28/11/25 - Bromsgrove Bar Trek

"Mostly Older Pubs in Bromsgrove Centre"

The nearest activity to me in the excellent Bar Trek App is Bromsgrove. I wasn't really aware that Bromsgrove had enough pubs to warrant a crawl but they are there, when you look. Or have them pointed out to you by a fellow enthusiast.

All lined up and ready to be discovered

On a wet Friday afternoon, what will I find? What will I eavesdrop? Solo entertainment in retirement has come to this.

Olde Black Cross

The first pub I have entered, where the TV Screen is tuned to GB News. I cannot spend too long, else I get radicalised.

Dating from 1640, the unmanned front bar gives the history.

Grade II Coaching House, Jail, Blacksmiths - you name it

First Charles II, now Mappiman

A sprawling pub, it's a case of find someone to serve you. The rear bar also unmanned but some-one leaves the afternoon creche to come and serve. No cask, so half a Guinness.

Golden Cross Hotel

No real reason to re-visit this Good Beer Guide stalwart. And it isn't the first 'Spoons I visited today. The 52 bus to Bromsgrove goes to Redditch, so the Royal Enfield, a GBG newbie, has been ticked.

Double 'Spoons

Unlike the Royal Standard, I have never been able to get comfortable here. It's always too manic and tables are at a premium. Today, I do better than usual, getting a four seater table. Now I don't mind people joining me but there are rules. Do not have your phone on speaker, hold it to your ear and then had a nonsense conversation about Xmas presents, whilst your husband fetches two pints of Coors.

I try and entertain myself by looking at who else is in. Usual workies in high viz, shoppers who know where the bargain inexhaustible coffees are and pensioner dinner parties. 

I cannot complain about the beer though. A whole smorgasbord of festive beers on - which could have warranted a proper taste-off all afternoon. Although I am unsure what makes Holbeck Santa Baby a festive beer. It's an IPA. But it was in fine condition and the price was more than right.

The Red Lion

A previously unnoticed Marston's Single Roomer along the high street, where a first pleasant greeting is received and comfortable chairs are available to sit on. Hobgoblin or Banks Bitter on the pumps clips warranting a conversation about whether it is now known as Amber. I find out that on weekdays, it's £2.40 a pint. And Friday is no longer a weekday.

Pub real estate sold off to a shoe shop

A 3.4% shadow of its former self. Random A E Houseman portrait

All the other punters are solo men. Most know each other. One bloke looks like he lives in here. No judgement from me on any lifestyle choices but I am not sure the bar staff should be serving two pints at a time.

The Old Post Office

Another newbie to me, slightly further up the road. No prizes for its history, but I can tell you it was converted into a pub in 2019 by Amber Taverns. It's cavernous inside, with posters advertising how many bombs you can get for a set amount of cash.

Post box as a pub sign

Two Wye Valley Cask on - HPA and Butty Bach. A cursory look around and of course, everyone is on lout. Should I risk it? Despite every bone in my body screaming "Don't Do It", I plunge in and order - without asking for a sample - a Butty Bach.

Would you believe me if I told you it was as good as my local Wye Valley GBG Tied house? The world is always full of surprises and sometimes they are pleasant.

I pick a quiet spot in an alcove all to myself and a second surprise when two ladies, who have the entire pub to themselves, choose to sit as close as humanely possible to me. 

After a few minutes talking conspiratorially to themselves, they turn to me and ask "Excuse me, do you know who the Prime Minister is?"

I immediately have many potential responses. Am I being chatted up? How do they not know? Eventually, I settle on the fact that they are probably inquiring about my own mental cognitive abilities.

Kier Starmer, I reply.

No, not him, the one before they respond.  

I furnish them with Rishi - and they say the fellow on the TV Screen looks just like him. If anything, he looks like Sajid Javid, rather than he of the too short trousers.

Alas, Diamond Bus Timetables thwart how this unusual pub quiz may have progressed. 

The pub crawl cut short, as the Crabmill doesn't open until 4pm.  Even on a weekend Friday.

