The Royal Oak, Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton

Traditional Marstons pub in the suburbs, nice staff, beer is average/good, relaxed local feel

Refurbished pub retaining its traditional two-bar layout, although the side wall of the compact left-hand one has been opened-out slightly to join with further seating in a small room beyond. Semi-modern furniture and decor in both of these, but the right-hand bar is more traditional. Banks's Sunbeam (£3.20), Cocker Hoop and Wainwright on handpump each side, together with cask Banks's Original and Bitter also available from electric pumps (which could easily be mistaken for keg founts).

This is a really traditional cottage style local’s pub owned by Marston’s (Banks’s), the main building is grade II listed with two small rooms but there is a more recent single storey extension on the left of the pub. There is a central entrance with two doors which lead right into the public bar or left into the extended dining lounge. The public bar has a small brass topped bar counter across the back of the room with green leather bench seats, a nice cast iron fire place in the right hand wall and a small flat screen TV high up in the front right corner and timber beams, on the walls were old photos of Wolverhampton, a display cabinet containing brass cask taps and several plaques in the front left corner for regulars who are no longer with us. The lounge has an L shaped wood bar counter in the back right corner with nice tiled floor, red leather seats and a rocking chair. Partially separating the lounge bar from the extended dining area is a double sided fire place with a cast iron stove, the dining area has half a dozen modern tables and chairs (shame) and a beautiful antique sideboard against the back wall. The public bar and lounge are connected by a corridor which runs across the back of the building, this also leads out to the large beer garden at the back and on the left of the pub. Regular ales are Banks’s Bitter and Mild on electronic cask pump with a single changing guest on hand pull chosen from Marston’s portfolio such as Brakspear, Jennings, Ringwood or Wychwood beers. On this occasion the guest was Ringwood forty-niner, this and the Mild were both in good condition. A great village style pub with plenty of character in its traditionally decorated rooms, it’s a pity the old dining furniture has gone and been replaced with bland modern style furniture as I feel it detracts from the otherwise cosy lived in feel of the pub. The short menu is extremely well priced with some roast diners only around £3 at lunch times in the week. I love the public bar and the beer is always good so I shall continue to visit when in the area.