Archive for July, 2012
The Starting Gate
by stymaster on Jul.29, 2012, under Walsall
Walsall:
This is very much a backstreet drinkers pub: it’s very close to the town centre but you’re unlikely to find it unless you know it’s there. By the looks of the place it’s an old building, and is rumoured to be haunted.
The drinkers had been hard at it when we visited, but were friendly enough: rowdy, but friendly. Music was loud (but, to be fair, not shit) beer was acceptable, but no better (no ale, Stella was that 4% rubbish). Allegedly the place was refurbed in 2006, though I’d say “what with” to that. It reminded me of the Duke of Rutland or Shoulder of Mutton in several ways: old, traditional boozers with a local crowd, loud but OK music, and limited drinks range. Very much rough and ready…
The Court House
by stymaster on Jul.29, 2012, under Dudley
Dudley:
Right in the town centre, I was a bit concerned this might be a bit ‘spoons-esque, but it turned out to be another Black Country Taverns house, and not bad at all. Big, open plan, and quite like the Black Country Arms in character. Decent beer, the TVs were on with Olympic coverage, but not too loud.
Ma Pardoes (The Old Swan Inn)
by stymaster on Jul.29, 2012, under Uncategorized
Netherton:
The stuff of legends. Why have I not been here before? Well, mainly because it’s way over in Netherton. It’s worth the trip though: a traditional, multi-room pub with great features, a famed brewery onsite, good food, and tons of atmosphere. One of my favourite pubs. We were blessed by good weather to enjoy the pleasant beer garden, but the inside is wonderful too.
The Vine
by stymaster on Jul.21, 2012, under West Bromwich
West Bromwich:
You can catch sight of this legendary West Brom pub from the M5, if, for example you’re stuck in traffic. It’s tucked in a mixed industrial/residential area down a backstreet, and looks like a traditional boozer. In many ways it is: good beer, lots of little rooms. The surprise is out the back: what would have been a yard is enclosed now and has a indoor Tandoori barbeque. We didn’t eat, retiring instead to the front of the pub for a quiet drink- which is one of this pubs strengths: the back is family friendly (but not over-run with kids) and food-biased, the front traditional. There’s great real ale, and Cobra lager. Judging by the number of people dining (many of them Asian), the food must be good too.
The Horse and Jockey
by stymaster on Jul.21, 2012, under Wednesbury
Wednesbury:
Big, imposing Victorian pub on the A461. I loved this place, even though it was evidently a tiny bit run down and there was no real ale. The staff were friendly, the lager was bearable, and the building fantastic: it was clearly once very grand, (and a hotel at one time), and some features remain, notably the impressive tiling.
Ye Olde Leathern Bottel
by stymaster on Jul.21, 2012, under Wednesbury
Wednesbury:
Tucked in a Wednesbury side street, this is a real surprise: a proper, olde-world pub- the sort of thing you find in country villages, not smack in the middle of the urban West Midlands- it claims to originate from 1510. Inside, it’s very traditional- I’ve not seen beaten copper table tops in a Midlands pub for years. Pleasant staff (the landlord in a shirt and tie, too), decent beer as well.
The Rosehill Tavern
by stymaster on Jul.21, 2012, under Wednesbury
Wednesbury:
Randomly encountered this pub we didn’t even know existed while walking to Ye Olde Leathern Bottel from Park Lane/Manor House Rd. Tucked in a backstreet, it’s a pleasant community pub- open plan now but probably multi-room once. There’s some nice original glass and other features, and pleasant staff and decent beer too- a choice of real ale. TVs were on, but not too loud, which was nice.
