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Giffard Arms, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
WV1 3NX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Giffard Arms
Having done what I assume are the better pubs in Wolverhampton city centre, I decided to give the Giffard Arms a try whilst in Wolverhampton for a football match. My experience of Wolverhampton on a football matchday is that it is generally the least friendly club to get a pre- or post-match drink in the Premier League. Pubs generally have bouncers on the door and signs in the window signifying they allow home fans only. However on a quiet Tuesday evening, many of the central pubs were welcoming anybody in, as it was fairly quiet. Whilst there was a guy in a high vis jacket sat on a bench to the front of the Giffard Arms, my best guess was that he was a workman having recently finished work and enjoying a drink, as opposed to a bouncer. Meanwhile, the George Wallis opposite had a plethora of doormen despite being almost empty.
Situated on a main shopping street close to the Mander Centre, the exterior is quite impressive, as can be seen from the pictures on here. Inside is very dark but also has some fairly unique features. Not ever having seen Game of Thrones, I would not have recognised what the large chair next to the bar was. However, I had read the review below and I found it quite an impressive piece of furniture.
The pub is split into two sections. All customers I could see were in the front section. I sat at a table in the front windows to try to get a bit of natural lights. Others were sat on tables to the left-hand side or around the corner of the bar, which can be found to the right-hand side. To the rear was another section with a DJ playing. I'm not a great fan of heavy metal and didn't realise that there was such thing as a heavy metal DJ. The music being played sounded like Ozzy Ozbourne to me but I'm no expert.
There are certainly some interesting characters in here with strange clothing and equally strange haircuts. The young barmaid (who fitted the description from the previous review) was busy serving the group of people at the corner of the bar when I arrived. I was impressed that the landlord emerged from within the group to serve me.
There are a couple of handpulls but both were unclipped. This left a keg selection of John Smith's, Carling, Camden Hells, Strongbow & Strongbow Dark Fruit, Inch's, Guinness, Neck Oil & Shipyard.
Probably not a place I'd look to return to but it is fairly unique and it is probably worth a visit if you're ever in Wolverhampton and have exhausted most other options.
On 24th September 2025
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3245 recommendations about 3243 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Giffard Arms
I thought the Giffard Arms was closed until I peered through the window and spotted the barmaid sat at the serving counter than runs up the right. This is a rock metal pub with coffin shaped tables, dark red walls, and many bats, I’m sure Ozzy is very proud. There’s a game of thrones chair adjacent to the bar, but more conventional seating is found under the front window, up the left opposite the counter and in the rear. The two other customers during my recent Thursday evening visit were ploughing their hard earned into the jukebox that was playing music of the night, not really my thing. Premium keg was available alongside Beavertown’s Neck Oil from the moody teenage goth who was working the bar while tucking into a box of McNuggets… Rock On!!!
On 27th October 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 6274 recommendations about 6237 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Giffard Arms
The Giffard Arms hasn't changed much over the years and long may it continue. Still the place for rock music in Wolverhampton. No ale on but a great jukebox!
On 27th November 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1880 recommendations about 1749 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Giffard Arms
Having read the previous two reviews prior to coming here I was fully expecting to find in here a geezer called Mocata summoning the Goat Of Mendes. It's a novelty place for sure and my old Black Country beer guide claims it was built by Mitchell & Butler in 1929.
Some of the older punters are more into syrups than Satan and I also noticed several examples of died hair which weren't blue rinses. Although the heavy rock music was blasting out at least there were no TV screens that I could see.
I spotted two hand pumps only one of which was used and had Robinson's Trooper (£3.50) which was in reasonable nick but is a pretty dull beer. I would have thought that Abbeydale Black Mass or Brunswick Black Sabbath would go down well here.
I must admit I found this one had a better atmosphere than the ersatz Spoons over the road.
