31/05/25 - The Arch and the Abbey, Whitby

Promenading

A familiarisation walk in Whitby. The last time we were here, it was April 2021 and Covid lock downs were in a strange place. We could eat and drink outside but many establishments had not bothered to reopen. A classic pub town was half lost. 

We're back and nothing can stop us now. The unvisited Good Beer Guide Pubs have been marked in Google Maps and it looks like a lot a week of micros. We'll start with one today.

Our walk is a simple stroll up the promenade to Sandsend - through golf courses and along the main road, where it would have made more sense to drop down to the beach.

Off the prom and onto the beach

The return is along a wonderful wooded route behind Saltmoore, a rather too splendidly posh looking hotel.

Off Lead

The route was downloaded from Komoot. Having shown us the beauty, it then meanders through housing estates, wanting us to be taken on a loop of the River Esk. I think we shall complete a walk from our digs at Sleights into town along the Esk, so we can save this for another day.

It's time to find a breakfast cafe and wait for the earlier openers. Midday. All of them.

The Arch and the Abbey is a fine micro in town. Pretty glass frontage announcing 50 plus craft beers. Dog friendly. Lovely Chesterfields. Lots of Belgian beers. A sister pub to the Waiting Room, where the loyalty card will get you a free pint after purchasing 9 others in either establishment

Today's first customers

Roosters Hazy Faced Assassin on keg. I can't remember the price, but the coffee seemed very good value at £2.20.

Haysi Fantayzee

Walk Details

Distance - 6.5 Miles

Geocaches - 4

Walk Inspiration - Komoot 

 

29/05/25 - Amblecote's Golden Triangle

Finding one of Quinno's Top 200 Pubs

Amblecote - slightly north of Stourbridge and a rich seam of previously undiscovered Good Beer Guide Ticks around Brettell Lane. That many, I actually miss one.

A revisit will be no hardship.

First the walk. An easy, linear walk from the Stewponey at Stourton along the Stourbridge Canal. Navigation.... no problem, although the keen eyed will notice from the map that I got off the bus one stop too early. Always an embarrassment when the bus is stuck in traffic and you overtake it on foot.

The Stourbridge Canal

A Proud Family from "The Junction"

My guide book would like me to use a pub called the Moorings. Now renamed "The Old Wharf". I've walked past it a few times but never seen it open. Maybe I am just unlucky, as google suggests it has very reasonable opening times. One for another day, I'm walking up the hill.

The Red Lion is first up. Strategically positioned opposite a new bus route from Kidderminster. Yes, you heard correctly, something improving on public transport. Notes made for my return.

Partly owned by the Salopian Brewery although you wouldn't necessarily tell that from the range of sixish different brewery options on cask. I cannot recall all of them, but untappd reminded me that I had a Buxton Brewery Wangdoodle. 

Trad Number 1

Nice comfy seating inside, even if a shade too brown. A glimpse of a lovely beer garden, that surely would have been used if it wasn't for the need to steal their 'leccy for a mobile phone that contains my all important bus ticket.

Everything's Gone Brown

Better planned pub tickers would have been pre-armed with the knowledge that the Swan, a touch further uphill, is their sister pub and also in the Good Beer Guide. I ignored my on the ground instincts and marched on up the hill for the Starving Rascal.

There was always going to be a Black Country Ales pub. Whilst taking my Kinver Ale May Bug to the uniform tartan bench seating and another couple came in. Eavesdropping, it was easy to determine they were taking advantage of the extra weeks amnesty to tick off up to 25 of the chain's pubs to win (quite generous) prizes. Clothing and free beer.

This couple were hardcore. In the hope of getting a ticket to the golden ball - last year held at the Black Country Museum - they were going for a full coupon. I had to enquire if they didn't just find them all the same.

Yep, was their answer.

BCA - All the Way

Functional, yet underwhelming, I turn the corner and use gravity to take me back to civilisation.

I had completed no research at all into the Robin Hood. But it didn't take me long to realise I was in the company of a stone cold classic.

