11/04/26 - A Kentish Town Pub Crawl

Return of the Mapp

The CAMRA Pub Crawls in London has been a rich source of inspiration. This is my first tick from the Second Edition. A quick check of the first edition shows an identical route - completed in my pre-blogging days. 

October 2007.

In many ways, it is comforting that the pubs remain.

The Assembly House - is not worth the inclusion, unless you are a fan of 1970s British Gangster Films. Let me count the ways. Greene King, with a poor beer choice. Terrible service. Exterior covered in so much scaffolding, it makes a photograph redundant. The interior has been stripped of everything that made it pretty - bar the billiards room skylight. Of course, the billiards table has been replaced by big screen football for the Arsenal fans to worry into.

We tried - and failed - to get served and that was for the best.

It's best I leave you with Richard Burton as your guide;

Over the road for the Bull and Gate. 

Nowhere does handsome quite like London

In the second edition - this is filed under "Try Also". For fans of 1990s Indie Music, it is a Pilgrimage. The bands who played upstairs reads like my end of year Spotify list - Blur, Oasis, PJ Harvey, Suede, Manic Street Preachers and (er) Coldplay.

A far more sedate affair today - a nice place to sit in Chesterfields and ponder that a pint of Landlord is now £7.25. Alas, my record keeping 19 years ago does not allow me to show percentage inflation.

The ghosts of drinkers priced out of London drinking

Higher expense was to come at The Junction. With no cask on, I was forced into a £7.50 Staropramen. This, after working out how to get in. In a terrible case of burning bridges, the main front door has been seriously damaged by a drunk driver.

Up the Junction

The Pineapple to bring a sense of order to the day and reduces the overall price per pint average. Mrs M is watching the joint account being depleted in real time thanks to message alerts to wearable tech.

This is a classic back street local and regular in the Good Beer Guide.

Successful 2001 campaign to stop it being converted to flats

Even as a veteran pub goer, I occasionally get challenged by British Pub Customs. There is no cask on heralded antique bar. Communication only works so well - and it takes a lot of walking around through narrow alcoves and little drinking rooms to find a beer festival in the tiny pub beer garden. A lady hiding behind the barrels tells me all beers are £4 but I have to buy a disc token from the bar. I am not suggesting you take part in counterfeiting, but if you have Connect 4 at home, you could get very, very drunk. With the added benefit that you would never have to play Connect 4 again.

Eventually we settle down in front of one of the two magnificent Bass Mirrors.

Zoom in to see the horror damage

The guide goes on for the compulsory Southampton Arms (recently visited) and optional Bull and Last (we don't need Gastro). So, we leave it at that and head for...... guess where?

Camden of course!

There won't be a blog - but I doubt there is a better pub experience than the Hawley Arms after dark. Superb people, music and now with added Harvey's Sussex Best.

08/04/26 - The Slow Way to Bewdley for the Black Boy Hotel

Political Correctness gone Madri

An easy and often completed walk, which would normally not register on the blog.

But it was completed on the first day of the year when the central heating didn't need to spark up and there was a visit to an Historic Inn of Interest - a 1960s Guide Book to booze.

Plus a chance to review another Slow Way.

From Stourport bridge to Bewdley bridge on the Severn Way. Keep the water to your left and all is good.

Start at the River King

Unnecessary

The End

 Onto the pub; 

1960s Ticking

Those that know Bewdley will know two things. This is not the Black Boy that requires a team of sherpas and oxygen to reach. In some ways I am grateful, but in others sad. That Black Boy is a cracker.

And this Black Boy was renamed as the Bewdley Inn in 2021.

The Bewdley Inn, the sunshine

A Royalist stronghold during the Civil War, history and pub enthusiasts will know that the name Black Boy refers to King Charles II rather than anything more controversial. While I’m on the subject, the Black Bitch in Linlithgow was named after a dog – but that didn’t stop the inevitable rebranding.

There’s little sign of its seventeenth-century origins now, though it still has separate rooms and a few inviting nooks and crannies.

First in, I was greeted with a bit of bad news: the landlord was waiting for a delivery. Given the choice of Madri or Carling, I made a quick exit and headed to the George.

There, a suntrap beer garden, table service, and a £2.35 pint of Redemption Big Chief IPA made up for it nicely — with a view of the church clock to keep an eye on the return bus time.

Walk Details

Distance - 3.75 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration

07/04/26 - Slow Ways - Highley to Cleobury Mortimer

My Kingdom for a Pint

There was only one way to approach this Slow Way. Highley has only one pub, and I think it is a dead pub. The Bache Arms, a wild experience, whilst it was open. Cleobury has four. One of them must be open on a Tuesday lunchtime, surely?

