18th January 2023. I’d always targeted one new Beer Guide entry in Birmingham and a second, irritating one in Tamworth. But I also wanted a bit of Brummie culture in the Museum and Art Gallery (having narrowly missed the exhibition on the city’s musical heritage, Dexy’s. Stephen “Tin Tin” Duffy et al.; SHUT ! Re-opening… Continue reading NEW SPOONS ON WEDNESDAY
Tag: West Midlands
HIT THE NORTH (BRUM REMIX)
18th January 2023. Last week’s day trip to Birmingham was a perfect example of the traumas afflicting the Beer Guide completist. I’d been in Brum half an hour and ticked the only GBG newbie that was actually open (the Digbeth tap room being shut till this weekend). A year ago, if I’d been focused on… Continue reading HIT THE NORTH (BRUM REMIX)
FINALLY FINDING THE EXIT AT NEW STREET STATION
18th January 2023. Nothing that exciting to report so far in January, certainly nothing to compare with Duncan, who’s just back from ticking Athens, or BRAPA, who’s just been to the Blind Monkey. Look ! Here’s his hand ! But a day in Birmingham had been eagerly anticipated, at least until I realised that the… Continue reading FINALLY FINDING THE EXIT AT NEW STREET STATION
TOP 10 COUNTIES – No.7 – WEST MIDLANDS
Getting exciting now, isn’t it ? Where will Norfolk feature ? Or Fife ? Or Cambs ? You probably guessed West Midlands would be there, on account of Wolves alone. It’s the best place to live in the UK, after all. Besides being the best place to drink Banks’s, and the home of cheap, delicious… Continue reading TOP 10 COUNTIES – No.7 – WEST MIDLANDS
A TOBY CARVERY IN DUDLEY
Next up, a few days in Dudley with Mrs RM, making an overdue return to this blog. Hang on, I’ve only just got back from finishing Dudley and the West Midlands. Poor planning, Mrs RM. Anyway, no new GBG pubs, so I have to content myself with a few painful train journeys and some very… Continue reading A TOBY CARVERY IN DUDLEY
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
A great night came to an unexpectedly brilliant end at the Chapel House in Lower Gornal. I’ve marked the Beacon Hotel for you below as well, to help you get your bostin’ bearings. When I started GBG pubbing, the Gornals were one of the “must visits” areas in the UK. Eight Guide pubs, including the… Continue reading THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
THE ROAD TO LOWER GORNAL
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed I didn’t score the Batham’s in the wonderful Vine. Don’t read anything into that; it was Good (NBSS 3+), fully deserving of its GBG place. It’s just the beer next door was even better. I doubt you’ll be following me to the Black Horse though. A friendly, modernised, opened-out fun… Continue reading THE ROAD TO LOWER GORNAL
BULL & BLADDERED
There. Got your attention now. An official “Classic Pub” that no-one will argue with. The walk there from Dudley town centre won’t feature on many “classic walks” though. It’s easy to romanticise the Black Country, but the A4036 is not a road for the romantic. A succession of industrial estates and power tool outlets, it’s… Continue reading BULL & BLADDERED
SPLASHING THE CASH IN DUDLEY
You’ll like the next few posts. Unless of course you live in Maidenhead and dream of a new Brunning & Price opening. I was coming to the end of my West Midlands adventure for GBG19, and splashed out on a boutique hotel in Delightful Dudley (my term, not theirs). Grand staircases, decor evocative of a… Continue reading SPLASHING THE CASH IN DUDLEY
HOP TWISTERS IN HALESOWEN
More short posts you can read over your teatime pint. I feel like I’ve done Halesowen to death, so I can’t be bothered to give you another cultural analysis of the “Jewel on the A456“. The big question, of course, is this; “Is Halesowen in the Black Country ?” The pubs certainly have that… Continue reading HOP TWISTERS IN HALESOWEN
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