The Vine (Bull & Bladder), Brierley Hill

What can I say that hasn't been said about the Bull & Bladder? A gem of a pub. I don't think the Bitter can be beaten. I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of this pub (And Ma Pardoes) and it remains one of my favourites. If you haven't visited, you really should!

This Batham's brewery pub is always popular and both the bitter and mild were going down well with our group on Saturday. Well described on past posts.

2nd visit in 3 years. All perfectly described here. Only thing to add is the landlord of 28 years (!) is retiring soon. Things do change.

The Black Country is a great part of the country for fans of traditional pubs tied to local small scale breweries and the Vine, as the outlet for the excellent Bathams Brewery, ranks right up there with the very best. Unfortunately upon arrival the front of the building was obscured by scaffolding, which meant I could only catch the odd glimpse of the fine facade and the infamous Shakespeare quote was completely hidden from view. You enter into a corridor with a number of rooms off to either side. One such doorway, immediately to the right, takes you into a terrazzo floored front bar with the servery along the back wall sporting a nice dark wood counter and a bar back with colourful glazed tiling. Sturdy benches and low stools are arranged around the other three walls which have been decorated with some great old articles and memorabilia relating to the pub and brewery. Back into the corridor, which has some fine tiling of its own, depicting the Bathams bull logo, there is access to a front lounge in what used to be a butcher's shop, where smart seating can be found in a deceptively sizeable space. The room behind has a slightly more spartan feel to it, but is decorated with all sorts of interesting bits including an impressive set of bulls horns and a certificate for the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, as well as lots of old black and white photos. Seating is limited to regular chairs which serve four or five mid-size tables. There is a serving hatch in the corridor, roughly opposite this room and beyond is access into a final room - an elongated rear bar which has a small and plainer servery to the front and long, rather uncomfortable, banquettes down either side with a dartboard to the rear with a large trophy cabinet next to it. There are some great old photos of the pub and its former customers on one wall and some pleasant leaded windows on the other side and the room seemed to be where the younger customers congregated, with the front bar limited to the old boys and the side rooms preferred by those looking for a bit of privacy. The corridor opens out a bit to the rear into what feels like a narrow courtyard of sorts with picnic benches down one side and the toilets at the far end. No surprises on the bar - just the two regular Bathams ales of Best Bitter and Mild to choose from. Somehow I've never managed to find Bathams Mild before, so I was keen to try a pint, which the friendly barmaid served up for me. It was a cracking pint and every bit as good as their outstanding Best Bitter - this is how you do a core range of beers! These two beers seemed to be the order of the day amongst the old boys in the front bar, and I guess such good throughput must really help keep the quality at top levels. This is a great traditional pub that should be a must for anyone with an interest in historic pub interiors, but it benefits greatly from also being the tap for one of the country's most consistent brewers. The fact that Bathams rarely seems to travel much beyond the Black Country means that a visit here to catch it at source is pretty much essential. An absolutely top notch pub and one I sincerely hope to return to soon.