This quiet suburb of Wolverhampton has a thriving social scene that has left residents feeling as closely-knit as ever
Every area needs its own place where locals can gather, meet up and make new friends, and Claregate is no different.
A quiet suburb of Wolverhampton, Claregate sits north west of Wolverhampton city centre, within the Tettenhall Regis ward, and despite being small in size and population boasts a number of thriving businesses, amenities and sports facilities.
It is bounded on the north east side by the rail line from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury, on the south east side by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and on the west side by the ridge that rises up to Tettenhall village.
The origins of the suburbs name are unknown, though a 13th-century source names a place called 'Clare' in the area.
As a distinct residential area, Claregate has only existed since the pre and post war housing estate was built between the Codsall and Aldersley roads.
This is partly where the tight-knit community spirit around Claregate comes from. The impression I got was that everyone felt like next door neighbours, or at the very least knew each other fairly well.
That takes us back to the hub of entertainment and interaction in Claregate, the famed Hail to the Ale, a pub set on Pendeford Avenue inside a former post office and grocery store which, since opening in September 2013, has become the go-to place for locals.
