- With a population of around 64,000, Stourbridge was originally a Worcestershire town but was nabbed in a smash 'n' grab by the West Midlands in 1974.
- It was a major location for glass making during the industrial revolution.
- Every NME reader had heard of Stourbridge in the 80's thanks to it being home to the Wonder Stuff, Pop Will Eat Itself and Neds Atomic Dustbin.
- It's not on the main train line, but is instead served by the shortest branch line in Europe.
Wikipedia has a list of accidents that have occurred on it, which you can read during the 3-minute journey. Gee, thanks Wikipedia.
Just a few short strides through the underpass from the train and bus station, is the Red House Boutique, which is indeed pleasingly red.
It's also handily open pre-noon for us enthusiastic early-birds.
There were half a dozen blokes in, half of which were on their way to the Villa Wolves match and were discussing in great detail their pre-match routines.
They were all on the lager, so I figured whichever of the six cask ales I picked would likely be the first poured of the day.
Although I was provided with glassware to fit in with the crowd...
Leaving the Red House, I crossed the busy ring road (does everywhere in the West Midlands have a busy ring road?) and made a short stroll to the next pub...
Waggon & Horses (31 Worcester Street, Stourbridge, DY8 1AT)
I'm quite liking the dark green frontage and the very artistic pub signage.
The small bar through the left-hand door had a number of people already in, with a young finely bearded farmer perched at the bar and talking of the current crises facing the industry.
"Seriously, if you've got too many lambs, I'll buy 'em," said the chap next to him, "I've got a lot of lawn to keep short".
From a great selection of ales, I picked a marvelous milk stout brewed by Wilde Child Brewery of Leeds. Instead of sitting slap bang in the middle of the conversation and accidentally agreeing to buy a dozen lambs, I took my beer through to the other front room which turned out to be the cider bar. Branch cider pub of the year. No mixing beer and cider for me, as it almost always curtails the best laid plans.
There seem to be lots of pubs worth visiting in Stourbridge and I realise I missed out on recent beer guide entries and back street Batham's boozers.
Instead, I navigated the side streets to the south of the centre and found my way here...
There seem to be lots of pubs worth visiting in Stourbridge and I realise I missed out on recent beer guide entries and back street Batham's boozers.
Instead, I navigated the side streets to the south of the centre and found my way here...
The sole reason to pick the Garibaldi was a deluded bit of superstition that visiting here would lead to a Nottingham Forest win on the day.
Not that they play in garibaldi red very often - what the heck is that third kit all about?
Not that they play in garibaldi red very often - what the heck is that third kit all about?
Despite being very quiet on a Saturday afternoon, the Garibaldi was a superb street corner local - one of those spacious multi-roomed pubs that are a bit of a rarity these days.
The Garibaldi is Grade II listed as a fine example of a 1930's 'improved pub'. This was an era where licensing authorities pursued a 'fewer and better' policy, closing inner city pubs of ill repute and transferring licenses to suburban premises. These new improved pubs were designed to be spacious, contain family and function rooms and central service areas which, apart from being efficient, allowed for easy monitoring of customer behavior.
The Garibaldi is Grade II listed as a fine example of a 1930's 'improved pub'. This was an era where licensing authorities pursued a 'fewer and better' policy, closing inner city pubs of ill repute and transferring licenses to suburban premises. These new improved pubs were designed to be spacious, contain family and function rooms and central service areas which, apart from being efficient, allowed for easy monitoring of customer behavior.
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| You know it's spacious when there's ample room for table tennis |
The choice of beer wasn't anything to get excited by - Banks's 'Amber' of 'Sunbeam'. But the Amber was eminently drinkable, the bench seating along the wall comfortable, the early afternoon match on the TV above the display of 50th birthday flowers, cards and balloons.
And did the footballing superstition work? Yes, of course it did!
Sorry Blackpool Jane.
Back on the mission of visiting the current Beer Guide entries, I made a five minute walk to Enville Street where a Black Country Ales pub was waiting.
And did the footballing superstition work? Yes, of course it did!
Sorry Blackpool Jane.
Back on the mission of visiting the current Beer Guide entries, I made a five minute walk to Enville Street where a Black Country Ales pub was waiting.
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| The Queens Head - taken over by Black Country Ales in 2018 |
In the Wellington in central Birmingham, the TV screen listing the beers was always a welcome touch thanks to the place being rammed and the chances of being able to see all the pump clips slim.
But I don't quite know why they insist on this being a feature in all their pubs.
Maybe there's often a line of punters along the bar at the Queens Head, making it necessary to peruse the digital beer menu on the screen. But not today.
Just a dozen or so folk in, most sat watching the closing stages of the early Premiership match.
