PubBlog

Walsall Wood:

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Not a pub we visit that often. It’s not that far away, but it seems further than it is.

It’s a open-plan pub now (and has been for as long as I’ve known it), with a conservatory extension at the back, and a sizeable car park/beer garden beyond that. No food besides cobs, and just the usual beers (but at least the Kronenbourg was good), but it’s a pleasant community pub with a pool table that’s been sensibly relocated to the back. The smoking area, for those of you that smoke, is impressive, with shelter and a stove.

It’s always at least OK, and has recently served as a nice bolt-hole for a quiet pint when every other pub has loud music and/or TVs.

High St, Walsall Wood:

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A very local pub, but not one we visit regularly: on occaision it has been a bit rough, but this time it was actually rather good: fewer kids wandering about (and those that were were quiet), TVs were quiet, guest ale good too, and friendly staff. May have to visit more often.

[edit]
A subsequent visit was fine- early doors (6pm), until someone decided a load of rap-with-a-silent-c music at high volume was appropriate. [sigh]

Near Coven, just off the A449 Wolverhampton-Stafford Rd:

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This place has changed hands fairly recently- and I was last in here nearly 20 years ago. It’s now a pretty average managed pubco pub in several ways: nothing really stands out, but it’s not a chain pub. I was driving, sadly, so the beer remains unsampled.

It clearly used to be a multi-room pub but has been opened out. There’s food, but it doesn’t take the pub over: The food itself is very slightly expensive compared to some, but the steak was *excellent*, even though the rest didn’t match that, it was perfectly OK.

Wednesfield:

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The second truly excellent time-warp pub in Wednesfield, built in the late 30s and listed. Inside, it’s like stepping back in time, and both food and beer are excellent and reasonably priced. Between this and the Pyle cock, Wednesfield can be unexpectedly pleasurable.

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Wednesfield:

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How wonderful a pub is this?

It meets several itmes on my ‘desireable‘ list, in that it’s Victorian, it has cobs, it’s not far from a canal and a bus, has 3 public rooms, seems to have a beer garden, no children visible, no TV, and a real fire.

It’s got atmosphere in spades, and excellent beer too. I just wish I lived nearer. Things are very traditional- a bar, a smoke room, and a lounge, and it’s really like a Black Country pub of years ago.

sadly it seems to be about to undergo a change of managment, as it’s to let.

Wolverhampton:

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The Bass take on Wetherspoons. The Goose chain is just like a ’spoons inside, with similar atmosphere, clientele, beer, and food. That’s not a disaster: the food is OK (and cheap), the beer pretty good (and cheap), and it’s not an unpleasant place for lunch and a couple of pints. There’s not the atmosphere of a proper pub (like the Posada, just up the street, which was sadly shut at 11:50 when we arrived), but you could do worse.

Shenstone, Staffordshire:

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Shenstone is essentially a slightly posh commuter village for Birmingham. Unusually, this Railway pub still has a railway nearby: the Cross-City Line is just up the road.

The pub itself? Well, I was driving, so the beer didn’t get tested. The wine got no complaints though, and the food was very good: it’s obviously quite an important part of business, but the restaurant area is clearly defined- this isn’t a restaurant with a bar, it’s a pub that serves food. The interior is typically modernised, but it’s not devoid of atmosphere.

Sandwell St, Walsall:

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Can’t believe this hasn’t made it here before, which means it’s more than 10 months sine I’ve been. This is unacceptable . Also, it’s several months since I’ve been to a pub that isn’t already in here, which is also unacceptable. Anyway, back on-topic.

It’s changed hands recently, but things still seem good. This is a nice community pub on the outskirts of town, in a lovely listed Victorian building. There doesn’t seem to be food, (though there used to be cobs, but none were evident today), and there’s a choice of most of the usuals, and 3 permanent well kept real ales plus a guest, and, unusually, Leffe. The music manages that critical volume that is audible, but can be talked over. There’s free wi-fi, and a resident cat who was curled up by the radiator.

Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway:

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This was an actual hotel, but the distinction gets a bit blurred north of the border, and the other Thornhill entry was a hotel/pub too, so it gets a mention.

Interior was a bit dated, but the beer OK and the barmaid very friendly. Prices reasonable, 80s soundtrack.

Dumfries:

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Wetherspoons in Dumfries: what could go wrong?

Actually, both Dumfries and this pub were better than expected. Great beer choice, nice staff, low prices, and, unusually for a spoons, it was clean. The round was £2.03, beating even this. Lots of activity from the local CAMRA branch too.