ISOTONIC ALDRIDGE

February 2026. Aldridge. Walsall.

What can possibly compete with a wet Sunday in Letchworth ?

Why, a wet Tuesday in Greater Walsall, of course. Where would I rather be than a shopping arcade in Aldridge, ruminating on my culinary options.

Pig & Potato from the Pig & Potato, Sizzlin’ Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken from the Sizzlin’ Crown,

or Spoons.

It speaks of the addictive draw of the Spoons Korean chicken that I choose the Avion, where I’m reminded that Aldridge is another mining town. Someone will tell me that Wokingham had mines next.

The Avion, a name that always makes me start sing Bryan Ferry’s “Avalon” for no good reason, was an Art Deco cinema (hey ! another one !),

and the typical Spoons displays commemorate visits from some of the great crooners of yore.

Yes, Des O’Connor visited, possibly after a Northampton Town fixture at Fellows Park.

A mixed crowd, almost the “cultural melting pot” that Walsall CAMRA used to describe pubs of all races meet to, er, drink.

I’m starting cautiously, with one of those Erdinger non-alcoholic isotonic bottles.

You can actually see the isotonic in the bubble on the top of the bottle.

And you can see the goodness in that bowl of crispy Korean chicken. Mmmm.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

11 thoughts on “ISOTONIC ALDRIDGE”

      1. Sorry, Martin. You’re quite right; I got my evil behemoths confused.

        As for Sharp’s beers, they’re not my favourites but I would happily drink any of them if they were kept decently. It’s a shame they’re closing although I suspect brewing will be transferred to Mordor Central.

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      2. “they’re not my favourites but I would happily drink any of them if they were kept decently.” is my take entirely. In fact I had a pint of Doom Bar in Downham Market tonight, wasn’t great.

        I do wonder if Doom Bar will survive in Burton, so rapid has been its drop in sales post-Covid.

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      3. The use of the term “evil behemoths” should be compulsory for all CAMRA members. It would save all that confusion over which former brewers or former pub companies we are down on this week, and how many there are. To be honest, this is only the seond time I’ve typed “behemoth” – the first time was three lines above – and I’m pretty sure I’ve neither spoken it or said it out loud. We need to get some practice in.

        Can you imagine one of those artificial announcements on buses: “our next stop will Evil Behemoth Street”.

        Or on trains: “Next stop is Evil Behemoth Junction. Change here for the national museum of brewing and finagling. Please retain your tickets and passes.”

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      4. I often hear “our next stop will be Sewage Works” on the 828 homeward bound from Rugeley’s Red Lion and Crown. But it never is, evidently the least popular if request stops.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. “What can possibly compete with a wet Sunday in Letchworth ?”

    Practically anything?

    “Pig & Potato from the Pig & Potato”

    They must certainly know their customers.

    “It speaks of the addictive draw of the Spoons Korean chicken that I choose the Avion”

    They’re cornering the market on everything!

    “The Avion, a name that always makes me start sing Bryan Ferry’s “Avalon” for no good reason,”

    LOL! I started humming the same thing when I saw the first pic of it at the top.

    “and the typical Spoons displays commemorate visits from some of the great crooners of yore.”

    (looks down)
    Val Doonican was real? I thought the Bonzo Dog Band just make that up for their song The Intro and the Outro.

    “I’m starting cautiously, with one of those Erdinger non-alcoholic isotonic bottles.”

    I just looked up ‘isotonic beer’. Part of the description was “Isotonic beer is a type of non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beer that contains a similar concentration of dissolved particles as blood”.
    Blood? Blimey!

    “You can actually see the isotonic in the bubble on the top of the bottle.”

    (looks up)
    I don’t see any blood in it.
    Mind you, it could be microscopic blood. After two urine samples, I visit my doctor on Friday to see if that’s the case with me. (getting old is never dull) 😉

    “And you can see the goodness in that bowl of crispy Korean chicken. Mmmm.”

    I hope it’s calorie-free, in order to pair properly with the alcohol-free beer.

    Cheers

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