I guess it must be busier in the evenings otherwise they'd never be able to keep the big range of real ales in good condition.
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| Rare 2020's local CAMRA magazine |
But in good condition it was - I went for the Beartown 'Peach Melbear', a bit of a novelty option although it's fruitiness made for a nice refreshing pint. Accompanied by a fine cheese & onion cob - never come to the West Midlands without having a cob in a pub.
A bit of refurbishment in the gents led to an excursion through the back patio and into the skittle alley to use the alternative facilities.
With friendly staff and cheery punters, this is the kind of place that I find myself wanting to stay for more. But if I wanted to make it to the local brewery tap (and still get home in one piece) the sensible thing was to move on.
How about a micro pub? There was a newly opened one conveniently close to the train and bus station...
Dog House Micro Pub (2 Vauxhall Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1EX)
This occupies part of a building that was at one-time the Vauxhall Tavern.
It consists of the one room with a jumble of varied furniture squeezed into it and a bar area to one side. Not the strict Kent-variety micropub drinks range here - there is the opportunity to knock back Fosters, Guinness or Warsteiner before catching your bus here.
On the hand pumps was a Lilley's cider and Bewdley 'Worcestershire Way'.
I suspect I could have walked from Stourbridge centre to the Green Duck brewery quite easily, but I was very happy to hop back on the dinky single carriage service up to the Junction station.
Giving me an excuse to include another picture of the train...
Whatpub had a very dull looking picture - I figured I could do better until I reached the brewery and took exactly the same shot...
Badelynge Bar (Rufford Road, Stourbridge, DY9 7ND - web)
Step inside through that Shakin' Stevens green door though and you instantly forget the plain exterior. The brewery is a good sized beer hall, with wooden floors and gabled ceiling. There were rows of large bench seating with the bar to one side and the brewing kit behind a screen at the far end.
It's a great space and serves up some great beers too. Around six Green Duck beers on cask, if I remember rightly, and a fair few more on draft.
I went with the very drinkable 'Bostin' Mild', followed by a keg 'Proper Porter'.
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| Rare skittle alley appearance on the blog |
On a quest for foolishly strong craft beer, I headed to a recently opened bottle shop and taproom in the heart of town, on the lower High Street.
Haul! Beer (15-16 Lower High Street, Stourbridge, DY8 1TA - web)
Haul! had a shelf of European beers on one side and several fridges of tantalising cans 'n' bottles on the other. In between is a nice colourful bar and five high tables with stools for those wanting to sit in and enjoy the half dozen key keg beers.
It may have happened to be the strongest of the lot, but there was no way I was going to miss the Phantom/Tarturus collab 'Sticky Toffee Pudding Stout', weighing in at 10%.
A five star beer ***** ...an absolute stunner.
Haul! had a shelf of European beers on one side and several fridges of tantalising cans 'n' bottles on the other. In between is a nice colourful bar and five high tables with stools for those wanting to sit in and enjoy the half dozen key keg beers.
It may have happened to be the strongest of the lot, but there was no way I was going to miss the Phantom/Tarturus collab 'Sticky Toffee Pudding Stout', weighing in at 10%.
A five star beer ***** ...an absolute stunner.
How about a micro pub? There was a newly opened one conveniently close to the train and bus station...
This occupies part of a building that was at one-time the Vauxhall Tavern.
It consists of the one room with a jumble of varied furniture squeezed into it and a bar area to one side. Not the strict Kent-variety micropub drinks range here - there is the opportunity to knock back Fosters, Guinness or Warsteiner before catching your bus here.
On the hand pumps was a Lilley's cider and Bewdley 'Worcestershire Way'.
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| Peaky Blinders, you've got a lot to answer for! |
Giving me an excuse to include another picture of the train...
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| Class 139 Parry People Mover - definitely not becoming a transport geek |
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| Not the most photogenic brewery |
Step inside through that Shakin' Stevens green door though and you instantly forget the plain exterior. The brewery is a good sized beer hall, with wooden floors and gabled ceiling. There were rows of large bench seating with the bar to one side and the brewing kit behind a screen at the far end.
I went with the very drinkable 'Bostin' Mild', followed by a keg 'Proper Porter'.
And with that it was time to catch the train and make my way back home.
Crikey, this has become a bit of a mammoth blog post.
Yet there were so many pubs and bars I didn't get the chance to visit around Stourbridge this time.
Maybe that's how the Wonder Stuff came to be drunk a thousand times.
Crikey, this has become a bit of a mammoth blog post.
Yet there were so many pubs and bars I didn't get the chance to visit around Stourbridge this time.
Maybe that's how the Wonder Stuff came to be drunk a thousand times.
Stourbridge is top notch....I've never seen a table tennis table in a pub beforeonly in the Black Country!
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