Alestones, Redditch

Odd little place tucked away in a complex of craft shops. Through a low front door and you think the place is tiny, but there is an additional room to the right (setup with Church paraphernalia) and more seating if you work your way behind the bar. Toilets are outside on the opposite side of the car park. Friendly welcome. Four hand pulls on but I had never heard of any of the breweries. The Crankshaft Pitchfork Cloudy Wheat beer seemed to be selling most but I played safe with a bottled Tripel Hop Duval. Bus stop opposite, so easy to fit into a public transport based crawl, along with the other GBG pub at Finstall.

Micro-pub hidden away in an outbuilding beyond the main courtyard archway of the Tardebigge Court craft village. Very compact bar with just enough space for a counter, plus some extra seating in a couple of small side rooms. Four real ales on handpump, including an excellent Nailmaker Anvil porter (£4.00).

Alestones is situated in a courtyard of craft businesses in the small village of Tardebigge. It is a micropub that has gradually expanded and can now seat 99 people! There are a couple of rooms at the front, whilst you can pass beyond the bar to further rooms that are cosy, albeit without any natural light. Outdoor seating was also proving popular, despite the pub being much quieter than normal for a Saturday afternoon. The landlord and landlady are very friendly and chatty. They clearly have a love for beers and are very knowledgeable. On our visit, the 4 ales were Abbeydale Doctor Morton's Demon Drink, Beat Metal Head, Woodcote The Maharajah's Gold & Elland NZ Gold. In addition, they had almost the full Broadoak cider range - Purple Haze, Perry, Twisted Lime Cider, Rhubarb Cider, Moonshine, Moonshine Rum & Raisin Cider, Draught, Strawberry Cider, Pear & Chilli Cider, Pheasant Plucker & Mango Cider. Well worth a visit.

This pub is in a court that has a large car park and several small businesses round it. Go through an archway to the back courtyard and the pub is on the left. Small room at the front with the bar, but a larger room at the rear where they hold live music events. A few tables and chairs outside at the front. No toilets in the pub, but clean well kept toilets opposite the front door. 4 cask ales available and change frequently. In March we had beers from Country Life, Froth Blowers, Elland and Geeves. They often have Alestones Triple S Blond on, a beer brewed for them by Woodcote Manor. Today when we went the beers were Woodcote Manor Mantra, Woodcote Manor Cap'n Wills Rum Stout, a brill 6.5% , Arbor Blue Sky Drinking, and TWT Lol Twti Ffruiyi. There is a bus service from Redditch.

Official site of Alestones - www.alestones.co.uk

Official site of Alestones - www.alestones.co.uk