Thoughts on Bromsgrove? A lot of hidden in plain sight pubs. A lot of afternoon boozers.

24/11/25 - On the Trail of...... Sir Edward Elgar

Worcestershire's Favourite Son

It's a podcast that provides the inspiration for today's walk. You cannot move in Worcestershire without tripping over Elgar references. Today, I concentrate on his life. I may well come back for one of his works and his final resting place. And maybe his London home.

The Lad Himself

Edward Elgar (1857–1934) was one of Britain’s most celebrated composers, renowned for works such as the "Enigma Variations" and the "Pomp and Circumstance Marches," which helped define the sound of English music in the early twentieth century. Born and raised in the village of Broadheath near Worcester, Elgar’s lifelong connection to Worcestershire profoundly shaped his musical inspiration; the county’s landscapes, particularly the Malvern Hills, featured prominently in his imagination and creative process.

One of the more interesting topics of the podcast is how he felt an outsider to high society throughout his life. Resentment setting in from being forced to use the tradesmen's entrance when accompanying his father on piano tuning exploits. Regardless of the praise he received, along with his wife he constantly petitioned for bigger and better honours. Right up to his knighthood. The Beckhams for the Edwardian Age.

Public transport options dictate that the walking starts at Hallow. 

The Malverns - his inspiration - visible through the early morning mist.

Possible cloud inversion on high?

The Firs, Lower Broadheath

I am aiming for his first home. Now a National Trust property, open at weekends. He didn't have far to go for a pint, a pleasure now denied as the Plough crumbles to the ground.

Dead Pub at the Plough

The Firs - Elgar's Birthplace

St George's Catholic Church

Into the City, across the river and to the Church where Edward succeeded his father as Church organist.

Memorial on the bottom left

Doors open at 10am and there is a good reason for this. There is a gig on. Exploration thwarted at the inner door.

Sure they could live without an inquisitive rambler bursting through the door

The Statue

Words not required

The Cathedral

A prominent venue for performances of his work. He is now honoured with his very own window.

The story of a spirit rising to the lord

More Monuments

I paid (and donated, cheeky chuggers) for a guided tour. Mrs M demanding I spend less time in pubs. I learned plenty about Elgar, King John and Prince Arthur until my allocated 1 hour ran out. A slightly awkward hour, as I was the only punter. Still, that didn't stop my host legging it with the words "you really mustn't miss the crypt" ringing in my ears.

Made sure I got my money's worth

His Worcester Home

2 Cathedral Precincts. The man was practically WFH before WFH annoyed the Daily Mail.

Told you he was everywhere

I may also visit 51 Avonmore Road, West Kensington, London, W14 8RT

The Family Music Shop

At the top of the High Street, knocked down and replaced with an architecturally insignificant H&M.

A glimpse of bloomers through the shop window

And his Pubs

A google search suggests he was a regular of the Lamb and Flag. A more substantiated report showed closer links to the Crown. Here he formed the Glee Club, an early Open Mic night to collaborate, perform and lead recitals to the annoyance of those that wanted to pop in for a quiet pint.

With 2 hours for the next bus, I was never going to miss the opportunity for cask Jaipur at £2.25 a pint.

It was only by being inquisitive that I found that this 'spoons has its very own Elgar room. A fact that I will remember, as this is where the comfy seats are located.

Timed for Cask Club Monday

The man guards the condiments

Walk Details

Distance - 6.25 Miles

Geocaches - 4

Walk Inspiration - Self designed walk, following History West Midlands Podcast

21/11/25 - Stourbridge Canals

Glass Making and Award Winning Pubs

All the interest in this lengthy walk comes at the end. Unless you are a fan of canals.

The Stourbridge Canal picked up at the bonded warehouse, a short section of woodland at Friars Gorse before picking up the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal at Gothersley Bridge. The cold snap scaring off other walkers and mercifully, most of the Lycra clad cycling dingers-of-bells.

