21/03/18 - Good Beer Guide Pubs of Birmingham - Part 2

Nothing stays the same.  We started our second city ticking at Xmas 2016, using the 2017 version of the bible as a guide.  There were 7 pubs to be visited and we only managed 3, always knowing we would come back.

15 months later and here we are, armed with the 2018 bible.   Horrifyingly, the number of City Centre entries has dropped to just 4. 

To justify the journey, we cobble a pub crawl from the two editions and throw in our own stupid mistake.

Eagle Eyed Pub Tickers may be able to spot the mistake from our Route

Victoria, 48 John Bright Street, Salopian Golden Thread (2017 Guide)

C19th Theatre Bar 

Nice start, with the Bitter and Twisted pub company rescuing a C19th Theatre Bar.  We know from our visit to one of their other pubs (Rose Villa Tavern) that this will be decorated to a high standard and provide the sort of pub you can lose yourself in.   Side rooms for exploration, quirky decorations and cocktail/whisky menus to peruse.

Punter-wise we have a mixture of the after office crowd, slagging off useless Project Managers and a random odd bloke ordering a 2nd pint before finishing the first and disappearing, leaving both drinks his table.  I can identify with both parties.

Things to do, People to see

Always a fan of Salopian brews and this first Golden Thread didn't disappoint.

The Shakespeare, Lower Temple Row, Moonstone Hadley Brewing Company

Short walk around New Street and we are in Pub 2.

I'm perplexed as to why a City Centre Identikit Nicholson Pub should be troubling the Good Beer Guide.

Seen it all before

See previous comment

The answer?  It isn't in the guide.

Don't tell Mrs M, but I have made a monumental screw up in planning - the Shakespeare we wanted is in Summer Row.

Still, it was less of a walk to this one.

The Wellington, Bennetts Hill, Staropramen (2017 and 2018 Guides)

Should need no introduction to anyone still interested in reading this blog.... its been a stalwart of the Real Ale scene in Birmingham for many years.

It kind of works and it kind of doesn't.

Architecturally, it a stunning Georgian Town House, split over at least three levels.  We might have been able to climb higher in the quest for a seat but decided to cash in under heaters on the external terrace.  Nice in the summer, not so great in the Winter that never ends.

The Wellington as Night Falls

Its a Black Country Ales tied house and there's an ever changing selection of 18 hand pulls on - most of which are unheard of to me.  Confusion always reigns at the packed downstairs bar.   At our upstairs bar, they were just turning the HPA Clip around to cancelled, with a perplexed bar man looking at the grim looking swill water that had come out.   This left just one ale, Oakham Citra.

We had a quick expensive Continental lager, made our excuses and left.

Always too busy.  Always too confusing.

Queens Arms, 150 Newhall Street, Wye Valley HPA (2017 Guide)

Another handsome Victorian pub that has disappeared from the guide.

Need to see it in daylight really

Rare spotting of Mrs M getting a round in

The owners have invested in keeping it pleasant.  Inside is just as nice as outside and many distractions are available.  Mrs M challenges me to a game of Connect Four.  The pub sport of Kings.

Whether the patrons appreciate the attention to sophistication remains to be seen.  Ever so slightly intimidating feel oozing from some well oiled patrons.

The Gunmakers Arms, 93 Bath Street, Two Towers Hockley Gold (2018 Guide)

Been looking forward to visiting this place.  The Gunmakers are the kings of Social Media Marketing - frequently tweeting about Birmingham events and history and not always beer related.

And you wouldn't think anywhere that's a 5 minute walk from Snow Hill could still manage to be in the absolute middle of nowhere.

Bang in the City Centre

A really friendly welcome awaits from the barman and the regulars.

Barman - Have you been before?  Would you like help choosing?  The Two Towers brewery is next door.  This silver tongued charmer talked Mrs M into her first ever real ale.   In 33 years of drinking with her, this is a first.

A Regular on spotting a group of Scousers supping in the Corner - "I've put something on the jukebox that you chaps will like".   The opening chords to Echo and the Bunnymen's Never Stop are met with "they're Birkinhead Scum".

Can't win them all.

We commandeer the Jukebox for a bit of Bad Seed Action and I try and work out how much I am enjoying my pint.   Quality but maybe over hoppy for me.  I'd need another to be sure.