Gravity was on my side

I would say I am a veteran of around 4000 pub visits. Yet, I cannot think of a beer lineup that has forced me into a more tricky decision.

In Bridgnorth last month, I chose a Three Tuns over a Bathams. Mainly, for the novelty value of not having seen one of my favourite pints for a long time. The same decision needed to be made today. 

But wait, there's also cask Jaipur on. Delightful, but Timbo has been spoiling me with unmatchable value £2.45 pints on Mondays and Wednesdays. A price that Thornbridge should probably be ashamed of allowing. Not that my conscious stopped me supping.

But there.... in the middle.... the lesser spotted but much loved Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild.

Mappiman is Mild in May

What a joy! And a lot of love/agreement on my Twitter feed.

Robin Hood is Top 200 pub IMO

— Sir Quinno Says Bass 🔺️ (@SirQuinno) May 29, 2025

Now if Quinno ever gets around to publishing his top 200, I will start ticking them.

In the meantime, I am planning my return to Amblecote. Where I will tick off the Swan and probably spend the rest of the day in the Robin Hood. 

Working my way, left to right, along the hand-pulls.

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Walk Inspiration - Best Pub Walks in The Black Country - Walk 22

Geocaches - 4

26/05/25 - Alfrick to Leigh, Worcestershire

From Barn to the Bank House 

Today's walk comes courtesy of Christopher Sommerville, walk correspondent in The Times. A couple of weeks ago, there was a route in remote Worcestershire. 

The walk is all green lanes, agricultural countryside and the banks of Leigh Brook. Very remote, so not surprising that the only other humans encountered were also using Sommerville for bank holiday inspiration.

Alfrick Church

The key point of interest is Leigh Court. A manor house, a Tithe barn and a Church. 

Both the barn and the church open for exploration. Who wouldn't want to poke their nose into one of the finest examples of medieval carpentry?

The Church is filled with C17th memorials and a Norman font.

From 1325 - one of the largest cruck-framed buildings in the land

Norman Font at Leigh

Of all the memorials, I was most struck by this happy chappie

Alfrick is home to 528 souls. For entertainment, they have a community shop and a village hall. The only pub, The Swan, closing down in 2000 and now a private residence. Information scarce, but I did find this 1950s photo of the locals and a bar manager, a Mr Barker, who was still running the pub as Worcestershire oldest landlord until his death in 1997.

Time Gentlemen Please

In the mood for pub archaeology, I consult the Historic Inns Book. The Bank House Inn is just a mile away from the Tithe Barn. It's still a going concern, but not as described in the 1960s. Its a quite horrible golfing hotel. I was unsure if the original building even still exists. If it does, it has been swamped by dormitories of hotel rooms and function suite or two.

Scampi in a basket always a winner

Travel Tavern Vibes

Of course, I ventured in. An unmanned reception desk and bewildering signage, where it looked best to follow the directions to the Sportman's Bar. Unmmaned. Saved me from myself and ordering an Estrella Galicia. The only vaguely interesting drink on.

Walk Details

Distance - 7.5 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Walk Inspiration - The Times 

22/05/25 - Rail Trail - Kidderminster to Hagley

Book-ended Bathams

The Wyre Valley Rail Trail comes to an end, with this two stage walk. There was really no point in ending at Blakedown. Hagley is only a couple of miles on and it provides the walk with some nice symmetry.

Bathams.

Permanently on at the King and Castle at the start of the walk.

A Bathams tied house at the King Arthur, a short distance from Hagley Station.

In between, its a decent enough walk that supplied few photos. Across the golf course of Gorst Hill, head west across farmland and through the spit of woodland at Mount Segg. Some forge pools around Blakedown and the Monarch's Way into Hagley.

Mount Segg

Poppy Fields at Harborough Hall, Blakedown

A "Newish" Bathams Tied House

For the bitter

Onto the Rail Trail Website to see where next..... or do I invent my own walk from Hagley to the next station along?

