The Robin, Smethwick

Side-street pub with a corner bar (in darkness when I visited) and a larger two-part lounge with plain but tidy furniture. Doing reasonable business with quite a few locals in on a cold winter evening. One very disused handpump on the counter, and not a great deal of draught beer choice otherwise, so settled for a quick Worthington's (£2.90).

This is a detached (originally terraced) Victorian pub, with patio, formerly called the Robinson Crusoe Inn - now, just the Robin. It is a sizable place, with a double gabled side and is in white render with a red foundation level. The chimney's are green, reflecting a former colour scheme for the pub. The interior has a couple of rooms. To the left on entry there is a bar room, with pool, darts, table footy and a TV (not on). As it had kids in, i made a return to the lounge. This room is in cream artex, with a white and fake beam ceiling, with red bench seats and stools. It is part-patitioned, which may actually be a wall of the original pub, looking at the 1870s OS map. There are a few TVs, which were showing footy. A few prints are on the walls and a few trophies on display in the corner. There was no music. The service was fine and the place busy with locals. The place do curries, chilli and stew for a few quid during the day. Beer; no real ale and no MILD - i had to have a shandy. It seems a popular locals pub and i felt comfortable here - it is just a shame there was no beer to my taste.

away from shopping center well worth going out of your way for