Tag: Red Lion

December 3rd – A bit of a down day, really – although the evening picked up well. I headed out just after lunch into a grey and lightless day, to try a new cafe. From there, I dropped into Lichfield as a Christmas Market was ongoing, but customer service left much to be desired; I ended up enjoying Christmas Pudding and custard in front of a wood burning stove at Mabel’s in Curborough which was nice, although the craft centre around it definitely seems to have left it’s best days behind it.

I came back via London Green and noted another once closed pub, the Red Lion, seemed to be doing well. Although more of a restaurant now, it still retains a real ale bar and welcomes dogs.

And it’s beautifully lit in a cold winter dusk…

April 15th – I love the Soho Road and that part of Birmingham in general, on the Smethwick/West Brom border. I took a ride up there after developing the craving for some decent dhokla – a savoury, fragrant yellow sponge made from gram flour, rice and chickpea, with chilli and coriander. This Gujarati snack is hard to get in Walsall, which is a shame as it’s gorgeous.

My fascination with the Soho Road is enduring – I’ve been coming here for three decades, and watched it change. Back then, the predominant accents here were Pakistani and Irish, now they’re more likely to be Eastern European, African or Afro Caribbean. Similarly, there are changes in the shops; a large Polish supermarket, various delis and lots of Caribbean fast food and baked goods.

Some things never change, though; the frenetic activity, the chatter, the mad traffic, the rush to be somewhere. The colourful fruit and veg and material emporia, the lurid platters of burfi in the windows.I watched a chap frying fresh jelabi on an outdoor stand, sweet centres were in full production for the weekend wedding feasts and looming over it all, the fading, resplendent (and in the case of the Red Lion, frankly hideous) architecture.

I love this place. I adore Birmingham. Even on this grey day.

February 10th – Working late, and a late journey home through Walsall Wood to drop something off. I love this small but busy High Street at night. Still retaining a village atmosphere, the lights, pubs and takeaways make it seem welcoming and pleasant.

I’ll be so glad when the light nights come back. I think I’ve had enough of the darkness now.

October 17th – The Boatman’s Rest pub, in Walsall Wood High Street is an old building, and has been a pub for many years. Originally called The Red Lion, it changed it’s name in the 90s for reasons unspecified. The last remaining old building on the north side of the High Street (other than the church), we’re lucky it survived. It’s not been without controversy, however, and several attempts by the pub to expand onto the nearby land have been stymied by the local authority and objections by nearby residents, who tried (and failed) to get the adjacent grass verge designated officially a ‘Village Green’. I think that’s rather sad, really. Successful pubs are few and far between these days…

May 24th – Loss seemed to be a bit of a theme. I saw with some sadness that the Red Lion at Longdon Green had shut again. This pretty pub, on a lovely traditional village green, should have been rammed, the grass in front teeming with folk enjoying the summer. Sadly, it has closed in a dispute over £17,000 of rent claimed by the owners that the tenant is disputing. Recently, the Swan With Two Necks up at Longdon has closed too. It’s a bad time for country pubs, this one only having reopened last July. I love this place. Let’s hope it can reopen soon.

June 26th – Sad to see the Red Lion at Longdon Green closed up and up for lease. This has the potential to be a fine country pub. Sat overlooking a gorgeous village green, I used to love a pint here. Sadly another victim of the social shift away from the pub. I hope it can find a loving owner, it’s a gorgeous building.

Edit 30th June: I’ve heard since posting that the Red Lion has been saved and is likely to be open again at the weekend. This is excellent news and I welcome the new landlords and wish them all the best. It’s a great pub.