Only Nick Cave'has a Red Right Hand

We have a choice on whether to make the last on the List - the Woodman.  Its a 15 minute walk and the trains are irregular at this time.

I suggest a compromise.   After the row has fizzled out and Mrs M hears the compromise, we catch the 20:58 home and have the pint of the night.

Bathams at the King and Castle, Kidderminster Station.

30/12/17 - Horse and Jockey, Knighton

Distance - 8 Miles
Geocaches - 0
Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, August 2017, Walk 27


Two new year's resolutions here.  Never listen to either Mrs M or the BBC Weather App.  To be fair, Mrs M gets her info from the BBC Weather App, so the two things are the same.

This morning, I descended the stairs with my finest winter waterproofs only to be told its a balmy 11 degrees and wall to wall sunshine.  Only half of that sentence was true.

By end of the day, this walk became known as the "shittiest, good walk ever completed.

It promised so much - in a town I was convinced was new to me but upon arrival quickly recognised.  If we hadn't have started in town, it would have been completely in Shropshire.

Half in Wales, Half in England.  Totally in the wrong clothes

We've started at the Offa's Dyke Visitors Centre and its this path that takes us across the River Teme and up the flanks of Panpunton Hill.  It's a lung gasper but on a fine day, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the Teme Valley.   Like us blogfans, you will have to make do with this.

Things have not been this grim in 2017 since the Langdale Valley.

No point taking photos.  It's a case of trudge on and try and keep the camera safe from the horizontal rain that completely soaked one half of your body, leaving the other half relatively unscathed.  The only way to try and improve morale was by me completing a spectacular fall - a skid, windmill like leg movements and a mud bound plonk. 

Mrs M creased herself, but she may have been delirious through hypothermia.

Trough the farm at Five Turning, along a broad farm track and downward scramble through Holloway Rocks.  I remember that someone said if the weather is grey, try turning your camera to Monochrome setting.

Slightly better than the mirk

Stowe Church before a couple of godawful, sheep poo strewn fields, where we get in quite a state.  We wonder whether Knigton pubs will allow us in, but we do find a stream to get the worst off.

Stowe Church - where the Sun Peeps

A quick walk through this pretty town, passing the Railway Station.  There are two lines - one way to Shrewsbury with two stops along the way.  The other to Swansea with 120 stops along the way.  All in places I've never heard off. 

There's also a high degree of specialism amongst the shops.

Unique in that the Station is in a different Country to the town it serves.

Yes, this is a Subbuteo Shop

So the pubs.  The 2018 Good Beer Guide was consulted and there is a single entry - the Red Lion.  But not before we are forced to walk past an interesting looking boozer, the Horse and Jockey.  Mrs M is that desperate for refreshment, I have to drag her out.

The Red Lion sits delightfully next to the town square clock tower and keep ridiculous hours.

I mean come on - a pub (classic, not micro) that doesn't open till 17:30 on a Saturday?

Looks Good.

Looks Bad.  Doesn't even bother on a Sunday or Monday

With much contrition we head back to the H&J.  Window stickers show that this was a 2017 Good Beer Guide entry and as we are still in the year, I'm counting a tick.

Mrs M wondering why we are walking past.  If only she knew as much about weather.

All turns out fine in a most serendipitous way.  The H&J has a lot more going for it - Medieval origins, an interesting horseshoe shape of ramshackle buildings, excellent Three Tuns Beer and the icing on the cake - the best beef and onion baguette known to humanity.

Really, you have to go there.

Sustenance taken and the misery of the previous three hours was very nearly forgotten.

Loved the layout of this former coaching inn

Almost as much as this

17/09/17 - RGR Geocaching and The Weighbride at Alvechurch

Distance - 4 Miles
Geocaches - 20
First Cache



I noticed these caches being published around a week ago.  There was no hesitation in moving them to the top of the to do list for the following reasons;

1. I've enjoyed the Leaky Cauldron's other cache trails in the area
2. Alvechurch was the best walking areas when I took inspiration from the Capital Ring Long Distance Path to create a 2nd City Alternative - The Brummie Ring
3. There's an unticked CAMRA Good Beer Guide Entry, waiting to be er... ticked

With Mrs M otherwise engaged, I headed out for some solo caching.  If I had been a little earlier, I could have teamed myself up with Modge UK.  I'm fairly sure I parked up next to their Geowagon at the Rowney Green Chapel and certainly saw their same day stamped logs.

