Back in 2023 I was pondering ways to get around and visit random pubs. I came up with the idea of getting my mate to draw 3 Cluedo cards like would be done at the start of the board game, murderer, implement and room but not tell me. I would then visit pubs with the respective colours of the original 6 suspects in their name and get whoever served me to pick a weapon and room, then at the end when I’d made all 6 accusations, see if I got a full match (murderer weapon and room) and had solved the murder of Doctor Black – the victim in every game.

I quickly shelved the idea but it came back to me in June 2026. In The Walsall Arms beer garden, just after dusk one night, I asked Josh to pick the murderer, weapon and room and take a picture of the cards. I went to the loo while he did this and the game was on. 

The Plum Pudding, Rugeley Road, Armitage, Staffordshire, WS15 4AZ. Visited 18/07/26.

I was guaranteed at least £12 from having Spain in the World Cup sweepstake at work. I decided to start spending it early and take a trip to Staffordshire for my first accusation. Plus with the Saturdays available for enjoyment before Walsall FC start ruining them again running out, it seemed like a good day for a mission.

Upon reaching Rugeley I hadn’t long missed a bus so had a 15 minute wait in the shelter perched on a bar that was more akin to a beam that a gymnast would perform on.

It was a 10 minute or so bus to Armitage which gave my bum time to come back to life. I’m always edgy on an unfamiliar bus and was hoping it would have next stop announcements but alas no. Fortunately I spotted the pub and had chance to ping the bell before the stop. 

I ordered my drink and nearly bottled asking the barman to pick the room and weapon cards. I thought ‘you’ve spent £7 on the train, £3 on the bus here and it’s gonna be £3 back. Just ask the bloody question.’ I grew a pair and did so. He was surprised but obliged. Top man. I nearly explained what I was doing but that would have involved involuntary engagement which isn’t my strong point.

I now realise that I took that picture with the candlestick card upside down. Must have taken it from the perspective of how it would have been brandished. I imagine the conservatory would be the nicest room to be murdered in. Surrounded by plants, bit of Sun shining in. Marvellous.

Nice place this. It seems food based but I found a corner with a nice plant which gave it a conservatory feel like had just been selected.

Music ranged from Bowie to Diana Ross and a song that I didn’t know which if it wasn’t Eliza Doolittle it was someone trying to copy her. Blame It On The Boogie was song of the visit although blame it on Professor Plum was currently more fitting.

I moved outside- most unlike me and found a pleasant decking alongside a canal. The music was still audible with Ego by The Saturdays the pick. Listening to The Saturdays on a Saturday at a canal side pub. Bliss.

We even had a barge pull up. That must be ace, chugging along, seeing a pub then mooring up. I get jealous when people do it outside The Wharf Bar in Walsall.

Lovely visit this. Glad that this blog is finally up and running and Professor Plum…. I’m onto you.

The White Swan – 276 Bradford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0QY. Visited 25/07/26.

As a kid I always played as Mrs White with her board piece being my favourite colour. Yep I turned down the advantages of Miss Scarlett getting to start first or Mrs Peacock being one square closer to a room than all the others just so I could have the white counter. 

I was going to go to The White Swan in Bewdley for this one but a combination of a train strike and a dating meet up in Birmingham falling through on this day, I headed here instead.

Great pub this and I hadn’t been since 2022 when visiting as part of my Birdwatching Via Pub Names blog which you can catch up on here.

I entered, ordered my drink and got to work. “Could I ask a little favour please? Could you pick a card out of each of these two piles please?” The barmaid was happy to oblige.

She picked the Kitchen and spanner. Two great selections. I like a Kitchen. One of my favourite rooms. Every home should have one. Spanner is a great word and I refer to myself as one if I’ve made an error and most times I’m correct.

“What’s this for?” She asked. “Well, this is going to sound really random. Have you played Cluedo?” “Years ago yes.” I can’t tell you how relieved I was when she said that. She seemed impressed with the explanation. “So have you solved it?” She asked. “I won’t know until I’ve done the other 4 pubs.” “Well come back and tell me, this sort of thing keeps me awake at night.”

“How many of you are doing this?” She continued. “Just me. All my mates have got ladies and lives.” “Sod it. You’re doing cool stuff.” And she liked my Donkey Kong t-shirt. 

