The Swan, Cradley Heath

Sorry to report that Jaspers is finished. I have had many happy times in here. I used to use it quite a lot. Not sure what the future holds for the building but the front door has been bricked up !

This place is much as described below, although it would appear that the outside has been redecorated and it seemed alright inside. It's very much a local's pub but seemed a bit off the beaten track to me. On my late Saturday afternoon visit it was fairly quiet. The disappointment was finding just one beer on Golden Glow (£2.50). This was in excellent condition but you expect a choice in a Holden's pub.

A typical detached cottage-styled Holdens Brewery pub, with a central doorway being flanked by bay windows. Known locally as Jaspers, it is in yellow painted brick, with the base level being in black. It has a rear beer garden. The interior has a single open plan room. There is a little dart area, a pool area and a little lounge area. The decor is a real mix; exposed brick, wood panel and white walls, with a part coffee and beam and part wood ceiling. It has a mainly red tile floor, though there is blue carpet in the lounge bit. There are a few plates and mirrors on the walls, with a fair bit of footy memorabilia from all kinds of teams, both local and Man Utd/Liverpool etc. There is a TV, which had the footy on. They do pork sandwiches and such like, but i haven't tried them. The service was fine and the clientele, mixed locals. Beer; usual tap stuff with Holden's Golden Glow and a very good Holden's MILD on handpull. A spit and sawdust traditional Black Country pub, with Holdens beer - so, class beer in other words at a couple of quid for a MILD. A must if in the area for me.