August 2026. Coventry.
Right, let’s leave inner Coventry and head to the underpass,
follow those scooters.
Spon End is the heart of the light manufacturing quarter west of town, watchmaking mainly, a place few tourists tread.
Of course, most tourists tick the cathedral(s) and the music museum that Lana just found, while all I had today was Kev’s Chop Shop,
and Kung Fu weapons.
The area looked unchanged since a morning pub crawl I did in 1996 while Mrs RM was turning computers on and off at the University.
30 years ago, the Hearsall Tavern is lovably unchanged.
Irish scarves, horse racing,
the hits of 1979,
(the year of Two Tone). Someone made a Ghost Town reference here, because it’s the law.
It’s 3pm and there’s a general sense of community and crackling conversation, and we realise how great it is when pubs don’t bother spending £375k on a pointless refurbishment so they can get CAMRA members to stand outside the pub holding a glass and going “Cheers !“.
A procession of Bass that afternoon,
all of it the decent side of GOOD,
but some of our half dozen were wilting by now.
Not me, though.
retiredmartin 
Extreme heat and not being as young as I was caused me to skip the newish micropub but that gave me longer than most of you with my Bass in this welcoming proper pub.
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Despite picture evidence to the contrary, Paul’s spicy pork scratchings were actually very tasty….
I will try and shoehorn a Sham 69 reference into my blot title too….
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Are you anonymous on this blog Paul due to your agent’s fees? Asking for a friend!
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LAF, I think anonymity is due to a new computer after three weeks without one.
it’s a nice change after always having to add my name to any Letter to an Editor.
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I always add your name to the post when I get to the computer, Paul. You’re easy to identify because you write so well !
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LAF, They were actually pork crunch ( better known as “the puffy ones” ) as I’ve broken two teeth on scratchings in the past several years – not surprising really as my dentist says teeth were only meant to last for sixty years. They’re made in Rugeley and I most often have them in Penkridge’s Cross Keys. 80 grammes ( nearly three ounces ) is a proper bagful.
Martin,. I might have a go at commenting other than in my usual style.
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