Hoppy's Cannock and Midlands pub crawl

[hopwas]

Sorry for overdue report! Anyway here we go..

I set off from Tamworth to Lichfield on 765 bus. Had quick brekkie and strong coffee in The Gate House. Then caught 61 bus to Cannock. I got off at Cannock Bus Station and The Linfield Arms is very easy to find due to limey colour facade..

The Linford Arms (JDW) http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/56969/

Not your usual JDW, more like countryside pub with huge wooden beams everywhere and two floored. Nice conservatory opposite the bar. I had excellent pint of Beowulf's Dragon Stout. I rather liked The Linfield Arms, despite it can be bit claustrophobic and darkish. Looking out the window upstairs and I spot The Royal Oak..

The Royal Oak http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/34346/

The Royal Oak is right oppoiste The Linfield Arms. Nice looking Oak beamed facade and I thought it must be good pub.. How I was so wrong! As I went in, rather loud group waffing away their lagers and sad looking OAPs chatting away. I was disappointed with choice of beers. Only Pedigree to please me so I opted for half instead of pint. Large TV screen (Sky Sports was showing) raised platform on the left hand side. Large beer garden out back. Not my type of pub really. My half was rather bland if not the worst. After browsing Cannock's shops and Stone's caught my eye and decided go there to have a look..

Stone's http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/34348/

Well.. How I can say about Stone's. More trendy pub than normal pub. Large open plan with very comfy leather chairs/sofas. I had pint of Worthingtons and halfway through pint I dropped pint by accident (I elbowed it!) Happily barmaid offered me free half so I accepted! There was loads of chavs and single mothers drinking away. Bit too dark and has bit of youth club feeling about it. Someone on this forum asked me if I can do Mill Farm so I accepted.. After long walk to Mill Farm (almost opposite Cannock's train station)

Mill Farm http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/67305/

Large farm looking pub and its owned by Crown's Carvery. I have to caution you Mill Farm is really for diners than drinkers. I walked up to the bar only to find about 20 people waiting for their orders. Patiently waited for 20 mins before it was my turn. I had half of Greene King's IPA. It was very packed with diners gobbling their dinners. I'll say well over 90% are OAP (must something do with OAP special deals) However Mill Farm is suprisingly airy and sun's light shining very brighly inside (they have large windows all around the rooms)

I walked back to Town Centre and The Fern and Fellows sits opposite Bus Station..

PART TWO COMING UP

[hopwas]

The Fern and Fallow'shttp://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/57638/

Large limey coloured pub (seems they pinched The Linfield Arms facade's colours!) and large single room. I was the only customer in there and I was greeted by rather sad looking dog. They had two real ales on sale. I had rather lovely pint of Usher's Flounders and I didn't drink other ale (I can't remember name of it) Hmmm.. I think this pub have potential to become great pub if they can just bring in more customers. It was absolutely soulless when I visited there. Landlady was doing her crosswords and looked bored. Would visit it again if they can make things right. Stone throw away from The Fern and Fellow is The Roebuck..

The Roebuck Inn http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/34345/

Beer patio on the front, two rooms on either side and I opted for main bar. Like Fern and Fallows I was also the only customer there, I was greeted by rather burly barman/manager (you can pass him for rugby player) Looks like there is millions of rugby scarfs scattered around the room. I was bit suprised to see very rare Twaites dark smooth, The Roebuck being Twaites owned. I had rather pleasing pint of Bomber and fantastic Ray Gray's Pork Crunch (made locally) Health and Safety would have field day because floor in Gent's is lethal! Very slippy even I had rubber soles and I had to grab something so I can relieve myself without falling. I bid burly man goodbye and made my way back to Bus Station. I caught bus to Walsall then disaster struck...

About 20 mins later.. I was desperatly for wee and in spilt decision I got off in nowhere (later I found I got off outskirts of Brownhills) made beeline for small park where I can relieve! After half hour waiting and got back on bus to continue my journey to Walsall.

I got off in Walsall and Arbour Lights look nice and has real ale on so I went in..

Arbour Lights http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38844/

I never intend go there but then they have real ale on so I walked up to the bar. I had half of Everad's Tiger which is poor. Nothing special about Arbour Lights, all they had is wooden stools, wooden floor and some tables. More cafe than pub really. Beware of uneven floors and some even creaking! Really suitable for young drinkers or someone wanted quick pint. I was really looking forward to 100th JDW, The Imperial I took wrong turn and had to backtrack to find The Imperial right front of me.

The Imperial (JDW) http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/55162/ 100th JDW

At last after 15 years I have hit my 100th JDW! Fantastic facade and inside. Huge "single" roomed with bars on the right bottom (you have to walk down the stairs) but they do provide lift for wheelchairs. Massive window on the top where you can catch warmth of sun rays. I had pint of Black Country's Winter Ale (5.5%) and it was superb pint. Great way to reach 100th JDW. It was approaching rush hour and understandably it was very busy with customers trying barge in at the bar.

