When the Walsall v Bromley match on October 12th was called off due to international call ups, I thought I’d use that now free time very wisely. Let’s go on a pub crawl of Willenhall as I’ve not done this in a few years. I messaged my mate and former SciChem colleague Liam who lives that way and he said he could only do the Friday. No probs there, Friday night it is.

I thought I’d experiment with a short cut leaving work. I turned left at the end of the West Wing and exited the building opposite the new A&E. I’ve not used this exit before so it was very exciting.

I must say the pavement heading away is shocking but I didn’t clock this until I nearly went over on my ankle. Thankfully I didn’t need a closer look at A&E and quickly continued. I headed down Forrester Street and it brought me out by the 529 bus stop. For once a plan had worked. I was en route and it was only 4.42pm. I then remembered that I wasn’t meeting Liam until 7. I should have taken a long cut instead.

To kill time I went in McDonalds on the edge of Willenhall. Routine visit but my Mozzarella Dippers didn’t have the two Monopoly stickers on that they should have done. This could have been my Mayfair getting moment. I was going to have the place up but I had Mozzarella Dippers to eat so just sat down and shut up.

I walked from there into Wilenhall. I didn’t know that The Oak had closed, but was aware The Prince Of Wales had and that looked a sorry sight. I still had plenty of time so decided to go exploring the back streets, mainly as I wanted to check where Ring O Bells is as despite having gone there before I wasn’t too sure.

Then I got a message off Liam, he was somewhat early. 40 minutes so to be precise. He was 5 minutes away so I quit the exploring and soon we were in The County, the first of 6 pubs on the to do list.

I’ve not had beer with Liam since September 2021 which looking back was the start time of my big 6 month downer which took over my life. I did mention this but quickly pointed out that supping with him didn’t cause the downer. First discussion was the usual “who are you still in touch with from SciChem?” Nobody really on his part where I’ve still got a few pals from there.

The pub was busy, there was a DJ deck set up in there which I’ve not known in this pub before. Music was mixed but generally ok. We weren’t there long and as we departed people were jumping into our graves before I’d finished pushing my chair in. Good to see the place so busy.

The Royal George was next. This had the biggest Madri banner I’d ever seen outside. It was mossiv. Inside Liam got the round and I had Madri. The advertising had clearly done a job. Another busy pub and it was absolute standing room only. I’ve seen a few things on Twitter on how the pub scene is dying but the first two boozers were offering plenty to the contrary.

Next up was The Three Crowns. A pub I’ve been in before but up the top of the market so usually missed off on pub crawls. It roared back onto my radar when we had a Friends pf Highgate Brewery social there for the first time in August. The beer was great, dtaff and locals were friendly and they even put a buffet on for us. I had a nice chat with the landlords mom as I was leaving and I promised I’d be back and I like to think I keep my promises. Only took 2 months too, much quicker than my usual return visits.

This was a new one on Liam. He’s walked past it lots but never fancied it but he hadn’t even got through the door and he spotted Forged Irish Stout on the bar, he was sold immediately. I went for Yorkshire Pale Ale, but I didn’t note the brewery. It was served in a glass with finger groves built in. I only know of these previously from very short lived Bud Silver bottles around 2006.

The beer was so good on both of our parts and they didn’t last long. We had finished our pints in pub no 3 and it was only 7.43. Needless to say a motion to stay for a second was quickly proposed, seconded and passed unanimously.

The music was really good. On came one of my all time faves, Set You Free by N-Trance. I immediately sounded the “Song Of The Night” award klaxon. Next up was Vengabus by Vengaboys. Liam called this for the award. I countered that we couldn’t both have a song for this and that we needed an absolute banger to unify the titles. I half expected Eddie Hearn to walk in at this point as he loves a unification bout.

Next up was The Workers Rest. I was worried that this had closed as it hadn’t come up on my Pubs Galore search on the dinner break. Liam said it was now called The Loft and was just two minutes away and he was not lying on either count.

I love this pub. Probably the most me pub in Willenhall. It was busy and karaoke was on. We sat where we could see the performers and I told Liam of my internet based search for a lady, including e-harmony which has been a failure so far and then Facebook Dating which has been somewhat more interesting. I still think I need to grow a pair and actually chat up a lass in a pub. I need a night on the pull as I we used to say back in the 90’s.

Ring O Bells was next, Liam guided us there but it was in darkness and we just stood there looking it at for a few seconds. Then I heard a noise. It sounded like the door was being unlocked. Was this a new kind of pub which looks closed but they are observing from inside and let you in if they like the look of you?

The door opened and a man appeared. “Are you open?” asked Liam. “No, we’re closed.” “Permanently?” I asked. I’m not one for joining in conversations but this was desperate times. “No, just for tonight. Back open tomorrow.” He shut the door behind him and wandered off down the street. The Crown then.

The Crown is a great pub. Nice corner building and usually my last or penultimate pub due to its closeness to the 529 stop. It was karaoke in here too but the in between music was 80’s. On came Candy by Cameo. I yelled “this is our unification song of the night.” Liam claimed that he didn’t know it. To try and swing it I even joined in with the line “I toss and turn in my bed in the morning when I think about you” although I was at pains to point out that I was singing this at him and not to him. He made a further claim that he’d never heard it before. Bloody youngsters. We didn’t manage to unify the titles.

We had a couple of beers and obligatory photos in here. We asked the karaoke man to take the one shot and he said my bald heads was affecting the lighting. This brought back memories of when I appeared on the ITV Sport Channel quiz Do I Not Know That? back in 2001. On that occasion the floor manager strode over and put make up on my head citing that it was causing a glare in the lights.

Liam crashed us both a pack of pork scratchings (most of which were eaten on the way to The Walsall Arms for breakfast the following morning) with the last round, and I then got a taxi home. Epic night, and I thinkwe’ll do it again, even if it’s just Ring O Bells. We aint leaving it 3 years again though Liam.