The Mallard, Telford

Formerly known as the Lakeside Tavern (its near Homer lake)this is a fairly modern pub built in the mid 1980s , first impression is not to good the steepish car park would not look out of place on a tank testing range with its huge red and white sleeping policeman seemingly placed at random , better news when you get to the pub , it has had a bit of a face lift allthough its still a little tatty around the edges . The entrance is on the right and you turn left into the unusual bar area , there is a pool table in the middle and the bar counter at the far end , half way down on the right is an unusual raised alcove , reached by a few steps it looks a bit like a minature old fashioned football stand (albeit one that holds about eight people). There is a downstairs lounge area(closed on my afternoon visit) No real ale on just the usual fizzy keg and unusually for the area a selection of Highgate beers (just keg) Service was friendly enough as were the other customers (might be different at night) Its OK for an estate pub , and the unusual layout gives it a bit of character , but the lack of real ale marks it down for me