Tamworth Tap, Tamworth

Look and feels like an upmarket micropub on approach but don't be fooled, there are three storeys to this brewpub (Tamworth Brewing Company) with plenty of little rooms and nooks to be found. The action is on the ground floor in a really nice space which is atmospheric; heated bench seating, dried hops strung around and dimmed sodium style filament lamps. Head up the rear stairs for other rooms, each individually styled. To the rear is a tidy garden area with views of Tamworth castle. Eight ales on, two from Tamworth, Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby, Bathams Bitter, Beowulf Dragon Smoke Stout, Wily Fox Karma Citra, Mad Squirrel Sapling Session, Bristol Beer Factory Mission Bay, plus a load of cider. I tried both the Tamworth brews (NBSS 3.5) and the Bathams (3.5 though no sparkler, oddly). The downside was that the two young staff members disappeared for long periods doing chores so you felt like a lemon standing at the empty bar. That said, the lass asked if I was CAMRA (am I that obvious?). It filled up quickly with a relaxed crowd of imbibers. I really enjoyed it in here and it ended-up being my favourite of the day despite some stiff competition. If wasn’t for the Houdini staff it’d have got close to a 10.

Easily the best of the three visited in Tamworth. You need to have a mooch around. There's an upstairs and a large outside patio in the shadow of the castle. The landlady is super friendly. Good choice of ales, as well as the Tamworth Brewing own range. Not often you see a Three Tuns Stout, Bathams and Sarah Hughes dark ruby competing for your £3.50. Predictably, I had the bathams. Wonderful condition.

We also didn't get to try their Tamworth beer on our Saturday afternoon visit, as the barmaid told us that they had run out last weekend. Four handpumps with two beers on, which were Beowulf Double Decadence and Blyth Brewery Sublime, we tried both which were fine and in good order. Seating was church pews, some low tables and chairs and a couple of easy chairs in the front window. I might have scored a little higher if I'd tasted some of their own beers.