Walk Details

Distance - 7.5 Miles

Geocaches - 3

Previous Stage on the Wyre Valley Line - Worcester to Droitwich, Droitwich to Hartlebury, Hartlebury to Kidderminster

Walk Inspiration

20/05/25 - Greater Manchester Ringway - Stage 13

The River Irlam to the Peel Monument and a Roman Road

A lovely stretch of the Greater Manchester Ringway but why so few photos? 

Most of the 12 miles are walking along the River Irlam or climbing - some would say unnecessarily - to the Peel Tower, Ramsbottom. I knew I was going up there, but after such a lengthy climb, I am surprised the high ground was not kept for longer.

Pretty Irlam - fine walking, monotonous photos

Peel Tower - in praise of an C19th Rozzer and Prime Minister - A son of Bury

Views across to the Manchester Skyline

From the tower, it's a down and up to the remarkable Affetside. Now a tiny hamlet of a handful of cottages but strategically placed on an arrow straight Roman Road, Wailing Street. A medieval cross and a pub, which can't really expect us to believe that it dates from 1442. They proudly write the date on exterior wall but are far more coy about it being in the Good Beer Guide.

Having visited a JW Lees and a Holts in Bury yesterday, I get to complete the set. Hydes have the best beer of the three. The Quattro a very decent special bitter.

Proudly Emblazoned "Since 1442"

And very specific instructions on how to enjoy yourself

Jumbles Reservoir leads to the walk's terminus - Bromley Cross. The 3 p.m. train meant I can fight for a seat against the school kid hordes.

Walk Information

Start - Bury

Finish - Bromley Cross

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12

Distance - 11.5 Miles

Geocaches - 5

Walk Inspiration

19/05/25 - Bury by Night

Monday Night - Tricky for Ticking

A first visit to Bury. An overnight stay, so plenty of time, I looked to a Facebook Page (British Pubs) for inspiration of where to go. Of course, recommendations were made for practically every pub in town. Which shows there is a pub for every person; one man's meat is another man's poison.

They were quickly uploaded to my new favourite app - Bar Trek - which has a lovely feature when used in earnest. It shows what is open / closed and closing soon.

Useful for a Monday night, where 21st Century rules decree that no one wants to go out.

We can always rely on a 'Spoons. The Art Picture House showing off what Timbo does. A fine piece of architecture saved from decay. Super keen prices and service. I am making the most of the temporary promotion of Jaipur at £3. I can always go back to Leffe.

The Art Picture House

Glorious Interior

Tea sorted, but I had to inquire on Twitter whether steak is off all the 'spoons menus. Yes, since April. Along with the mixed grills.

Two Tubs next - a traditional pub with military leanings. A veterans group reserving the main back room, keen to show each other their models of Napoleonic soldiers in red tunics. I have Sean Bean shouting Bastard as an earworm for the rest of the night.

A Thwaites house, the gold was less memorable than the Pappadums.

The Two Tubs

Both Wyldes and Robert Peel are next door. The latter refused. If it's not good enough for JDW then its not good enough for me. Besides, it looked empty and devoid of anything comfy to sit on. Wyldes, simply so I could add another tick for the great family brewers of Manchester. Joseph Holts Bitter and a listen to a couple of old boys both lament and argue which is the current best pub in town. Should I trust them when they agreed on Murphys?

Strangely, it wasn't recommended by the Facebook Intelligentsia. 

No longer a 'spoons.

Wylde about Joey Holts

Monday night closed pubs next. As usual, possibly the two I was most looking forward to. Trackside - looks like one of those excellent railway pubs. Someone should create a tick-list. Broad Street Social a Good Beer Guide recommendation, for those whose palate deserves a change from Boring Brown Bitter.

The Trackside

Social, apart from Mondays

This leaves the Marketside Tavern - a small micro. Cask, Keg and Bottles aplenty but seemingly specialising on German brews. At £5, my Augustiner became the most expensive pint of the night.

