Category Archives: Burntwood

Burntwood, Revisits, Staffordshire

Revisit: The Drill Inn

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CAMRA/Whatpub

We had been in The Drill once or twice since the last blog entry nine years ago, but it had been a while again: the bus route no longer goes nearby, but not to worry, we were in the car.

A small celebration saw us eating out in the week again.

The Drill really feels like a country pub, tucked down a lane. Plenty of parking, a kids area, outside space. Inside is fairly traditional but with some modern shabby-chic decor. There’s a strong food bias with a pretty decent menu- the food is great and reasonably priced, and the staff friendly

Burntwood, Staffordshire

The Nelson

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Chorley, Burntwood, Staffordshire:

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CAMRA/Whatpub

We wanted to take our neighbours out for food and drinks, and The Nelson fitted the bill nicely: above average pub food, decent parking, a country pub atmosphere. It’s just outside Burntwood, but the suburban sprawl drops away quickly and it feels like a proper country pub.

It’s quite food-biased, though there are places to just drink. Food was very good, beer was apparently good, and there was a decent choice of alcohol-free too. Pleasant staff, and decent prices- it’s not bargain basement pub food, but it’s good value.

Burntwood, Staffordshire

The Wych Elm

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Burntwood, Staffs:

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We’d been for an excellent Chinese meal nearby, and I’d not been in here for some 35 years, so we gave it a go as it was a handy place to get picked up from, and we’d already been to Vintage Liquid Taphouse nearby.

It’s not bad, but nothing special, either: a typical family feedbag pub, a little grubby in places. Evidently older than I remembered it (I thought is was modern, but it’s probably Victorian)

Standard feedbag menu, some cask ale, usual suspects otherwise. Surprisingly quiet for a Friday night.

Burntwood, Staffordshire

Vintage Liquid Taphouse

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Burntwood:

Previous Incarnation

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This is Sankey’s Taphouse reborn, with new owners. The old place was great, so this had a lot to live up to.

It’s not massively changed inside, but that’s no bad thing. Very busy, at early evening on a Friday: we had to sit on stools.

Pleasant staff and locals. My first pint was, however, clearly knackered, but changed without any issue, and the replacement was great.

It’s much nicer than the name suggests: to me the name suggested a load of hipster wankery, in actual fact it’s a nice micropub with a good range of beer and a nice atmosphere.

Burntwood, Revisits, Staffordshire

Revisit: The Uxbridge Arms

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Chasetown, Burntwood, Staffs.

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A revisit to a pub I already liked a lot, but it has now been taken over by Black Country Ales, extensively refurbished, and re-opened just a couple of days ago.

It’s lovely. The outside has been smartened up, the inside is fresh, clean, and firly bright, but still traditional. There’s the standard arrangement for Black Country pubs: TV screens displaying the huge choice of ales, cobs on offer, traditional decor.

Outside there’s a decent smoking shelter if that’s your thing, and a nice beer garden.

Beer was in excellent form, too. With the other 3 nice pubs nearby, there’s quite the making of a good pub crawl here.

Burntwood, Closed, Revisits, Staffordshire

[CLOSED] Revisit: Sankey’s Tap House

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It’s been 4 years sine we went here, and it’s changed a little.

The layout has changed a bit, it’s been decorated and refurbished. There’s two toilets now, not just a single one. The proprietor has settled in to the place and now seems entirely at ease: our first visit was very early on and he was getting to grips with it.

What hasn’t changed is that said proprietor is really friendly, the beer is still fantastic, the music is still present but not too loud.

It has continued table service after the lifting of Covid restrictions, and I feel this suits it well: the benefit of not having crowds around the bar.

Basically, it was great in 2017, and it’s even better now 🙂

Burntwood, Staffordshire

The Crown Inn

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Chasetown, Staffs:

Been meaning to go in here for some time, but the lure of other nearby pubs, coupled with a reputation for being a bit “vibrant” had put us off.

Well, it may have been vibrant a while ago, but there’s been a new landlord since October 2020. Inside, it’s open plan, tidy, and pleasant. There’s 2 old Banks’s fireplaces of the sort that used to be common around here. 2 real ales (61 Deep & Hobgoblin Gold this time), music at a sane volume, and the landlord is friendly and keen. Well worth a visit, especially given the surrounding pubs are good too.

Burntwood, Staffordshire

The Star Hotel

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Burntwood, Staffs:

A Ember Inn, so it’s a pub for people that don’t like pubs :-).

I’m being unkind. Ember Inns are OK, in their way. The food’s usually at least OK, they tend to have a few cask ales on, the interiora are a bit of a fake-traditional thing- and this was the case here. It’s an imposing building outside- late 19th century at a guess.

Ember Inns used to have a no children policy, but I they’ve sadly relented on that now, not that it was a problem for us on a weekday lunchtime.

Beer was fine, but maybe a bit cold for some real ale twats, fine for me.