Stourbridge Bonded Warehouse

Canal Dreams

Woodland in Winter

Best part of 10 miles completed, before arriving at the fringes of town. A quick explore of Stourbridge's Glass making history. Well, the museum is free of charge.

Stourbridge has been one of the world’s great centres of glassmaking since the early 17th century, when skilled Huguenot glassworkers settled in the area and took advantage of the region’s rich fireclay and coal. Today, the Stourbridge Glass Museum—opened in 2022 in the restored former Stuart Crystal site at Wordsley—celebrates this heritage through over four centuries of glass, live hot-glass demonstrations, and exhibitions that explore both the craft’s history and its ongoing innovation.

Museum Piece

Inside the Cone

With today's first award winning pub, the Bird in Hand, around the corner.

From three years ago

Community local

It's a simple two roomer, pleasantly full on a Friday lunchtime. A central bar connects the drinking spaces, complete with a sign that says "No Swearing". Ignored by the loud local, who bursts in after a hospital visit and announces to the vaguely interested locals about his firestick viewing habits. Triple profanity showing that Aussies aren't popular in Wordsley.

Jaipur, Butty Bach, Town Crier and a chosen £3.80 Holden's Golden Glow, which I have to say was perfect.

No Effing Swearing

Back to the bonded warehouse and the Old Wharf, a pub that I always think is closed. It always seems to be in darkness. It needed investigating, as it was 33rd best pub in the land by people who know nothing about pubs. To be fair, this was The Good Food Guide. And they might be on to something. The pork scratchings were less than £2.

It's a gastro-pub, and also packed. They like their hospitality in this part of the world. Despite being the only punter not dining, I was provided a warm welcome. Four cask ales on and I have no complaints about my chosen Vale Brewery No. 4615.

Even if it failed the "Clarity" test

Walk Details

Distance - 11 Miles 

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, May 2025, Walk 12

Geocaches - 2

18/11/25 - On the Trail of...... The Au-Pairs

Rock and Roll Meltdown

I've never previously heard of the Birmingham band The Au-Pairs before. Having listened to their debut album - Playing with a Different Sex - I can confidently say they are the band the Gang of Four could have been.

It was an article in The Dispatch that gave me the band background and move from right-on equality to Fleetwood Mac style squabbling.

The Au-Pairs, a pioneering post-punk band formed in Birmingham in 1978, built their reputation on energetic performances, politically charged lyrics, and a rare ethos of equality—two men and two women sharing songwriting credits and profits. Their debut album Playing with a Different Sex earned critical praise, and their success took them from local charity gigs to iconic venues like Whiskey A Go Go in LA.

Rooted in Birmingham’s DIY music scene and fueled by the city’s spirit of activism, the group embodied the era’s fight for equal rights and creative freedom. The original line-up—Paul Foad, Jane Munro (Dowsett), Peter Hammond, and frontwoman Lesley Woods—quickly became champions of feminist punk, with influences from second-wave feminism and anti-fascist movements shaping their sound and politics.

Despite their collective beginnings, relationships within the band eventually soured. Recent plans for a 2026 “reunion” ignited a public feud when it emerged that Woods had trademarked the band’s name and would perform with new members, excluding her former bandmates. The dispute centers on allegations about control, songwriting credits, and the band’s legacy, with former members insisting on their equal contributions and Woods claiming creative ownership.

My latest Birmingham AZ walk was taking me to Bohemian Moseley, so it made sense to seek out some of the locations that were key to the bands early development. A quest that took me to unexpected places. 

The First Rehearsal - The Earl Grey

The Pershore Road was also where Paul and Lesley first met - but no one needs to see a picture of a bus stop. The upstairs room of the Earl Grey was where the first rehearsals were held. Now hosting a legal firm, it's a location already marked for exploration as a Lost Pub of Birmingham.  Looks like three of the original line up could use Isaac Legal Services... and God knows what services Teeny Haven are offering from the front of the building.

The Earl Grey

Early Gig Venue - The Fighting Cocks

In better pub news, The Fighting Cocks is not only operational but also a CAMRA Heritage Pub.

