The Star, Burntwood

Yes, an Ember Inn, with most customers eating, but still more pub-like than most. Partly opened-out to leave a variety of mid-sized seating / dining areas, so not feeling cavernous. With all five handpumps in use, I found a surprisingly good selection of London Pride, Tribute, Purity's Mad Goose, Skylab from Dark Star and Salcombe Brewery's Devon Amber (£2.95 with Camra and Thursday discounts). The barman was also notably friendly and well-informed too.

Official pages at the Ember Inns site - www.emberinns.co.uk

Official pages at the Ember Inns site - www.emberinns.co.uk

White, double fronted pub down a side street just off the Market Place. There is a large comfortable front bar, decorated in “front room style” with pictures, willow pattern plates and Constable's Haywain hanging over the fireplace. Behind that there is a very steep staircase down to toilets and another drinking area with pool table. Only John Smith's Cask but well kept, and matching traditional lagers/smooth flows. Mixed clientele but tending towards middle aged men. Friendly staff and customers, constant music at low volume from the juke box.

A pub that takes its name from a celestial body, which should have looked to the coal industry for inspiration instead - The Pits, or The Hell Hole would be more accurate. Its an Ember Inn, and yes, when i left i had the horrible thought that i wished embers were all that was left of it. I resented the waste of shoe leather walking to it. A large detached brick build, with a beer patio. The interior is open plan around the central bar. It's modern, with vases, stacks of wood and arty pictures (including one of, yes, vases)positioned on bland white, cream, beige and salmon walls for maximum effect; and it worked, i felt like i wanted to leave pretty quickly. The eclectic mix of high stools, comfy chairs, sofas was present, along with silent TVs, background music set a little too loud so you got all the young clientele shouting to each other in order to be heard - especially to their mate, the barman, when asking for a choccy sundae and four spoons. Service i received was fine. Beer; tap stuff, with Brew XI, Spekky Hen, Brew Dog and Brains Merlin Oak on handpull, the Oak was ok to start, but went flat. Devoid of character, this place seemed to be aimed at the young and those that want to recapture it.