The Old Bank House, Tamworth

An excellent conversion of an historic building in an upmarket style yet managing to capture the feel of a good pub. The two downstairs and two upstairs main rooms retain lots of original features and are equipped with a goodly selection of leather chairs and sofas. These, and the rear beer garden, are served from a smaller middle room with a splendid selection of cask ales and boxed ciders. Music in pubs can be take it or leave it but on this occasion they had a very good playlist which added to the pleasant and comfortable feel. Definitely worth a visit.

This pub is another must visit when in Tamworth. There are 4 or 5 small rooms, with the bar in a room to the rear left. Whilst this used to be a bank, it has the feel of a townhouse and is decorated with some nice furniture, making any visit very comfortable. The bar can get quite cramped. When our group of 13 arrived (there was a straggler), we found an already busy pub. The cramped nature of the entranceway and the bar made accessing the bar difficult but bar staff were efficient and soon has us all served. Beers are listed on a board, clearly visible as you enter. JW Lee's Boddingtons Bitter is now a regular cask ale. Guests were Electric Bear Dark Side of the Spoon, & William Shakes Beer, Burnt Mill Little Green & Three Brothers Emergency IPA. Ciders were Pulp Peach Mojito & Mango and Lime Ciders, Ascension Pilot, Iford New Tradition & Windfall, Ampleforth Abbey Medium, Gwynt y Ddraig Fiery Fox, Thistly Cross Whisky Cask, Lilley's Bee Sting & Broadoak Moonshine. A CAMRA discount is offered on pints. My Dark Side of the Spoon was an enjoyable caramel stout.

There's something of Gentleman's Club feel here in the 2 drinking rooms, with leather armchairs (which could do with a bit more padding) and low tables. The bar is in a third room with 5 cask ales on the bar, along with 3 German beers from ABK. I was clocked as likely to be a CAMRA member with a discount freely offered. Background music was classic rock (The Doors at time of writing), at exactly the right background volume. Choose a better seat, peruse the range (I opted for an English IPA from a brewery I can't recall) and you can easily settle in for a session.