The Fellows, Dudley

I downloaded a list of Holdens Tied Houses, which still lists this. It is now independently run but maintains some affiliation, with Golden Glow and Holdens Scratching on sale. On approach - I thought it looked too nice to be Holdens, which are often scruffy affairs. Gated, white painted walls. Inside, there is a real fire and a large footprint. A separate dining and function room. The Golden Glow was in tip top condition. There is not much choice in Dudley but this has to be one of the better choices.

Curious white castellated building, entered via black metal gates and the front yard beer garden. Partly opened out to leave a L-shaped bar with refurbished hotel-bar look and light furniture. Three real ales on handpump: Holden's Golden Glow, Wye Valley Butty Bach and an excellent Enville Ale (£4.00).

The gated frontage of the Fellows makes it look like the driveway of an Essex pile. The open plan interior is L-shaped with seating to the left of the entrance that is overlooked by a TV that was airing muted The Chase during a recent Wednesday visit. The main seating up the right is faced by a central bar counter that supports standard and premium keg alongside three hand pumps that were drawing Wye Valley’s Butty Bach, Holden’s Golden Glow (decent) and Enville Brewery’s Enville Ale. I didn’t see any food advertised, but there were cobs on the bar for £2.50. I spotted a dartboard, and a suit of armour, but the décor is a bit bland, although some may say that it’s bright and airy. There was a decent sized crowd in for my time of visit and the service was friendly, but there are better pubs a stone's throw away so I'll probably not be returning.

It has been a very long time since I called in here! Used to be a regular last pint before going to JB's down the road. The same beer choice as the previous review - Golden Glow, Butty Bach and Enville ale. I went for the Glow which was excellent. I enjoyed my visit, it bought back some happy memories!

I've last track of how many years it has been since I was last in this place. It's a fairly large building on a road junction with a bright and modern bar on the ground floor and a function room upstairs with its own bar. I was here for a party and headed straight to the function room. However, the two real ales on in the ground floor bar were not repeated upstairs, as there are no handpulls. Holden's Golden Glow & Wye Valley Butty Bach were the 2 ales when I arrived. Later on, Enville Ale was also pulled through. Apparently some people were ticked off for buying drinks on the ground floor (where it was probably cheaper). Although, in my case I had no choice since handpulls are only downstairs. Luckily nobody challenged me. Not sure I'd rush back here, but with 3 ales, it's not a bad shout if you're ever in Dudley.