As expected the walking was fine.  A few ups and downs, with plenty of sheep/horse fields to navigate and serenaded by the ever present hum of the M42.

Here's the views;

Starting off down Chapel Lane - Chasing Modge UK

Into the Countryside

The Horsey Part of Birmingham

Worcestershire Views

If anything, the geocaches were better than expected.  Who knew I could decipher complex Roman numerals without a Smartphone?  Would Combination Locks cause the blue face of shame?  How did I end up doing an impression of Jeremy Beadle?

Answers can only be found in the online logs.

Great circuit - so thanks for the challenge, Leaky Cauldrons!

Onto the Pub.

The Weighbridge, Alvechurch

Something else that exceeded expectations today.

I've been to Alvechurch a few times but even though this is handily positioned for the train station, I've never turned away from the town and headed towards the marina.  Even then, you really need to know its there as it's not that obvious its a pub.  Entry involves navigating the huge Marina Car Park and heading towards the Marquee.

The Weighbridge, Alvechurch

But people do know about it.  Just gone midday on a Sunday and the place is packed.  The Sunday Lunches are apparently legendary but with just a Northern Irish £5 and some shrapnel available to me, I made do with a pint and a Tuna Bap, from the bar mounted smorgasbord of sandwich delights.

Which Pint?  Selection is made either by peering over the small bar or reading the overhead chalkboard.  It would have been a LocALE Wetheroak Tillerman Tipple but on pouring, the bar lady wasn't happy with the quality and instantly offered something else.

Wye Valley Butty Bach has never tasted so good.

A Rare Quiet Time at the Bar

Butty Bach.  Gentlemen sharing a plate of Scratchings 

11/09/17 - The Northenmost Tick, the Northernmost Geocache

The view from our 4th Floor Porthole is rain.

Horizontal rain.

We are in Kirkwall, Orkney Isles.

The gang plank is near our room and we see the pensioners, holding on to their headscarves, walk down - touch ground - and walk straight back on again.

The 6 mile walk up a hill with no trees is off.

Other adventures await.   There is the chance to record my Northernmost Geocache.  Kirkwall joins Florida, Greece and the Canaries as the compass extremes on my Geocaching Profile.

Clue - it doesn't normally hide there

Pre Trip, the bible had been consulted.  There was simply no way I was going to miss out on a Good Beer Guide Entry called the "Auld Motor Hoose".

I'd even looked at Google Maps and wasn't surprised to find out it was a Theme Bar.

Kirkwall in the Rain

As Paul Calf Said "Its a theme pub, The theme is get pissed"

The book provided an excellent representation of what to expect.  The locals, sheltering during a Monday Lunchtime, were friendly.  I even got a laugh when I asked if the TV Images of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was the local news channel.

The juke box was kicking out rock ballards.

The memorabilia was all motor related, including a petrol pump on the way to the juke box.

The Swannay Brewery Scapa Special Ale was exceptionally good.

A fitting end to the British Isles Tour.  We just need 48 hours on a boat in Storm Aileen to round off the holiday in style.

Pint of the Week - Scapa Special

Warning:  Contains Poodle Hair Soft Rockers.

09/09/17 - Belfast Walking Tour

For the first time on the 10 day discovery tour of the British Isles, I am not responsible for entertainment.

Mrs M, presumably now bored of Geocaching, pub ticking but not walking has hired a professional tour guide to show us the sights of Belfast.

His name is Marty.  He is one of fourteen children.  He is not shy when it comes to walking into buildings (town halls, hotels, cathedrals, pubs), whether they are open or not.  He knows his stuff. Everyone on Tripadvisor agrees.

The blogs not here to show my holiday snaps.   We're bound to go past one of the six Belfast Good Beer Guide entries.   I might also find a Geocache.

Bittle's Bar

Marty tries to take us in here, but the landlord is quite adamant that he is not open.  It's OK, I've been before.  I've seen the whiskey collection.  I've seen the artwork that has been traded over the years for pints.   I've remembered the other flat iron building in Manhattan.

It's not in the Good Beer Guide but the soulless looking Kitchen Bar directly opposite is.

