April 2025. Wolverhampton.
Wolves looked great last Thursday. I realise these posts are largely about unrelentingly good pubs, but you could equally spend a day exploring the two nearby National Trust properties, alternating Asian and Caribbean snacks, and taking photos of slightly faded grandeur.
We’d bee joined by the original and best Pub Curmudgeon at the Lych Gate,
and Mudgie mentioned the rather splendid Giffard Arms,
a rock pub rarely featuring on any Wolves pub crawl but worth a look.
As is the Art Gallery, where I headed after an emergency rehydration session in McDonalds (not listed); a half litre of water and a black Americano in 10 minutes is NOT advisable, folks.
Right, to the Warhol exhibit.
The Art Gallery rarely seems busy, despite operating on a donations basis, but I like the fact you can walk through it in 10 minutes,
and see an ever changing collection of modern pieces.
A gem. As is our next exhibit,
one of the most alluring boozers in the country.
retiredmartin 
A black Americano? What other kind is there?
Lych Gate (literally corpse gate, i.e. entry to a church graveyard for coffins and their contents) seems to enjoy an unwarranted antiquarian affection in pub and other names in these parts if you ask me.
That said, there is, or was, a pub near Halifax called “The Tannery” (a place where animal skins were soaked in human or other urine), if you please. (On second thoughts maybe it was bang on…)
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A non-black Americano ?
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Well, the word’s Italian, and was used for a coffee that was neither caffelatte (lartay as it now seems to be called here) or espresso, that is, caffelatte without the latte, or as we once called it, black coffee.
It’s still fun to watch some people order a latte in Italy and get a glass of milk though.
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I often get asked if I want milk in my Americano and I never get tired of saying “no”.
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My wife, on the other hand, likes a dash of milk in her Americano, which is probably why staff (Baristas, as the big coffee chains like to call them), normally ask.
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I’ve started putting a dash of milk in my cafetiere coffee as well, Paul. And yes, in the chains you can get a little pot of milk on the side.
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Paul,
My wife detests coffee but doesn’t mind the occasional cup of tea.
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What does your wife drink, Paul ?
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Usually pop, the full fat version, or fruit juice.
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