The Fighting Cocks in Moseley is a CAMRA Heritage Pub with a rich history dating back to at least 1750. Originally called the "Fox and Dogs," it was first built as the Fighting Cocks in 1778 and later rebuilt in 1899 by Holt’s Brewery. Its name derives from the historical use of the building for cockfighting events, which were popular until made illegal in 1835.

The current building is notable for its original features like glass, windows, and Art Nouveau tiles at the York Road entrance, as well as an L-shaped bar with original mirrors. It maintains much of its historic character with a largely open-plan interior and several segregated seating areas. It is a Grade II listed building due to its well-preserved historic architecture.

Note the dial in the Lower Left

Complete with their own leaflet

The first things one notices are the meteorological devices embedded into the front walls. Not sure if they are working though. The Daily Express are predicting the return of the "Beat from the East", whereas the needle on this device simply points to fair?

In a bid to drum up business, it's 20% of cask on a Tuesday. It's not having much impact. Wetherspoons over the road is packed full of punters on 6% Oakham Green Devil for "£1.89 a pint.

Another Lost Gig Venue - The Carlton Cinema

A concert ticket led to another place to investigate.

The Au-Pairs at the Carlton

A memorial garden is all that remains, taking the odyssey down a much darker route.

The Carlton Cinema in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, has a layered and fascinating history reflecting both its resilience and its cultural significance. Originally, it was a grand cinema serving the local community, but its story took a dramatic turn during World War II. On the night of October 25, 1940, the cinema suffered a direct hit during one of the heaviest bombing raids on Birmingham, resulting in the tragic death of nineteen people watching a film. Despite this devastation, the Carlton was rebuilt after the war and continued operating as a cinema and live music venue until its closure in August 1977, with Twentieth Century Fox proposing its demolition afterward

The film? Typhoon

A newspaper article tells me there is a memorial stone. Some kids went to pay their respects but were outraged by the mess in the park, generating the headline;

Caring kids' fury after finding Balsall Heath cinema bomb memorial garden 'full of rubbish and poo'

Despite walking the found corners of the park, I couldn't even find stone. And if anything, the filth has got even worse. It's been quite depressing walking past the mountains of rubbish piled on every street corner - apparently, the Agency staff employed to complete the work of the striking bin men have gone on strike themselves. Birmingham is not being run as a tight ship.... it's a shite tip.  Even the rats have given up.

First thing spotted in the Carlton Memorial Garden

Depressing walking - in supposedly one of the nicer areas of Brum - but the music has stood the test of time remarkably well. Having listened to the album several times, I am not getting Spotify notification for future gigs for (25%) of the band.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration - AZ - Hidden Walks in Birmingham Walk 11 

Previous Birmingham AZ Walks - Walk 1 & 2, Walk 3, Walk 4, Walk 5, Walk 6, Walk 7, Walk 8, Walk 9, Walk 10

17/11/25 - Woodbury Hill and Little Witley Church

The Battle that Never Was

Komoot used to identify a local walk. No pubs on route but two items of interest;

Woodbury Hill

A stiff climb through woodland, so you don't even get the reward of proper views.

Autumn sunshine

There is an information board, but the writing has faded off completely. Can only guess as to whether it was informing about the Iron Age Hillfort, the flora/fauna or possibly the more interesting story of the battle that never was; One of the last times a foreign army "fought" on English soil;

In 1405, Woodbury Hill near Great Witley became the site of a battle that never quite happened. Owain Glyndŵr, leading a Welsh force supported by French allies, took up position on the Iron Age hillfort while King Henry IV’s army assembled on the opposing Abberley Hills. For several days the two sides faced each other in a tense standoff, but supply problems and dwindling provisions forced Glyndŵr to withdraw before a full-scale clash could occur. 

Little Witley Church

Today's Church

A nice approach through orchards. The multi-cache tells me the history - rebuilt in 1867 using the original foundations. Its "doors open", so I can head inside to take the information from a grave to try and work out the final coordinates.