I'm back in my quandary of good bar vs. good beer.

It would be a crime to foresake this for the Kitchen Bar to the left

The Crown Liqueur Saloon, Victoria Street, Guinness

This is another must visit bar and a 2017 GBG Entry.  The name itself may conjure up images of a wild west saloon, but this is ornate Victorian Boozing at its finest.   All fancy tile work, completed by Italian craftsmen as after hours "foreigners", once they had finished working on the churches.

Photos were in short supply.  Outside, is a constant gaggle of smokers.  Inside, only the Japanese are brave enough to pull out cameras without fear.  I attempt a surreptitious photo but get clocked by a local, giving me the look.

Put it away, so you will.

If you're either lucky, or not visiting on a Saturday Afternoon, you might strike gold and get one of the ten hermetically sealed booths.  They come complete with door to lock, vanity glasswork and a little bell to summon service.  How I would have loved to give that a dong to see what happens.

Beer wise, it's a Nicholson House, complete with some familiar handpulls like Purity UBU.

I stuck with the Black Stuff.

The Duke of York, Guinness

At the start of the tour, Marty asked us if we had any preferences for the Tour.  Our Canadian co-students wanted to learn all about the troubles.  I asked to be taken to the pub with all the fancy mirrors.

Who would have thought the two could be combined?

I've been before but couldn't remember the Duke of York's name.  Through a process of elimination, Marty was able to determine my request.  I was able to teach him something in return.

This is not in the Good Beer Guide but if you're in town, you must visit.

It's what my living room would look like if Mrs M didn't rule with an iron fist.

The Duke of York.  And Marty the Tour Guide.

Marty was keen to come in and show us a photo near to where he is standing showing of the pub destroyed by a bomb in 1973.

I was keen to show Marty the Whiskey Menu, which unbelievably comes with a number of Whiskies that are so rare, they have "Not For Sale" as a price.

The tour, a two hour bargain for £15, ends here.

We're off to find a Geocache.

Tour Over and left to my own devices outside the DOY

06/09/17 - Accidental GBG Ticking in Guernsey

Distance - 2 Miles
Geocaches - 4
Pubs - The Rockmount, Cobo and the Albion House, St Peter Port

I always knew that Geocaching can provide entertainment in any part of the world we happen to find ourselves in.

Seems that Ticking the CAMRA Good Beer Guide Pubs provides similar joy.

Even in Guernsey.

This blog needs to be filed under fortuitous.  We had no idea that the day would involve a visit to Cobo.

Guernsey is port call 2/7 on our British Isles discovery tour.  It was also the only place where we thought we would wing it and have no concrete plans.  We had heard a nice walk could be had by heading along the coast from St Peter Port Dock to Fermain Bay.

And it was.  Well signposted and the usual Geocaching adventures.

Strangely, no OS Map Coverage in the Channel Islands.

The Guernsey Coast

Geocaching - with our Floating Hotel in the distance

Arriving at Fermain Bay

The cafe proved popular with our other cruisers, with a recognised traveler taking photos of her Chocolate Cake and Stella Artois.   She must also have a blog.

Having rested with nothing stronger than tea, we had a choice.  We could have carried on walking but we had heard rumours of the mythical Bus 92.  This chariot of fire circles the entire coastline and charges a flat fee of £1.

Mrs M thought it would be a good way to see the Island.  I simply cannot resist a bargain.

So we borrowed the cafe's timetable and headed up to Fermain Road, more in hope than expectation that it would arrive at its allotted time of 12:08.

GOOD NEWS! It's bang on time.  BAD NEWS!  It's packed to the rafters with bargain hunting cruisers.

Strap hanging didn't provide much opportunity to see the sights, so after 40 minutes of being glared at by two locals trying to use public transport for its intended reason, we decided to bale at the next likely looking location.

This was windswept Cobo Bay.

Nicer in the Sunshine

Too cold to hang around, so we look for the nearest boozer.   There is one, the Rockmount.  It has a smart restaurant and a Tap Room around the back.  Once home, I checked the bible and yep, I'm now sniffing out GBG Pubs with no prior research.

Although I can't really remember the beer (a hoptastic brew called Barefoot Something), I do remember two other things.

1) The best Fishfinger Sandwich known to man.

