PubBlog

Walsall:

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Long overdue for a blogged visit, we hadn’t been here in a long time, so a visit in the company of Andy seemed appropriate.

The Pretty Bricks has always been known as such, but it’s official name was The Tap and Spile, with The Pretty Bricks being a nickname from the unusual glazed bricks on the frontage. For some years it’s been noted for real ale.

It’s a traditional 2 room pub, now owned by Black Country Taverns, a small but growing chain in and around the Black Country, who specialise in traditional pubs, and they’ve adopted the name as it’s official one.

It’s a great place: 5 or 6 well-kept real ales, food (both a menu and cobs/pork pie), no music or gaming machines, and a friendly welcome.

Fordhouses, Wolverhampton:

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I had to deliver a friend’s PC back to him, and this was one of the nearest places to go for food. It’s part of the Table Table chain, so I suppose it’s a slightly upmarket chain pub, like The Dilke. As such, it’s OK, but not cheap (while not that expensive either), and the food is OK rather than spectacular. I didin’t try the beer, but the choice was good, and the staff pleasant. The place was pretty busy, but service was still OK.

Streetly:

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I pass this pub practically every weekday, but rarely go in. It’s a traditional pub that’s now part of the Sizzling chain. This essentially means cheap but unremarkable food and beer, and a standardised chain experience. This isn’t a bad thing, if that’s what you’re after: the food isn’t bad at all, the beer is drinkable (but no real ale), and it’s a fairly comfortable place to sit.

Park Hall, Walsall:

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I don’t think we caught this on a good day, but by god, it was grim. We had high hopes, this being a Good Beer Guide featured pub, and, to be honest, the beer was very good indeed. But beyond that? It’s a 1960s pub with 1980s decor in the middle of Park Hall, a 1960s housing estate. It was packed, and packed with loud football supporters watching the very loud TV. Dark to the point of pitch black inside, and generally not somewhere I’d go back to. Shame.

Original post here

I’ve always liked the Swan. It’s a traditional community pub in Brownhills, and as I posted here it’s just re-opened. It’s now a free house, so hopefully the new owners will be able to make a decent living and keep the prices realistic.

The new owners have done a cracking job: the interior has been redecorated and looks fresh, but still traditional. There’s cobs (yay!), a good welcome, and a good selection of beer at decent prices, including 2 well-kept cask ales. A very nice pub.

Lynton:

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Nothing exceptional: beer Ok, but rather lacking in atmosphere.

Lynmouth:

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A hotel, but the bar is a traditional pub. Good beer, great food, pleasant staff.

Lynmouth:

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Pleasant traditional pub in the middle of town. Landlord was very friendly. Decent beer choice and food (though we didn’t eat).

Dunster:

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Friendly, traditional pub. decent beer, and the opportunity to the told to fuck off by a parrot (called Nelson). What’s not to like?

Washford, Watchett:

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We walked from The London Inn via an old mineral line. This pub is a roadside/railside pub- not sure how old, but I’d guess around railway time. Decent beer, friendly barmaid, near the station, and outside space for some autumn sunshine.