The Slow Ways web site is an excellent resource, aiming to connect every major town in the UK through walking. I am unsure as to who creates the routes. This route was unreviewed (until I came along) and was fine apart from a couple of lengthy road sections. One such section is avoidable. My feedback has been submitted.

Overall, a fine walk, completed is Spring sunshine across rolling agricultural landscapes.

Highley Church

The Walk looked mainly like this

My diversion to Cleobury Lodge Farm

Cleobury's Twisted Spire

Into Cleobury - with an hour to wait for the bus. I made the mistake of ignoring the Royal Fountain. The best pub in town, based on my previous Slow Way. The others - The Kings Arms, The Talbot and the Stables - all closed up on a Tuesday lunch time.

What's that I spy opposite the bus stop? Bargain Booze for a trampy wait in the sunshine.

Walk Details

Distance - 8 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration

05/04/26 - The Tipsey Toad, Bromyard

Avenbury Hauntings

The approach into Bromyard brings on PTSD. Over five years since my last visit. You can guess what was going on then. Lockdown #3. I got to look at the handsome black and white timbered pubs but none were open to investigate. 

Nice to look back at the blog. I made do with a delicatessen ram raid and a Baggies victory at the Molineux. Maybe lockdowns weren't so bad. Trump probably ensuring they are coming back in one form or another.

Today's visit was inspired by the Mysteries of Mercia. A book that I need to order at some point, but Hugh, the author, teases with frequent FaceBook posts. Last week, he discussed the ruined church at the abandoned village of Avenbury.

A mooch around the town centre, solving Adventure Lab Caches and looking for post-walk refreshment options and then we are out into the Herefordshire Countryside.

I took an identical picture 5 years ago

There's a couple of walkers ahead of us. When they stop for coffee we learn that they are working the Herefordshire Trail as a series of day walks. Their wives helping with the logistics by dropping them off/picking them up as required. Mrs M gives me the look to say "don't get any ideas". 

When I get a spare five minutes, I will look into public transport availability.

I demand more of the Herefordshire Trail

Through agricultural land, including hop growing trellises before we find the River Frome. Following the banks until we reach Avenbury and its sinister ruins.

Ruins

It's not the ghosts that you need to worry about. The comments on the FaceBook post talked of people living in the churchyard in a makeshift camp. Battling my way through the undergrowth, I found evidence of the camp - loads of rubbish, tarpaulin and a huge water tank. A darting squirrel is the only sign of life, but enough to get the heartbeat raised.

Onwards to Bromyard Downs - always a fine place to walk - before the land attached to Buckenhill Manor.

Views from the Bromyard Downs

Perfect paths through Buckenhill Manor

Lockdown had me jealous for the pubs I could have visited last time. But how many of them remain actually open? A terraced boozer called the Railway (tied house to Johnson's?) looks in perfect condition, but is doors firmly shut. Bizarrely, it closed in the 1970s but has been perfectly preserved.

Residential Use now - wonder how many thirsty people look through the windows.

Other disasters? The Hop Pole looks in danger or matched the Avenbury Church in the ruins stakes. The King's Arms in the high street crying out to be rescued. I'll stop there before I get too maudlin.

The Falcon was a strong contender for the Mappiman dollar but in the end, we chose the newest of micros - the Tipsey Toad. A shop conversion next-door to the dead King's Arms - an actual pub. Maybe it costs less to heat.

A fine example of the micropub blueprint, with friendly locals/staff and a comfortably snug experience split over two floors. The slightly underwhelming and obvious choice of HPA or Butty forgiven, as they shared out the mini Easter eggs.

Mrs M already celebrating the "Bischoff with Coffee" win

Walk Details

Distance - 8.75 Miles 

Geocaches - 13

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, April 2016, Walk 8

02/04/26 - Harvington Hall

Ancient Country Walking Magazine

My oldest Country Walking Magazine is not February 1991 but it's not far off. All footpaths are exactly as described 34 years ago and Harvington Hall is as timeless as ever.

Harvington Hall

The location is very popular with the Ramblers and I have explored/blogged this area extensively. Familiar paths through Hillpool and Drayton but there is something new.

To the south of Drayton is Barrow Hill Tumulus - described as an ancient Celtic burial site. This website has details and also looks like a useful resource for future inspiration. Nice mapping of everything ancient. Which leads to a book available on Google Books - will I ever have time to read the Ancient Antiquities and Folklore of Worcestershire? At nearly 200 years old, it's an antiquity in itself.  

The barrow is huge, tree-covered but on private ground. I get occasional glimpses through the trees but cannot get a photo to do it justice. I can always lift one from the Internet.

Farmers disrespecting ancient monuments

Hidden in the trees

What I thought would be a regular, familiar walk has opened up yet more ideas. 

