30/11/24 - Blakedown to Stourbridge

Interloping with the Young Ramblers

Black Country Young Ramblers organise events that couldn't be more up my street if they tried. A 10 mile walk, that quickly descends into a pub crawl. Can someone in their mid fifties get away with being "Young"?

My query - where I gave them plenty of chances to say no - was met with "we are merely Young at Heart. All are welcome".

Jauntiest rambling outfit chosen, as I meet them at Blakedown station. Everyone else coming from the opposite direction. I quickly and mercifully establish I am not the oldest. Mrs M thinking of putting me on some sort of register.

The walk? Countryside rambling through Churchill, approaching Stourbridge from Norton.

Young Ramblers

The Pubs? A little bit of everything.

The Crown at Iverley a posh gastro with no cask at all. The mystery of complex rounds is solved by everybody buying individually. Lessons learned that you don't want to be last through the door when out with 22 others.

T Shirt Weather at the end of November

The New Inn - Street food taken seriously, with two tents in the car park. Interesting to see that all 23 of us chose Wye Valley HPA.To be fair, it was the only cask available. 

Street Food Tent #1

The Unicorn allowed me to recommend the Bathams XXX, with caution. Pub was already packed before we turned up. A joy to see. Thankfully, an oversized, overspill police murder tent to accommodate us. 

Kingsbridge a little left field, scones on the bar, so we will class this as a cafe/pub hybrid. Nothing Bound - a local brewery to me - that I will alway try and support. Unfortunately forgot to take photos. It was that sort of day.

Despite me having written the event on the calendar, Mrs M has us double booked for a meal out with friends in the evening. The hardcore youth do plenty more work with visits to a Black Country Ales, another Bathams, a craft micro pub and a town centre food venue.

It appears that I missed dancing. In Goretex.

Next planned pub crawl in Lower Gornal.

I love the Ramblers.

Walk Details

Distance - 8 Miles

Pubs - 4

29/11/24 - Bathams XXX

The Black Country Beaujolais Run

Mrs M accuses me of being paranoid about missing out on Bathams XXX. A shout out on Twitter to confirm the likely release date. Facebook messages to my nearset tied house before setting off on a 4 mile walk.

Getting to that time of year again.

Anyone know when the @thebathams XXX hits the @ploughshenstone?

Traditional plans must be formulated!

— Mappiman (@Mappiman1) November 24, 2024

Bathams Comms

Best let the good people at Bathams describe what makes the beer so special.

A Christmas ale, mid brown in colour and strong, with a malty, fruity taste.

Hop flavour is present but malt predominates through to the aftertaste. Hold onto your hats, folks!

It also means that Christmas is coming.

The walk was decent enough, a disused railway line taking me within 2 miles of my goal and then decent agricultural fields, nicely frozen.

Leapgate Country Park

I'm a lonely tree

Arrival at 12:10pm. Tangible excitement in a busily filling up bar. I was second to order but first to tweet.

I win this years Black Country Beaujolais Run. Rewarding myself with an Uber return. 

Rambling on three pints of the strong stuff rather unappealing.

The Plough, Shenstone

The holy trinity

Lunch

Walk Details

Distance - 4 Miles

Geocaches - 0

28/11/24 - Droitwich Underpass Street Art

The Mad Hatter Looks Familiar

It's not graffiti when there is an associated booklet. An intriguing first walk with the Worcester Ramblers takes me on an Urban plod around Droitwich. Net curtains twitching as a Goretex clad posse went through estates, with only one stop to report an abandoned mattress.

7 works of art by would be Banksies, with everyone too polite to mention the added Johnson on the final mural. Droitwich kids get points deducted through a lack of prickly hair and spurtage.

Ramblers Assemble

A Story about a nice Squirrel

Sporting themed at the Skate Park

I'd been sharing stories about favourite live comedians with a lady who had recently seen Sarah Milligan. After reeling off my modern favourites, I said that no one had ever made me laugh as much as Rick Mayall at the Birmingham Alexandra way back in 1989. Couldn't breathe for laughing and even the day after the event, the only actual joke I could remember had the punchline "you're too efffing small".

Lo and behold, but who do we spot in an Alice in Wonderland inspired mural.

