Oldbury:
Right opposite Sandwell & Dudley station, so nowhere near Dudley.
We’d spotted this on the way to The Fourways and thought it looked worth a punt, and so it proved to be. A bonus desi pub we weren’t expecting. Pretty traditional inside, friendly staff, no cask ale, decent lager.
Rowley Regis:
Pub Website
Whatpub Entry
We picked up the desi pub tour we left hanging back in 2018, with the last pub from the book, and the hardest to get to, but still not a major trial.
The pub itself is another roadhouse style pub, like several of the others, and quite imposing on a crossroads near the top of a hill. There’s two statues of Queens Guards at one door, and two coppers at the other, and a variety of other statues in the beer garden. Inside is a bit opened out, but not too much, but it’s clearly set up for food, though it hasn’t ruined the pub atmosphere. Friendly staff, fantastic food. No cask but good lager. Lots of TVs, but the volume was sane and they were showing WRC rather than football 🙂 .
Princes End, Tipton:
Normally, this would be an unexceptional local’s pub, were it not for the quite alarming angle the building continues to stand at.
It’s grade 2 listed, and we’ve been past many times, but not gone in before.
The place was friendly, inside isn’t plush by any means, but it was OK. No ale, sadly, but my Guinness was perfectly drinkable. Worth a visit to sightsee, especially if you’re a structural engineer who’s already seen The Crooked House.
Sedgley:
Right opposite the glorious Beacon Hotel, this is under new management, and when we visited, very nice too. Friendly locals and staff, some great ale, and outside space. Freshly refurbished, but not stripped of character.
Sedgley:
This place is legendary: it has the Sarah Hughes brewery attached, and appears on most CAMRA lists as one of those pubs you must visit. It’s traditional timewarp inside- really a step back in time- and the beer garden is a step back IMO too, but only 35 years or so, where the pub seems to add a hundred to that. Shortly, it’s fantastic. Great beer, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, cobs.
Pensnett:
Our last Batham’s house of the day. This is a unusual building. Very friendly barman, excellent beer. Probably our least favorite Batham’s house of the day, but still not bad at all.