Birmingham Pubs - spoilt for choice!

When we arrived in Birmingham, by coincidence, it was the time of the Birmingham Beer Festival 2012, where there would be "over 220 real ales and over 60 real ciders/perries available".  Surprisingly - we didn't go!  We thought it a bit rude to drag my mum round a beer festival when she came to visit for a few days, and armed with the 'CAMRA Gude to 105 Real Ale Pubs In Birmingham', we thought we'd have more than enough beer and pubs to choose from.

We had only intended to stay in Birmingham for a couple of days, but as Nemo cat had the Fiddle & Bone derelict yard to roam around, we decided to hang around for a few more days, and meet up again with Frank & Gill (NB Fragil) who were on their way, who would also be hanging around Brum, waiting for the BNC Society Bonfire Night at Galton Bridge.  Poor Nemo, there were too many people and bikes zooming past & he didn't like it one bit.  Just as things would quieten down, you'd get a trip boat full of squeeling women going past, blowing their hooters as they passed (blow out plastic & paper ones, not the hooters on their faces).  Hard luck Nemo, so many pubs, but not enough time (or money!)

Dave was pleased to be back at The Wellington - please click here to view the bar if nothing else!
So many real ales to choose from, as you will see from clicking the link above.  This is the pub which doesn't serve food, but you are welcome to bring your own, and they privide plates, cutlery & condiments.  Just great.  We stumbled upon a new pub (to us) The Post Office Vaults, - a small doorway next to Greggs just a few yards from the Town Hall and 'the Bronze Man'.  Wow - a little hidden gem, concentrating on real ciders & perries, with real ale of course.  On our second visit, lo and behold - there's the landlord from the Wellington behind the bar!  Turns out, he's opened another pub on the same lines as the Wellington, but more ciders here than at the Welly.  Frank & Gill were impressed - Gill's partial to a nice cider, and so am I - there were even Welsh ciders on offer!  I felt like a 'proper' CAMRA member - drinking halves instead of pints!  Oooooo so much too choose from, I feel a drying out week coming on.

Post Office Vaults Pub - with the list of ciders available on the blackboard.

Another pub I should give a mention to is The Prince of Wales, not far from the canal, behind The Malthouse, which has been reopened, and refurbished.  Very nice - and clean (which is important to us ladies when visiting the facilities).  We were sitting at a table having a pint of fine ale - as you do - when I looked up at the picture on the wall - it was a photograph of Chirk Aqueduct & Viaduct. 

 

As we were leaving Brum, they were busy getting Chamberlain Square area ready for Christmas, with the siting of loads of Christmas trees.  The German Market is starting on 15th Novermber.

 

Oh, one thing I haven't mentioned is goat - yes goat.  We visited the Birmingham meat market a couple of times, and bought some goat, which makes excellent curry.  They sell every bit of meat you could think of, and some you wouldn't have dreamt of!  Which gives me an excuse to post the next photograph.....

 

 

At the end of the week, we didn't get anywhere near visiting the 105 real ale pubs, which is just as well really, thinking ouf our livers.

 

This photo is for Hazel.....

Pan Pipe Man!!!!  Alive and well and performing 'round the market area.  Toodle ooo.

 

Oops - didn't post this blog!

I had written this blog when we arrived in Birmingham, but didn't post it for some reason.  It's of our journey along the BCN from Merry Hill and into Birmingham City Centre.   Bit late now - but here it is anyway.....

We left NB Fragil (Frank & Gill) at Merry Hill, and hoped that Generator Man wouldn't be quite so horrible with them as he was with us.  We had eaten in Weatherspoons the night before - armed with our 50p off a pint CAMRA vouchers.  Steak AND a pint for £6.50.  Bargain. 

We retraced our steps through Blowers Green, where we had attended the Park Head Rally a few weeks before.  It was a bit quieter now!

 

 This sign is on the Blowers Green Pump House - a sign of the times!

 

These lovely signs, telling the history of this part of the canals are all along the Dudley No2 canal, and thankfully haven't been vandalised.

 

Up the locks at Park Head to one end of the Dudley Tunnel, no longer open for boat traffic, other than trips operating from the other end of the tunnel by the Dudley Canal Trust near the Black Country Museum.

I didn't expect to see that!  Goats on the side of the canal between Park Head & Netherton.

