The Court House, Dudley

A corker of a pub. 16 handpumps with 4 used for cider/perry. All pumps were in use today and all were different beers. Beers from Black Country, Beowulf, 4Ts, Mumbles, Hales, Grafton, North Yorkshire, Lymestone, Oakham and Golden Duck breweries today and ciders from Herefordshire,, Tygwyn and Lilleys. The pub is nicely decored and is a largish main room with a snug I didn't actually see. Though the pumps were all clipped there is a blackboard by the entrance telling you what's on. A pleasant, comfortable and extremely well stocked pub. For real ale its by far the best pub in the town. I loved it.

This former Hanson / Banks house is now a free house associated with the Black Country Brewery. The main bar is one large carpeted room. I completely failed to spot the snug bar. There are sixteen pumps seven of which were unused and two taken by cider. Of the seven beers on two were from the Black Country brewery and the rest were all beers and breweries that were completely new to me. I went for the Mantle Brewery Black Heart (£3.15). I could see that this was from Wales as it had the word Bragdy on the clip which made it appropriate for St David's Day. I subsequently discovered that it was brewed in Cardigan. This was the most expensive beer of the day but to be fair it wasn't in a Spoons and wasn't a locally brewed one. It was in very good nick. Given the Central location in Dudley this is one that shouldn't really be missed.

A pleasant surprise to see they were having a beer festival on our visit. Apart from the festival ales on stillage they had a excellent choice of 11 ales on the bar plus 3 ciders. Mrs A enquired about a particular ale and it was no trouble for the manager to nip down the cellar and bring up a glass. Something I have not seen before, advertised on the bar, Grey peas with bacon and bread £1.70. A good pub and worthy of a return visit.