The Anvil, Reddicap Heath, Sutton Coldfield

Traditional twin-bar local right on the edge of the east edge of the West Midlands conurbation, serving the nearby housing estates but with few visitors I would guess. Refurbished at some stage with undistinguished semi-traditional furniture, but at least there are a few local history pictures to look at if the sports TVs don't draw your attention. No real ale, unfortunately, so a quick John Smith's it was (£2.80) before moving on.

A detached corner cream rendered pub with patio area The interior has two rooms; a lounge and bar. The lounge is at the back and this is the room we entered by from the car park. It is irregularly shaped, in cream and red with fakey beams and a molded cornice and has arty pictures on the walls. There is a TV, which had the footy on and, as Staaly says, there was a poker night on with quite loud music, so we beat a retreat into the bar - the clanging of Staal's Sontaran boots momentarily drowning out the music. The bar is L shaped around the serving bar. This room is in white and black and has a brick fireplace feature. There was no music in here and another TV with the sport on. At one end there was a dart board and lots of old photos were on the walls.. The service was fine and the clientele, poker players in the lounge and friendly enough locals in the bar. Beer; tap stuff with a very good Ansell's MILD on handpull I enjoyed my drink here, more so in the bar, away from the poker. The point Stally makes is a good one, if the MILD wasn't on, there is nothing else i could drink, but while it is, i could sup it all night

The Anvil is another pub in this area that looks like a Georgian farmhouse at its core. It has two distinct rooms, a bar and a lounge. The decor looked tired. In the lounge, on the night I visited, there was a poker tournament. The music in the lounge was a little loud, so we retired to the bar which had the TV on, but was much quieter with music occasionally drifting in from the lounge when the door to the corridor was opened. I got the feeling that the lounge could get a little 'interesting' on occasion, but the bar was much more relaxed. The service was good and friendly - the attractive barmaid was chatty with all the customers I saw her serve. The clientele also seemed friendly, especially in the bar. The usual taps were on, with Ansells Mild served as the only real ale. The Mild was very good. I felt that this pub was very similar to the Reddicap up the road. I have scored it lower because there were fewer beers on I would choose to drink - only the Mild. However, like the Reddicap, I would be happy to come back, only not on a Friday or Saturday night.