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The Away End

Championship away supporters' handbook

Away-day planner

The Hawthorns, West Bromwich

Everything an away end needs at The Hawthorns — the route, the safe pub, and the detour worth making. Built around the full 2026–27 Championship fixture list with local event and transport alerts.

Full West Brom guide

Selected date

Sat 1 May

12:30 · v Bolton

Ground

The Hawthorns

Capacity 26,850

Away end

Smethwick End

approx. 3,000

Travel

The Hawthorns

5 min

2026–27 at West Brom

Home fixtures

Your matchday card

West Brom v Bolton

Saturday, 1 May 2027 · 12:30 · The Hawthorns

Kick-off 12:30
Drive to the groundWalk from The Hawthorns

  • Leave home

    3h journey each way

    07:00

  • Pub / food

    Time for a pint and a bite

    10:00

  • At the ground

    Beat the turnstile queues

    11:30

  • In your seat

    Warm-up and team news

    12:10

Times are a guide from the published kick-off — always allow extra for engineering works and matchday road closures.

Stylised illustration of The Hawthorns in West Bromwich
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Getting there

  • The Hawthorns station — Train and Metro tram interchange right beside the ground — one of the best-connected in the league.
  • Midland Metro — Trams from Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton stop at the ground.
  • Parking — The Hawthorns has a park and ride, plus industrial estates off the A41; M5 J1 is minutes away.
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Safe away spots

  • The Vine — Legendary Indian barbecue pub in West Bromwich; a proper away-day institution. Map
  • Halfords Lane kiosks — Burger and pie stands right outside the away turnstiles. Map
  • Birmingham Jewellery Quarter — A tram ride away with the best pubs on the route. Map
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Worth the detour

Stylised illustration of Black Country Living Museum

Black Country Living Museum

Twenty minutes away in Dudley; the best living museum in the Midlands.

Open in maps
Stylised illustration of Jewellery Quarter

Jewellery Quarter

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, frozen in 1981, on the tram line.

Open in maps
Stylised illustration of Sandwell Valley

Sandwell Valley

Country park and RSPB reserve a mile from the ground.

Open in maps
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Off the beaten track

Lower-profile pubs, cafés and corners the locals keep to themselves.

  • The Vine, Roebuck Street

    Legendary Indian barbecue inside a Black Country pub — order at the tandoor in the back.

    Open in maps

  • Sandwell Valley RSPB

    Lakes, hides and farm trails immediately behind the Hawthorns.

    Open in maps

  • Jewellery Quarter workshops

    A tram ride away: working goldsmiths, the Coffin Works and quiet cafés.

    Open in maps

Transport alert

Early televised kick-off

A 12:30 start usually means leaving before the first fast train of the day — pubs near the ground may not open until 11:00.

Transport alert

Bank holiday network works

Easter and the May bank holidays are the heaviest engineering weekends of the year. May trips into West Bromwich should be planned around a possible line closure.

Ground note

The Hawthorns is the highest ground in the top four divisions — it is cold and open.

Ground note

Trams are packed after full time; walking one stop down the line is quicker.

What the day will cost

Rough guide for a trip to West Bromwich

Rough advance return fare per person

  • Travel£53
  • Away ticket£30
  • Drinks (3 pints)£16
  • Food on the day£14

Each person

£112

Group of 2

£225

Estimates only — fuel at 16p a mile, pints at £5.20, and walk-up rail fares can be far higher than advance singles.

Before you set off

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