Ads not shown when logged in
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18

Thread: Hoppy's JDW tour of West Midlands

  1. #1
    Official JDW Tester hopwas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tamworth
    Posts
    1,340

    Default Hoppy's JDW tour of West Midlands

    Hi everybody, I must admit I had mixed day yesterday in Birmingham/Sandwell area. Anyway here I go..

    I got off at Sutton Coldfield to catch 907 that goes to Perry Parr where Birmingham's newest JDW The Arthur Roberston is..

    THE ARTHUR ROBERSTON, PERRY PARR



    After 10 mins travelling, I got off directly opposite The One Stop Shopping Centre and I had to navigate countless traffic lights and subways to get to JDW. I never liked One Stop Shopping Centre because its building is so 1980's but I won't go further. The Arthur Roberston is on Western most corner, next to main entrance to shopping mall. My first impression is it looks bit dodgy and dark but I was very wrong! Massive single room and surprisingly airy. Photographs of Arthur Robertson and Birchfield athletics stadium everywhere, Arthur Roberston was well known athletic and won Gold and Sliver in Olympics. Very pleasant JDW I admit. I would go back. I had half of Okrwell's Celtic Porter which is all right. The Arthur Roberston is very handy for nearby Perry Parr stadium and Perry Parr's railway station which sits opposite.

    Back on bus to City Centre where I caught 14 to Alum Rock, I got off right by The Hornet..

    THE HORNET, ALUM ROCK



    Only JDW of eastern side of Birmingham I never visited so landmark for me. Turned out be big disappointment drinkers are full of OAPS and The Hornet is more like working man club than JDW. Fairly small and very basic furniture. No pictures, sole television to keep drinkers amused. Bizarre Gent toilet layout, which I cant explain! Choice of real ales are poor or its clips turned around. So I opted for safe one, Ruddles cost me mere 50p! I wont be bother go back but at least I ticked this pub. This pub has been on my mind for years and finally I can safely say its gremlins has flicked off my shoulders. Luckily bus stop is right outside and I caught bus back to Brum..

    I caught 258 bus where it will take me to Rowley Regis and dropped off on High Street by massive Sainsbury's and I can see The Britannia in the distance..

    THE BRITANNIA, ROWLEY REGIS



    It looked like huge barn on the outside. So I went in, the heat hits me and I felt like I am in tropical country instead of chilly UK! I was sweating like a pig so I took off my coat and woolly hat plus gloves. After browsing real ale range and I was delighted to see Runningdog's favourite tipple.. Exmoor's BEAST (6.6%). I foolishly ordered pint.. I ended up like I had 10 pints!

    The Britannia is right on Sandwell/Halesowen border. L shaped room with quite large beer garden on the side of pub. I can see it is very friendly place and had no problems apart from bit too warm for me I wanted to stay here all day and enjoy the BEAST. Sadly I had to drag myself out to catch bus to Cradley Heath albeit feeling punch drunk.. I got on 404a bus (thanks to Delboy!) and after 15 mins on bus (if you go on 404a bus, view of massive cremetry on the hill, it is quite awesome to watch)

    I arrived in CRAZY Cradley Heath.. Boy, plenty to talk about this place.

    PART 2 COMING UP..
    J.D Wetherspoon = Home of Hoppy: The Silk Kite, Tamworth.. http://www.tamworthblog.co.uk/2009/0...-blogs-review/

  2. #2
    Official JDW Tester hopwas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tamworth
    Posts
    1,340

    Default Part two

    Well well What I can say about Cradley Heath? Full of weird and crazy people (Sorry Delboy!) I'll explain bit later but for now, I got off (again opposite The Moon Under Water)

    THE MOON UNDER WATER, CRADLEY HEATH



    Pub is on main street between Halesowen and West Bromwich. I felt like I was back in 1990's cos pub still retain old JDW's style.. full of bookcase and dark brown wooden walls around the room. L shaped room and very tiny beer garden in out back. Now I did say weird and crazy people, I should rename the pub as JDW's Ripley believe it or not! One drinker has eye-patch over his eye, another has no eye at all (He has NO eye-patch and I can see the interior where the eye supposed to be) Another one has awful tic which his body shakes like he had a fit. I was stared and some people nudging his elbow to fellow drinkers as I went inside. I felt like I was completely outsider and quietly ordered half of Salponian Gold. As I walked to toilet, old woman was talking and angry with herself!

