The Wheatsheaf, Wolverhampton

Marston's town-centre boozer concentrating on real ale and TV sport, with a clientele almost 100% blokes as far as I could see (and it was crowded) late on a Saturday afternoon. Anyway, the 'L'-shaped bar area is a bit cramped along the frontage but there is more seating towards the back. The place has been refurbished recently, but the decor is still mostly Wolves-related. Music quite loud since the evening hadn't even started. Six different beers available from a total of ten handpumps, and my pint of Banks's Amber Bitter came in at a very reasonable £2.44.

Official site of The Wheatsheaf - wheatsheafwolverhampton.co.uk

Official site of The Wheatsheaf - wheatsheafwolverhampton.co.uk

Located in a primarily retail based part of the city, just opposite the police station, this is a pretty good, down to earth boozer that is much bigger than initial impressions suggest. The front of the pub comprises a very narrow, snug-like space between the servery and front windows. A few locals were propping the bar up here and engaged in idle chat with the barmaids, with very limited padded bench seating, dated patterned wallpaper and Wolverhampton Wanderers flags and shirts on the ceiling rounding out the décor and furnishings. The room extends towards the rear, into a much comfier looking lounge where some nice fixed seating with plenty of cushions provided an appealing looking spot to relax, which I would have done had I not ended up chatting to one of the very amiable locals at the bar. A brief exploration behind the servery revealed a large games room to the far left with a pool table, basic banquette and standard chair seating and a few bits that suggested that food may normally be available in this room. In between this room and the lounge there is a covered courtyard which again looked appealing (or at least it would have if it weren't for the fact that it was blisteringly cold outside), with white walls making it a bright space to settle down on one of the chairs or benches provided. A bit of colour is provided by a large trellis and climbing plants. This is another pub that clearly states that only home fans can visit on match days, but I was able to gain entrance by covering up my colours and was soon engaged in a healthy post-match analysis with the locals. This is a former Banks's house, now offering beers from the wider Marstons stable, although both Banks's Bitter and Sunbeam were available on this visit alongside Wychwood Dog's Bollocks and Ringwood XX Porter. I had a bit of trouble getting noticed by the bar staff, eventually enlisting the help of one of the regulars, but wound up with an excellent pint of Porter, so all was soon forgiven. I was in two minds as to whether to include this place on my crawl, but I'm pleased that I did. It may be a bit rough around the edges compared to some of the city's more revered ale houses, but I found it the most welcoming pub of the day and enjoyed a quality pint to boot.

A little run down from its previous self, all a bit tired - needs a paint job & a bit of tlc, but still remains a classic pub. The L-shaped lounge still has the (nonfunctional) press button service on the bencehes and a nice fire at one end