The Spring Hill, Wolverhampton

A massive food pub that looks like a timber barn from the American West - i half expected to be served by Amish bar staff and have the soundtrack to Seven Brides For Seven Brothers repeated endlessly on loop. Anyhow, it is, interestingly, curved in shape and has red shutters on white timbers, on a red brick foundation. There is a patio area. The interior has a bar room to the right on entry - the rest is a cave of many colours given over to food, which i didn't really see, other than there was a fish tank (no, not chose your own dinner!). The bar is in green wood panel, with exposed brick and timbers in a rather fakey kind of 'your in a barn way'. Prints are on the walls and bits of brass, bottles and other ephemera is dotted about. Green and blue settles provide some seating, which shows you cant take the place too seriously. There was no TV that i saw and the background music was general and at a soft level. The service was fine and there were several people drinking, although they ordered a table later. Beer; usual tap stuff Peroni, whilst on handpull there was Ruddles County, Old Spekky Hen and Purity UBU. I had the Spekky, which was fine. Not the greatest beer choice, but the place had a clear bar area and is a little fun to visit. I would pop in once in a while.

This is a large food led free house which was built between the wars and is now owned by Ludlow Taverns, the exterior is unusual with cream wood planking and window shutters painted bright red, the interior is a bit rustic in places and mostly open plan with three areas. The main porch has an old market barrow in the corner this leads into a kind of reception area which has an open kitchen arrangement at the back with an old cast iron spit roast fire place in the back left wall. On the right of the building is a public bar area which has two levels with a bar counter across the back wall, lots of exposed brick work such as a large chimney breast in the back right corner, timber beams, old paintings on the walls, collections of jugs, plates and various brass bits and pieces dotted around. On the left of the building is a dining area on two levels, this has many timber beams and pillars with a hay loft type construction in the roof, old farming equipment and wood crates give an old barn feel to the pub. The far left wall of the dining area is almost entirely glass which makes for a bright room and it overlooks the car park on the left of the pub. Three changing guest beers usually chosen from the West Midlands or neighbouring counties with no regular ales, the three beers on this visit were all fairly local, Hobson’s Old Henry, Ludlow Boiling Well and Morton’s Scottish Maiden. I tried all three and they were excellent in my opinion (Cask Marque). A great pub that ticks lots of boxes for me. Primarily a well kept and interesting beer choice, good food and an interesting setting with lots to see. It lacks a bit of character as it feels a little gimmicky, this may be because it was a Harvester in a previous incarnation and it hasn’t quite recovered yet. The pubs menu has a wide range of food but specialises in fish dishes and everything is freshly prepared using mostly local produce. A good one for the family, I shall return.