Black Country - Stourbridge to Wolverhampton

[Andy Ven]

This is my next organised crawl, taking in some great real ale pubs including a handful of brewery taps. Heaps of cheese and onion cobs, bags of pork scratchings and lashings of Black Country ales. Hoorah! :cheers:

http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/crawl/viewcrawl.php?crawl=540

[Delboy20]

Hi Andy

Some great pubs there.

The Duke - Used to visit often in my student days. Not been in since the revamp
New Inn - Another I haven't visited for a few years. Not since Bathams took over
Bulls head - Good pub in a good area for pubs
Fountain - as above
Beacon - ashamed to say I have never been in !!
Park - as above
White Rose - Best in Bilston by a mile
Western - Another I have yet to visit. Don't get to Wolvo often.

Shame you couldn't fit the Bull & Bladder in but I suppose the crawl is spread out as it is !!

Enjoy those scratchings

Del.

[Andy Ven]

Alright Del,

I did the Bull and Bladder as part of another crawl, earlier in the year, between Sedgley and Lye http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/crawl/vi....php?crawl=477.

I try to finish the crawl somewhere it's easy to get home from, hence the Windsor Castle near to Lye train station for that crawl. I did it by bus up to that point, which was OK - Sedgley and Gornal are is easy to get to from Dudley or Wolverhampton on the 558 bus. Then we tried to get between Ma Pardoes and the Bull and Bladder and the bus timetable seemed to go out of the window. That's what led me to try again using Richard's minibus (http://www.theme-tours.co.uk/index_f...thamstours.htm).

I suppose I need to come up with another crawl taking in Halesowen.....

[an_ecumenical_matter]

My trip tomorrow by Leyland National type 1 (ugh)

Saturday 20th November 2010


Pub
Beer
1.
Fox & Grapes, Pensnett
Bathams Mild, Bitter
2.
Rose & Crown, Brierley Hill
Holdens Bitter, Golden Glow, Special; guests
3.
Bull & Bladder, Brierley Hill
Bathams Mild, Bitter
4.
Ma Pardoes, Netherton
Olde Swan Original, Dark Swan, Entire, Bumblehole
5.
Beacon Hotel, Sedgley
Sarah Hughes Mild, Pale Amber, Sedgley Surprise; guests
6.
Great Western, Wolverhampton
Holdens Mild, Bitter, Golden Glow, Special, Bathams Bitter; guest


More people welcome. Pm me and I'll get you in. 1100 start,back 1900ish.

[Oggwyn Trench]

Used to love the Park , but not been for a good 15 years , the Shrubbery Cottage used to be a good real ale pub in Stourbridge , again 15 years since the last visit , must try harder :D

[Andy Ven]

Pensnett? Did they all have their Vote Wagner placards in the windows?

[Andy Ven]

Used to love the Park , but not been for a good 15 years , the Shrubbery Cottage used to be a good real ale pub in Stourbridge , again 15 years since the last visit , must try harder :D

Well if you're free this Friday just drop me a PM and I'll fill you in on the timetable

[gillhalfpint]

I remember the Shrubbery Cottage from about 3 years back when it was in the GBG and I got there just before it opened. Believe it is the one that I waited in the garden for it to open and it looked as though it had been a miniature crazy golf. Outlines of a couple of the runs and holes with pub seating over. Can't remember what I had now.

[Oggwyn Trench]

Well if you're free this Friday just drop me a PM and I'll fill you in on the timetable

Cant make it , off to Chester for the weekend with the Mrs , Xmas shopping and pub exploring

[ROBCamra]

Cant make it , off to Chester for the weekend with the Mrs , Xmas shopping and pub exploring

AND gawping at young mini-skirted girlies in The Falcon? :D

[Andy Ven]

UPDATE

Had a fab time yesterday. Tomorrow I will get around to updating the details of the pubs we visited.

Sad to report that the MILD in the Crooked House was sour (it took a while to get rid of the taste) but fair play to the gaffer who tried it but (surprisingly) wasn't sure, asked his regulars and they confirmed it was off, and then gave us a refund. I was also a bit disappointed that the cheapest sandwich a club sandwich, was £7.95. My attitude before we went was, if the beer is OK (Banks's / Marston's) and the pub is quirky, it would be a good place to stop for one, especially as some of the party had never been there before. It didn't work out that way but I hope it was a one-off.

The positive aspect was, having a minibus on demand meant that we were able to exit early and cut some time off a few other pubs and therefore fit in a detour to Ma Pardoe's. A very good day overall.

[trainman]

UPDATE
Sad to report that the MILD in the Crooked House was sour (it took a while to get rid of the taste) but fair play to the gaffer who tried it but (surprisingly) wasn't sure... asked his regulars

So, where's the 'fair play' in that? He sounds like a moron who knows nowt about beer and was not prepared to accept your verdict on a bad pint!

[Andy Ven]

well he could have not bothered to offer. Anyway........

Crawl went well, reviews have now been added (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/crawl/viewcrawl.php?crawl=540). The good thing about having a minibus on demand was that we could change the plan to suit. Time was getting tight for one of our group who had to get back to Derby so we cut out Bilston and went directly from Sedgley to the Great Western in Wolverhampton.

Ales and Tales advertised that Gareth McDonald (http://blackcountryrealaletrail.co.uk/) is setting up a rival service to Richard's Bostin' Batham's Tours (http://www.theme-tours.co.uk/). All's well for Black Country real ale fans! Anyone wanting to work with Gareth to promote the region (real ale establishments and tourist attractions) can contact him on 07786 478187.