Number 11 Ale Trail…Kick Off At The Great Western

I’m going to hazard a guess that the 577 – Great Western B27 6EB in Acocks Green hasn’t featured on too many beer and pub blogs.

Which is a shame as it’s an absolute corker of a local and well worth a few words.  I met up with big John, who’s an old pal not seen on LifeAfterFootball since August 2017 and a trip to Edgbaston to watch Alistair Cook wallop a double ton and Blues lose against Burton…read about it here.

Both Oltonians, we fancied having a crack at the much vaunted No 11 Ale Trail, or at least a few of the boozers en route.

So, rolling back the years, I headed to the Brum suburb where I brought my first pad way back in 1991 and got a seven minute train from Moor Street.

The plan was to have a pint at The Inn On The Green – read it here– also last visited in August 2017, but it is still shut post covid.

That leaves you with the option of the Spoons in the town centre or The Western, which is next door to the station.

In true Acocks Green fashion there was a bloke sitting outside the station reading in the middle of the pavement.

Jasper Carrot, Acocks Green’s most famous son, would have delivered a top notch story about that and this is area of Brum is full of funny storytellers.

(funny Brummie!)

Talking of which, there was a funny bloke waiting outside the pub at about ten to twelve.

I asked him if it opened at midday and he assured me it did before asking if he could have a fag.  I said I didn’t smoke and he confirmed I didn’t look like a smoker but thought he’d chance his arm.

Ten minutes and a newspaper later he was the second bloke I saw in the boozer after the pipe smoker who was perched outside lapping up the sun.

The bloke inside was great value and full of life and the gaffer was happy to provide table service.

(about to switch to the red wine)

Best cask option was Hop House (!) so I sat down on the magnificent bench seating, took in the high ceilings and noted the big TV screens and dart board and saw a couple of ladies who swiftly shifted from Dark Fruits to Red wine so I reckon they were lining up for a good day!

The raconteur was still going strong and the gaffer was palming him off and sorting out a problem with the jukebox.

However, he reckoned business was thriving as all the punters from The Inn on the Green were coming back to him and there’s a lot of chimney pots in Acocks Green.

John arrived just in time to shout me up another Hop House and he pumped for the cask option known as Guinness and the conversation was flowing.

In all honesty, we could have ditched the No 11 and stayed here all day as it was already good value and amusing and all the punters and gaffer were incredibly friendly.  I suspect the Great Western wasn’t even remotely warmed up by 1pm on a Friday…

When people talk about iconic station pubs then this won’t get a mention but it depends what you are looking for.

A Brummie boozer with razor sharp wit and the sort of place I reckon Jasper might still pop in for a pint with Jeff Lynne to discuss all things Birmingham City and pick up some great material.

However, the number 11 was beckoning…