Saturday 6th September 2014

Bob Thompson

A number of micropubs are a little out of the way, being located in villages. A situation that definitely does not apply the Weavers. Located less than 200 metres from two railway stations and bus stops that are served frequently, it is at the heart of a transport interchange, a veritable Clapham Junction. Well not quite, yet it is easy to get to if you’re in the area.

The Weavers is obviously named after the weavers of Kidderminster. Throughout the years the town was noted for this trade, mostly clothing in the early years.

However, by the 1880s the first industrial carpet factory was established. No doubt located here because of the local expertise in this work. By 1950 there were around 30 factories in the town. Sadly, they are no longer, although they are remembered in the title of the local paper, The Kidderminster Shuttle.

The pub opened in June 2013 and was founded by co-owners Jeff Ide and Richard Davis.

It is located in what was a Polish Restaurant called Polonia which I remember well as I would occasionally patronise the adjacent Polish grocery, which is still with us.

I went next door on this occasion to buy some soups and sausage. On balance however, I think I prefer the micropub over the restaurant.

Outside is a wooden seat and table of the kind you find in pub gardens. Inside I thought the pub to be slightly larger than the usual micropub, having seats for just under 40 rather than the usual 20-30. However all of the ethics of a micropub are there and it is a very impressive little pub.

The bar is to be found at the end of the room on the left. It is of normal design with a large array of hand pumps. The walls have their lower halves clad with traditional wooden panelling. Those at the rear of the room are festooned with pump clips. No doubt to inform you of what beers you’ve missed! Right at the back there is a group of leather armchairs with a sofa.

I was with wife Linda and when we visited there was the one regular beer and five guests. The usual one was Three Tuns (Bishops Castle, Shropshire) XXX Pale Ale (4.3%). This brewery was also represented in the guest beers list with their Stout (4.4%).

Others were Hobson’s (Cleobury Mortimer, Worcestershire) Town Crier (4.5%), Byatt’s (Coventry, West Midlands) Big Cat (4.0%), Wye Valley (Stoke Lacey, Herefordshire) Butty Bach (4.5%) and Froth Blower’s Brewery (Erdington, Birmingham) Whistle Wetter (3.5%).

Ciders and Perries were well represented with Thatcher’s (Sandford, Somerset) Traditional (4.9%) and from Barbourne (Worcester) there was Crimson King (6.5%) Cider and Painted Lady Perry (5.0%). All of these were served by hand pumps. Wine is also offered.

Food is typical of a micropub with one exception. There are pork pies, scotch eggs and ham and cheese cobs. For 30p more you can add salad. Of course there were the usual scratchings, crisps and nuts but the main difference was that they also offer cakes and what’s more you can have them with tea in the afternoon. Now that’s a first! So many reasons to pay a visit.

Important Information:

The Weavers Real Ale House, 98 Comberton Hill, Kidderminster, Worcs., DY10 1QH
Tel: 01562 229413

Open: Tuesday-Friday 15.00-21.30; Saturday 13.00-22.00. Sunday-Monday: Closed

As mentioned before the pub is just a couple of minutes from the Kidderminster railway station which is served by trains from Birmingham Snow Hill and continue to Worcester and Hereford. It is the same distance from the Kidderminster terminus of the Severn Valley Railway which runs to Bewdley and Bridgnorth and is operated by steam locomotives for most of the year.
Bus routes take you into Kidderminster town centre and to Bromsgrove.

Update October 2017. Now appears to be open Mon-Sat 12-23:30; Sunday 12-22:30
(but maybe best to check with the pub before travelling a long way).