    I went out and had a sausage roll at Greggs. I waited for bus which will take me to West Bromwich. A woman was standing beside me, suddenly a car braked and shouted at woman. Both exchanged very angry words and almost came to blows. Luckily bystander stepped in and pulled them apart. Woman's final insult was sticking up two fingers at the driver as car speeded away

    Thank god after 20 mins waiting for bus, bus came and took me away to West Bromwich. I got off (seems every JDW has bus right outside!) by The Billiard Hall..

    THE BILLARD HALL, WEST BROMWICH



    This pub has one of the strangest JDW building I ever seen. I was informed that it used to house full of snooker tables hence the name. Only entrance to pub was blocked by full of drinkers puffing away their cigs. I had to politely asked them to move which they did. Now what I can say about Billiard Hall.. rather large single room. Full of chavs, hardened drinkers and drunks. As I sipping my drink, a group of chavs arrived, high fiving and fist slapping each other. I can tell this pub is quite rough to drink in. All fruit machines are guarded by heavy duty metal covering to prevent would be robbers breaking. One thing I NEVER see in JDW is large screen hanging below the celling. I definitely will not going back. Oh I almost forget.. I had half of Titanic's Black Ice which is poor, I guess 80% of drinkers go for Lagers hence real ales are not well used and cost me 79p for half.

    Now by the time I had a problem, I intended go to Walsall but last bus from Walsall to Lichfield is 5.30pm and it was 4.45pm by the time I finished my half. I decided to leave Walsall for another time and went back to Sutton Coldfield then caught 110 bus to Tamworth where I had pints in The Bolebridge, my home JDW The Silk Kite and finally my local The Fox.

    Next time I shall be touring Black Country JDWs plus new JDW in Northfield (South East of Brum) which will be opening this Friday.

    Phew! Hope you enjoyed reading this.

    Hoppy
    J.D Wetherspoon = Home of Hoppy: The Silk Kite, Tamworth.. http://www.tamworthblog.co.uk/2009/0...-blogs-review/

  3. #3
    I'll stay on me own runningdog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    East Dorset
    Posts
    463

    Default

    Well, Hoppy, I was going to say several somethings, but I'm a bit overawed. Glad you enjoyed the Beast, it seems as if, as it should be, it was the highlight..........Mr Martin's world is not, it seems for rthe faint-hearted...Bring on the the Beast, or the Lancer's, or the HSB...I'm past caring..........
    Pubs are a hobby, real ale is a passion. Oh, and like me dogs, fear no evil..........

  4. #4
    Real Ale Drinker
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    lost on a golf course
    Posts
    139

    Default

    You mastered the beast it seems,very enjoyable read well done for getting home safely,look forward to your next outing.

  5. #5
    This Space For Hire arwkrite's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    North Herefordshire
    Posts
    1,013

    Default

    Well done Hoppy .A...er....interesting description of the denizens of Cradely Heath and their watering holes. Some people are to frightened to get off the bus there. This area is one of the most depressed in the UK and it would not be my choice for a pub crawl. So take a medal Hoppy, the colour of your choice there, for services to pub reporting , starring down one eyed men and supreme bladder control on public transport.

