Victoria, Walsall

A slightly tatty exterior belying an excellent old pub inside, two bar set up with separate but connected serverys. The front has an unused door, the entrance is at the side and the vestibule gives access to both bars, a small short thin one at the front and a much larger multi space one behind. Six pumps in the front bar and , I think, four in the back, the blackboard listed six cask beers on and two gone, 11 keg or craft keg, and a craft cider Lillies which doesn’t meet CAMRAs arcane definition of cider but hey ho it’s craft. I had a Butty Bach and something from local brewery AJ which was a passable home brew. Banquette seating at double Britannia tables with dodgy curry house chairs in the front bar, similar in the back. General unimproved Victorian basic with some original features. Looks to be a popular local with a good range of beers of various styles mostly from smaller breweries although the usual nationals are there, it also has comedy and music. Also known as “Katz”. I visited on an early July Tuesday evening which apparently is a monthly pie night, all tables were laid for pie eating and reserved from various times.

Along the front windows of the Victoria is a small and thin bar that was full with locals during a recent Wednesday evening visit. The rear bar was also busy with people watching Man City v Arsenal via BT Sport on the lone television. Oddly this was muted while some background music played, even though everyone was watching the football. The short bar counter supports standard, premium and craft keg alongside four hand pumps that were drawing Church End Brewery’s Grave Digger’s Mild, Marston’s Wainwright, Green Duck Brewery’s Duck Blonde and Wye Valley’s Butty Bach. There are at least another three hand pumps on the front bar as a chalkboard listed Marston’s Lighter Nights and AJ’s Ales’ Stuck in the Doghouse and Grand Nationale as also being available. In the right rear corner are some tables and a small kitchen, but I didn’t see anyone eating. The ladies in the kitchen were certainly more friendly than the guy behind the bar who seemed like he didn’t want to be there. I’d pop back in if passing, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit now that I’ve been.

A great pub well worth the short stroll out of town. 7 cask ales on including Church End Gravediggers Mild, Green Duck Blonde, Wye Valley Butty Bach, AJ's Beertrice, Backyard Treason and 3D Good Ol' Boys IPA. We went for the latter and it was excellent. Great service and great beer. I'll be back soon.