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Post by amberaleman on May 5, 2008 21:39:46 GMT
Since my brother and his family moved to Wolverhampton five years ago, I've been using my annual fraternal visits to build up an acquaintance with the Black Country's fabulous pubs. This weekend, after watching Wolves just miss out on the play-offs with a workmanlike 1-0 win over Plymouth (my first visit to Molineux), I caught the 79 bus to deepest Darlaston. I started my crawl at the Prince of Wales, a Holden's pub where (in typical Holden's fashion) one of the bars was just like somebody's front room. From there it was a brisk walk to the Falcon at Willenhall, a good community pub which belied its rather grim 1960s exterior, and offered an impressive range of ales. I then headed further north (passing close to Willenhall Town's ground), finishing with a trio of pubs in Wednesfield. The Vine, on CAMRA's National Inventory of historic interiors, can hardly have changed since it was opened in the 1930s. All the customers were in the left-hand bar, most picking over the bones of Wolves' season - apart from a solitary Walsall fan who seemed to nurse something of a tinpot inferiority complex. The beer range here has improved since acquisition by the Black Country brewery of Lower Gornal. After more Holden's and some food in the Royal Tiger, a pleasant Wetherspoons with a garden overlooking the canal, I ended my crawl at the Pyle thingy, another excellent community local with three rooms, making good use of the extended range of Marston's beers. Hmm, next time I may try to get down to Lower Gornal.  |
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Croc
Stale bacon bap
On the Northside for a while, Insanity Bohemians Style
Posts: 189
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Post by Croc on May 5, 2008 22:51:35 GMT
if you do head to Gornal - check out Garden Walk - which is Gornal Town's ground.
Reminiscent of an old Soviet Bowl stadium
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Post by coops on May 7, 2008 18:15:15 GMT
Do you want some more recommendations on the 79 bus route, this bus goes right past my house!
For starters:
The Olde White Rose in Bilston, always ten real ales on tap. Just around the corner is The Trumpet, a lovely Holdens boozer with live jazz most nights.
Drop off at Wednesbury for The Old Blue Ball, multi-roomed old place with a sun-trap of a beer garden.
Carry on to Carters Green and another Holdens pub The Wheatsheaf, went downhill a while back but a new landlord and a decent cellarman and it's back, lovely chicken tikka baguettes too.
Fancy a curry and a pint, just around the corner from The Wheatsheaf is The Old Crown, always seems to have a Burton Bridge on when I go in.
Let's face, I'm spoiled living around here.
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Post by amberaleman on May 8, 2008 11:20:37 GMT
I've been to all those pubs on previous visits to the West Midlands! I agree, Coops, that they're cracking boozers. (I particularly remember a bunch of us getting faggots and peas all round in the Old White Rose at about 9 pm on a Sunday, when we'd just about given up hope of finding any pub still serving food.  |
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Post by Sultan of Cannock- SRFC on May 9, 2008 14:57:20 GMT
Small world Mr Aleman. I'm originally a Wedgefeld mon though i'm mixed race. My Mom is Wednesfield but Dad hailed from over the border in 'umpshire (Willenhall) where the menfolk alledgedly don't have navels.
It was hard to decide what i was. Living equidistant from the grounds it was walk to Noose Lane ( Willenhall Town) one week and Amos Lane ( Wednesfield Social - the club seemed to lose some appeal for me when they dropped the 'Social' ) the next when not going to Stafford Rangers or taking advantage of 40p for 1st division footy at the Mol a 3p bus ride away (though never, ever a doghead)
The Royal Tiger wasn't a Weatherspoons last time i was there. Most of the BASF crowd used to go accross the road to the Dog ( & Partridge) at lunchtimes. I was last in the Pyle thingy on friday July 10th 1987 for my wedding reception. Happy days!
i remember the Vine because my Dad used to give old Bud from next door a lift there back in the 60's. Last time i looked in there most of the punters seemed to date from the 1930's too.
The Cross Guns was my sister's local when she used to run the old folks home just around the corner from there. This was is etched on my memory, too, because we ended up in there for a drink back in April 95 after Dad's cremation.
Walk out of the Royal Tiger, turn right (towards Wolvo) then right again,. walk up the canal bridge (passing to the right of St Thomas' church) you will come to a quaint little pub called The Boat, where there is barely room inside to swing a cat. Head left down the bridge and cut through past the library and there is another pub, name escapes me, where the BASF crowd used to go at 6PM when we were on afternoons.
Carry on walking towards Wolvo and you'll hit a chipshop called the Rookery Nook that does our favourite kebab meat and chips in a tray with salad. I still go in there every now and again on the way home after visiting Mom who still lives in Wednesfield.
By the way, the huge f***-off Gurdwara on the corner was once the tiny Methodist Chapel where i was christened.
I've not pubbed it in Wednesfield since BASF shut down in 97. Remembering the years in old Wednesfield and seeing it now brings to mind lyrics from an old ELO song....
As I wander around this wreck of a town
Where no-one ever speaks aloud
With it's ivory towers and it's plastic flowers
I wish i was back in 1981 (well, 1974 in my case)
Just to see your face instead of this place
Now i know what you mean to me
And i wonder (yes i wonder, yes i wonder)
Is this the way life's meant to be?