  6. #6
    We're not really 'ere! trainman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    down 'ere, from oop there
    Posts
    2,246

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hopwas View Post
    Exmoor's BEAST (6.6%). I foolishly ordered pint.. I ended up like I had 10 pints!
    Quote Originally Posted by Tilly-Miss View Post
    You mastered the beast it seems,

    Erm, it sounds t'other way round to me T-M, Hoppy was tamed by the Beast!

  7. #7
    Official JDW Tester hopwas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tamworth
    Posts
    1,340

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by arwkrite View Post
    Well done Hoppy .A...er....interesting description of the denizens of Cradely Heath and their watering holes. Some people are to frightened to get off the bus there. This area is one of the most depressed in the UK and it would not be my choice for a pub crawl. So take a medal Hoppy, the colour of your choice there, for services to pub reporting , starring down one eyed men and supreme bladder control on public transport.
    Thanks Sir!

    It was my first ever visit to Cradley Heath despite I was born in Birmingham 31 years ago! I can safely say it is not for faint hearted for people who planning go on pub crawl in Cradley Heath.

    Oh that bladder control? Simple trick.. always go to toilet JUST before you catch bus. Always works!

    Hoppy
    J.D Wetherspoon = Home of Hoppy: The Silk Kite, Tamworth.. http://www.tamworthblog.co.uk/2009/0...-blogs-review/

  8. #8
    Official JDW Tester hopwas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tamworth
    Posts
    1,340

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by trainman View Post
    Erm, it sounds t'other way round to me T-M, Hoppy was tamed by the Beast!
    I must practise taming the BEAST before I can say I have mastered it..

    Runningdog, care to teach me...
    J.D Wetherspoon = Home of Hoppy: The Silk Kite, Tamworth.. http://www.tamworthblog.co.uk/2009/0...-blogs-review/

  9. #9
    I Keep Mine Hidden Delboy20's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Black Country
    Posts
    1,307

    Default

    Now hang on a minute, I am not taking this ! I am a "denizen of Cradley Heath" and we don't all have eye patches. I have lived in the area all my life and live 5 mins from the Moon at the moment.
    Yes there are a few "characters" in the town but no more than any where else. In fact you probably visited on a quiet day by the sound of it !!
    Perhaps I should make some " I drank in Cradley Heath and survived ! " badges. Could be a winner !!

    Cheers,

    Delboy.

  10. #10
    Official JDW Tester hopwas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Tamworth
    Posts
    1,340

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Delboy20 View Post
    Now hang on a minute, I am not taking this ! I am a "denizen of Cradley Heath" and we don't all have eye patches. I have lived in the area all my life and live 5 mins from the Moon at the moment.
    Yes there are a few "characters" in the town but no more than any where else. In fact you probably visited on a quiet day by the sound of it !!
    Perhaps I should make some " I drank in Cradley Heath and survived ! " badges. Could be a winner !!

    Cheers,

    Delboy.
    Lol! Did I visit Cradley on "quiet day"? Boy, it was really bizarre! Your people is really crazy especially that woman and the driver nearly came to blows by bus stop near JDW!

    Can I have badge saying "I went to Cradley Heath and I survived!"

    On serious note.. I may PM you regarding route from Northfield via Stourbridge to Walsall so I'll need your help

    Thanks!

    Hoppy
    J.D Wetherspoon = Home of Hoppy: The Silk Kite, Tamworth.. http://www.tamworthblog.co.uk/2009/0...-blogs-review/

Similar Threads

  1. Hoppy's Pub Crawl plan for 9th Feb
    By hopwas in forum Pub Crawls
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 10-02-2010, 09:59
  2. Fox & Hounds, West Kensington
    By rpadam in forum That Doesn't Go There!
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-02-2010, 10:44
  3. Hoppy's Announcement
    By hopwas in forum Chit Chat
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 25-01-2010, 11:56
  4. The History Boys on Tour
    By oldboots in forum Pub Crawls
    Replies: 32
    Last Post: 30-11-2009, 16:05
  5. Replies: 9
    Last Post: 24-09-2008, 03:52

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •