The Chestnut Tree, Finchfield, Wolverhampton

Official site of The Chestnut Tree - www.sizzlingpubs.co.uk

Official site of The Chestnut Tree - www.sizzlingpubs.co.uk

Located in the western suburbs of Wolverhampton, this is a family dining pub that somehow found its way into the Good Beer Guide in 2023. I say somehow as the real ale choice was all fairly mainstream - Doom Bar, Tribute & Wainwright are the regular beers. The guest beer was HPA. Another handpull was clipped with a Weston's Rosie's Pig cider, but when I tried to order it, the barman said he didn't have any. Although there was no attempt to turn the clip round. There is no character at all to this pub. It really wasn't worth taking the bus out of the city centre here. I should have stayed in the Moon Under Water.

This is a detached 1960s/70s looking extended estate house styled pub with patio and beer garden areas. It is in plain brick, with some white and is as dull as they get - no aesthetic quality. The interior has a single room - one end being a 'bar' with a pool table, sofas and a kid's grabbing machine, but it is mostly given over to dining. The decor is cream and wood panel, with a red patterned carpet and lots of vases decorate the place, with a few old photos and silent TVs. There is a trophy cabinet in the bar area. The service was OK and the clientele mixed - it was very busy, so most people clearly like this kind of thing. Beer; usual tap stuff with three handpulls - two with clips reversed and seemingly not used, although one had a smaller clip - Brewhouse Lemon Grass on and was on - the other one on was Bombardier. I had half a coke at £1.65. Not a good experience for someone with my tastes, I couldn't wait to leave. One chestnut that should be roasted on an open fire.

This 70’s era pub is owned by Mitchell’s and Butlers, Entering through the main entrance you will see a medium sized open plan layout with the long bar counter straight ahead, bar area to the right and slightly larger dining lounge to the left. The bar has a pool table in the middle, a flat screen TV in the corner and a pull down projector screen mounted on the ceiling in front of some double doors which lead out on to a patio. The décor in the lounge is a bit more modern with shelves and the odd ornament with paintings on the wall, there are more doors leading out onto a large wooden decked area which has a picturesque view of the car park! Regular Ale is Banks’s Bitter with two changing guests from M&B’s national portfolio (Cask Marque and “all” the ale prices were more reasonable than most pubs in the area) I was pleasantly surprised by this place, the exterior is uninspiring as it looks a lot like a 70’s three bed detached house with ground floor extensions but the modern interior is not as garish as some modern pubs can be. The menu boasted about being traditional British favourites and it was cheap but we had already eaten. All three beers were very well kept in my opinion, I may not rush back but I would certainly give this place another go.