Just for our US of A readers today, a spurious Dylan/boxing/Worcestershire canal town mash-up.
If Mr Zimmerman lived in Brum he’d no doubt enjoy pensioners days out to Stourport-on-Severn, which looks increasingly like Felixstowe without the sea (and depressed Ipswich Town fans).
A great place for wandering along the canal towpath contemplating how best to murder “Like A Rolling Stone” at Hyde Park in July.
The “Secret” OAP Coach Trip from Dudley always goes to Stourport; there’s a deal with the cafes apparently. Consequently at 11am on a sunny Friday the town is packed with gentlefolk wearing gold chains and insufficient covering. Very jolly.
Some are headed for the cheap shoe shops, other waiting for Froggies to open.
Loads of pubs in Stourport.
Beer is cheap too, and generally pretty good, especially at the Black Star by the canal.
Even £2.75 pints can’t get the lovely Holly Bush back in the Guide yet though.
Instead, our newbie is The Swan. Or Worley’s @ The Swan if you’re a pedant, which many of you are.
Now, here lies a tale. On my visit with Mrs RM a couple of years ago, she sniffed out a new gin bar, which is seemingly adjoined to the Swan. If only I’d let her have that treble G & T I might well have made a pre-emptive tick of that trip.
The Swan is entered via a coffee shop called Mimi’s Bistro, where all residents under the age of 40 are legally required to congregate.
I sneaked into the pub. It was like entering a different dimension.
No-one is about, and I consider “Doing a Duncan” and serving myself, but I don’t know how to put a sparkler on.
Just as I was getting overexcited by the Old School beer line-up, the lady from the Bistro emerged, shopkeeper from Mr Ben like, saying “Sorry, sorry“. Beer drinkers are second-class citizens to cake munchers, you know.
Yes, it’s a night-time music venue, beautifully and expensively decorated with old LPs and pages out of Melody Maker. You could be in 1975, except the soundtrack is pure 1968.
Apparently that’s Kenny Rogers, not Dave Lee Travis.
Matt would be interested in this place. For about ten minutes. I suspect the novelty wears off after a while, particularly in daylight.
All a bit pointless if the beer is rubbish, of course, but a £3 pint of Dizzy Blonde is cool and fruity and just about deserving a GBG place.
Anyway, come here for cocktails and gin, and see how many LPs you can name.
These five are easy.
retiredmartin 
At first I thought this was for the byrds, but I really ended up thinking this was well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Phew.
LikeLike
Bravo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Just for our US of A readers today, a spurious Dylan/boxing/Worcestershire canal town mash-up.”
I was wondering when you were FINALLY going to get around to this…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, very nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another pub that I know! Haven’t been there since 2017 when it looked the same on the outside, but I don’t think we ventured inside on that occasion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good grief it’s certainly changed a lot since I last saw it (when it was a fairly tired run of the mill old coaching inn-type thing).
Some of us might aspire to be retired gentlefolk from Dudley (well, Wolverhampton) one day, although I’d draw the line at wearing gold chains I think – or pashminas for that matter.
Must admit I’m very fond of Stourport, the canals there have provided me with many happy days of photography. Plenty of pubs and the beer is usually decent – Wye Valley have done a great job with the Black Star after it was closed for a good while, and I have a soft spot for the Rising Sun as an old-fashioned Banks’s place where I remember hearing Worcestershire cricket commentaries on the radio. Cheers, Paul
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tounge slightly in cheek with Dudley comment, was in Dudley Spoons when drafting that 😉
Stourport very well pubbed. We liked Bird in Hand last year, live Black Star, presume the Rising Sun is one for future GBG visits 👍
LikeLike
That’s the one I need in Worcs. Nothing to get over excited about on that beer list (I hear you say you only need one beer). True, but none of those tickle my taste buds.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s the best line-up of Boring Brown Bitter I’ve seen all year ! Adequate rather than sparkling beer but the LPs are entertaining.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I consider “Doing a Duncan” and serving myself” –Did Duncan really serve himself in a pub as a means of getting his tick? The man is a legend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure he said that but the concept of plausible deniability applies i.e. It was a member of Team Duncan who entered that Sidcup micro via the dumb waiter and poured a half of Pig & Porter at 9am.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stourport and gold chains are inextricably linked 😉 almost a seaside town for us lot like Barmouth or Weston! Holly Bush still looks better
LikeLiked by 1 person
LAF,
But Stourport’s not a proper seaside town like Matlock Bath.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah good point! More motorbikes in Matlock Bath
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve given you a shout out in my latest post regards your swiftness to the bar!!
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2019/04/15/classic-station-pubs-the-roebuck-inn-burton/
LikeLiked by 1 person
“quicker than Paul Mudge” is the new “bolt of lightning”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it could appear in the Oxford English before too long!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your photos, but in particular the one titled “Not Dark Yet” on the canal towpath.
LikeLike
Coming from you that’s praise indeed, Kevin 🙏
Canals and water are very photogenic.
LikeLike