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine - Feb 1991, Walk 14

31/03/26 - A Tardebigge Circuit

Indecipherable Place Name

I knew that the latest West Midlands History Podcast would provide plenty of potential walk inspiration. Mike Jenkins talks about his new book - The History of Place Names in England and Worcestershire. A £5 visit to Amazon and my Kindle will now be able to bore blogfans through a whole new avenue. Skirting the book and listening to the Podcast, my mind was soon made up that the walk would be from Tardebigge.

Unique as the only village in the land that has belonged to three counties (Staffordshire, Warwickshire and now Worcestershire) its also the only place that Mike (and other experts) cannot decode it's naming roots.

After a long discussion of potential options, Mike concludes;

However, most toponymists seem to agree this this is one of those place names which remains obscure and has even been postulated to be related to a pre-Celtic, possibly an Old European (pre-Indo-European) language! If true, this would mean the name originates from at least 3,000 to 4,000 years ago!

We borrow a couple of dogs and park at the impressive church, situated on high ground. I couldn't even find the main door to tell you if its "Doors Open" or not.

Tardebigge Church

And its position on a high ridge

This circular walk is outbound on lanes, along the Monarch's Way. Not many cars to avoid but they are 100% Land Rovers. The Joneses' keep up with each other in these parts.

Borrowed dog, Sam, shows the way through Stoke Cross

Some empty agricultural fields to pick up the Birmingham-Worcester canal, following it up along the famous flight of locks back to the church.

Happy Mrs M and Sam with-guide-dog-in-training, Ian - we don't name them

Celebrating the end of the flight

A perfect walk for dogs - no stiles, off-lead frolicking and plenty of sniffing interest.

Less so for humans. No tea shops, let alone a pub.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration - 100 Walks in Hereford and Worcestershire, Walk 61 

30/03/26 - Three Parks and the Highbury

City Green Spaces

The Ramblers - of whom I am both a big fan and a member - posted on Facebook a claim that a lack of green spaces is inhibiting city dwellers in their ability to work.

I attempted three times to say utter nonsense but stopped myself each time. I cannot do with the trolling.

Let me present the evidence from two recent walks. Last time in London, I walked 5 miles from Hyde Park, through Green Park and into St James Park and only crossed two roads.

Today's latest AZ City Walk in Birmingham has me walking through Kings Heath, Highbury and Cannon Hill parks for an experience similar in length and quality.

The original FB poster was from Scotland. I felt like adding that Edinburgh has a fecking mountain in the middle of it.

Today's walk has been completed before. A repetition, mainly as I am completing the AZ in order and I have noticed a previously unexplored CAMRA Heritage Pub in the vicinity.

Photos of the parks:

Kings Heath - standard, swings, tennis courts, grass

Highbury - wild and best place to dump a getaway car/hide a body

Cannon Hill - Boer War Monuments

Cannon Hill is the Jewel in the Crown. Lakes, Medieval pubs transported from Digbeth, the River Rea running along the edge and this little curio. Adventure Lab Caching taking me to a model of the Elan Valley - celebrating when fresh water arrived into Birmingham.

Dam

And the plaque

The walk ends at the Stirchley Fringes, where my CAMRA Heritage Pubs of the Midlands has an entry for the Highbury. I should have been suspicious when it was text only, with no photos.

A typical large Birmingham suburban pub, built in the 1920s for Mitchells & Butlers. The public bar at the front corner of the pub still has its original counter, an elegant bar back (with 'M&B' carved in the pediment), wall-panelling to two-thirds height, and a decorated fireplace. The door to the rear lounge has given way to a wider opening and this room is now used for pool. The wall panelling here is a little more elaborate and the beams are decorated. The small curved counter is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. A separate side entrance leads to a mostly modernised lounge (formerly gents only in the days when it was still legal to exclude women from parts of a pub) and a plain function room with panelled walls and a segmental-shaped ceiling. A former off-license can also be discerned between the two entrances.

At first, I think it may be closed but the parked mobility scooter provides both hope and an indication of Monday lunch punters.

Solid looking boozer

Inside, I look for signs of why it could be in the guide. It's a two roomer - front room, knocked through with the well described but not particularly impressive bar back. A pool table, with unusual leaning seats for non-combatants. A rear room offering more of the same on a smaller scale.

M&B etched in the pediment

With the external posters showing pictures of their wares (Guinness, smooth-pours, Carling), I was right to be sceptical of the Cask Marque sign. The first time I have used the form to update the CAMRA Heritage Web Site which claimed two real ales.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 Miles

Geocaches - 8

Walk Inspiration - AZ City Walks, Walk 12

Previous Birmingham AZ Walks - Walk 1 & 2, Walk 3, Walk 4, Walk 5, Walk 6, Walk 7, Walk 8, Walk 9, Walk 10, Walk 11

28/03/26 - West Midlands Metro Pub Crawl - Stage 4

Back to the Beginning

The quest to find the nearest pubs to the West Midlands Metro stops reaches stage 4. I'm back in Wolverhampton. The brief was to see if AI had plotted correctly and to move on three stops at a time. Having got to Birmingham, I reset from The Royal.