 

Into the black hole that is Netherton Tunnel

2768m doesn't mean anything to me - but put it in old money and its 1.7 miles long.

Light at the end of the tunnel

 

Dave checking the time - yes, it took 40 minutes to get through.

Just as you exit Netherton tunnel, the Tividale Aqueduct carries the Wolverhampton Level canal

 

Right turn - onto the Birmingham Main Line

Bromford Junction, with Spon Lane Locks to the left, taking you back up to the (old) Wolverhampton Level

We've got all types of transport here - we're on the Birmingham Main Line, with the Stewart Aqueduct in front carrying the Wolverhampton Level canal, the railway line is on the right, with the M5 spanning the whole lot.

There was another boat passing overhead, we could just about make out some arms frantically waving at us, but by the time we came out the other side & I got my camera, they'd gone.

Smethwick Pumping Station

Ah - not far to go now - once we've seen the East End Cash & Carry!  I did have a panic earlier on - we joined the main line from Netherton and the sign post said Birmingham 6 1/2 miles. After about a mile, we passed another sign saying Birmingham 8 miles!  Panic!  We're not going to get there in daylight.  After another mile, the next sign said 5 miles.  Relax.

The last 5 miles into Birmingham is full of wharves, loops and arms, some still in use, and some which are not.  They're every hundred yards or so. 

It's staggering the amount of miles of canals which would have been thriving a hundred years ago

Loops

 

Added bonus of a train going over the start of this loop

Approaching Birmingham

Sherbourne wharf veering off to the right

This is a pic of the where we're moored - outside the old fiddle & bone.  After umpteen attempts, this picture will not load up horizontall & ends up like this.  No idea why - it's just this one photo.  I did try turning it on its side before uploading it, but the computer sussed me out & turned it on its side again.  I've spent the last hour fiddling with it, so I'm not taking it down, you'll just have to cock your neck to the side to look at it!

A Week in Birmingham

We've just had a week and a bit in Birmingham, moored outside the old Fiddle & Bone, which was an old favourite of ours - until it closed back in 2003.  It was a popular venue for jazz & live music, but was forced out of business after occupants of the newly built flats opposite complained about the noise.  9 years later, and BW C&RT still haven't sold it, and this beautiful building, along with the roundhouse next to it, lies rotting away.  Anyway, back to the lovely time in Brum.....

My Mum joined us last Friday & we went to see Joan Armatrading performing in the Symphony Hall.  She was fantastic - still belting 'em out (Joan Armaplating not Mum - although she's pretty amazing too).  My favourite is still "Love and Affection".  Supporting act was Chris Wood, a winner in the Folk Awards 2011.  We had a couple of days doing the tourist thing round the iconic buildings, visited the Birmingham Art Gallery, rag market, meat market, bullring and had a fabulous Italian meal in Carluccio's.  We also did a little boat trip round to Gas Street to get some diesel from Away-To-Service, but they ran out after 50ltrs, so ended up getting the rest from Sherbourne Wharf.  Never mind - Mum enjoyed the little jaunt.

View from ICC bridge towards Broad Street

View from Broad Street towards NIA

Wot it says on the tin

Gas Street

Old working boats in Gas Street Basin

On Broad Street

Mum and I outside the Symphony Hall, with the new Birmingham Library in the background, still under construction.  

The new library is to replace the existing library - a concrete inverted pyramid.

 

A bit of bling in Centenary square - the guilded bronze statue of Mathew Boulton, James Watt & William Murdoch (aka The Golden Boys) famous for improving and developing the steam engine.

The Hall of Memory

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery -

you could spend days in here there's so much to see, and its free

The Town Hall

Floosie in the jacuzi, Victoria Square

Beautiful old buildings off New Street

Brilliant new buildings - Selfridges

Mum & Dave, overlooking St Martins Church

 The Rotunda in the background has been refurbished, and now offers fancy apartments.

Oh, and this is the Ikon Gallery, in Brindley Place, just off the canal.  We went for a look round, but were greeted with "DONT TOUCH THE EXHIBITS".  "hello and welcome" would have been a better reception.  So we left their exhibition of book covers which famous people have written & went to the Museum & Art gallery instead for our injection of culture.

 

 

Mum's visit was very brief, and she was soon on her way back home - on a direct train from New Street to Chirk, which was nice.  Time for the CAMRA pub visits now me thinks ........