retiredmartin

March 2024. Netherton. Dudley.

A 2 parter. I’d like to tell you it’s because it’s a cliffhanger but in all honesty it’s because I’m soaked and typing this on a phone in a pub in Newport (Salop).

Stafford Paul will know which pub. He’s a Joules expert.

You left me in Wolverhampton, contemplating culture and grey paes and a short hop on the bus to Sedgley to meet the Pauls at 2.

On a whim, I decided, stuff that, let’s do the Old Swan.

1 hour 16 ! Blimey.

It wasn’t too bad, and I got to do reconnaissance on the Britannia from the top deck.

So tempting to get off at Sedgley after 20 minutes and pop in the classic pub there (the Spoons), but I knew if buses ran as scheduled I could make Netherton by 1.30 and offload two books I’d brought them.

Of course, the buses don’t run as scheduled, my No. 18 from Dudley simply not turning up.

I start to walk, forlornly, but then it passes me, a mere 13 minutes late. By a stroke of fortune it’s delayed at the Lamp and I jump on, and 10 minutes later I’m in Netherton

static, wondering what I can tell you about the place.

Er, it’s got a famous pub called the Old Swan, Ma Pardoes if you must,

and this is my return visit after 20 years. I arrived at 13:27; no sign of them, I’ve clearly beaten the Pauls !

Ooh, unmarked handpumps,

a sure sign of a famous pub.

A pint of Entire, £3.30, in hand I nab the table near the bar and wait for the Pauls.

They’ll be impressed.

But where are they ? And the Old Swan is certainly pubby,

filling up with folk enjoying bargain lunches. It’s just not, quite, as sensational as everyone said.

“The OLD part ?”