The Horse & Jockey, West Bromwich

My first visit for over 20 years. There used to be a few pubs in this area around the hospital but most are sadly gone. Only Wainwright's on with an Old Empire badge reversed. I was driving so only had a Coke. Friendly service.

Official site of The Horse & Jockey - www.horseandjockeywestbromwich.co.uk

Official site of The Horse & Jockey - www.horseandjockeywestbromwich.co.uk

The Horse and Jockey has a central bar counter that serves a front L-shaped public bar where five or so small tables run under the front windows, and more seating runs up the right. The rear bar is a larger with a mix of standard and high tables as well as a DJ booth that was playing some music for a function that was going on in the conservatory and small garden at the rear. The front bar supports five hand pumps, two of which were in operation drawing Marston’s Old Empire and Thwaites Wainwright. These ales were also available from the two hand pumps on the rear counter, as well as standard keg and San Miguel. I found the service to be polite and I thought this was one of the better venues I visited during a recent Monday crawl of the area.

Solid-looking pub set in the angle of a road junction, and thus perhaps having slightly tapered sides. Retains two separate counters around the central servery; a light public bar with plenty of windows at the front and a larger but darker lounge at the back (which also has a conservatory beyond). With a duplicated selection from the four handpumps on both sides, Banks's Amber (£2.55, but a bit 'end of the barrel' unfortunately), Wainwright, Courage Best and Empire Old IPA being dispensed.

This is a Victorian corner pub with patio area. As Danny says below, the pub appears older than the other buildings around, this is because there were no other real buildings around at the time, as from 1885-1900, the land over the road was the Baggies home ground. The pub is in more a Georgian style, with its square appearance and unusual pediments and is in cream, with coffee lintels and pilasters. The interior has a couple of rooms; a smaller front bar and a larger back lounge, with conservatory. The decor is cream and chocolate. The bar has a dart board and TV (Sky Sports News), as well as lots of Baggies memorabilia - very apt (even as a Villa fan). The service was great and a few friendly locals were in. It does some food, but i didn't eat. Beer; usual tap stuff with 5 from the Marston's range; Ringwood Boondoggle, Banks's Bitter, EPA, Old Empire and a decent Brakspear Oxford Gold. A touch of class - i really liked it here. It is a lonely pub now all its neighbours are closed or demolished - definitely worth a visit.