August 2026. Coventry.
A decent break from pubs between Frome and my next Big Trip Out, which I used dreaming up alternative blog titles to “Sent to Coventry“.
I’ve been struggling with the relentless driving of the last few years (never mind the 30,000 a year of the previous 20), so it’s back to Platform 5 at Sheffield Station with its newly uncovered section of the River Sheaf,
and rather more enticing newly opened Cawa Bakery with chocolate almond croissants.
The start of a very bad day for the RM diet which was otherwise a mild (not M & B Mild) revelation.
No day out, artisanally curated or otherwise, is complete without a rail problem and delays at both Derby and New Street meant a late arrival at Coventry’s shiny new station and tourist centre (top),
ready for the Sky Blues long-awaited return to the promised land against the Premier League giants (well, Hull Tigers) on the 29th.
Yes, welcome to the Premier League of interminable VAR reviews crushing your enjoyment of that winning goal at the Emirates, over analysis of every misplaced pass, and Monday night trips to Bournemouth.
Visiting fans heading to the out-of-town Ricoh Coventry Building Society Stadium may not even get to see the city’s medieval gems,
the latter of which was our intended starting point.
Life After Football takes the credit for coralling us together, but the bloke who’d planned the route on the CAMRA app was late for the start.
So I missed the cathedral and the timber of the Golden Cross, but at least I got a few minutes of cultural exploration in the “pretty street”.
The usual changes of date you get when trying to coordinate half a dozen blokes diaries meant our visit coincided with the now annual closure of its best pub,
but I’m sure the Town Wall Tavern will be back with us soon enough. Luckily, Bass, like good fortune, is just around the corner…
retiredmartin 
A good crawl in my old home town. I think the Windmill ( Ma Browns) is the best pub, and Broomfield smelliest.
Surprised not to see Hops D’amour, just round from the Town Wall Tavern on the list, or was it closed on your visit ??
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I lived in nearby Meriden for 14 years but only visited the Flying Standard for the first time the other week. Yet another Spoonies seeing the no ice request on the app and presuming you want no fruit either. Losing count of how many times this happens.
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Meriden – home to those with a most serious aversion to the sea ?
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I’ve realised that I’m unusual in feeling immediately bored by the sea, due to the lack of pubs, hills and Chinese takeaways in it.
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It is great spot, especially for airport travel, yet without its roaring din.
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“I joined the Navy to see the world.
What did I see?
I saw the sea.”
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There used to be a turf farm in Meriden which also did…unusual B&B, but it was OK for work digs. The nearby Queen’s Head was rather good back in the day though, and I hope that it still is, Lana.
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I like unusual !
There was a turf farm B & B very close to Beamish in Durham that was upmarket and quirky.
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That rings a bell too, Martin…
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I almost bought one of those character filled houses close to the Queens Head but went bigger and modern on the old Triumph Estate in the end. I was in The Bull a couple of months ago. It’s a great village.
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Low Urpeth Farm in Ouston from memory. I booked my mum and dad a weekend there to visit Beamish as well. That part of north Durham has some of the smartest and roughest places in the UK.
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That’s it!
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