Music was provided by Heart FM’s Club Classics with the picks being DJ Sammy and The Tamperer. Did we ever find out what she’d look like with a chimney on her?

Really enjoyed this visit. Barmaid was great. I’m too shy normally for small talk but she made it easy. I bade them good night vowing that I would return, not leaving it as long as last time to let her know how I’d got one trying to solve. She gave instructions what to do if she wasn’t there. What a pub.

The Green Dragon – 55 Church Street, Darlaston, Walsall, WS10 8DY. Visited 28/07/26.

I’d picked the 5 other pubs but wanted Josh to join me on one mission as he’d picked the actual 3 cards in the first place. I gave him carte blanche to pick a pub with green in the name. He opted for The Bowling Green in Lichfield. However I was buying him a curry afterwards so he picked somewhere nearer. The Green Dragon in Darlaston was one he’d never been in, and less times travelling meant more time currying.

Prior to the visit we discussed “this” and he didn’t really understand it. For starters he’s never played Cluedo. Having a best friend that’s 17 years younger does throw up these occasional differences in life experiences. I explained in more detail than I did initially and showed him The Plum Pudding pics and he was fully on board.

I’m no stranger to this pub but hadn’t been in for about 3 years. I ordered but was nervous about asking the barmaid (possibly Landlady) to pick the cards. But I’d got Josh at my side and I knew he’d step in if it was awkward. However he marched off to the toilet just at the worst moment. 

However upon returning from the till she told me the amount and called me “flower” at the end. That f word just totally relaxed me and I asked. She asked why and whilst she didn’t buy into it quite like the lady at The White Swan but she seemed to like it.

She picked candlestick and Library. You don’t need a motive in Cluedo but this one got me thinking. It’s totally plausible that a man of the cloth would have been used to handling a candlestick. But why would he be in the Library with Dr Black? (The murder victim in each game.)

The best I could come up with is that they both wanted to read Fly Fishing by J.R Hartley and ended up fighting over the only copy. They could have used Yellow Pages to find a local stockist.

I digress. So I’d overturned the cards and put them on the table. I badly wanted to look at Josh to see if there was anything in his expression to suggest if I’d got any right. I resisted but it’s so strange for there to be a secret between us.

Official work done and we could just natter and boy we did. We didn’t shut up for an hour, the only break being when I was singing along to song of the visit. Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One” which is just one of the best songs ever. 

3 accusations down then and if The Rev is not guilty I shall be popping round to his for a couple of bottles of Communion Wine to celebrate.

Old Peacock Inn – 63 Blackwell Street, Kidderminster, DY10 2EL. Visited 01/08/26.

Mrs Peacock – the elegant middle aged lady of the game. As a kid I had a soft spot for Miss Scarlett but now I’m old enough to be Mr Peacock.

Back story. For this tick I was going to The Peacock, formerly The Angel, Islington when I’m in London in October, but after doing The Plum Pudding I was totally engrossed in this and I couldn’t wait that long. At the time I was reading the book “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers” by Jesse Q. Sutanto which included the line “who knew that solving murder was such fun” and I could now relate to it.

The aforementioned train strike that had scuppered my trip to Bewdley had been cancelled but I hadn’t got round to claiming my refund when this news broke so I ended up going there after all with the tagged on trip to this pub also retained. 

When searching for a nearer Peacock pub than London, a reviewer on Pubs Galore said this place was legendary for being rough and at that juncture I knew I had to visit. For balance, the most recent review called it an old school locals pub with very friendly service.

It was a ball ache to find, I even asked 3 locals – most unlike me and they all couldn’t or wouldn’t help. Eventually I stumbled upon a Sainsburys and called a taxi. The driver took 20 minutes to arrive and then called me Micky which I hate. This had better be worth it I thought as I climbed in. It was.

Upon arrival a bloke in the doorway advised me to watch out for the lady behind the bar as she bites. She didn’t. She was sound and quite happily picked the cards with no questions asked. 

Lead piping and Billiard Room she picked. Billiard Room is the one room in the Tudor Mansion that won’t be in my house should I become a famous, rich writer. I’ll swap it for a pinball room. Lead piping though? I’ve never handled lead but isn’t it soft? You’d be there all night battering someone to death with it. Still, nothing better to do in a room with a billiard table in it. Sock full of billiard balls would be a better option.

The pub itself had England flag bunting up around the bar, earning it a bonus point straight off the bat. 