 

Number	Station	AI Recommendation	Actual Nearest
11	The Royal	The Royal London	The Harp

All I can say is that if you think Wolverhampton is rough, wait till you reach the outskirts. AI getting it hopelessly wrong. There is a pub called the Royal London, but it's much further from a tram stop in the middle of a dual carriageway than the Harp.

Hard to know if the Harp is open.... or a pub

The last review on pubsgalore is from 2012....

A traditional pub for the discerning drinker who likes good company of a refined nature

Which shows that irony has never been out of fashion.

If I was truly down with the kids and abandoned Twitter for TikTok, I would have known that this place is famous for its authentic Jamaican cuisine. Indeed, all the action was in the room on the opposite side of the bar where a jolly man with a plastic apron, gloves and hat was keeping customers entertained.

This left the bar side for me - still a traditional drinking area and Guinness at £3.50 adding to the time-warp vibes. Horse racing on a TV, which could not be heard over the humming of a drinks chiller. Loud enough that it must be breaking health and safety rules.

For lunch, Jamaican, rather than Black Country, would have been a better choice

 

Number	Station	AI Recommendation	Actual Nearest
12	Bilston Central	The Trumpet	The Horse and Jockey

Interesting. The Horse and Jockey was visited when I alighted at The Crescent. I hadn't realised it was next door to Bilston Tram Station and I only hope I didn't walk all the way back last time out.

So the Trumpet - long saved in my "to go" list and also a Holdens Pub (another ticklist) is on the cards. Even if I have to "cheat" by walking past a terrifying Craft Union pub. The chain that provides a home to those banned from 'spoons.

Jazz - 7 Days a Week

It's places like this that make my travels worthwhile. This inauspicious looking place has become a mecca for live music since a landlord started playing his Jazz records in the 1950s. Slade used to meet there, and it might have been an interview with Noddy, where I found the inspiration to go.

The Slade International Fan Club

It now has a "stage" at the far end and a collection plate to pay towards the artists. Slightly too early for the scheduled act, I wasn't not entertained. A bizarre Saturday afternoon form of karaoke takes place. Punters are encouraged to sing along to Fleetwood Mac, whilst (I assume) the landlord plays along on the bongos and/or the drums.

It's actually much better than I can make it sound.

This, chatty locals, banter and a landlady who came and had a chat with a stranger made for a perfect afternoon. 

I will be back... I missed the GBG Tick the Cafe Metro and the building opposite is surely worthy of blogging and research.

Black Country Bitter

Surprised to find a Medieval Manor House in Bilston - The Greyhound and Punchbowl

Number	Station	AI Recommendation	Actual Nearest
13	Wednesbury Parkway	The Brunswick	The Lord Nelson

There is a pub called the Brunswick Arms - so AI may have been saving me from myself. The Lord Nelson is much closer - but it's a terrifying walk to get there. First, underpasses need to be negotiated - which are somehow far more sinister when devoid of human life than when the hoodies are congregating. Then a walk past those chop shops that you only see on daytime crime series. All cars with missing front ends and no registration plates.

During my walk, I thought Google Maps was having a moment.

Pub Ahead - You've got to want to go!

The Lord Nelson up close

Does this mean other toilet-based activity is allowed?

I've no idea where the other punters have come from but there was one table occupied under the TV screen with the football scores coming in. 5 customers showing the pub to be a real survivor. Maybe it gets lunchtime trade from the chop shops in the week?

Tick them whilst you can!

Number	Station	AI Recommendation	Actual Nearest
14	Dudley Street Guns Village	The Horse and Jockey	The Wheatsheaf

AI getting it slightly wrong again. There is a Horse and Jockey in West Brom but you have to walk past both the Hop Pole and the Wheatsheaf. The Hop Pole previously visited, as it was in the Good Beer Guide. The Wheatsheaf an enigma of poor opening hours. When I say hours, I should say days. Although that might have changed. Sources disagree.

Regardless - it's a Holdens and looks handsome from the outside.

Handsome - and open for the first time in 3 visits

The Positives: Best pint of the day today. Not too hard, but the Golden Glow was perfect.

The Negatives: All a bit spartan inside - very brightly lit and furniture that looks stolen from a café. Not really providing the comfy pubby vibes suggested by the exterior.

Dimmer switch required

This never ending pub crawl gets picked up from West Bromwich Central next time. Hopefully, in less than 6 months.

Walk Details

Previous Metro Pub Walks - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Pubs - 4

Total Number of Metro Station Pubs - 14