The Hardwick Arms, Sutton Coldfield

Substantial Ember Inn with a number of seating / dining areas, with perhaps 2/3rds of the space obviously intended for those eating. Having said that, there were a good number of customers just in for a drink too. Usual semi-modern furniture and decor, but maybe duller than most of the chain's outlets. However, for the better weather, there is a reasonable split-level patio terrace at the front. Six different real ales were available from a total of eight handpumps: Ember Pale, London Pride, Landlord, Wainwright, Tribute and Bass (£3.15).

Official site of The Hardwick Arms - www.emberinns.co.uk

Official site of The Hardwick Arms - www.emberinns.co.uk

A quite well kept pub,which is starting to loose its edge. Due to lack of manpower hours allocated, It has become a bit frustrating to wait as long as you have to. People will and have started to vote with there feet. The Office workers will not accept having to sit and wait for more than an hour when they only get an hour for lunch. The drinkers have to wait while the meals are being ordered,it was a lot more organized with the correct staffing levels. You may wonder at ember inns why your pubs are empty !!!

A large, detached Ember Inn, in brick and fake wood and white render, with patio area. The interior is, as GFS says, the same as all the other Ember Inns. Open plan, it has plain walls of white and peach along with a plethora of mirrors, vases and weird bits of sculpture. It is mainly food orientated, but there is an area containing sofas and pouffes. There is also a wine display. There is a TV, which had Sky Sports on - silent and the background music was a decent level. The service here was really good and friendly - being acknowledge at the bar, so top marks for that. The clientele was mixed. Beer; tap stuff with no MILD. There were a couple of handpulls, with Leeds Best Bitter and Morlands Bitter, which were kept fine, just not really to my taste. Ember Inns are not my favourite mainly due to the decor - and others have given poor beer and service. Whilst the decor here isnt to my taste, the beer was well kept and the service fine, so i am not going to knock it

This is an Ember Inn. The exterior looks like a 'thirties style, mock Tudor building. Inside, it is typically Ember, all twigs in vases, terracotta, and cream coloured walls. It felt quite small and strangely empty given the huge number of cars on the car park. The L shaped bar is on the right immediately that you come through door. You've got the usual beers plus real ales. There were two on tonight, both of them bitters. Leeds and Moorlands. The Moorlands was ok, the Leeds, to me, was tasteless. The service was good and the clientele were friendly. I have nothing against Ember Inns. They are what they are. I would try this pub again - but the Queslett not far away (another Ember) is far superior.