The Victoria Inn, Shell Corner, Halesowen

This is a detached Maston's pub with a front patio area. It is in undressed brick and is in a mock 17th century continental style, with its dormered mansard roof, sash windows and dog-tooth string course. The symmetrical frontage has been spolit slightly by the blocking up of one of the doorways. The interior has two rooms that are off an entrance corridor and that are served by a central bar, though you can't see from one to the other. The bar is at the front of the pub, the lounge (which was locked) at the rear. The decor has cream and wood panel walls, with carpet flooring apart from the red tile around the bar and the dart board. The ceiling is green, with a white cornice. It has green leather perimeter seating, as well as stools. A few trophies, some golf images and a few old photographs decorated the walls. There was a TV, with the footy on and there was no background music. The service was fine and there were a few locals in. Beer; usual tap stuff with three Marston's range handpulls; Sweet Chariot, Banks's Bitter and a very good Banks's MILD I thoroughly enjoyed my stop off here. A good beer, a look around the photos on the walls and an attractive exterior. The two Manchester clubs going out of Europe was just a bonus.