PubBlog

Norton Canes:

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This is a pleasant locals pub. There’s no railway any more near here, but it did pass close by. There’s a choice of food from cobs to a full meal, and a decent choice of real ale and cider. There’s a beer garden as well.

Cannock:

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Called in here before a walk back home. It’s a by-the-numbers carvery- but very cheap at £3.59 Mon-Sat. We only had a soft drink.

It’s innoffensive, but unexceptional.

Burley, Hampshire:

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Again, a hotel, but a Fuller’s hotel, so if feels very pubby indeed.

We dropped in here for lunch. It’s a typical Fuller’s chain pub, so a little soulless, but decent beer, decent food, and efficient staff. It’s big, and was busy, but we were served quickly.

Winsor, Hampshire

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We were staying with a friend up the road in Totton, and she suggested this for an evening meal and a few drinks: a fine reccomendation. By chance they had a beer festival and a band on outside: so a fine choice of real ale was evident.

It’s a traditional village pub: multi-roomed with a food area at the back, a bar/lounge area, and a separate area with a pool table, plus outside space under a pergola where the band and the beer festival were set up.

Food was very good, beer excellent, prices OK, staff friendly, atmosphere great. Only problem would be parking, if you drove there.

Aldirdge:

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Right where the A452 meets the A454 just outside the town, the Old Irish Harp is older than it looks at first glane- it has been much extended over the years- and has been a pub to eat at for many years now. It’s now a by-the-numbers Marstons house with a choice of 3 cask ales, plus all the usual stuff, and an extensive food menu. Given that, it’s not bad at all. A bit soulless and Moe’s Family Feedbag, but the food ranges from OK to pretty good, the prices aren’t too bad, and the beer is OK too. The staff are friendly enough too, in a corporate ‘how can I help you today’ kind of way.

Essington:

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This is The Bumpkin‘s local, so I’d better be nice.

It is a nice pub, and surprisingly large, with a real mix of ages from 20somethings on their way to the big city to pensioners. It’s very much a local’s pub, (being the only pub in the centre of the village) but everyone’s friendly. The beer is pretty much always good too, with changing guest beers.

Essington:

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We’ve been curious about this pub for a long time. It’s alongside the A462, a surprisingly busy road that connects Willenhall to the M6. It’s an inviting pub, with a decent car park over the road.

We sampled beer and food: both were good (Abbott Ale FTW), and prices were good too, and the staff were pleasant, so it’s worth a visit. It’s a bit off the beaten track if you’re not driving though.

Essington:

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I’ve been here before, but not for many years. It’s a pleasant little pub with real ale and food: about it’s only disadvantage is it’s location: more than a mile out of Bloxwich.

Still, we were out walking and meeting The Bumpkin, so we dropped in. Very pleasant, nice beer garden.

Kenilworth:

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It’s an Ember Inn, which says all you need to know. The staff were OK, as was the food, but it’s entirely unexceptional. Didin’t try the beer: I was driving .

A458 Near Welshpool:

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A pitstop for lunch. Very friendly, and didn’t whinge about serving food at 14:40. Good beer choice, decent food, good price.

It’s a traditional pub- decor is a bit dated, but everything was clean and it was pleasant.