Seventies Town Centres – Kidderminster

As I continue to climb the walls find jobs to do whilst ‘working from home’ in lockdown isolation I can exclusively reveal Mrs BB is delighted at the washing that is being hung out in the back garden and the mowing of lawns as she is beginning to appreciate my existence.

As Clive Anderson once said to Jeffrey Archer “There is no beginning to your talent,” is the normal stance of Mrs BB but, and I’m sure she’ll agree my ability to quaff the odd pint often occasionally irritates impresses her.

So, in the absence of pubs and any sort of social interaction I have decided to pursue my favourite hobby and cash in with a couple of pouches from Leatherbritches Brewery.

Just over two quid a pint and delivered to your door…top class…but it still can’t beat going to the pub.

Mrs BB didn’t join me on my recent jaunt to arguably the most unloved town in the Midlands – Kidderminster – but I know she would have appreciated the shopping emporiums on Comberton Hill.

There aren’t many town centres where you can still buy CB radios and guns all under one roof and that gives you some idea of the market Kidderminster is attracting..

I half expected Bodie and Doyle to emerge from behind the shutters but a new build loomed ahead and what a cracking pub lay in store.

642 – Weavers Real Ale House DY10 1QH which is a stone’s throw from the weapon centre.

But there were no weapons here as the atmosphere was great and even the Perspex screens couldn’t stop the feeling of this of being a top notch pub.

It’s a regular award winner…

…and the blurb on the CAMRA website means they are regular visitors and it’s easy to see why with these lacings.

I can’t quite remember what I had but it looks marvellous and Jules was clearly making notes for his impending book about his nationwide pub crawl coastal walk the length of Britain.

The old boy next to us was great value and we had a good conversation about a town/village that is actually worse than Kidderminster somewhere between the carpet capital and Shropshire.

But, despite its flaws (floors – joke there for Tamworth Mark) there is no denying Kidderminster possesses some cracking pubs and this is one of them.

A good mix of ages with baseball caps, gentlefolk, families and groups of lads all enjoying the cobs, chatter and beer.

Even our designated driver for the day, John was in the mood for more after a stint at The Weavers and I can see why this place has won so many awards…

It’s also near to the Station and appears to be where the majority of pubs are in this higgledy-piggledy town that is a massive seventies throwback.

Join me next time for more carpet related beer tales (oh yes I can stretch this out for a while yet!)