The Olde White Rose, Bilston

A nice traditional pub at the bottom end of Bilston, its a long thin pub that opens out after the bar. Lots of dark wood on show. Now tied to Greene King there are 5 of their beers available, not a personal favourite so to me a step down from yesteryear.

This is a good privately owned free house, it is a grade II listed building with parts that date back to the 16th century, the lovely Georgian style frontage with sash windows and four Corinthian columns was totally rebuilt by Butlers Brewery around 1958. The interior is open plan with a long narrow main room running from front to back and an additional small square area on the left hand side roughly halfway down the main room. The L shaped long wood panel bar counter is immediately on your left as you enter with a brick fire place and chimney breast in the right hand wall opposite the bar, the floor is just bare boards and on the walls were old photos of Bilston. At the back of the room on the left is a carvery serving counter and dining tables, there is a door in the back wall that leads out to an enclosed paved patio mainly for smokers. The small area beyond the bar counter on the left of the main room has a dart board on the left wall with no furniture at all and I believe that there is a skittle alley upstairs. Behind the pub is a 13 room hotel that was completed in 2010 and was converted from the pubs original stable block. Regular ales are currently Greene King Abbot Ale, Thornbridge Jaipur, RCH Pitchfork and Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild with up to 8 changing guest beers, on this occasion some of these were Slaters Top Totty, Blue Monkey Ape Ale, Kelham Island Pale Rider, Atomic Reactor, Jennings Champion, Ironbridge coracle, Cotleigh Barn Owl, Ma Pardoe’s Wild Swan and Hop Back Summer Lightning (GBG 2012). I sampled the Pale Rider, Barn Owl, Wild Swan and Dark Ruby Mild. All were in good condition but unfortunately I feel duty bound to report that the quality in this pub is variable, personally I think that there are not enough dedicated real ale drinkers in the area who visit regularly enough to support so many beers. A reduction to 8 hand pulls would probably result in more consistent quality. Card carrying CAMRA members get a 10p discount on the ales. A decent pub that could be so much better if the beer was looked after a little more. The selection of beers is always excellent and the staff will allow you to have a sample of the beer before you buy. I’ve not tried the food but the carvery has always looked very tempting on my visits. Potentially a great pub if the owners could sort the inconsistent quality problem out. Still worth a visit especially if in the area, no doubt I shall return.