The Wheatsheaf, West Bromwich

Third or possibly fourth time walking past this handsome from the outside pub. Saturday afternoon and it is finally open. Google Maps offers no opening times but Whatpub now suggests its open 7 days a week, later opening at the start of the week. Holdens pub, let down by a brightly lit interior that offers little in the way of a comfy pub exterior. Tables and chairs more suited to a cafe. That said, it was my 6th pub of the day and the Golden Glow was easily the pint of the day. Unsurprising, when you see some of the places I ventured to!

The Wheatsheaf has banquettes across the front windows and a dartboard front left. The counter runs up the right-hand wall where another dartboard resides at the end. There’s a stage at the rear, live music is advertised for every Saturday night and karaoke for every Friday night. I counted eight hand pumps but only two were in operation drawing Holden’s Golden Glow and Black Country Special. The Golden Glow was well served by the friendly governor who was chatting with a couple of equally friendly locals at the bar. There could have been more ale options, but I liked it in here and would return.

This Holdens' pub at the top end of the High Street has a fantastic Brewer's Tudor exterior that really captures the attention in passing. The pub has a two bar set-up, with a compact L-shaped Public Bar to the front and a simple rectangular lounge to the rear, connected by a short passage to the front right. The public bar is fairly basic, with limited, space efficient seating arrangements under the attractive leaded windows and their ancient looking curtains. A few pictures decorate the walls and the servery, which also opens through to the lounge bar, has a smart counter and a gantry embellished with a metalwork leaf motif. The lounge is also fairly basic, with linoleum to the front and carpet through the rest of the space. Banquette and low stool seating runs down either wall under lincrusta wallpaper and red panelling - each panel boasting a wall light and old framed photo, including some interesting old pictures of West Bromwich Albion players of the past. The bar here is smaller with a partly cushioned counter front and all of the handpulls can be viewed from this side as well as the front bar. A huge screen on the rear wall was showing a live football fixture and posters throughout advertised live music. Food seems to be of the cob and pork crunch variety, which is how it should be in such a pub and, like the previous reviewer, I found the place easily navigated on a match day, with no overcrowding and a friendly, mixed bunch of punters in attendance. Four Holden's ales - Bitter, Special, Golden Glow and Old Ale - were available along with Hopback Hopfest as the sole guest. Holden;s Mild was also available in keg format. I had a pint of the Bitter, which was in particularly good shape and served up by a friendly enough barmaid. Despite initial impressions suggesting a rather basic and limited pub, I actually found this a very good spot to relax over a pint and enjoyed the building atmosphere as customers continued to arrive over the course of my stay. The well kept beer and prospect of an interesting guest ale means that this should be one of the first ports of call when in the area.

This is a smallish traditional two bar Holden's tied house. I passed the front public bar as it sounded busy. The rear lounge is carpeted, long and narrow and on my Saturday lunchtime visit was dominated by a large screen showing a football match but at least people were actually watching it. It looked like the same thing was on in the public bar. On offer were the regular four Holden's beers plus a single guest which was Sarah Hughes Ruby Mild at the value price of £2.90. However, I went for the Holden's Special (£2.70) which was in good nick but maybe a trifle warm. I was concerned about coming here as the local team were at Home later in the day but the people in the pub just seemed to be regulars and not on their way to the match. Despite the football screen this wasn't a bad place but I would check the WBA fixtures before returning.

This is a terraced Holden's pub. The upper storeys are in cream, with stone lintels. The lower frontage is classic. It is in black and white (with pilasters) and has large windows, partially etched. The interior has a couple of rooms. At the back, there is a long room, in red and cream, with old photos on the walls. The bar is at the front. It is also in red and cream, with a red tile floor and white ceiling. It has a TV, with racing on and old photos on the walls. The bar was very busy, with a good mixed clientele. There is a side area, with a dart board and bench seats. The service was fine and they do food, but i didn't eat. Beer; usual tap stuff with Holden's MILD and Bitter on electronic cask pumps and Golden Glow, Special and Dark Star Sunburst on handpull. I have always found the electronic cask MILD here a little disappointing, but the handpull Glow was superb. I tend to stick to the handpulls here and as such, I always pop in if in the area.

Pub on main road near West Bromwich centre. There is a small front bar with glazing to the road and a rear lounge - long and thin with tables along the walls and a bit of a basic feel. Holdens beers and a gust - the quality wasn't brilliant on my visit despite being in the Good Beer Guide. Average pub