May 2023.
Cobs in Cannock, Barms in Brownhills, Sandwiches in Sutton etc etc.
Mrs RM went into crisis mode as late May brought a visit of the in-laws for ten (10) nights and I was tasked (ugh) to sort out the garden. I still have no idea what this device does;
But my efforts seemed successful, and my application for a couple of days off in Worcester was finally approved following an anguished inspection.
A first trip to Worcestershire in far too long,
and a return to Greater Bromsgrove for the first time since Fred Zeppelin were playing social clubs there.
Stoke Heath, actually, and a pub I always assumed I’d visited already, but it turns out to be yet another addition to the Black Country Ales estate.
I could tell you that BCA now own more pubs than Punch and I bet some of you would have to check before contradicting me, so ubiquitous are they in the Midlands. Certainly you can bank on new entries in the Guide with as much certainty as new Spoons or Conservative Clubs.
I have huge admiration for the confidence shown by Black Country in the future of the pub, and their commitment to all-week opening and a huge range of beers.
Well, most of those features, anyway. There wasn’t enough trade on a Wednesday lunchtime to support nine handpumps, and I doubt there’s anything on that bar to attract coach loads of scoopers from Leicester CAMRA on a Thursday evening.
But the Pig on the Wall, my bellwether, was a solid NBSS 3, cool and tasty enough.
And I thought the Welsh landlord was great, promoting his “self-serve” salad bar (with tremendous pickle range) for folk succumbing to the roast beef baps.
“It’s for folk like me who don’t like cucumber” he explained, and I sensed a hatred of cucumber stretching back generations. His views on cauliflowers will be interesting.
I had cucumber just to make a point, not sure what.
It was very good too, even if the pickle stains (Branston) are still on my only jumper a fortnight later.
retiredmartin 
I’m Welsh. I hate cucumber. Obviously a common trait among my people.
Cauliflower is only acceptable with cheese sauce.
LikeLike
Coincidently, when I was at infant school and we had holidays on the Cambrian Coast I thought that ‘cucumber’ was a Welsh word.
I like them and occasionally have one as a snack, not bothering to slice it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve only got one jumper?!
Superb condiments selection.
Teignmouth Wetherspoon the other day appeared to have three tomato ketchup per table, but nothing else except a solitary mayo that the whole pub were fighting over.
LikeLike
“I still have no idea what this device does”
And best kept that way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ignorance is bliss, Dan.
LikeLike
“I still have no idea what this device does”
Wastes electricity ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nine squirty sauces “to support nine handpumps” – that’s the new BCA policy !
LikeLike
Ha ! Yes, a choice of squirty sauces to match the ales !
Just to say, I really like Black Country pubs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Martin, perhaps that mystery gardening contraption is what they use to harvest ingredients for Black Country Ales salad bars? Never particularly sold on cucumbers myself but with such a fine range of sauces and such like I’d probably have been loading up the cob to bursting point. The Hanbury Turn seems much improved for Black Country Ales ownership, even if they do have too many handpulls for the amount of trade, and it makes for a nice stopping off point if doing a loop of Stoke Prior and/or the canals. Cheers, Paul
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not a cucumber fan either, Paul, but I always pile the kebab high with all the salad !
I don’t think I’d been in “old” Hanbury Turn. Looks really nice. In terms of the number of pumps, I think when BCA started (Wellington was the first I remember) the range was OK as it was such a destination pub, almost a Fat Cat for Brum. But the provincial BCAs are never getting Wellington levels of trade.
LikeLike