The Phoenix, Tamworth

The Phoenix has seating in the front windows either side of the central entrance and an L-shaped serving counter up the left that faces a row of high tables up the middle and booths that run up the right-hand wall. At the rear is some raised seating. Televisions throughout were airing muted Paralympics while some very modern pop music played in the background. A premium and craft keg selection was available alongside Carling and a bank of eight hand pumps. Two were ‘coming soon’ with no clips which left Wainright Amber and Gold, Directors, Hobgoblin Gold, Goffs Brewery’s Cheltenham Gold and Pedigree. Going gold for the Olympics! True to form, having spent time downloading the Stonegate app during a moment of madness earlier in the evening in the Penny Black I forgot to use it for the ‘great discounts’. This isn’t somewhere I’ll be rushing back to.

A Stonegate pub with their usual formula,trying to compete with 'spoons but failing on both the value propsition and quality .The interior is identikit and souless,there is a raised area at the left window,sofas in the right window,while opposite the barwhich is to the left are some high tables and seating booths,while up a further step is a rear seating area on both sides.Corporate menus on every table but no one was eating despite some cheap looking options and the flatscreens were showing Cornonation Street on mute but helpfully with subtitles for the hard of thinking. An array of 8 handpumps but Proper Job was reversed,Wainwright was "coming soon" several were unclipped leave me with a choice of Marston's Pedigree and Wainwright Amber (too cold,poor nick,NBSS 1.5 and therefore not value at £3.10) and GK Abbot.A real trio of doom. Normally a Phoenix rises from the ashes,it might have been better to leave this as a pile of ashes. I won't visit again and there are far better pubs very close by,and the local 'spoons is also quite near.

Official site of The Phoenix - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

Official site of The Phoenix - www.greatukpubs.co.uk

Much as described in the review below. Still has half a dozen hand pumps, with five on when I was at the bar: Doom Bar, Directors, Landlord, Pedigree and Exmoor Gold. I went for the Pedigree, which went down a treat (NBSS 3) and only cost £1.50 for a half. I only had a few minutes until my train, so my notes were brief and to the point: "cheap and cheerful".

Large open-plan barn, light and forgettable decor with a rear raised area although there is a bit about the Reliant motor company. Rammed on Friday lunchtime with OAPs and squawking kids, as well as plenty of detritus all over the floor. Half a dozen ales on from the Marstons stable along with a guest (Back Yard was it?). I plumped for a Banks Amber which was in good nick (NBSS 3) and clocked in at a scarcely believable £1.10 for a half. Worth a look for the prices if nothing else.