Yet Another Cycling Forum
Off Topic => The Pub => Food & Drink => Topic started by: Blade on 16 July, 2020, 08:03:37 pm
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Several of my regular cycling companions have expressed a wish to cycle from Wolverhampton to Birmingham and back using the Birmingham Main Line canal towpath.
I'm quite familiar with the route and the various surfaces involved, but have no idea of where to take them for a lunchtime coffee break. My choice would be one of the excellent pubs such as the Wellington, but they seem to prefer coffee instead.
Ideally, I'd like somewhere near the Sea Life Centre, preferably outside, situated alongside the canal and where our bikes were always in our sight.
Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.
As there will be six of us, we don't anticipate any problems with the local yoof who seem to be haunting the Birmingham canals of late.
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I think there's a caféonnaboat usually moored up by the bridge over to the Symphony Hall complex, but 6 bikes piled on the towpath might be a bit of a blockage. I can't remember if it has a windows-flung-open configuration approximating to outdoor seating. Might not be ideal if not.
You could come off the canal at the rattly metal-sheet bridge alongside the Sea Life Centre https://goo.gl/maps/eExZCGFAf8rpokce9 and wiggle your way up to the Ikon Gallery and use their café They'd have curator-level coffee.
Or there's Cherry Reds near the station and on NCR5 https://goo.gl/maps/E2eLWbzgmKWK2SXd7 which might be a happy medium if folks want coffee/booze/food.
I *think* both have outdoor seating usually, although I don't know what current arrangements are. Both off largely pedestrianised areas, so a decent bet.
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Thanks for the suggestions Nikki, the Icon Gallery seems like a suitable venue.
I'm considering using the footbridge by The Malt House and getting on to Broad street, just so they can say they rode along Broad street. Then turning towards, and on to, Oozells Street to get to the Gallery.
Afterwards, going through Central Square and over the rattly bridge alongside the Sea Life Centre to get back on our return route.
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I've never done the Malt House - Broad St section, but IIRC there's a step across Oozells Street that's sloped in such a manner that you can just ride across at one end, but further across it'd do some mischief if it caught you unawares. Might be worth keeping an eye on that and any distracted riders when the time comes!