Bus Pass Bandit: Part Sixty One - LEDBURY

Taking to the tracks for a rare chance to become a highwayman in Herefordshire, the Bus Pass Bandit makes the most of the recent sunny spell...

The Bandit and his accomplice take the train from Birmingham to the Herefordshire market town of Ledbury, a place with strong poetry connections.

A pleasant walk beside an apple orchard and Dog Hill Wood takes us to the Church of St Michael and All Angels, which has an interesting detached Bell Tower.

The much photographed Church Lane leads us to the Prince of Wales pub, an old favourite.

Westons vintage cider goes down well with a Ploughman's lunch!

The distinctive Market House stands at the heart of Ledbury.

Our next stop is the Horseshoe Inn on The Homend.

Herefordshire Wye Valley HPA is always a good choice.

Close at hand is the Seven Stars.

And a chance to sample some local Ledbury Bitter.

The Feathers Hotel on the High Street was an old coaching inn.

A comfortable interior in which to enjoy some Olicana Pale Ale, again from the Ledbury Brewery.

The Talbot on New Street was also a coaching inn.

The Wadworth Swordfish beer contains rum!

Our next stop is The Lion on Bye Street, a basic no frills local.

Here is some excellent Three Tuns Best from Bishops Castle.

And finally to the Brewery Inn.

After some Banks's Amber we return to the station along the Town Trail, following the route of the former Ledbury to Gloucester railway.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Sixty - HATTON

The Bus Pass Bandit can be a secretive fellow on occasions but mention of a beer or cider festival is usually enough to tempt him out of hiding. That was certainly the case for this particular adventure...

The Bandit can't resist a return to the Case is Altered on Case Lane for their annual beer festival.

The pub is well prepared for the Festival.

Some Broadoak Pheasant Plucker cider seems like a good start!

A few ciders later, the Bandit makes his way across fields to the Falcon at Hatton.

A refreshing half of Aspall Cyder awaits.

The Church of St Mary the Virgin at Haseley.

Not far away is Hatton Holy Trinity Church.

The Hatton Arms provides the opportunity for a half of Church Farm Harry's Heifer.

The garden offers a view of the 'Stairway to Heaven' - the Hatton Flight of 21 locks on the Grand Union Canal.

A particularly large species of dragonfly can be found by the canal.

Hatton Bottom Lock is near to Warwick Parkway Station.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Fifty Nine - RUGBY

May 2025 sees the Bus Pass Bandit returning to a sporting town he is particularly fond of, namely Rugby. The number 63 Stagecoach bus up from Leamington has him in prime position for an afternoon pubcrawl...

After meeting his companions, the first stop is the Raglan Arms on Dunchurch Road.

This is a Black Country Ales pub with some nice Salopian Dark Shadow.

Nearby is the interesting Webb Ellis Museum dedicated to the game of rugby.

A return to the Merchants Inn on Little Church Street is part of any visit to Rugby.

The Elgood's Blackberry Porter is excellent among many interesting items of breweriana.

Our next stop is The Rupert Brooke, a Wetherspoon pub named after the First World War poet.

Lunchtime takes on an Indian flavour with a Chicken Korma and a pint of Thornbridge Jaipur.

Then onwards to the Windmill Inn on North Street, another Black Country Ales pub.

The Titanic Cappuccino Stout is an excellent choice.

Another reminder of the game of rugby as we make our way to Rugby Museum and Art Gallery.

The next pub on Warwick Street is appropriately called The William Webb Ellis.

A half of Marstons Pedigree will suffice in here.

Keeping to the rugby theme, our final stop is the Rugby Tap next to the Webb Ellis Museum.

Here are two excellent beers from the Church End Brewery - Goats Milk and Irish Coffee. We are pleased to find a copy of the Good Beer Guide dated 1980!

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Fifty Eight - WARWICK

Mix glorious May sunshine with good company and even more of Warwick's finest beer discoveries, and you have a recipe for the Bus Pass Bandit's latest day out...

Warwick Station is the starting point for a rendezvous and some further wanderings around the county town.

A walk along the Emscote Road, including a diversion along the Grand Union Canal, leads to the Slaughterhouse Brewery Tap hidden down Bridge Street.

The beer is intriguingly named 'Poking the Bear' and is being sampled at source right in amongst the brewing vessels.

Retracing our steps along the Emscote Road, we encounter the Nelson.

A Guinness is accompanied by a rather tasty chicken biryani.

Back in the centre of Warwick, on the High Street, is the Warwick Arms Hotel.

These are comfortable surroundings in which to enjoy some Wainwright Gold.

Nearby is the Dough & Brew on Brook Street.

Church Farm IPA is the choice here, while we peruse the speciality pizza menu.

No trip to Warwick is complete without a visit to the Old Post Office. The beer today is Dark Hollow Porter from the Liquid Light Brewery, enjoyed with musical accompaniment!

It is Race Day in Warwick as we make our way beside the Racecourse to the Antelope on the Saltisford.

This pub has a long association with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, hence the large mural outside. The Antelope was the mascot of the Regiment.

Their Theakstons Quencher is most refreshing.

Our final stop is the nearby Kings Head.

Some Old Golden Hen makes a suitable finale.