The Midlands’ Return

Exciting news from Black Country Ale about Bearwood’s real ale pub which will be opening very soon. 

The pub has been named (whoop!  whoop!  pint glasses at the ready!) and in recognition of the building’s previous role as a bank at the centre of daily life in the area the pub will be called The Midland.  

We also think the name is appropriate as the Midland Red Bus Company’s Headquarters used to be in Bearwood.

The competition to name the new venture was entered by hundreds of local people and Graham Manwaring of pub owner’s Black Country Ales explained to welovebearwood that “we have had huge interest in naming the pub and we are grateful to everyone who sent in suggestions. The vast bulk of entries made reference to either the building’s past as a bank or to local references with names like “Three Shires Oak” and “Lightwoods Tavern”. We ruled out names involving Banks and Bankers because of rhyming slang connotations and public disapproval of financiers.

We also thought that the building has been so much a part of Bearwood life for so long that we had to let future pub-goers know of its former use.

The competition to win a barrel of Black Country Ales’ famous BFG beer (72 pints) was won by John McCoy – the first of several people to suggest the new name.

A sample of other name suggestions that were mentioned are listed below, some inspired, some wacky … but all gratefully received. Thank you to all who have taken part – we look forward to seeing you in The Midland."

The Bear Trap

The Ken Wharton (Bearwood’s only Formula 1 Driver)

The Bear’s Pour (Bear’s Paw)

The Bottle Bank

The Counting House

The Pounds, Shillings & Pence – a pub of note

The Little Dribble (in homage to the sadly missed Little Nibble café)

The William Mitchell Pen Factory

The Bear Would … (with image of a bear drinking real ale)

The Black (allowing impecunious customers to say “I was in the Black for the first time in ages”)

The Ferret of Warley

The Julie Walters and

The Pig & Ballbearing

Watch out for more news about The Midlands’ opening date.  We can't wait!