The Waterfall, Cradley Heath

I didn't come here on a bus as they are infrequent so I was glad to break the journey up what seemed an interminable hill. As mentioned below, it's a friendly two bar Holden's local boozer. The pub looks rather older than the surrounding buildings so I wonder if it was once a rural pub as it is not really in anywhere but stuck on the outskirts of at least three different West Midland suburbs. Unhelpfully the brewery list of their pubs links it with their Swan at Cradley Heath but they are a long way apart. I didn't see all of the ten beers but there were four Holden's beers, Special, Golden Glow, Ay'It and Scary Face. Guests spotted were Batham's Best, Sarah Hughes Ruby Mild and Enville Ginger Ale. I went for the Holden's Special (£2.90) and Enville Ginger (£3.10) both of which were in good nick. It's a shame that they can't find a place for the mild here, maybe there's not the demand for it in the more suburban areas. Although not the easiest of places to get to this one is well worth the effort.

First an admission - arrived here on a coach with frankly no idea exactly where in the Black Country conurbation the Waterfall is located (apart from being on a steep hill, which hardly helps...). However, leaving that aside, this Holdens house has just about everything one might hope to find in a proper pub. Solid but attractive frontage. Traditional two bar layout, with a comfortable lounge area to one side (albeit with a step up to catch the unwary). Lots of nic-nacs about the walls and ceilings. Some tasty food. Excellent selection of beers from local breweries, including a fine pint of Golden Glow (£2.63). Overall, now that I know where it is, I will try to return as soon as possible for a proper visit. Thoroughly recommended.

The Waterfall is a Holden’s pub that I visited early on a recent Friday afternoon. There are two bars and in the rear bar there is a dartboard and a plasma screen that was turned off in favour of some crooner hits. I only wandered through the back bar as I spent my visit standing in the front bar where I enjoyed a nice pint of Holden’s. I counted nine hand pumps that, along with the Holden’s brews, were also drawing offerings from Bathams, Enville, Pardoes and some guests. The kitchen is open from midday until 14:00 and from 18:00 until 20:30 during the week, all day Saturday and from midday until 16:00 on Sundays. This isn’t that biggest pub and the presence of 16 PubsGalore pub crawlers, along with the locals, gave a very cosy feel. There were no free tables so it was a bit of an effort to eat the curry and chips that had been laid on whilst I held my pint, but I persevered! There is a small beer garden up a few steps out the back and to the left of the pub is a large car park. I really enjoyed it in here and I find it depressing that I may never visit again as a crow would have to fly 260 miles from my front door to enjoy the atmosphere and friendly welcome that I witnessed.