The Yard @ Fosters Yard Hotel, Tamworth

The main external signage has the short name, but Foster's Yard is used internally and it still operates as a hotel. The L-shaped bar area along the frontage is plainly furnished and simply decorated, leaving plenty of space for the advertised music events. A few outdoor tables are available under the unusual front canopy. What the Fox's Hat from Church End (£3.40) available from one of the pair of handpumps, with a reversed Wainwright clip on the other.

A detached grade II listed hotel, restaurant and pub. It claims to be Tudor in origin, so probably has an odd timber beam tucked away, as the white painted cottage-styled frontage is more Georgian/Victorian with its moulded cornice, bay, dormer and sash windows. There is a front patio area under a railway station style canopy. The sign states that there is also a skittle alley. The interior has an Indian restuarant, the Indigo Lounge, sited at the back. The bar room, the only one i saw, is an L-shaped room in white artes and beam ceiling, white artex walls with some pine panel and a blue lino in the more bar bit (to the right on entry, where the serving bar is, and carpet in the lounge area (to the left). The lounge area has some sofas in it, as well as a small fireplace and is separated from the bar bay a games area with darts and pool. There is nothing really in the way of pictures or ephemera for interest. There were a few TVs and one large pull-down screen showing the footy and the background music was general and at a decent level. The service was fine and the clientele younger based locals. Beer; no real ale. Usual keg stuff with no MILD. Had Guinness, which was fine. Nothing for the real ale drinker, the place is really one for the locals.

The public bar is at the front of the pub and features an array of keg beer and lager fonts and nothing for the lovers of good ale.A laddish atmosphere in the L shaped room with a pool table and plenty of seating outside for those addicted to nicotine.At the far end of the interior is a door which led through to a small lounge with it's own bar but sadly unused while the restaurant has been let as an curry house ,cooking in the pubs former kitchen.Curry house customers have to use the loos in the public bar,so two businesses operate from this former coaching inn.Curry was fine but I wouldnt return to the pub.Quite close to the Coventry Canal.