Bus Pass Bandit: Part Fifty Four - BIRDINGBURY & LONG ITCHINGTON

That's enough Birmingham business for the time being. Instead the Bus Pass Bandit is hankering after a Warwickshire wander along canal towpaths...

Today the Bandit takes a walk westwards along the Grand Union Canal, starting at The Boat Inn at Birdingbury Wharf.

The first beer of the day is Cleopatra Pale Ale from the Roman Way Brewery.

The flight of canal locks at Stockton.

The Blue Lias pub at Stockton is named after the limestone once used in the local cement industry.

A taste of Fuller's London Pride.

Further along the canal, at Long Itchington, is The Two Boats.

And a half of St Austell Tribute.

On the opposite side of the canal is The Cuttle Inn.

And a final half of Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Fifty Three - BIRMINGHAM (Broad Street)

Unable to keep away from the Second City, the Bus Pass Bandit returns to Birmingham yet once more, this time with a mission to explore the heart of the city's nightlife by braving Broad Street...

This time around, the Bandit makes an immediate beeline for the Briar Rose Wetherspoon pub on Bennetts Hill.

Starting the day with a Hook Norton Double Stout in a traditional dimpled glass.

Nearby is St Philip's Cathedral.

The impressive interior of the Cathedral.

After a rendezvous at New Street Station, the next destination is Broad Street for The Gentleman & Scholar, an establishment associated with the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Half a Guinness will suffice in here.

Practically next door is The Soloman Cutler, a Wetherspoon pub in the Lloyds Bar vein.

Here is a hoppy Leeds EVA West Coast IPA, one of the ales from the recent Wetherspoons festival line-up.

Further down Broad Street is O'Neill's.

And back to the Guinness.

The last stop is at Walkabout, an Australian themed sports bar.

And a final Guinness near the Fan Zone.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Fifty Two - ILMINGTON

The outings are flooding in thick and fast at the moment, the Bus Pass Bandit being keen to maximise an upturn in the weather. Here then comes another extract from the wilds of Warwickshire...

Today the Bandit takes a bus to the village of Ilmington in South Warwickshire. The first stop is The Red Lion.

It has to be Hook Norton Old Hooky.

St Mary's Church in Ilmington.

One of eleven carved mice inside the Church.

Next on to The Howard Arms.

And some Wye Valley Bitter.

The site of the old well at Ilmington.

On the way back to Stratford is the New Inn Hotel at Clifford Chambers.

And this is a half of Fosseway Flanker from the North Cotswold Brewery.

Back in Stratford and a final visit to The Golden Bee.

Thornbridge Bess is a Wetherspoon Festival ale.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Fifty One - SHREWLEY & LOWSONFORD

After several recent brushes with Birmingham, the Bus Pass Bandit requires some Warwickshire wayfaring to make the most of the early spring sunshine...

On a sunny Saturday morning the Bandit starts at Hatton Station and walks north up the Grand Union Canal.

Approaching the canal tunnel at Shrewley, where the towpath separates off to go up and over.

The first pub stop is the Durham Ox at Shrewley.

Comfortable surroundings in which to enjoy some Hobgoblin IPA from Wychwood Brewery.

A walk across country leads to the Fleur de Lys at Lowsonford on the Stratford Canal.

Sitting in the extensive beer garden with some Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

One of several barrel-roofed cottages on the Stratford Canal.

Proceeding up the Stratford Canal, the Bandit reaches Lapworth Canal Basin.

Time for a stop at The Boot Inn in Lapworth.

And some Fuller's London Pride.

Awaiting the train at Lapworth after an excellent excursion.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Fifty - BIRMINGHAM

The Bus Pass Bandit brings up a highwayman's half century of outings with another return to the Second City, Birmingham having almost become his second home of late. Fifty not out has been a lot of fun, taking our hero from Watchet to Haworth via Llangollen and Matlock, but always with Warwickshire in his heart...

The Bandit is soon back in Birmingham with a lunchtime visit to the Figure of Eight, one of two JD Wetherspoons establishments on Broad Street.

A Katsu chicken curry is accompanied by a pint of Barking Mad from the local Froth Blowers Brewery.

Followed by a walk along the Birmingham canals, in this case seeing Old Turn Junction by the Sea Life Centre.

The next stop is the Old Contemptibles on Edmund Street, the pub named after a British Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

Awaiting a rendezvous with a half of Purity UBU.

With his accomplice having arrived, the next stop is The Botanist on Temple Street.

And a nice Cornish Orchards cider, making the most of a Happy Hour promotion.

The Royal on Church Street is a splendid building with a clear royal theme, including framed portraits of Kings and Queens along the tiled staircase.

Enjoying a Guinness in the upper restaurant room.

Princess Victoria was in the vicinity back in 1830 before she became Queen.

Keeping with the regal disposition, nearby in Newhall Street is the Queens Arms.

The beer in here is Theakstons XB Ruby Ale, held aloft next to a glowing crown.

And finally on to The Shakespeare Inn on Summer Row.

This time for some Theakstons Old Peculier.