Bus Pass Bandit: Part Seventy Seven - GORNAL

For Bus Pass Travels #77, much Guzzling in Gornal is planned as the Bandit and accomplices embark upon a Black Country day out...

The day begins with a meeting in the Jolly Crispin in Upper Gornal, once the Brewery Tap of the Fownes Brewery.

Making the acquaintance of an Ossett White Rat.

Nearby is The Britannia, a Bathams pub with an historic interior.

A chance to sample the Bathams Mild.

Moving down into Lower Gornal, we encounter The Chapel House. This Holdens pub was previously known as The Miners Arms.

The ever popular Holdens Golden Glow.

The next stop is The Fountain which has an excellent choice of beers.

This is Church End Fallen Angel.

The Old Bull's Head is the original home of Black Country Ales.

And this is their Pig on the Wall.

Moving further down towards Gornal Wood, we find the Bush Inn.

The beer in here is Exmoor Gold.

A bus ride back into Wolverhampton takes us to our final stop at PACK (Perfect Ale, Cask & Keg) in Queen Square.

A nice Milk Stout from the Bristol Beer Factory accompanied by table football!

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Seventy Six - LONG MARSTON, LOWER QUINTON & STRATFORD

With not a trombone or a big parade in sight, the Bus Pass Bandit presents his 76th piece of pub plundering for your esteemed consideration...

On a cold and sunny January morning the Bandit takes a bus from Stratford to Long Marston for a stop at The Masons Arms.

And an opening half of Wye Valley Pyoneer.

Following the Heart of England Way, the Bandit crosses the Stratford Greenway which was the route of the old Honeybourne railway line.

The next destination is the College Arms at Lower Quinton.

The beer is Wye Valley Butty Bach, next to quite a grand fireplace.

St Swithin's Church at Lower Quinton on a winter's afternoon.

Back in Stratford and time to stop at The Bear at Swans Nest.

A dark half of Winter Solstice from the North Cotswold Brewery.

On to the Prospero Lounge on Bridge Street.

And a closing half of Henry Westons Vintage Cider while admiring the artwork.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Seventy Five - SHIPSTON ON STOUR

Happy New Year to any followers of our resident Warwickshire highwayman and his pub-getting antics. For an early January jaunt, the Bandit takes a bus from Stratford to Shipston on Stour...

The first stop is the White Bear on the High Street.

A refreshing half of Cotswold Gold from the Donnington Brewery.

Nearby is the George Townhouse.

And a half of Brakspear Oxford Gold to follow.

The next stop is The Horseshoe on Church Street.

For some North Cotswold Shagweaver.

The Coach & Horses is on New Street.

And serves Hook Norton Hooky Best Bitter (in this case, on a darts-themed table).

Onwards to The White Horse.

And a taste of "Old Golden Hen" - no pecking!

And finally on to the excellent Thirst Edition micropub.

And some Exeter County Best to finish.

Bus Pass Bandit: Part Seventy Four - KENILWORTH

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and - as we head deeper into December - the Bus Pass Bandit is primed to report from the confines of Kenilworth...

Yes, this is Bus Pass Travels 74 whereby the Bandit and his accomplice alight at Kenilworth Station on the 'Elephant & Bear Line'.

The day commences with a walk to Leyes Lane to investigate the old school buildings, with a stop at The Tiltyard.

And a very enjoyable half of Bass Beer.

A sprightly walk via Kenilworth Common then takes us to The Engine.

And some suitably festive Wychwood Bah Humbug.

Nearby is the interestingly named Wyandotte Inn, the Wyandotte being a Native American tribe or a sociable breed of chicken.

The beer in here is Wainwright Gold.

Next is The Royal Oak for some Wye Valley Butty Bach.

The Cross combines a pub with Michelin-starred food.

Here we partake of the Genesis Bedford Stout.

The Old Bakery on the High Street is also a hotel.

And serves the excellent Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild.

Our next stop is The Clarendon Arms on Castle Hill.

Some Wye Valley Christmas Cracker helps to get us in the festive mood.

There follows an unscheduled walk through side streets to The Gauntlet ...

Where some Abbot Ale and crisps can be found.

After a stop at the Dictum of Kenilworth for food, our final destination is The Station House.

And a St Austell Proper Job to finish.