton Station section of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway (part of the GWR). We follow the path past a Sainsbury's supermarket and a Travelodge hotel, jink down the side of the Herefordshire Cider Museum and stumble across the Whitecross Fish Bar - that's lunch taken care of. Our chips are munched with an apple mill contraption and woodpecker sculpture for company, the nearby Bulmer's (Heineken) cider plant also being noted in dispatches. 

- Beardsmores getting Fleeced? -

Our further investigations of Hereford city centre introduce us to the Bull Statue and the Black & White House, both of which are positioned where High Town meets Commercial Street. St Peter's Street meanwhile takes us towards the Shire Hall, almost next door to which is the Golden Fleece as a narrow Marston's establishment that seems very well prepared for St Patrick's Day. Anticipation is building for the Cheltenham Gold Cup although Ken resists the urge to don a plastic jockey's cap or pose with an inflatable champagne bottle. No fizz for us, just plain old Banks's Bitter!

- Beaming in the Barrels -

What pray tell would St Owen's Street have to offer us pub-wise? Nick and I have high hopes for the Victory and its memorable galleon-inspired interior when shock horror... it's shut! Any nautical novelty value is therefore thwarted but our disappointment doesn't last long, not with the Barrels on hand to cheer us up. The Wye Valley taphouse duly lives up to its longstanding Good Beer Guide billing, the Wholesome Stout proving most praiseworthy indeed. There's just time to call into the Commercial Hotel (St Austell Tribute while watching a Didier Drogba goals montage) before we catch the 17:39 train home. A cracking day in the capital of cider - cheers!

Rugby Beer Festival 2019

March has certainly been out of the traps quickly this year thanks to a 48 hour flurry of photography, exploration and ale. Two trips in two days mean that the Rugeley Hub Marketing recce is instantly followed by a visit with Nick to the Rugby Beer Festival...

- A Stagecoach Starter -

Saturday 2nd March starts with a fresh and breezy morning as I wend my way to Warwickshire, catching the 10:54 London Northwestern train from Birmingham New Street towards Euston which reaches Rugby at 11:31. My stroll into the town centre takes me along Railway Terrace, passing the Stagecoach bus depot in the process. The offices here include a travel shop while there are some Megabus vehicles parked up on the yard.

- Silhouette Stout -

The Arnold House masonic building off Elsee Road is on hosting duties again for what is Rugby's 35th annual beer festival. Nick is already in attendance partway through a Black Rose Porter as I arm myself with the requisite commemorative glass and programme. Silhouette Stout is next up for Nick whereas my opening tipple is Hollow Stone's Krubera, equally dark and brooding with tempting hints of mocha. This is then followed by the "opulent and lush" McColl's Black Forest Stout - who could resist a description like that?! 

- A little light reading -

Plotting our path through the programme, we account for Gloucester's Six Malt Porter, Black Pit's New Leaf Mild (rather nice) and Pentrich's Tomb of Juice, the latter billed as a 5% sessionable porter with citrus and pine flavours (let's say it's an acquired taste). Besides the beer, we tuck into a memorable mushroom stroganoff - not your usual festival food - and narrowly fail to win on the tombola. Sadly the large fluffy blue hippopotamus toy didn't have Nick's name on it after all! 

- Crafty Banker -

I may have mentioned before that the Merchants Inn is a must-visit establishment when in Rugby so we make sure to drop by, availing ourselves of Sarah Hughes Ruby Mild and George Wright Black Swan respectively. The pub is a treasure trove of breweriana so we feel right at home among all the enamel signs and Tetley lamps. We then switch from an old favourite to a new establishment, the Crafty Banker micropub having only opened last April. The Mr Grundy's 1914 Stout here is seriously impressive, almost marshmallowy with traces of blackcurrant.

- Town & County Club -

Another hitherto unexplored watering hole awaits on nearby Henry Street where the Town & County Club greets us with red dralon seating and Church End's Gravediggers Mild. Club entries in the Good Beer Guide always have an extra novelty factor and this one felt particularly comfortable and relaxing. Our crawl concludes with Plum Porter in the Seven Stars (Rugby CAMRA's current Pub of the Year) and Old Golden Hen in the Wheeltapper, an imposing yet down to earth landmark not far from the railway station. Cheers!

Rugeley Power Rangers

At Mr D9's request, the third Hub Marketing adventure of 2019 saw us undertaking a Staffordshire-specific mission aiming to bid farewell to Rugeley Power Station. Situated beside the River Trent, the 'Rugeley B' facility has been a fixture on the local skyline since the early 1970s but is due for demolition later this year...

- Arriva alertness on the 70 -

A morning meeting in Wolverhampton is necessary so that Hub members can make our way to Cannock. The Chairman is unfortunately detained by a miscreant Metro so we miss our intended 70, although the delay does allow a brief Fallings Park bonus gathering pictures of the Golden Lion (recently given a Marston's makeover) and the Heron Foods store (formerly the site of the Clifton cinema). The next 70 along gives D9 his driving fix, avoiding Featherstone tailbacks and then rumbling through Cheslyn Hay past the Hawkins Colliery Social Club.