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Post by amberaleman on May 9, 2008 21:31:44 GMT
An old university chum of mine, Tony O'Brien, hailed from Wednesfield (though when asked he always said he came from Woolvrampton).
Sadly he died in 1994, and it was only last weekend that I finally got to visit his home town. I thought it had something of a village feel - but as it's right on the edge of the Black Country conurbation, adjacent to rural Staffordshire, that's not really surprising.
I certainly hope to get to The Vine again before my time runs out.
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Post by coops on May 10, 2008 9:02:47 GMT
Talking of Wednesfield, I'm off to watch them later in the West Midlands Premier League Cup Final against Dudley Sports at Tividale.
This of course gives me the chance to drop off at another grand Black Country boozer, The Port 'n' Ale in Great Bridge, recently taken over and refurbished by the bloke who owns The Olde White Rose, so the beer is quality of course.
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Post by Sultan of Cannock- SRFC on May 10, 2008 21:27:06 GMT
An old university chum of mine, Tony O'Brien, hailed from Wednesfield (though when asked he always said he came from Woolvrampton). Sadly he died in 1994, and it was only last weekend that I finally got to visit his home town. I thought it had something of a village feel - but as it's right on the edge of the Black Country conurbation, adjacent to rural Staffordshire, that's not really surprising. Totally uncanny, Mr Aleman.  I went through my entire school career in Tony O'Brien's class, from Moathouse Primary through to the sixth form at Wednesfield High School before he left for Exeter uni. For nearly the first three years at high school he was actually my best friend until we had a falling out (ironically considering the way things turned out) over girls. The first time we'd chatted up a girl when walking home together. She chose him and it was sour grapes on my part. Later i broke up with a girl after throwing a childish tantrum. I regretted it and wanted to get back back together but i was too late- she was with him and I went absolutely ape. Happy days! We didn't stay fallen out for long but were never as close again, though he was always in the small circle of people that i could trust and depend on when things got rough for me in 6th form. All in all he was a top bloke, very clever, witty and until meeting Mrs Sultan i didn't come across a more intellectually stimulating yet fun at the same time person to be with. He was always thereabouts when the rankings came out at the end of each term. The closest i got to him was to finish ranked at No.4 in the entire school- only to find Tony was 3rd! We fell out of touch as Tony moved to London after uni. I didn't learn of his demise until after everything was done and dusted so unfortunately didn't get to say goodbye. Whenever i hear Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks it always makes me think of Tony O'Brien and the less unpleasant aspects of my time at Wednesfield High School. [ BTW, older residents (past and present) refer to Wednesfield town centre as " the village" as opposed to Wolvo (the town).
In fact we were independent of Wolverhampton before they started annexing the outlying districts in their quest for city status, even going from being in the Staffordshire South constituency in 1970 to Wolverhampton North West. Apparently they get to call themselves a 'city' these days. Soddem! They're still the town. Bloody dogheads! ] |
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Post by amberaleman on May 12, 2008 21:32:06 GMT
Well, Sultan, the www certainly has a knack of making the world seem a smaller place!
Tony and I were placed in the same hall of residence when we went to Exeter University in 1978. A small 'gang' of us formed there, kept together as a group throughout the remainder of our student days, and stayed in touch afterwards. By coincidence, most of us got jobs in London during 1983-4 and settled in the capital. For many years I shared a flat with another of our group, Simon, who'd read history at Exeter with Tony.
There is one (rather tenuous) connection with another prominent member of this forum. Whilst at Exeter, Tony went out with a woman called Helen who came from Balham in SW London. They split up at the end of the final year, but Tony retained some affection for the place and ended up living in Balham, spending his final years there. Helen now lives just down the road in Tooting Bec. Unfortunately she's suffered mental health problems and is an occasional patient at the nearby Springfield Hospital - where AmberSal now works.
Tony and I certainly had our differences at times, but he was a true friend. Although we drifted apart a bit towards the end, I was privileged enough to be at his funeral.
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Post by Sultan of Cannock- SRFC on May 14, 2008 15:50:49 GMT
Ah! So you and Sal are practically family then!
I'll never forget some of the arguments I had with Tony O'Brien. 1975 and the run up to the referendumon the Common Market, him in the "YES" camp and me in the "NO". Went on for months.....
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Post by ambersalamander on May 14, 2008 19:44:31 GMT
This is most bizarre!  |
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Post by oldboyblue on May 22, 2008 16:52:35 GMT
try the blackcountry museum, educational and a pub as well
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Post by coops on May 23, 2008 8:04:12 GMT
try the blackcountry museum, educational and a pub as well The Cork and Bottle. Going there on Sunday, I'll be stopping off at The Beacon in Sedgley as well, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild <drool> |
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Post by ojiveojive on May 26, 2008 12:11:55 GMT
Er... The Bottle and Glass.
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Post by peekay on May 26, 2008 14:39:15 GMT
try the blackcountry museum, educational and a pub as well The Cork and Bottle. Going there on Sunday, I'll be stopping off at The Beacon in Sedgley as well, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild <drool> Had a pint of this on Saturday. Very nice it was too. ;D |
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I went through my entire school career in Tony O'Brien's class, from Moathouse Primary through to the sixth form at Wednesfield High School before he left for Exeter uni.
