The Penny Black, Tamworth

The Penny Black is a large L-shaped high street boozer with seating across the front to the right of the entrance and on a raised strip up the left faced by the serving counter. A pool table, dartboard and DJ booth reside at the rear and there are televisions throughout, including a large screen on the left-hand wall opposite the counter. Sky and TNT Sports are advertised for showing all live football. All the screens were muted during a recent early Wednesday evening visit while some background music played. Premium and craft keg were available alongside Carling and four hand pumps, two of which were on drawing GK Old Speckled Hen and Hobgoblin. The Stonegate food menu is available where the burgers are a tenner. The service was polite and I was advised to download the Stonegate MIXR app for great discounts. This now sits on my phone never to be used.

The thing that struck me most about this place is how similar it is to a smaller Wetherspoons. The tall furniture near the bar, the open plan space split into areas with some raised, the front patio, the breakfast menu but most of all the prices. I noticed the breakfast here is actually cheaper than JDW. The biggest difference is that they had a quiet music track playing and of course there are no beer mats spouting political propaganda. The other difference is the beer range, it was completely mainstream with nothing at all from a microbrewery. The five hand pumps had a cider, Doom Bore, GK Barmy Army, Hobgoblin Gold and Marston's Wainwright. The Hobgoblin Gold (£2.35) was in excellent condition. I liked this one more than I thought I would and would definitely return as an early option.

Sizeable Stonegate pub with various seating areas scattered around the central bar counter. Usual semi-modern furniture, although the decor is lighter than most (and enlivened with flags and bunting in anticipation of the World Cup when I visited). Also has a number of tables out front on the pavement. Plenty of food offers from the standard menu. Doom Bar, Atlantic, Hobgoblin, Purity Pure UBU and a Lilley's cider available from the five handpumps.