Small, but perfectly formed

I am taken to an unusual viewpoint of Witley Court. Where one can visit a far more ornate church, as the walk takes me along the access road in front. There is no need for a re-visit, as. I was only there in August.

The ruins of Witley Court

Walk Details

Distance - 7.5 Miles

Geocache - 0 Found

Walk Inspiration

13/11/25 - Ledbury to Malvern Link Rail Trail

A Great Pub Guarantee At Either End

A new rail trail that is so new, it hasn't even been published. I noticed it as an advertised Ramblers Walk, where I couldn't make the date. Little information, other than the route detailed on an OS Map. What more do I need?

And the great thing about this walk?

The Prince of Wales awaits in Ledbury, the Nag's Head at Malvern Link. Two of my favourites, that I can never tire of.

I decide to start in Herefordshire.

Herefordshire Bull, Red Earth, River Wye

The first half of the walk follows the Geopark Way, climbing Oyster Hill for the day's Trigpoint. Slippery underfoot, as we appear to be in monsoon season, but fine views to the west making up for tricky walking.

The Geopark Way is a 109-mile walking trail designed to showcase the geology and landscape of the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark. It starts in Bridgnorth, Shropshire and ends in Gloucester, Gloucestershire.

Herefordshire Trail slapped on

Westward Views

Oyster Hill Trig Point

The Church of St James the Great at Colwall makes a fine lunchstop. Minor investigation and route diversion to get the Multi-Geocache. “Doors Open”, so I can admire the fine ceiling woodworking, complete with a dated beam from 1675. The carpenters’ initials, “RM and RC” also carved.

Colwall Church (St James the Great) has seen several extensions and modifications over the centuries. The core of the church dates to the 13th century, but significant changes occurred in the 15th century with the addition of Perpendicular Gothic features.

Extension on Extension

Fine Ceiling Work

Dated Main Beam

Of course, the item of most interest to me is the Ale House.

Really?  Oh Go On then!

A church alehouse was a common feature in medieval England, built within or beside church grounds for the purpose of hosting “church ales”—communal feasts where ale was brewed and sold to raise funds for parish upkeep, charity, and festivities. These alehouses were important social centers, playing a key role in village life, especially before the Reformation. Over time, most were lost or repurposed as festivities declined and public houses became more common. 

This example at Colwall is one of the few remaining in Herefordshire. Alas, like more contemporary pubs, it no longer functions for its original purpose. We will have to remind ourselves of the joy through this quote.

"About mid-service, they goe in a rowe, after Priest, into the Church-ale-house to carouse"

No carousing for Mappiman today. At least not until the Nag's Head.

Pushing on with the walk, its the Worcestershire Way taking me to a previously undiscovered private railway. The Downs Light Railway running for all of 0.75 of a mile and the oldest private miniature railway in the world. A project devised for entertainment and education at a nearby school.

The usual fine views from the western flanks of Malvern, with the usual issues in finding the best paths to escape it. Much zigging and zagging adding the miles, when you could just roll downhill.

Looking West from the side of Table Hill

The walk ends, as all good walks should, at the pub. 

The Nag's Head, Malvern Link

It’s been almost three weeks since my last cask pint—ice-cold Efes making sense in the 28-degree heat of November in Turkey. The usual exceptional choice available at the Nag’s Head, where I can either nominate my favourite son or have a family reunion.

• Timothy Taylor Landlord
• Otter Bitter
• Hook Norton Old Hooky
• Holdens Golden Glow
• Teme Valley This
• Thornbridge Jaipur
• Bathams Bitter

And this is just the cask - they also have a fine collection of ciders, bottled international and craft.

In other good news – the pub is heaving. Literally no room inside, with every table in the higgledy-piggledy multi-roomer taken. Even outside is busy, but at least covered.

A fine place to while away a couple of hours.

Walk Details

Distance - 10 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Previous Cotswold Line Rail Walks - Worcester Parkway - Foregate Street, Foregate Street to Malvern, Worcester Parkway to Pershore, Pershore to Evesham, Evesham to Honeybourne, Honeybourne to Morton-in-Marsh