The Waggon & Horses, Wolverhampton

Large, mock-Tudor, Marston's pub / restaurant with light furniture and decor in the 'L'-shaped arrangement of seating / dining areas but little character left inside after the latest refurbishment. Background music. Also has a side patio terrace facing the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Despite having two banks of four handpumps, the real ale choice is uninspired too: just a couple of Banks's beers - Original (£1.55, half) and Amber - and Wainwright.

Official site of the Waggon & Horses - www.waggonhorsespub.co.uk

A large detached Marston's mock-Tudor pub/eatery with patio, beer garden and kid's play area next to the canal. It is predominantly in undressed brick, but also has white render and toffee coloured beams. The interior is open plan around the central island of a serving bar. It is all foody tables, with no real bar kind of area. The decor is the familiar mix of colours; green, red, cream, white etc on both the walls and the ceiling, with bistro style landscapey art on the walls. I saw no TV and there was no music. I didn't eat here so can't comment on the food. The service was fine and the clientele mixed, with many families. Beer; usual tap stuff with Peroni. On handpull there was Brakspear Gold, Hobgoblin, Perfect Union, Banks's Bitter, Banks's MILD and a decent Ringwood 49er. A nice exterior becomes a rather generic family gastro-pub once inside, however it does have a better than average beer choice. Good if out with the family and eating, but you feel a little out of place if just drinking, unless you go outside.

Official site of the Waggon & Horses - www.waggonhorsespub.co.uk