Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield

Official site of Sutton Park - www.sizzlingpubs.co.uk

Official site of Sutton Park - www.sizzlingpubs.co.uk

Landmark corner pub on a busy crossroads, with a large, partly opened-out and refurbished interior that is much less interesting than one might hope. With no obvious Sizzling pubco branding, it offers a similar menu and customers seemed to be about 50:50 eating or watching the football on various screens around the bar area. With two of the three handpumps in use, I risked the end-of-season Jolly Holly from St Austell (£3.05, and still in reasonable shape) in preference to Doom Bar.

Being a Sizzling pub my expectations were low, but I was pleasantly surprised by the cheerful and helpful young staff, the local feel and the pub itself.  Not at all spoilt, it was welcoming, friendly and restful.  OK, the food was the usual slop, but that was the only real bad point.  The bar is well described below, a large open plan L-shaped affair with gaming machines, a cash machine and apparently a pool table, though we didn’t actually see it.  There is a car park at the back, though you have to make sure you put your registration number into their machine so you don’t get a bill.  Ales on were Doombar, Brakspear Bitter and Wainwright Gold, all in fair condition.  Not at all bad and a good place to have a few relaxing if unexciting drinks.