Keep your eyes peeled for the Comedy Tribute Festival rumoured to be coming to Droitwich

An unusual 5 miler. Onto refreshements. 

Although Droitwich is not really a hot-bed of good pubs, I'd heard that the Hop Pole has Bathams permanently on. Pleasantly surprised to find both Bitter and Mild on. Tomorrow, I go in search of the festive XXX.

C18th.  Guest Ale Counter since 2020 now on 444.

Not quite Xmas until I get the XXX

Walk Details

Distance - 5 Miles

Geocaches - 0  

23/11/24 - Two Birmingham Pubs Back from The Dead

With Better Advertising, it could have been 3

With a couple of hours to spare in the Second City, I turned to Google Maps to guide me through its well-connected public transport network. The inner 8C bus swept me straight to the doors of The Bartons Arms—far earlier than their anticipated opening. Bracing for a wait in Storm Bert rain, I realised I’d overlooked one key detail: Villa were playing at home.

Open before midday on match days

Built in 1901 by Mitchells and Butlers, its a stunning Victorian gin palace of a pub. Imposing from the outside, but the real beauty is the tiling inside.

Facebook commented on the steel trolley and laminated loo signs

Famous patrons? When I posted to British Pubs on Facebook, it generated a lot of love. Scrolling down, I thought the image would be another naff Birmingham Peaky Blinders reference, but no. I have supped in the same venue as my comedy heroes.

Just see the pub, top right

It's faced its challenges over the years - a fire in 2006, damage during the 2011 riots and eventually closed down, to much horror at the start of 2024. It hasn't taken too long to come back to life - reopening in September.

Today's visit felt a little like Staff Training Day. I have the honour of being the first cask served by a new starter. I gently had to ask for a top up. It used to stock the full Oakham range. Just the Inferno on today, chosen after a sample of a truly dreadful house Bartons Bitter. Unfit for sale.

I'm sure it will come good in the end and I wish them all the luck in the world.

Another short bus-ride and I arrive at what I expect to be an absolute gold mine when/if HS2 ever runs. Two and and half years since the Woodman closed down, located right next to the Doric arches of Curzon Street Station.

Splendid Isolation

A former Ansells house, built in 1897.

First thing to notice is the Bass light above the door. Bass a permanent fixture and the WickingMan duly informed, although it looks like Sir Quinno has taking on database duties.

Across the threshold

Whatever renovations have taken place since re-opening have been totally sympathetic. I couldn't tell the difference. Take the wrong door, and you will find yourself in the dead end Smoke Room, with only token access to the bar. The gents are still an outside building. The main bar is mirror backed, with limited number of bolted down tables in a row, with bench seating backs.

Pretty much perfect.

The beer was perfectly kept here, with range that could make it a destination. Initially concerned at the number of handpulls (8) for a small pub, with several similar pales. Bass, Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, White Rat and Purity. I can report that first two were in perfect condition. And you can save 70p by sticking to Bass.

Champagne lifestyle Boltmaker

An in preparation for the hordes of Cockneys that are bound to come for a day out to a proper City, the cuisine simply needs to add eels.

Pie and Mash and Bass

Excellent pubby news, for a change. And the third resurrection? Well, the Lord Clifden reopens in the Jewellery Quarter. Newspaper articles simply state "End of November".  

Another blog in waiting.

21/11/24 - The Good Beer Guide Pubs of Shifnal, Shropshire

Planets Align in Shifnal

Shifnal has been on my destination list for ages, and today, everything fell into place. My monthly scan of Ramblers Group walks revealed the Shrewsbury Group was heading there—perfect timing. That’s the beauty of the Ramblers: one subscription grants access to countless walks and groups, each filled with fascinating people.

In today’s group, I met a man who very nearly ran the best steak pub in the county and another planning a Saturday pub crawl through all the Bathams tied houses. If only the Cape of Good Hope was still open—and if I weren’t already bound for the Albion on Saturday!

Another great perk of Ramblers walks? No planning required. You simply show up and set off on what feels like a magical mystery tour. Today’s route didn’t just shine thanks to the glorious weather—the walk leader, Kath, had done her homework, sharing stories and facts about the manor houses and mills dotted along Wesley Brook.

