August 2026. Coventry.
When I suggested a route for the Cov Crawl a month ago I’d used the Beer Guide as my starting point, but skipped the newish micropub in favour of an extra trad pub out west.
Will gently chided me for this omission, and 3 years ago I’d noted of Hops D’Amour the cheery drinkers, lovely staff and quality beer. What was I thinking of ?
Possibly just nervous about being led astray on strong imperial stouts. So I had the non-alcholic fruited IPA (can’t believe Stafford Paul skipped this one) and cursed my judgement (again) as the rest of our group approved of the cask.
But….despite the beer, and staff, and Coventry memorabilia being as good as ever, that’s not what made Hops D’Amour such a great experience.
Just to my right on the benches an Old Boy was quietly sipping a pint of murk, so I asked him what it was. 20 minutes later I knew more about 91 year old Jim than I do about myself on a good day.
A joy to chat to, Jim had moved to Coventry from Dublin in the 50s, lived with his wife round the corner, and came to the pub every day for a pint and a half. He knew about the Fairfax Club, and every other pub in the city, and was getting on with life, planning a trip to Thornbridge brewery.
When you meet folk like Jim you’re a bit in awe of their life well lived, and glad pubs play the social role they do, and just the tiniest bit sad my own 91 year old dad doesn’t get out anymore.
But no time for reflection, it’s time to hit the underpass.
It’s more edgy than it looks.
retiredmartin 
Thanks for sharing about Jim, Martin. It was good of you to spend time with him – too many of us, myself included, find it easier to look away from the old and/or lonely.
And it does indeed show that pubs, along with other public spaces, can be forces for social good.
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Very well put.
Jim had loads of company, it was fascinating to see an older regular using a craft bar.
It was good of Jim to give me his time, a really fascinating man, and a reminder of what pubs are all about.
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Jim must be a candidate for pub man of the year?
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Obviously we have loads of conversations with people of all sorts in pubs, it’s what they’re for, and a fair few octagenarians too. But Jim was so forward looking and interested it made being 91 seem quite appealing (once they get Bass back in the Town Hall).
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( can’t believe Stafford Paul skipped this one )
It was a VERY hot day.
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I don’t blame you at all Paul. Picking up on Kentish Paul’s comments on Frome, I think less may be more in future (acknowledging that Will has a job to do for Pubs Galore).
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I try to avoid “edgy” these days, but some people keep telling me that’s what I am. I think that they must mean something other than what you do, Martin? Whatever, that underpass looks plenty “edgy” enough as it is.
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Better than “eggy”.
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That’s the worst of the ‘sixties and ‘seventies Etu, pedestrians driven underground as motorists were all that mattered – in Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and countless other towns and cities.
But there’s invariably good people about – a women asking me if I was alright as I looked at my map approaching that underpass, likewise a man as I was unsure of my bearings after alighting the number 18 bus at the Bishops Bridge Road Little Venice stop five days earlier.
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I’m glad to hear that, Paul. People are invariably nice, though I wouldn’t linger long in the underpasses of Maidenhead as you may be offered more than “assistance”.
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Yes Martin, I often remind my wife that there’s more good people out there than bad.
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1/ Jim was terrific
2/ I hadn’t noticed that Sheffield Hatter was wearing shorts until this photo!
3/ The stout was terrific
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Same here regarding Will. I don’t approve of shorts on men over 18.
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