I caught bus which took me to my birth place Sutton Coldfield..

Part Three coming up

[hopwas]

Part Three..

Bus journey from Walsall to Sutton Coldfield was one of most boring I ever had in my life. Too many turns, stopping and had to contend with rush hour traffic. Finally after 45 mins, I got off right outside The Cup..

The Cup http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/38721/

Like The Royal Oak in Cannock, Oak beamed facade and large single roomed with bar in the middle. I have been coming in here for years purely for football showing on Sky Sports. At time of visit Sky TV was playing up and I was hoping I would catch some sports news. Had half of Boddingtons. Only after 10 mins stay I hopped over to The Duke Inn..

The Duke Inn

Haven't visited The Duke for around 5 years and I was happy to be back albeit change of management and beers. Truly proper pub for proper drinkers. Very tiny in bar room but they do have large second room at the back of the room. There was dart competition going on and even I threw some darts (sadly I lost). Drinkers are very pleasant and easily get in conversation without any problems. I had pint of Deuchars (£3.03) which is not too bad. I wanted to stay for another hour but I have to attend Sutton Coldfield Town Vs Stourport Swifts.

At the end of night.. Sutton drew with Stourport (1-1) and very dodgy stomach next day..

Thats all!

I hope you enjoyed reading

[Conrad]

Thanks for that Hoppy, sounds like a mixed bunch, thanks for taking in the Mill Farm as well.

Sadly only 1 typo that I felt needed teasing:

... I was desperatly for wee and in spilt decision I got off in nowhere ....

A spilt decision sounds like you may have left it too long

[hopwas]

Thanks for that Hoppy, sounds like a mixed bunch, thanks for taking in the Mill Farm as well.

Sadly only 1 typo that I felt needed teasing:

A spilt decision sounds like you may have left it too long

It was the moment where I should try to keep my legs crossed in hope it wont leak (I had another half hour journey to Walsall) or get off in unknown place where I can relieve..

I am very glad I did chose latter..

[arwkrite]

Good reading Hoppy, you must get yourself an inflatable rubber ring to sit on. Modern bus seats are far to hard for over full bladders. Last time I visited the Imperial was to watch "The Dambusters ". It was always known as the fleapit of Walsalls cinemas.

[oldboots]

The curse struck you again in various ways I see, dropped pints, dangerously full bladders, dodgy guts, the excitment of Midlands bus travel and a sea of OAPs.

What possessed you to wait 20 mins for a half of Greene King IPA?

That's dedication that is.

Keep 'em coming Hoppy, I enjoy reading yours almost as much as doing my own.


PS will this move into Pub Crawls at some stage?

[hopwas]

The curse struck you again in various ways I see, dropped pints, dangerously full bladders, dodgy guts, the excitment of Midlands bus travel and a sea of OAPs.

What possessed you to wait 20 mins for a half of Greene King IPA?

That's dedication that is.

Keep 'em coming Hoppy, I enjoy reading yours almost as much as doing my own.


PS will this move into Pub Crawls at some stage?

Thanks OB!

What possessed you to wait 20 mins for a half of Greene King IPA?

Well In order I have ticked off a pub is buy any drinks. Thats why I waited for 20 mins and finally got my half to tick off a pub!

dropped pints, dangerously full bladders, dodgy guts, the excitment of Midlands bus travel and a sea of OAPs

I have done far worse in past like walking straight to pole in Wardwick Tavern in Derby (Massive black eyes), nearly got in fight after I accidently drank wrong pint (lucky after deep apologising, I got off with it!) and drink spilled over landlady's mobile (she was was too angry that she demanded me to buy her new one!)

Now at the moment I got dodgy ankle but that was old injury I substained while I was student.

[Conrad]

PS will this move into Pub Crawls at some stage?

I hadn't even noticed.

I am kind of surprised it isn't as Hoppy suggested the pub crawl forum. I am happy either way, but it would seem sensible it is put there.

Let me know Hoppy.

[arwkrite]

Old Age does not come alone that is why there are quite a number of pensioners about.Having a restricted amount of money they do tend to congregate in places offering exceptional value ....errrm....like JDWs and cheaper carvery outlets. More power to their elbows I say. It will be sooner than you think the time comes to get your pension. That is unless you are a youngster, in which case the Government will probably have done away with pensions and will contract you out to Tesco/ Wallmart/Sainsburys . Here you will perhaps die while packing the bag of a fit and capable customer. Your final pay packet will be docked X amount because you failed to wish the aforesaid customer " Have a nice day". You may even appear next day as a Bargain Buy of The Day in the form of packets of minced meat ideal for cottage pies or perhaps as barbecude ribs.