Friends of mine will happily testify that I am partial to sending out a random message. Sometimes I receive them like recently when Swill got in touch, admitting it was random but asking if I wanted to join him at a gun firing place in Leamore. I agreed straight away throwing in asking if I could provide my own targets.

Swill has fired a pistol in America but it’s totally new on me. Other than a water pistol as a kid which I was an expert with, and a Laser Quest gun in the 90’s but that’s about it. I turned down the group Paint Ball day when I was at SciChem for two reasons (1) I heard it hurt and (2) I couldn’t be arsed. I was possibly being a tight wad too.

I never even bothered with those guns that you got in seaside arcades back in the 80’s when hitting targets made things happen, like a toilet shed door opening to reveal an old man on the throne. But this was a rare chance for me to earn some man points and I wanted in. We agreed that he would pay for the shooting and I’d sort the curry afterwards. I could certainly deal on those terms.

Swill mentioned that one of the guns you can use is like the one that Bruce Willis uses in Die Hard. Now not long ago, one of the waiters in Golden Moments mentioned that I looked like said actor. I considered buying a white vest so I could really look the part but like most things in my life, I didn’t get round to it.

I was off work on the day and started to compile a gun themed play list to stick on while getting ready. I only got as far as “Janie’s Got A Gun” by Aerosmith and “Guns Don’t Kill People, Rappers Do” by Goldie Lookin Chain. I played the former.

Swill picked me up and off we set. We were soon at Double Deuce in Leamore. We were given our safety briefing, and in we went. We had M4 Rifles with 20 shots of live ammo each. These went in no time whatsoever. Almost as quick as the shots that I am normally used to. It was great fun. We still had another 25 minutes of our slot. Swill asked if I wanted to go again. I said no to try and keep the cost down for him but he offered to get another gun, 20 more shots and we go halves on them. Go on then. He went off to choose the next gun and I pondered sourcing a pair of sunglasses and going round asking people if they were Sarah Connor.

He came back with a Ruger sniper gun. I took my turn and was firing slowly but then heard a bit of rapid fire from the alley next door and I thought ‘I’ll have me a bit of that’ and I blasted out three or for shots in quick succession. It was at this point I went full Die Hard with my favourite line “yippee-ki-yay mother f*****” going through my head, which really made me laugh. I must have sounded like a maniac.. Apparently I did and Swill took to Facebook to say that, as well as I was like a hitman sniper in a video game. More like the hitman from The Hitman And Her tv show was my thought.

It was soon all over. I got some right hits, which Swill tried to claim was him firing at my target. This was quickly dismissed.

Great fun and just so good to do something different. We left, Swill parked up at his house and we headed to The Bloxwich Showman, with me still clutching my target, which must have looked a bit odd, even for a Wetherspoons.

We jumped in an Uber, which was playing Lady Gaga “Dead Dance” courtesy of Heart FM which is one of the most random taxi songs ever. We were heading to The Soho Tavern, formerly The Fullbrook. I had much love for The Fullbrook and wrote about it in my first ever blog which you can catch here.

It never reopened as The Fullbrook after lockdown 2, and my last visit was on New Years Day 2020. According to Facebook I left at 2.56 to make the 3pm kick off at Bescot and afterwards myself, Josh, Lyndsey, Laura, Pez, Asps, Ross, and Swill had a good sesh.

After a long time of being dormant it reopened as Soho Tavern in September 2024. I wanted to go straight away, and my mate Kimbo who I think is on a mission to visit every Desi Pub in the Midlands, went on day 2. But I didn’t. Maybe I was scared to see what they’d done to the place I held so dear. I wrote The Gospel Of Fearing Change. I didn’t even want to see pictures from inside. But after 14 months, it was time to go.

Swill had already been and raved about it but had also been turned away twice due to it being full. On this occasion it was the final of Celebrity Traitors so I hoped that might put some folk off from venturing out.

Naturally I fannied around outside trying to get a photo, none of which came out well. Walking in and it was disorientating. Not a single internal fragment of The Fullbrook remained. Sat in the window were a large group demolishing food. My mind drifted to the night that Paul Mitchell and I sat in the same window circa 1995 watching stools being launched across the room. Paul’s missus Cara worked behind the bar at the time and thought we were nutters for just sitting and watching a big brawl.

We were taken into the back room, in an extension that wasn’t there previously. Menus came out. There was initial confusion as Swill didn’t realise that he had a vegan menu. He got a meaty one and perused. “What’s Methi Chicken?” he asked. I didn’t know the answer but when has that ever bothered me? “Oh, that’s chicken that has been cooked in Methanol to give it a crisper, cleaner finish. It’s beautiful” I replied. “Really?” “No. I made it up. I’ve no idea.” He didn’t order it.

No Nargis Kebab which cost them a point but they did have Lollipop Chicken that I’ve only even seen in the curry house in Eastcote. They were great that time but Swill said that the chicken tikka is amazing in here so we agreed to share one of those. I went for chicken tikka curry and cheese naan. We had to go up to the counter, at the front of the open plan Kitchen. The bar is separate which Swill rushed off to take advantage.

We had one poppadum each which came quickly and our actual food arrived while we were still eating those. Can’t fault the service. Food was ace. Really tasty, presented well too with even a piece of carrot cut into a flower.

Something happened that was a total first. I couldn’t finish it. I know I eat much less than I used too but my stomach must have shrunk. I had to ask for a doggie bag to take some. Although in other places the food is taken away and presented in a nice foil tray as I’ve seen this done millions of times. Here I was just given two plastic trays and a paper bag. “Oh, ok. I’ll just decant it myself.” I blame the biscuit that I got with my coffee for filling me up.

Swill grabbed another pint and we had a chat. He also took to AI to make some videos from pictures of the evening. “AI has changed your face a bit” he said. “I have absolutely no problem with that.” A waitress came round and said it was last orders for drinks at 10.30 which for me really hammered the final nail into The Fullbrook’s coffin.

Great visit. Sad to see The Fullbrook as was is no more. Yes it had a reputation. Yes there could have been a sign behind the bar saying “days since last punch up” with a zero in semi permanent marker but it was home. The Walsall FC matchday isn’t the same without it but at least it’s back in use and the food is good.

Epic night, and Swill didn’t lose anything which was also a first. Cheers for suggesting this fella. He wants to do more unusual stuff. Intrigued as to what he’ll come up with next. After guns and curry, it could be anything. .