The King & Castle, Kidderminster

The King & Castle is in an old railway building that has been meticulously revamped into a historical railway bar and refreshment room. The floor is tiled in the bar area where a marble topped serving counter runs up the left-hand wall. Premium keg was available alongside Carling and four keg ciders, and I counted eight hand pumps with five in operation that were drawing Hobson’s Pale and Town Crier (had better), Bewdley’s Worcestershire Way, Batham’s Best and Oakham’s Citra. To the right is a GWR carpet where red upholstered chairs and benches run under the windows along the front and rear to a fireplace on the right-hand wall. A door at the end of the serving counter leads to the toilets and a large dining area at the rear that was being cleaned. This venue is right next to the station so you’d have to actively avoid it to not visit, which would be madness.

Official site of The King & Castle - svr.co.uk

Official site of The King & Castle - svr.co.uk

As a historian it would be madness to think I wouldn't like this place. Taking its name from the GWR classes of locomotives the pub is housed in the old station buildings, overlooking the approach and the concourse area (with the SVR locos and stock), which have small patios. The pub part is a T-shaped room with the serving bar on the left as you walk in which forms the 'T' part. The rest is a long room with a fireplace at the end. Plian decor with a GWR carpet. Transport photos and some ephemera are dotted about. No TV or music. The service is good and the clientele, not surprisingly, more mature. Several handpumps, with a few ciders - Bathams Bitter, Bewdley Worcestershire Way, Hobson's MILD, WV Butty Bach, Three Tuns XXX all seems to be permanent or very regular. The Bathams and MILD being very good. There was a guest, Hobson's Manor (also a class of GWR loco), which I was informed was good, too. A class place, a must do.

There can't be many rail lines with a GBG pub at each end of it but the SVR is a famous example. This one is more centrally located than the Bridgnorth place and appeared to be attracting more than just the rail visitors. The main room overlooks the station car park rather than the platform which also makes it feel more like a pub. On my visit one of the eight hand pumps was unused but the rest had Hobson's Mild, Twisted Spire & Town Crier, Batham's Best, Bewdley Worcestershire Way, Skinners Betty Stoggs and Wye Valley Butty Bach. It was a hot day and I found a seat near the door where a breeze was coming in so got stuck into the Batham's Best (£3.15). I tried the Town Crier (£3.00) which was also excellent. I liked this one a lot and as I failed to make it to the Station Inn have a good excuse to return!

As Station pubs go this is about as good as it gets. Great selection of 8 ales on including Bathams. Holdens and Hobsons. I went for Bewdley Worcestershire Way which was spot on. Well worth missing the train for - you can always catch the next one!