On 17th September 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Giffard Arms
A good old eccentric boozer. Very gothy with dark scary bats, skeletons, demons and scary images adorning the walls. A big Dennis Wheatley type mumbo jumbo chair dominates the centre of the pub though I was too scared to sit in it. I was expecting to hear the Devils music being played incessantly but thankfully no Cliff Richard, Stryper, St Winifred's School Choir or praise-the-lord country crap was being played. Rubbish unscary Ozzy though was, which was disappointing. No real ale that I could see.
On 7th April 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Giffard Arms
I was pointed here with the words it's a bit like the Yorkshire House in Shrewsbury, this is true but it's more gothic horror than Dungeons and Dragons fantasy. Deliberately dark and with skeletons, dragons, coffin shaped table tops and a large throne for some Lord of Darkness or other it looks the part. The customers are not of the blood drinking Satan worshipping type I was expecting, most looked like they would be called Kevin, even the Hell's Angels lookalikes were probably off-duty hairdressers in Death's Head T-Shirts. Lots of fun except for the beer and the poor service.
On 8th October 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3777 recommendations about 3449 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Giffard Arms
Open plan rock pub, though more gothy than anything, more bats and brooms rather than guitar and drums, probably appropraite considering its slightly gothic exterior.
Made for standing , with some seating around the edges, but made for me by the rock music, but if you don't like that then probably not worth a visit, there are two real ales, including brains, but the quality is poor.
On 30th August 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1585 recommendations about 1562 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Giffard Arms
Popped my head round the door but no ale on (again) so decided to maximise my time in the Great Western instead. Shame really, they need to be clever about getting the beer in and on.
On 19th June 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5754 recommendations about 5735 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ale Monster left this review about Giffard Arms
This is a one room city centre pub built around 1922 in a Gothic Tudor style with beautiful stone door arches mullioned windows and even heraldic shields which show the coat of arms of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, the Giffard family and the Springfield brewery. The pub is now privately owned and mainly attracts people who are into rock and alternative music and rock gigs are regularly held in a room upstairs. The interior has a Gothic themed décor with red and black woodwork and walls, elaborate beams and coffin shaped tables. The wood panel bar counter is located in the middle of the right hand wall, black wood panelling covers the back wall and there is a colourful dragon Muriel on the left hand wall. In the centre of the room is a magnificent throne which has arm rests that terminate in large carved dragons heads, a satanic style upside down cross in the black leather back rest and the feet are shaped like hooves.
Regular ale is Wychwood Hobgoblin with a changing guest beer that was Moorhouse’s Blond Witch on this occasion (both titles in keeping with the theme of the pub, nice touch) unfortunately both of these beers were off and the barman said they were waiting for a delivery due that day! So if you like real ale don’t bother visiting on a Monday afternoon!
I normally prefer an unspoilt traditional real ale pub but I must say that I like this place. Some people may find the décor a little dark and intimidating but the customers and staff that I spoke to were very friendly and helpful. I asked if I could take a picture of the impressive Gothic throne to which the barman said “Yes, thanks for asking, we get dozens of people who walk in, take a picture and walk straight out without saying a word!” I also enjoyed the music that was playing while I was there, bands like Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath at a reasonable volume, brilliant! I shall return to try the beer soon.
On 2nd June 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 199 recommendations about 199 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Giffard Arms
I always visit this pub when in Wolverhampton, which is often enough and thought it was about time that i rated it.
The exterior is fantastic. It is mock stone faced perpendicular (Tudor) styled town house, built in the 1920s, I think (I used to work in Wolverhampton, many years ago)
The pub is known for being a haven for the Goth/Alternative clientele, but its fantastically welcoming to all, even an archivist with waistcoat and fob-watch!
The interior is dark, wooden, with interesting coffin tables and an impressive throne that sits like the judgement of Solomon in the middle of the pub.
Real ales always on, as well as the usual taps, though no MILD. Sadly, on my last visit, the Hobgoblin had disappeared and i had to have the Wells Bombardier, a basic alternative.
Will continue to visit
On 10th September 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3107 recommendations about 3102 pubs]