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| For some people leisure means anything
you do while not working. For me there is nothing leisurely
about running up and down a field, hitting a ball or
competing against somebody else. Basically if I need
to take a shower immediately after doing the activity
- during is okay - then it ain't leisure. The following
articles are things to do when you want to relax, or
do something at your own speed, or perhaps start and
never finish, if it so suits you..,
I'm not listing everything in Tamworth here, because
simply I've not tried everything myself yet. As I do,
this list will grow, but take this as just a sampler
for now.
Restaurants, Cafés
and Pub Grub
N.B. There are several hotels around
and about this fair town of ours, most of which I'm
reliably have really good chefs, and I've taken the
purely arbitrary decision not to list them here because
there just too many of them and some of them are listed
under the tourism section anyway!
Cafes
| Poachers Cafe:
Good food, good price, good service
- what more do you want? |
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Poachers Cafe
6 little Church la
Telephone: 01827 65263 |
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| Pub
Grub
| The Pretty Pigs:
Okay, a slightly worrying name for a
town's pub, but as Toby's go this one ain't
bad. Indeed don't try getting in on a Sunday
without a booking! |
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| Pretty Pigs Inn,
Shuttington Road,
Telephone: 01827 63129 |
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| The Ladybridge:
Just to even the scales, I thought
I'd better mention the Ladybridge which
is a Beefeater, not the greatest food -
but then you don't expect Jamie Oliver running
the kitchen at a pub chain do you? Good
family facilities though and a more central
location than the Pigs. |
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The Ladybridge
Bitters Cote
Telephone: 01827 54414
Weblink |
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| Gate Inn:
Not bad at all, the food is good - the
gaffer an' his missus friendly - and as
its situated on the canal not bad views
either - though keep on eye on the kids
as the play area is canal-side as well.
The only advice I'd give is to call ahead
as some nights the hard drinkers can get
quite deep at the bar! |
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| Greek
| The Greek Restaurant:
Predominantly a 'Private Function' venue,
which is the mainstay of Greek Restaurants
everywhere, you can still get a table booked
for that intimate Keftethes on all days
except Sunday's and Mondays. |
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| Italian
| Armando's:
Armando's is actually inside the Victoria
Court Hotel, never stayed there and never
ate there. I've put it here simply because
I figured somebody might want to investigate. |
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| Armando's
42 Victoria Road
01827 64698
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| Franky & Bennies:
Okay, okay, yes it's a chain and it's
American/Italian, but hey if you don't mind
going in to debt for the beer, the food
is good and it's just across the road from
the cinema for a night out.
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| Frankie & Benny's
Bolebridge St
Tel: 01827 62232 |
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| Chinese
N.B. There are now quite a few takeaways
throughout Tamworth - alas for my Yuk Sung addiction
none that deliver but I live in hope - however the
listings here are for restaurants, where you can sit
down and not worry about aluminium trays.
| New Ruby:
Supposedly the best, but I haven't
tried it - dammit! - so can't honestly comment. |
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| New Ruby
18 Lichfield Street
01827 66882 |
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| Peninsular Cantonese Restaurant:
Well, it is pretty much as you'd expect
i.e. Cantonese food, though a bit too much
of an anglicised menu for Cantonese purists.
Tastes good though!! |
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| Peninsular Cantonese Restaurant
1, Coleshill St
01927 288151 |
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Days
Out
| Drayton Manor:
Made up of a Themepark - good rides!
- and Zoo this one of the oldest parks in
the country built as it was in 1949. Its
on theA4091, close to Junctions 9 &
10 of the M42 and well sign posted, so you
can't miss it. The zoo is open most of the
year while the themepark closes over winter
- call them if you want to make sure. |
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| Treasure Island:
As the name suggests, this isa pirate
themed activity centre, with ball pits and
slides and other thiungs that are apparently
great fun if you haven't reached 6 yet!
If you have there is also Crazy golf and
Tennis Courts - well until October that
is, when they're closed for Winter. |
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| Castle Grounds
(Old Castle Grounds Baths' Building)
01827 709293. |
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| The Snowdome:
If it can be done on snow or ice, it
can be done here. From beginners to experienced
skiers, this is the place to be, but warp
up warm this is real frozen water here,
not plastic. However if that all seems a
little cold for you, there is thre usual
leisure centre activities like a swimming
pool and gym. |
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| Tamworth Castle:
Tamworth Castle is a Norman motte and
bailey castle - whatever one of them is
- and comes complete with mandatory ghost.
Easily visible across the Tamworth skyline,
the castle is open to the fee paying public,
while the grounds are free and have been
landscaped into floral terraces with a garden
for blind and disabled people. The Grounds
extend along the river Anker and eventually
become The Pleasure Grounds, which have
a bowling green, tennis courts, picnic area
and playgrounds. |
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| Tamworth Castle
Tamworth
1827 709629
Weblink |
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| Middleton Hall:
Middleton Hall is a collection of buildings,
dating from the 13th Century, and gardens
open to the public on Sundays and bank holidays.
The Courtyard Centre and Coffee Shop are
open between Wednesday and Sunday and have
all the usual curio, craft and antique shops
that your average 30 year old finds strangely
irresistible.. |
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| Parks:
Tamworth's has some excellent parks
and ranging from the flower gardens in the
castle grounds to Borrowpit lake with its
fishing and the quieter Linear Park in Kettlebrook. |
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| Canal and River Walks:
Tamworth's canal and river systems
are undeveloped and therefore offer a pleasant
diversion for those seeking a more naturalistic
day out. They have been kept remarkably
clean of human debris - perhaps it all gets
washed away in the winter's flooding, who
knows? - so for a nice leisurely walk, stopping
off by the occasional waterside pub and
waving at passing narrowboats they're hard
to beat. |
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| Night
Clubs and Live Entertainment
N.B. Tamworth boasts the usual chains,
Wetherspoons, PJ's, Edwards etc. this section is for
Tamworths more.., shall we say unique places.
| Kube (previously Xenon):
Definitely aimed at the younger end
of the club going spectrum, (if you're over
21 you won't know whether to buy the girls
a drink or help them with their homework).
Expect to hear boyband after boyband, with
a smattering of R&B and top ten singles
- well apart from Tuesday's when you get
some decent trance, or so I'm told. Don't
believe me about the ages? Well they even
have nights set aside for 13 to 17 year
olds K
One. (What happened to homework, can
I ask?) Then again some of the DJ's look
like they went to school with your parents
so be warned! |
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| Embassy Nightclub:
The Embassy opens 4 nights a week and
holds 500 people. It does have a wider age
range than Kube, but do 30 year olds and
18 year olds mix well? You decide. The music
matches the age ranges on the night, which
means a good eclectic mix, which is great
if you want a 80s/90s retro thing, followed
by a solid hour of Ibiza Groove, but don't
expect too many Euphoria tracks IF the oldies
invade is what I'm saying. |
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| Embassy Nightclub
Spinning School Lane
Tel: 01827 58772 |
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| The Assembly Rooms:
The Assembly Rooms were opened on the
8th of October 1889, and although little
has changed since then, has always been
the many centre for live entertainments
and the arts for Tamworth. The Beatles performed
there in the early 60's which is ironic
because most of the groups who play there
now are from the same era!
Don't expect Kylie to appear, do expect
Bonnie Langford.., you have been warned!!!
The rooms host Antique, Craft and Collectors
fairs, as well as the occasional Beer Festival
and is generally a diverting place to shelter
from the rain on a miserable Saturday afternoon. |
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The Tace
Church Street
Tel/Fax:01827-53092
weblink |
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