Walk Photos;

Ramblers always assemble at stiles

Much debate about the distant hills - Wrekin and Clee Hills, my bet

Lodge Hill, which we circumvent

Mill Owners showing that humour is not just for Halloween

Shifnal has a rich history tied to its role as a bustling coaching stop during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Situated on the London-to-Holyhead road, it served as a key staging post for horse-drawn coaches traveling between major cities. And this can mean only one thing - Coaching House pubs. A conversation in the Micropub told me that there were once 26 pubs in town. Of course, the number has significantly reduced now but 3 in the Good Beer Guide is not a bad haul.

The Plough is a C17th freehouse. I'm busy taking photos, waiting for another patron to enter. This leads to the landlord saying "I have no customers all day, then two enter at once".

Bingo! First GBG Tick of November

Three Tuns XXX is one of my favourite pints. Alas, this wasn't up to scratch here. More punters required. Still, a decent enough traditional pub, with nice Xmas decorations.

Xmas comes to Shifnal

In this part of the world, there's bound to be a Black Country Ales Pub. When I return, there will be two, with the White Hart going through a refurb. Today, it's a little walk to The Anvil but all worth it for the roaring fire.

Accidental Selfie

Everything else in order with the BCA blueprint. Cobs, traditional games and beers that you have never heard of but are well kept. Moonraker by the Crafty One brewery anyone?

Just enough time for the perfectly positioned King's Yard MicroPub. Chip shop to the left, kebab to the right. Indian to the right +1. In fact, the Indian is unlicenced and you are allowed to take your pints from here and they will return the glasses. Biodiversity in action.

Perfect Positioning

A couple of Wye Valley (my local's brewery), so I spent far too long perusing the chalk board before settling on pint of the day. Three Acre Brewery Harlequin Green Hop.

A Pubby Micro

A painless return home, with all public transport running to time. We'll file today under "Success". Let's hope the Shrewsbury Group pick another good pub town in the near future. Or I get an invite to next year's Bathams crawl.

Walk Details

Distance - 5.5 Miles

Geocaches - 1 Adventure Lab Cache

20/11/24 - Evesham to Honeybourne Rail Trail

Meeting Nigel at a Classic Pub

Two weeks on a Mexican sunbed and my mind constantly wanders to winter time walking. I dream of this;

Crisp Winter Walking

I'm not wired up correctly.

The Vale of Evesham is often a flat mud path that doesn't provide exciting walking but today's route is saved by a couple of things on top of the crisp conditions underfoot. Two interesting Adventure Lab Caches at Bengeworth and Badsey. A lunchtime intermission at a stone cold classic pub.

Over the Avon at Evesham

And into Bengeworth to find King Canute's House

Badsey Manor House

Arrival at Bretforton for the Fleece in at 11:45am. This means I can get the best seat in the house, practically in the fireplace, next to the circles designed to repel witches.

The Fleece Inn, Bretforton

Witch Repelling Circles

The pub is a joy. Hosting many events, from top quality folk gigs in the barn to regular festivals celebrating beer, cider, aspargus and all things Nigel. As no Nigel's were christened in a calendar year, the landlord decided it was worth celebrating a dying name. Click the link to read about 372 Nigels from around the world descending on a sleepy Worcestershire village.

As the pub fills with diners, Nigel the landlord comes for a pub related chat, started by meenquiring about their sister pub, the Cardinals Hat, in Worcester. I'm not sure I have been there since it was an Austrian themed bar, but I will surely visit to see if they have Uley Pig's Ear.

Which was so good here, I stopped for 3. That's the beauty of Rail Ale Trails.

Pigs Ear and the view "Down Bar"

Warmed and watered, it was a struggle to tear myself away for the last two miles. Timed to perfection for the hourly train. Which of course was late. And then never reached its intended destination of Foregate Street. 

How complicated is Great Western Railways Delay/Repay website?

Walk Details

Distance - 10 Miles

Geocaches - 14 and 7 ALC

Walk Inspiration 

Previous Cotswold Line Rail Walks - Worcester Parkway - Foregate Street, Foregate Street to Malvern, Worcester Parkway to Pershore, Pershore to Evesham