Body

Worcester & Birmingham Canal

(all locations are listed as though travelling from Birmingham to Worcester)

Pubs & Restaurants

Location What's there Comments Date

Birmingham, Mailbox, canalside Penny Black Interesting selection of beers and fod but at £3 a pint, I'll not be going back July 2007 (CA)

King's Norton, Bridge 71 Navigation Just a 2 minute walk from the canal. Uninspiring large pub. Jan 2009 (CA)

Hopwood, Bridge 67 Hopwood House pub Quite good food. May 2008 (PA)

Depressing barn of a place. Jan 2009 (CA)

Alvechurch, Bridge 61 Crown Excellent friendly pub with a couple of decent beers - no food though. Jan 2009 (CA)

Alvechurch Marina, Bridge 60 The Weighbridge A couple of excellent beers on offer at remarkable price of £2.15 a pint. Food looks pretty dire although many eat here. The place is recommended for a drink. July 2007 (CA)

The Swan 15 minute walk into town. A decent local, but not worth the walk. Jan 2009 (CA)

Stoke Top Lock, Bridge 48 Queens Head The service was awful and the food not much better. We would certainly not recommend it. May 2008 (VB)

Stoke Works, Bridge 42 Boat & Railway Good pub, good beers, excellent canal side terrace with patio heaters and cover. Popular with Black Prince hirers at weekend. July 2007 (CA)

Hanbury Wharf, Bridge 35 Eagle & Sun Nice lunch May 2004 (CH)

Dunhampstead, Bridge 30 Firs Inn This is an excellent pub for food. August 2008 (VB)

Tibberton, Bridge 25

The Bridge Food looks good but was fully booked. May 2004 (CH)

Bridge Inn was closed. It usually closes all day Monday but because it was open yesterday for the Bank Holiday, it has closed all day today (Tuesday) instead. May 2008 (VB)

Speed the Plough Good food, limited selection of beers (Banks) but recommended. July 2007 (CA)

Worcester, The Tything Dragon Inn Excellent ale house near Foregate Street Stn. July 2007 (CA)

Worcester, New Street Swan with 2 nicks Another good location for beer drinkers. July 2007 (CA)

Shopping & Facilities

Alvechurch Marina, Bridge 60 Alvechurch The town is a 15 minute walk from Bridge 60 - Chemist, off-licence and Co-op - not much else Jan 2009 (CA)

Tibberton, Bridge 25 P.O. shop Sells the basics plus an array of home made cakes. Closed from 13:00 to 14:00. July 2007 (CA)

Good & Bad Moorings

Tardebigge, below top lock Pleasant rural moorings. There's hardly anywhere else (maybe nowhere else) to moor sensibly on the flight. July 2007 (CA)

Worcester, either side of lock 4 At the time of our visit these were the only moorings available, although the moorings above Diglis locks may again be available after September 2007 July 2007 (CA)

Navigation Notes

Tardebigge flight 36 locks It took 4 hours to get to the top and even with a crew of four it was hard work. The main problem with these locks is that the top ground paddles are exceedingly heavy - fortunately the spindle is designed so that two people can help to lift each paddle. I couldn't honestly recommend that this flight is suitable for just 2 people. July 2007 (CA)

Diglis Barge Locks, Worcester At the time of writing the financial cut backs meant that The Diglis lock attendant finishes at 16:00 each afternoon at which point the locks are, err, locked. July 2007 (CA)

Location	What's there	Comments	Date
Birmingham, Mailbox, canalside	Penny Black	Interesting selection of beers and fod but at £3 a pint, I'll not be going back	July 2007 (CA)
King's Norton, Bridge 71	Navigation	Just a 2 minute walk from the canal. Uninspiring large pub.	Jan 2009 (CA)
Hopwood, Bridge 67	Hopwood House pub	Quite good food.	May 2008 (PA)
Hopwood, Bridge 67	Hopwood House pub	Depressing barn of a place.	Jan 2009 (CA)
Alvechurch, Bridge 61	Crown	Excellent friendly pub with a couple of decent beers - no food though.	Jan 2009 (CA)
Alvechurch Marina, Bridge 60	The Weighbridge	A couple of excellent beers on offer at remarkable price of £2.15 a pint. Food looks pretty dire although many eat here. The place is recommended for a drink.	July 2007 (CA)
Alvechurch Marina, Bridge 60	The Swan	15 minute walk into town. A decent local, but not worth the walk.	Jan 2009 (CA)
Stoke Top Lock, Bridge 48	Queens Head	The service was awful and the food not much better. We would certainly not recommend it.	May 2008 (VB)
Stoke Works, Bridge 42	Boat & Railway	Good pub, good beers, excellent canal side terrace with patio heaters and cover. Popular with Black Prince hirers at weekend.	July 2007 (CA)
Hanbury Wharf, Bridge 35	Eagle & Sun	Nice lunch	May 2004 (CH)
Dunhampstead, Bridge 30	Firs Inn	This is an excellent pub for food.	August 2008 (VB)
Tibberton, Bridge 25	The Bridge	Food looks good but was fully booked.	May 2004 (CH)
	The Bridge	Bridge Inn was closed. It usually closes all day Monday but because it was open yesterday for the Bank Holiday, it has closed all day today (Tuesday) instead.	May 2008 (VB)
	Speed the Plough	Good food, limited selection of beers (Banks) but recommended.	July 2007 (CA)
Worcester, The Tything	Dragon Inn	Excellent ale house near Foregate Street Stn.	July 2007 (CA)
Worcester, New Street	Swan with 2 nicks	Another good location for beer drinkers.	July 2007 (CA)
Shopping & Facilities
Alvechurch Marina, Bridge 60	Alvechurch	The town is a 15 minute walk from Bridge 60 - Chemist, off-licence and Co-op - not much else	Jan 2009 (CA)
Tibberton, Bridge 25	P.O. shop	Sells the basics plus an array of home made cakes. Closed from 13:00 to 14:00.	July 2007 (CA)
Good & Bad Moorings
Tardebigge, below top lock		Pleasant rural moorings. There's hardly anywhere else (maybe nowhere else) to moor sensibly on the flight.	July 2007 (CA)
Worcester, either side of lock 4		At the time of our visit these were the only moorings available, although the moorings above Diglis locks may again be available after September 2007	July 2007 (CA)
Navigation Notes
Tardebigge flight	36 locks	It took 4 hours to get to the top and even with a crew of four it was hard work. The main problem with these locks is that the top ground paddles are exceedingly heavy - fortunately the spindle is designed so that two people can help to lift each paddle. I couldn't honestly recommend that this flight is suitable for just 2 people.	July 2007 (CA)
Diglis Barge Locks, Worcester		At the time of writing the financial cut backs meant that The Diglis lock attendant finishes at 16:00 each afternoon at which point the locks are, err, locked.	July 2007 (CA)