Just add punters

Until I checked out Murphys.

19/05/25 - Greater Manchester Ringway - Stage 12

I'll never know Knowl Moor

I downloaded all the GPX files when the Greater Manchester Ringway was first devised. On checking the excellent on-line resource, I could see that I had managed to walk 3 miles less than the advertised 13 miles.

It would appear that Naden Brook has been bypassed in favour of the wind turbines of Knowl Moor. Things never stay the same, but do they improve? Not necessarily. This shaded track through the woods is perfect for the rare Manchester sunshine. 

Brookside

I discovered the owl telescope and have to zoom in on my mobile to see what the owls are looking for.

Owl Telescope

Funny Mancs!

The tiny hamlet of Birtle features two "Big Blue Cups of Joy on the OS Map". I had completed my research and the Church Inn was a COVID Victim. Although if the retired owners got their advertised £1m, then they will be set for life. I can't imagine they did.... how long would it take a business to recoup a million?

This leaves the Pack Horse. Right on my path and for a Monday Lunch time, packed solid with smartly dressed people over-spilling into the beer garden. Fortunately, I was able to get to the bar with no fuss and despite my very obvious ramblers gear was asked "are you with the wake?"

My big mouth costing me a free pint. Possibly.

A acquaintance with one of the three big Manchester brewers - JW Lees.

Pack Horse from the front

Handsome looking bitter, odd dimpled glass, utterly devoid of taste

Under the M66, an interesting lesson in what "Strangles" is, after a talk with a farmer when the signage made no sense to me and then following the River Irlam through Burrs Country Park to the fleshpots of Bury.

All the time with tomorrow's prize in sight.

Peel Monument in Ramsbottom - I'm bound to be climbing on Stage 13

Walk Information

Start - Norden

Finish - Bury

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11

Distance - 10 Miles

Geocaches - 6

Walk Inspiration

16/05/25 - West Midlands Metro Pub Crawl, Part 2

On With The Plan

Previously, I made it as far as Black Lake. Leaving a 3 station gap, I resume at Lodge Road.

Number	Station	AI Recommendation	Actual Nearest
5	Lodge Road	The Red Lion	The Billiard Hall

The Red Lion is entirely a fabrication by AI. The actual nearest is a fine looking building that strangely, Wetherspoons had given up on. The locals were not happy in 2023, when Timbo put the Billiard Hall up for sale.

The Billiard Hall

It didn't take long for new owners to take it on. To be honest, you'd really have to look carefully to see it's no longer a 'spoons. The furniture must have been included in the sale. There are clues, if you really look. Keen pricing but no cask ale available. Televisions on but the volume audible. An unusual mix of Kylie Minogue music videos and golf shared screens equally.

Clean, Tidy, Full of People, Stella for £4.20

Number	Station	AI Recommendation	Actual Nearest
6	Kendrick Park	The Old Hop Pole	The Vine

The next pub needs no introduction to Championship (and occasional Premier League) football fans.

The Vine is one of the country's great away day pubs. Fans from less Desi-Pub populated parts of the country enjoying good beer and a mixed grill.

Of course, I've been many times but I have to ask: "When did it get so expensive?" When I start ticking off David Jesudason's book (signed copy on my shelf), I will see if anywhere else charges £15 for a small mixed.

Goes back a long, long way.

A good job the beer was so cheap at my first and final destination.

Number	Station	AI Recommendation	Actual Nearest
7	Winson Green	The Red Lion	The Soho Foundry Tavern

A proper bit of history, that links rather nicely with my morning walk around Handsworth. The Soho Foundry Tavern might be the most functionally named pub ever, directly opposite the gates of the Foundry.

