The Duke Inn, Sutton Coldfield

Soupy's review is very accurate. The Ruddles, Deuchars and Abbots are standard here with one guest. The Theakson's Mild is a bestseller. I really like this pub. It is very blokey with not a lot of women being in there when I call in. It seems to be the haunt of golfers and tennis players. But its very friendly and down to earth with quality ales. These are pretty expensive though. It seems the Duke is renowned for being pricey, but always seems to maintain its clientele. It does not serve hot food but does a mean crusty cob at lunchtime.

An end terraced half cream and half red traditional pub, with beer garden. The interior had two rooms. The lounge is in yellow and green, while the bar is in red, white and wood panel. The bar, where i sat, has a fireplace, etched windows, TV and prints and pictures on the walls, with horses and dogs featuring a fair bit. The service was fine and it was busy with a mixed clientele, as lets face it, it is the closest you will get to a traditional pub in Sutton town centre. Beer; tap stuff, with Theakston's MILD. On the handpull side there were Deuchars IPA, Ruddles, Abbots, Bombardier (so quite a general choice), but there was a decent pint of Caledonian MILD mayhem as a guest. Popped in this pub a few times over the years. It is the best place in Sutton for the traditional ale drinker, i would say.

This is a proper old school drinkers pub. The sort of place where 'everyone knows your name' but is not unfriendly to the casual visitor. It has a nice community feel to it as well with a notice board showing local sporting fixtures and charitable activities. There is a small three sided bar with one side seemingly facing into a corridor with a few snob screens. Three hand pumps I think and I had a decent pint of Deuchars.