Bus Pass Bandit: Part Eighty Nine - WORCESTER

Being something of a royalist himself at heart, Worcester is a city for which the Bus Pass Bandit has a lot of affection. A tour of some favourite hostelries definitely sounds like a good idea!

The Bandit and his companions arrive at Worcester Foregate Street Station for an exploration of the 'Faithful City', Worcester having stayed loyal to the Crown during the English Civil War.

The first stop is The Saracen's Head on The Tything.

This Black Country Ales pub has Jubilee IPA.

The Cocky Anchor on Broad Street is an unexpected surprise.

Upstairs in the Victorian Parlour enjoying a Kinver Half Centurion.

Opposite is The Crown, a Wetherspoon pub and lunch stop.

A Lymestone Cowboy awaiting his fish and chips.

The King Charles House on New Street was used as the escape headquarters for King Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

A Fixed Wheel Blackheath Stout in the dark interior.

The Plough on Fish Street is a traditional ale house near the cathedral.

Time for another stout - this time the 'Old Man And The Sea' from the Mighty Oak Brewery.

The magnificent Guildhall in Worcester.

Back to The Tything and the Dragon Inn which is owned by Church End Brewery.

The stout theme continues with a Stout Coffin.

And finally to the Weavers micropub conveniently near the station.

Relaxing with an Orbital Abyss stout from the Fownd Brewery.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Eighty Eight - ETTINGTON & STRATFORD

With the recent heatwave temperatures starting to ease, the Bus Pass Bandit is tempted away from his cool hiding places in order to assess more Warwickshire watering holes...

Today the Bandit takes a bus from Stratford to The Chequers Inn at Ettington.

A tasty half of Cotswold Gold from the Donnington Brewery.

The Church of Holy Trinity & St Thomas of Canterbury at Ettington.

Back in Stratford and a scenic stop by the river.

Cox's Yard has a riverside terrace...

And some Untold Tales from the Brewpoint Brewery.

The Dirty Duck, also known as the Black Swan, is popular with actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Bandit's own inner thespian means it has to be the Drunken Duck Best Bitter.

Next on to the Queen's Head on Ely Street.

A refreshing Stan's Big Apple cider from Thatchers to finish.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Eighty Seven - WARWICK

As the recent warm temperatures dip ever so slightly, the Bus Pass Bandit braves the heat with a July jaunt close to his own doorstep...

For Bus Pass Travels 87 the Bandit is out and about around Leamington and Warwick, starting at The Plough & Harrow at Whitnash.

An opening half of Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

St Margaret's Church at Whitnash.

Back in Warwick is the WanderBar on Swan Street, a specialist cocktail bar.

They also have a Staropramen Czech pilsner.

This is followed by the Thirsty Bear micropub on Smith Street.

The Naughty & Nice Honeycomb Crunch is a chocolate stout from the Vocation Brewery... but is the Bandit naughty or nice?

And finally to the Montgomery of Alamein at Hampton Magna.

A Thatchers Gold cider to finish.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Eighty Six - TEWKESBURY

For the purposes of Bus Pass Travels 86, the Bandit and his accomplice head for the extraordinary riverside Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury...

They alight at Ashchurch Station and take a route 71 bus into the town centre.

The Cross House Tavern micropub is an excellent place to start. This is Tewkesbury CAMRA's Cider Pub of the Year and really is not to be missed!

A nice Yarlington Mill cider in traditional historic surroundings.

Tewkesbury Abbey is one of the finest surviving Norman churches in Europe.

Nearby is the River Avon which meets the River Severn at Tewkesbury. This picture shows the Mill Avon at its sluice gate.

Our next stop is The Royal Hop Pole Wetherspoon pub for lunch.

A Black Dragon cider accompanied by a Korean fried chicken bowl, complete with sticky rice and chicken bites.

The Black Bear is believed to be the oldest pub in Gloucestershire, reputedly dating from 1308.

Robinson's Flagon Cider continues the cider theme.

And on to The Berkeley Arms, a traditional 15th century pub currently operated by the Wadworth Brewery from Devizes.

A Thatchers Gold cider to finish, admiring a medieval scene.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Eighty Five - TEMPLE GRAFTON

For Bus Pass Travels No. 85 the Bandit is back in his native Warwickshire, setting off from the village of Binton west of Stratford.

St Peter's Church in Binton.

The Scott Window inside is in memory of Captain Scott, who had local connections, and died on the expedition to the South Pole in 1912.

Onwards to The Piston Club at The Stag at Redhill.

The interior is inspired by classic cars and racing. A refreshing pint of Hobsons Town Crier on a hot day.

The next stop is The Blue Boar Inn at Temple Grafton.

The beer here is Brakspear Gravity.

St Andrew's Church in Temple Grafton is where William Shakespeare is believed to have married Anne Hathaway in 1582.