I’m normally a wallflower in unfamiliar pubs but the locals here were friendly and I felt right at home. I caught up with the lady from behind the bar outside. Turns out she’s the landlady. I explained why I was there and she said the place used to have a reputation for being rough but it’s much better now.

I liked the place so much I stayed for a second drink. On the way out it was handshakes and “goodbyes” all round. The first bloke I’d spoken to asked if I’d be back and I eagerly said yes. I always like to think each town has a me pub in it, and this is the definite me pub in Kidderminster. Shame we didn’t visit on the Kidderminster crawl that we did back in 2017.

What a place. Thank you Mrs Peacock for leading me here.

Little Scarlet Door, 12-13 Greek Street, Soho W1D 4DL. Visited 11/08/26.

This was my first visit to Soho and if I’m being totally honest, I wasn’t sure at first if I’d be let in the bar itself. “Are you just having a drink?” Asked one last as I entered. “Just a quick drink, if that’s ok?” I replied almost apologetically. 

I headed to the bar and ordered Diet Coke and asked if I could pay by card – still in apologetic mode. Thankfully it was yes. I hate paying by card, had been wandering round London all day without seeing a cashpoint and had run out of hard currency.

After a snag with the machine the payment went through and we could get down to business. “Could I ask a favour please?” Apologetic mode seemingly here for the duration. “Of course.” I produced the cards and asked the question. 

She agreed but asked if she had to pick at random or could she go through them. Everyone else had picked at random from the face down packs but I let her choose at will. She said she’d heard of Cluedo but never played it. She made her choices and I asked if she wanted an explanation.

She absolutely loved what I was doing, how I’d had to search online for Scarlett pubs, picked here and travelled from Walsall to visit. When I mentioned I was blogging she offered to take pictures of me in front of the door, asking if I wanted a closed door outside one or just an internal one. 

Back at the bar I said how much I loved the place and asked if I should come back and tell her if she’d picked correctly which she was up for.

She picked Ballroom- excellent choice. I’d love a Ballroom in my house and also candlestick- the 3rd time that has come out. I’m in trouble if it’s not candlestick.

The place was busy for a late afternoon Tuesday. It was stylish, there was a bike and a set of ski’s on one well. I have no imminent need for either so left them there.

Music was varied with Robbie Williams giving way to Black Eyed Peas though I think they missed a trick by not playing the 90’s classic Independent Love Song by Scarlet. Although I would have joined in heartily and I’m not sure how me belting out “I’ll show you how to take me, go down, go down” would have sat with the high class ladies in the vicinity.

Great but sadly brief visit this. On the way out I thanked the barmaid again and gave her a “I’ll be back” and she replied “you’d better be.” Then I blew her a kiss which is the most un me thing ever. 

Normally in unfamiliar places, I buy a drink, then retreat to the furthest point from people and just soak in the ambience. This daft challenge though is getting me to engage more and it’s doing the confidence good.

I wasn’t lying. Little Scarlet Door and Soho in general, I want more. 

Ye Olde Mustard Pot, Midhope Hall Lane, Midhopestones, Sheffield, S36 4GW. Visited 29/08/26.

I’ll start this one with some exposition. When researching this one I stuck  Mustard into the Pubs Galore search engine. It’s fair to say that I wasn’t overrun with results. The pub in Norfolk that I considered when first pondering this in 2023 has now closed. There were 3 options. One being a bar and grill in Sale town centre simply called Mustard.

Thanking that logistically this would be the easiest to tick off, I opted for that one. However there was an incident on Pub Challenge volume 2 in 2015 where I took a decent walk out of Hednesford, traipsed up and down a street looking for a pub, only for someone to point to a new  housing development and say “that was it.”

So now before travelling I do a bit of due diligence and make sure places are still open. I clicked on the links, both website and to Facebook for Mustard and both were down.

I put the words “Mustard Sale” into Google. Now I love a bargain but hundreds of results for cheap prices on Colman’s finest yellow goodness wasn’t what I was after. I should have asked Jeeves. He knows the score.

After a bit of detective work on Google Streetview I deduced that Mustard in Sale is no more.

So onto plan b. Ye Olde Mustard Pot in Midhopestones. Between Sheffield and Barnsley. It looked in the middle of nowhere and there wasn’t a bus to the village as far as I could tell.

