retiredmartin

August 2025. Kidderminster.

Mrs RM had mentioned “meeting up for coffee in a Persian café” in the Jewellery Quarter,

but a mere 9 minutes (£2.90) connection at Stourbridge would give me a third new GBG tick (in 3 different counties) in 2 hours, and that clearly took precedence over pastries.

I hadn’t set foot in Kidderminster since completing the Guide, and it had rather dropped off my radar in terms of Great Pub Towns, despite being the home of those guys who wear bar towels and leave calling cards.

I couldn’t picture the Chester at all, tucked away in the pleasant suburbia lying just north of the station,

the sort of streets that Kidderminster Harriers right backs live in, I guessed.

There’s nothing much externally to suggest this is a new Guide classic (already local POTY), but it probably is.

Cosy and traditional, casky (?) and crafty, with lovely staff.

A hub for art, live music,

exploration of sauces to accompany your sausage rolls,

and some scary keg.

At 2:15 on a quiet Monday it didn’t feel like the place for an 8.4% DIPA, and it’s unclear if this was a very oddly shaped glass or just me being tipsy.

A tipsy-ness on display as I rounded the corner, saw a young guy with an Attic t-shirt, and shouted “I’ve just drunk your beer“.

Boomers. NEVER attempt conversation with a Gen Z while drunk.