retiredmartin

August 2025. Long Lawford nr Rugby.

Mrs RM decided that she wanted an immediate return to finalise blog material  on Birmingham, a city (like Chisinau) that has obviously never been blogged on before.

I reckoned I could finish a few GBG chapters as well, starting off with a rare trip just west of Rugby.

Long Lawford is home to CEMEX, the giant works that used to send bags of cement to my Dad’s nursery for purposes unknown, and it’s probably too late to find out now.

The population has almost doubled of late (2,000 to 4,000), just as the number of pubs halves.

But the survivor, the Lawford Arms, is apparently the first pub bought by the Black Country Ales founder, which makes it a bit of a surprise that it’s only just debuted in the Guide.

Apart from the trademark floral display, you might not recognise the BCA heritage. As the last pub in the village it gets the “all human life is here” tick,

a chap in the corner where Mrs RM heads now saying a giant “HELLO !” to all, and “Hello Sailor” to one.

Just the two pumps and a cider and a “Coming Soon”, which you’d assume I approve of but the lack of the Pig is alarming.

Startling value for a pint, a soft drink and a bag of those non-artisanal poppadoms with gooey dip.

Probably cobs here, it’s the law, no but in the car park a mysteriously titled “Burger Van” was selling chips at what the full-time greeter clearly considered ambitious prices.

This is a vibrant place, skittles league, live music,

quizzes about cement, outings to Daventry…

I loved it, Haircut 100/Bruce Hornsby soundtrack and all, though the Jubilee IPA (3) could have done with a tad more turnover.

But then, it is a Black Country pub.