I turned to respected pub blogger retiredmartin as he is from Sheffield, for advice. He went one better offering to meet me and take me there. I’d never met Martin before so jumped at this very kind offer.

It’s a good trek out of Sheffield and then some more. We passed a reservoir and Martin said “the bus would have dropped you over there and you’d have had to walk round the reservoir.” Yeah I wouldn’t have been feeling that. Had the drought lasted another week I could probably have walked across it. It had been bucketing down for days though. Whilst former Walsall FC Manager Sir Ray Graydon can walk on water, I can’t.

I couldn’t hide my excitement as we drew nearer. What started as a daft idea in my head was nearing completion. My final accusation. I’d even dressed smartly for the occasion. And possibly for the pub crawl of Sheffield afterwards.

We timed our arrival badly and it was like Piccadilly Circus at the bar as a large group came in with us. I got nervous about asking.

We ordered coffees but as I put the change away, the man who served me ran off. I approached the barmaid and presented the two packs of cards. She was a bit tentative but did it. Martin chipped in with “it’s OK, he doesn’t bite.” I didn’t hang around at the bar to examine her choices.

She picked study. First time that has come out. I could have done with a secret passage like that room has to get away from the slightly awkward feel at the bar. She also went spanner. Second time that has come up.

We sat down and I asked Martin if he fancied a crack at solving the murder. He did and I handed him the 3 packs of cards and asked if he wanted to pick at random or look through and go with instinct. He went the latter.

He picked Professor Plum, revolver and Library. Here’s a fun fact. The Beatles came up with the album title Revolver after playing Cluedo. John Lennon used to insist on being Mrs Peacock. There’s a small chance that I made all of that up.

It’s a lovely pub. I had a mooch round. The group that came in with us were putting up balloons in the back room. I thanked them and said there was no need to go to so much trouble for me. It was actually for a baby shower. They probably thought someone had booked them a surprise George Dawes-o-gram.

A sign advised the place is available for functions from baby showers to wakes. The circle of life in a sign.

Nice visit this. I’d been wanting to meet Martin for years. Never thought it would be Colonel Mustard out of Cluedo who would instigate it though. Thanks for driving good Sir.

The big reveal.

Black Country Arms, High Street, Walsall, WS1 1QW. Visited 02/09/26.

For the big reveal, I wanted to go to a pub with black in the name in honour of the Doctor that is murdered in every game. Fortunately there is a fabulous one that fits that criteria just 15 minuted walk from my house.

I met up with Josh and we headed in. First up was the murderer. We did this first as it was the one I was guaranteed to get right, having accused all of them over the past 6 weeks. 

Josh produced the Colonel Mustard card. At least all that effort to get to Yorkshire had been worth it. We went weapon next as more chance of getting that. Out came the revolver. The barmaid in Ye Olde Mustard Pot had gone spanner. 

It was over. I wasn’t getting the full set right. Fair play to Martin who picked revolver. I’ll buy him a pint for that next time I see him.

Josh commented “makes sense for a Colonel to have a revolver.” “Clearly didn’t check him for weapons when he left the army” I replied.

Could I get the room right as a late consolation? In short, no. We’d got him doing it in the Study, Josh produced the Lounge card, although he did call it the Living Room, which is definitely my kind of terminology for it. Had Waddington’s still been trading I’d have emailed telling them to change Lounge to Living Room. It’s what the public wants. 

So yeah, I got 1 out 3. Slightly worse than “ain’t bad” in Meatloaf’s perspective. I ticked off new pubs and met some great people along the way. I’m sure one or two of the bar staff must have wondered if I’ve been sectioned at some point. Thanks to all the bar staff who played along.

Maybe I should have the visited places named after the rooms and asked staff to pick the murderer and weapon instead. Reduce the odds a bit. Hmmm, one of my Facebook friends checked into The Conservatory Coffee Shop in Scarborough the other day. No. Somebody slap that idea out of me.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this and since Armitage, I’ve started listening to The Saturdays again. So it’s all been worth it. Probably my most bizarre reason for visiting pubs since doing a 147 snooker break using pubs with the respective colours in their names. You can catch up with that blog here.

This is Detective Evans signing off. I’ve got Mrs Peacock coming round for tea. Got to meet her in the Dining Room. Not sure why she’s brought a candlestick. My house is old fashioned but I have lighting.