- A Pit Stop cuppa -

We alight on Delta Way at the Arriva Cannock depot where the Pit Stop Cafe can be found to the rear of the driver training centre. Despite being on garage premises the cafe is open to the public so we are perfectly at liberty to make this our breakfast location. The £4 Full English is a thing of wonder, served in classic canteen style with tea, toast, proper streaky bacon and a disc of black pudding. It comes as no surprise that the place is popular with drivers and the maintenance crew given the stonking value on offer - we may well be back for a future brekkie!

- Ascot Baldness -

Feeling contentedly stuffed, we walk off the feast by strolling into Cannock town centre via the Longford estate. The Ascot Tavern is still standing for now, boarded up and apparently doomed to demolition so the balding one has to make the most of it while he can. Wolverhampton Road then echoes to the strains of 'Save Your Kisses For Me' - the Arthur Mullard/Hylda Baker version - and we suspect those two vocalists(!) might not look out of place in the Royal Oak on Market Place, a pub packed with memorable characters and seasoned drinkers. We keep a low profile by attempting to play darts, D9 Destroyer bagging a 5-3 victory in what is shaping up to be a competitive year.

- There ain't nobody here but us chickens -

WME Whirlwind licks his wounds as we board the 63 to Rugeley, hoping that the gearbox isn't about to conk out on us. The worrying grinding noises near Cannock Chase Hospital turn out to be a false alarm and come Chadsmoor its full speed ahead through Hednesford and Brindley Heath. Touchdown at Rugeley Bus Station means we can admire the indoor market hall and nip over the road to Elmore Park, scene for D9 to come over all Doctor Dolittle again by conversing with the chickens in Pets Corner. The park closet also grabs the Chairman's attention whereas Secretary WME tries not to upset the waterfowl when getting pictures of the lake.

- One for aficionados of red triangles -

Time for our second pub of the day whereby the Vine Inn on Sheep Fair is high on the WME hitlist, and not just because it has a lovely Bass lamp above the front door. This establishment brews its own beer to recent acclaim so we duly sample the Vanilla Porter and Vine EPA respectively, both pints hitting the mark nicely as a lively Jack Russell prowls around trying to sniff out scratchings. The traditional multi-room interior is also part of the appeal here, giving a comfortingly worn lived-in sense of a pub that has stood the test of time. 

- Decommissioned Cooling Towers -

Chairman D9 is charged with leading our Power Station ferret and eventually gets his bearings to guide us past Rugeley police station and St Augustine's Church. Power Station Road is a helpful clue though you can hardly fail to see four large cooling towers looming on the horizon. The plant was coal-fired and served the energy market for over 40 years before operations ceased in June 2016. Now the towers, chimney and wider infrastructure await their final fate - Rugeley won't quite seem the same once they're gone. Chairman D9 needs consoling about the loss of such heritage so we call into the Albion (basic Banks's) and the Crown (historically a Butler's tied house) by way of a pick-me-up. 

- Rusty Barrel -

Rugeley has railway connections via the Trent Valley and Chase lines plus it's located on the Trent & Mersey Canal so it is easily accessible. We complete our town sweep by seeking out the Springfields estate, home to the Rusty Barrel in a unit of the Fernwood shopping parade. Secretary WME is particularly taken with the Revolutions Clash porter as we ponder how this micropub effectively replaces the Moderation, the estate's previous watering hole having been turned into a supermarket a few years back. We break the return 63 ride at Chadsmoor care of the Jolly Collier on Huntington Terrace, chatting with the regulars about bygone boozers, but any hope of further nightcaps is scuppered by severe late running on the homeward 70. Cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - February 2019

Anyone who actually reads my monthly drivel bulletins may have noticed that I usually try to theme my photostream summaries, possibly by applying a topical twist or attempting carefully-crafted extended metaphors with varying degrees of success. This month however my imagination seems to have failed me so a bullet point approach will have to suffice...

February's new arrivals are thus as follows:

• Exploration Extra - more Welsh wizardry courtesy of Haverfordwest (a war memorial dragon and the Farmer's Arms) and Welshpool (the Talbot pub and a Cambrian Railways lever). Northampton supplies a couple of pub signs from the Spread Eagle and the Abington whereas High Wycombe brings us Brunel's Railway Shed.
• WME Wolverhampton - archive Green Bus action with a repeat appearance for route 4 at Moseley Parklands, then a handful of Banks's bits and pieces include some pun-inspired Easter egg examples and banners celebrating Wolves's Premier League promotion.
• WME Dudley - an evening call at the Swan in Amblecote follows an afternoon view of Alder Coppice Primary School on Sedgley's Northway estate.
• WME Sandwell - the 450 lays over at Bearwood Bus Station where it can admire the local clock in tones of blue and gold.
• WME Staffordshire - two canal captures from a sunkissed Awbridge Lock near Trysull.
• WME Shropshire - a solitary Shrewsbury snippet focusing on an Abbey Hardware shop sign.

Theme or no theme it's been a productive few weeks and my photostream running total now stands at 3,922 pictures. March waits in the wings with a willingness to increase that tally as I edge ever closer to that 4,000 landmark.