It's Later Than You Think
Back on the trail of the closest pubs to West Midlands Tram Stops.
Spawned out of necessity, after I saw a classic CAMRA Heritage Interior Pub was about to close down. This time next week, it will be impossible to visit the Black Eagle again.
Picking up where I left off at West Bromwich Central. AI gets it right.... The Billiard Hall is technically closer, but has already been ticked when I alighted at Dartmouth Street.
| Number | Station | AI Recommendation | Actual Nearest |
| 15 | West Bromwich Central | The Billiard Hall | The Billiard Hall |
The Sandwell is a Craft Union place which took refugees in from the Billiard Room, after it's short hiatus when Wetherspoons pulled out. Undergoing a refit of its own, its not looking the best externally.
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| Baggies! |
It's a cavernous, Cruzcampo "fun pub" inside but most of the entertainment is provided when police and ambulance services are summonsed to the al fresco, afternoon gentlemen sleeper whom I noticed on arrival. A rush to the windows, much conjecture about the reason for blue light activity, until a fly is spotted that needs swatting. Teamwork in action, but the fly survived.
| Number | Station | AI Recommendation | Actual Nearest |
| 16 | The Hawthorns | The Vine | The Blue Posts |
My most used tram stop. Revisiting the Vine would not have been a hardship but its not technically the closest. This is a tie - The Royal Oak, my post match go-to pub or the Blue Gates are closer.
Only one has a blue plaque celebrating the 1965 visit of Malcolm X.
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| It's a Fee Ouse |
Again cavernous but no fly swatting championships. The only entertainment in a sparsely decorated pub are the two pool tables. Apart from that, it's spartan. The only thing of note is the gentlemen who tells me that "I will never forget by first visit to the Blue Gates toilets". My eyes had already started watering. My laugh is met with "They are Grade II listed and nothing can be done".
Drain unblocker may have helped. Or mandatory wellies.
| Number | Station | AI Recommendation | Actual Nearest |
| 17 | Soho Benson Road | The Soho Tavern | The Soho Tavern |
AI gets it correct by about 10m but in the interests of never being able to visit again, I hit the Black Eagle. Another one lost to the CAMRA Real Heritage Pubs book;
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| Victorian Terrace |
Of the five small rooms here, four are clustered round a central servery. The bar front left has its original counter (incorporating a row of Minton tiles) and bar back and which also serves the tap room on the right. The lounge front right has absorbed the former off-sales; the counter is original but some tiles were damaged and the rest re-used on the rear smoke room counter. The former entrance to this room is blocked up and the fixed seating in front is modern, the rest being original. In the rear smoke room, the counter has been enlarged to the right. The bar back fitting actually consists of what were the exterior windows, removed to create the doorway to the rear dining room (which has no old fittings). On the right are a 1920s fireplace and inter-war fixed seating.
Ever wondered what it would be like drinking in the bar of the Titanic? Conversation runs from the stoic "Everything Changes" to the more morose "I haven't been this upset since Silver Blades closed".
I was asked on Twitter if the closure was permanent?
Sadly, if I was a betting man, I would say "Yes".
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| Offers have been made on Social Media for the fixtures and fittings |
Walk Details
Pubs - 3
Total Number of Metro Station Pubs - 17