2) The staff are entirely decked out in Superdry gear.  A query as to the reason is met with "we are sponsored by them".  My best mate is the Photo Studio Manager for Superdry, so we text to ask if they have branched out into sponsoring Good Beer Guide entries closest to France.  They haven't.  He is consulting his legal team.

The Unknown Barefoot Something Ale

The less busy 42 Bus whisks us more directly back into St Peters Port.  A couple more caches to be found in the town and worryingly, a blazer is purchased from M&S.   Two days, and we have already been on this cruise too long.

A final Guernsey Pint in the Albion House Inn, simply because I support West Brom.  Have I struck lucky twice in a day?

Not quite, but it has a story.

The closest British Pub to a Church, courtesy of a overhanging gargoyle.

Home from Home for a Baggie

Closest Pub to a Church - by a Gargoyle's Nose

28/08/17 - Cranham and Sheepscombe - 2 x Cotswold GBG Ticks

Distance - 6.5 Miles
Geocaches - 2
Pubs - The Black Horse Inn, Cranham, The Butchers Inn, Cranmore
Walk Inspiration - Walk 8 in Classic Walks in the Cotswolds


The walking guide states that this is a "Delightful walk encompassing two delightful Cotswold Villages, with three excellent Inns....".  I stopped reading at that point and banged the details into the GPS.

With a quick glance of the Bible, I also found out that two off them are in the CAMRA 2017 Good Beer Guide.

Seemed almost too perfect for the hottest August Bank Holiday since Twitter began.

We start in Cranham and head out across the common land to pick up Saltridge Woods.   This walk is completed almost entirely in woodland - providing shade from the midday sun but offering little in the way of views of the steep sided valley.

Heading out of Cranham

Into Saltridge Woods - the Vista for most of the Walk

For the occasional Valley View

Mid point of the walk is Sheepscombe.  It's best to arrive on foot, as the lanes are quite scary to drive along and the parking is nearly non existent.

I've completed my research and I know the Butcher's Arms opens at 11:30am.  It's 11:10am, so this gives time for a short geocaching detour but we are still sat outside at 11:20am, explaining to the locals that we are not alcoholics.

The Butcher's Arms, Sheepscombe, Prescott Ales Hill Climb

Plenty of time to take the obligatory photos.  According the bible, the 3 dimensional carved sign of a Butcher Quaffing Ales, whilst tethered to a pig is world famous.

Classic Cotswolds Boozer

World Famous Signage

11:30 comes without the glorious sound of the door bolt scraping open, so I head off to investigate, finding the barman messing with barrels around the back.

Inevitably, the curse of the pub ticker strikes.   Yes, it normally opens at 11:30 but on bank holidays, it opens at midday.

I have to break this news to Mrs M, knowing its going to be my fault that she cannot use the facilities.

I am more concerned about whether I can class this as tick.

It's simply too hot to hang around with no shade, so we press on with the walk.  The return to Cranham is the same terrain, just different woods.  Initially Ms M (yes, we are  walking 3 today) starts complaining about the lack of variety for her Instagram feed but soon cheers up with the wildlife.   A vole running along the road was possibly expected, a large dead lizard was not.

More of this in the Ebbworth Plantations

Much to Mrs M's relief, another 75 minutes walking has us back in Cranham, trying to find the ultra shy Black Horse, which unusually for a village boozer, is hiding up a tiny side street.

Black Horse, Cranham, Stroud Brewery Tom Long

The Black Horse

The first thing that hit us on entry was not the flag stone flooring or ancient fire place but the flies.   Great big black ones, circling the low ceiling bar.

The girls are primarily here for lunch.  Suspicions that this may not pan out well are confirmed when the only other patron is trying to fashion something suitable by combing various starters and side dishes.  There is a menu, the items look delicious but who wants liver. bacon and mashed potatoes when its 29 degrees.   We inquire about sandwiches but are met with a "what you see is what you get?"

Ever the optimist, I try and promote the idea of baked Camembert and chips but Ms M is concerned that if we can see this many flies in the bar, what's the kitchen going to be like?

A superb Stroud Brewery Tom Long is taken outside, whilst we peruse our options.

Only one thing for it, off we head back to Sheepscombe.

The tick is earned honestly and the there was a chalk board full of delicious sandwich options.

The girls are still talking to me.