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