retiredmartin

July 2025. Blackheath. Rowley Regis.

Monday morning in the Black Country, and Blackheath was looking pleasingly vibrant as I waited for my new GBG pub to open at noon.

I’d noted the surprising presence of a Carluccio’s cafe, a sure sign of gentrification, and the town’s first micro had just changed from Cyder & Cobb to Artisan Micro Bar,

which is progress, I guess.

Elsewhere, the pubs are more what you’d expect,

with the description “lively” doing a lot of work on CAMRA’s wonderful pub guide.

Notably, they all seem open on Monday lunchtime (or breakfast time, for Stafford Paul), and all sell cobs, if not cask.

One of them will even sell you a haircut.

My contribution to the pre-emptive tick list is The Last Jar, open since December and maintaining 11-11 hours all week, so hardly micro.

Modern styling, but bench seating, an all-rounder in the Greater Dudley style.

The young barman was a gem, patiently answering my “Blackheath v Rowley” questions, and seemingly an expert on local pubs and beer.

In 2025 you need Wye Valley on the bar as your stock beer, the Butty Bach a cool, crisp NBSS 3.5.

It won’t replace Ma Pardoe’s in the Old Codgers affections, but you need a range of pubs in a town.

And now, with noon approaching, the big question.

A cheese and onion cob now, or wait an hour and visit one of those Desi pubs in Smethwick ?

Hardly a cliff-hanger, is it ?