Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory, Tipton

First visit for about 20 years. The place hasn't changed much and it doesn't need to! My pint of Lumphammer was excellent. Well worth calling in.

l can't comment on their pies as our main visit was to try the Lumphammer beers brewed by Digbrew from Birmingham City Centre. The interior in here was quite quirky with lots of paraphernalia everywhere you looked. There was even sawdust on the floors. I went for the Lumphammer Bitter which was fine and based on an old school recipe, especially brewed for the pub.

Famous 'pie factory' pub that it notoriously difficult to get into most evenings (as I have learnt from past experience). However, as I was looking to eat anyway, I took the precaution to book this time... although it actually wasn't quite full as I arrived. Retains two separate bars, separated by a central servery, both full of all kinds of ephemera (but particularly the main one you first enter). I found four of the handpumps on each counter offering a duplicated selection of Lumphammer Brewery beers: Bitter, Gold, Ruby Mild (£3.60, which went down well with my 'Tyson Fury') and the Sledgehammer Pale.

Quirky reminder of the Little Pub Company boozer of the 80s. This follows the blueprint - nick nacks aplenty and excellent value food. Failed to get in during the evening due to its popularity but a return afternoon visit and I had the place to myself. Food served all day. Beers from the Lumphammer Brewery - now moved to Dig Brew, rather than on-site.