The Westacres, Finchfield, Wolverhampton

My husband and I visit this pub regularly, about eery two weeks, for a reasonably priced pub meal after a day at work. We realise that it is not a restaurant and has no pretensions to be one. The menu is quite varied-the usual steak, pie, scampi and grills, curries, fish and chips. We find portions sizes good and we have only once had a disappointment in about six years(change of management/staff). Staff are friendly and helpful, checking that all is okay. In cooler weather they light the fire and this adds to the atmosphere. The building itself has some old features-twisted chimneys, leaded windows, old staircase. Parts may be old but inside is pretty modern. We like it and recommend it. Different people want different things. Try it yourself and see...

A detached Ember Inns chain pub and restaurant. In a mock-17th century style with patio and beer garden, the building is in undressed brick, with window and door trimmings. It has several gable ends, a nice porch and some crennellation. The interior is a large L-shaped room in the usual modern mix of colours: coffee, chocolate brown, brown patterned wallpaper, with a brown patterned carpet. There are a few open hearth features, with a fireplace at the back. The walls have a mix of old photos, with the usual arty stuff and pressed flowers etc. There are the usual copious amounts of vases and chopped wood to give that authentic Ikea showroom feel. It is of course all set up for food, with a small area at the rear where there is a TV. I didn't eat so can't comment on that. The service was friendly and there were just a few people in, mainly eating. Beer; usual tap stuff with Doombar, Pedigree, Moorhouse Hopfest, Moorhouse Black Cat and another that had the pump-clip stolen! the Black Cat was decent. I am not a fan of Ember Inns in general - with their arty interiors and variable beer quality. Saying that, my experience here was fine and i would go back.

Official pages at the Ember Inns site - www.emberinns.co.uk

Official pages at the Ember Inns site - www.emberinns.co.uk

This is an impressive Victorian building which is owned by Ember Inns, as you enter through the main door the L shaped bar counter is directly ahead in the middle of the pub and bends round to the right. The layout is mostly open plan with an emphasis on dining and the décor is less impressive than the exterior being modern with numerous shelves, weird pointless vases and ornaments and crap abstract paintings. To the left and right of the bar are two double sided log fire places, the area on the left is fairly small but the area on the right stretches back much further with a third double sided fire place towards the back of the building where there is a another small room behind the bar which has a large flat screen TV normally showing Sky Sports News. Regular Ales are Banks’s Bitter and Wells Bombardier with three changing guests chosen from Ember Inns monthly national guest list (Cask Marque). I much prefer traditional pubs with more character, but this isn’t a bad place and the range of beers can be interesting with the occasional surprise. The Mrs likes it because the food is inexpensive and decent with the same menu as all Ember Inns pubs. Although the landlord is Cask Marque accredited the quality of the cask ale does vary a little in my experience.

Old style from the outside but very modern inside - A typical EMBER Inn. Food and beers are good for the brand. Large car park