The Hen House, Cannock

Slightly tucked away off the main street but I was quite impressed to find a good and proper pub, nicely furnished and well-kept. There are several areas around the bar, opening out backwards to a function room at the rear. Food is available all day, with a separate kitchen counter and tables set out but not intrusively to drinkers. Outside the front has been turned into a patio area with the car park remaining at the back. Beers were still the three from Sharp's, with Bombardier on as the guest. The sampled Sea Fury was in top condition (Cask Marque accreditation). It shows what can be done with a back street pub.

Fairly anonymous chain pub / restaurant, but which chain? No branding in sight, so perhaps that doesn't really matter... Anyway, this large pub is set back from a town centre side road by some distance, with both a car park and patio beer garden fitted in. The interior has been opened-out at some stage and refurbished in a light semi-modern style. Thankfully, all four handpumps were in operation, dispensing three Sharp's beers - Doom Bar, Atlantic and Sea Fury (£1.75, half) - plus Robinson's Dizzy Blonde. NB - Quiz night underway when I visited on a Wednesday evening.

This pub was one of the Mad O'Rouke chain before they were sold off and destroyed by Ushers. It has been modernised now as review below but its tastfully done and still has the bare boards. The gents also has some of the remaining Little Pub tiles! Nice comfortable pub snd even has a couple of standard ales on now - Hobgoblin was nice if not exciting.