Unexpected C18th Works

The Soho Foundry, established in 1795 by Matthew Boulton, James Watt, and their sons in Smethwick near Birmingham, was the world’s first purpose-built steam engine factory and a pioneering site of the Industrial Revolution. It introduced groundbreaking innovations in industrial management, including standardized parts, division of labor, and early welfare schemes. Located by the Birmingham Canal for ease of transport, it produced steam engines and later became part of the Avery weighing machine business. Today, the site is partly still in industrial use by Avery Weigh-Tronix, though much of it is derelict and listed as at risk. Restoration plans are underway to revive it as a heritage and community site.

Proper Looking Pub

I had this saved in my Google Maps - presumably for its architectural looks but maybe as a potential pre-Baggies Pint.

Whereas in history, it probably served pints of mild to re-hydrate the foundry workers, it now sells keg to (what appeared on my visit to be) thirsty delivery drivers.

A £4.40 Guinness taken into an extensive back garden, but not before a quick photo of the interior.

Inside the Soho Foundry Tavern

Google maps suggesting that my route home should start at Handsworth Booth Street. 

Maybe I'll be brave enough to tackle the Observatory on that visit. 

Walk Details

Previous Metro Pub Walks - Part 1

Pubs - 3

Total Number of Metro Station Pubs - 7

16/05/25 - Handsworth, Birmingham - An AZ City Walk

Would Alan Winfield Dare to Enter?

A rather depressing walk. The guidebook wanted the walker to discover the Lunar Society.

The Lunar Society was an informal group of Enlightenment thinkers, scientists, and industrialists who met in Birmingham during the late 18th century, often under the full moon—hence the name. Key members included Matthew Boulton, James Watt, Josiah Wedgwood, Erasmus Darwin, and Joseph Priestley. They blended scientific discovery with industrial innovation, helping to drive the Industrial Revolution. Meeting at places like Soho House in Handsworth, they discussed chemistry, engineering, medicine, and social reform, shaping modern science, manufacturing, and progressive thought. The Society's legacy remains central to Birmingham’s identity as a birthplace of industrial and intellectual change.

True enough, I discovered several blue plaques and the first part of the walk, Handsworth Park, is decent enough to while away time.

Handsworth Park - Divided by a railway line - lake one side, cricket pitch the other

However, in no time, you are spewed out onto the Soho Road. Whatever good the Victorians tried to create, with their grand houses and public facilities, is long gone. You know a community is in trouble when the library employs bouncers. Fierce bouncers who pounced on me the minute I tried to find the industrial espionage stone relief. Depicting Creswick, Boulton and Watt discussing an advance in the steam engine, whilst dastardly Dick Cartwright eavesdrops.

Possibly the relief, possibly not

Other things of interest are religious; a convent and St Mary's Church, which marks the beginning and end of the walk.

Convent

Looking down Church Hill

Apart from that, it was a game of spot the repurposed pub from architectural clues. The Barrel, Frighted Horse (winner of best name for a Brummie pub ever), Ivy House, Pump Tavern, Queens Head, and Red Lion are all long gone. The blog is starting to sound like lyrics to a Country and Western song.

The guidebook does point out the Observatory - a Flat Iron, end of terrace classic. A quick check on-line showed that it had lost its licence in 2020. This usually means one of two things.

Photos of Carling and Guinness and an open door

Surprisingly, it was open and a licence recently restored. This despite the court case arguing "a new licence would mean a return to “illegal parking, people drinking and urinating in their front gardens and side entrances to the properties, rows and fights on a daily basis”.

A neon sign saying "Open" and an ajar door, through which I could see a pool table. However, all the windows were completely blacked out. Perhaps vampires scared of the afternoon sunlight? 

I'm afraid that not being able to see what was going on inside made it too intimidating for me. A blog first - a pub that I was too scared to enter.

I wonder if the king of pub crawlers, Alan Winfield, would have been braver.

Probably.

Walk Details

Distance - 3.5 Miles

Walk Inspiration - AZ - Hidden Walks in Birmingham Walk 9 

Previous Birmingham AZ Walks - Walk 1 & 2, Walk 3, Walk 4, Walk 5, Walk 6, Walk 7, Walk 8

Geocaches - 5