Beacon Hotel, Dudley

Quinno _ left this review about Beacon Hotel

Got here a few minutes before opening on Saturday morning and there was already a queue outside – 15 minutes later the lounge was packed and full of animated yam-yam. I saw no need to deviate from the Ruby Mild (NBSS 3.5) and a burnt-top cob. It’s a classic British Boozer.

December 2021
No change to my previous description below from 9 years ago, the place is an absolute classic pub. Onto the beers - Dark Ruby (NBSS 3.5), Surprise (3.5), Amber (NBSS 4), Snowflake (NBSS 3). I think there may have been one or two guest ales but there was no way I was going to swerve the Sarah. Got chatting to an old boy local next to me who had an accent as thick as the Ruby and the memory of a goldfish. Excellent visit and it really is a Top 50 pub. Get in early, sit back, relax, and enjoy. Rated 10

November 2012
So, where to start? Let's begin with the interior. The fairly inauspicious exterior gives way to a lovely, unspoilt gem (CAMRA National Inventory of National Importance). A number of different rooms with four of them clustered around a dark wooden hexagonal central servery which is essentially little more than a low hatch on two of the sides well-below head height; this truly is a place where you can talk to the hand. Such a set-up allows for a relaxed atmosphere and some welcome variety. Most people congregate in the front bar but be sure to take in the rest of the rooms including the modern conservatory which is home to a veritable jungle of plant life. Secondly, the beer. This is the home of the Sarah Hughes brewery who produce, amongst others (Surprise and Pale Amber usually), the sublime Dark Ruby Mild. A drink that anyone who enjoys beer should try at least once. A wonderful, dark fruity brew with a pretty unique taste weighing in at 6% abv. Along with three Sarah Hughes beers, there are usually a couple of guest beers available. All are served in sublime condition and in pint pots. The drop-brewery is located at the top of the building - it's well worth a tour, a real old-fashioned brewing affair with a large dose of love added. Other stuff includes cobs to eat, friendly clientèle and a dog-friendly policy. One very small point is that the fires don't appear to be 'real' fires, which is a small let-down. How amazing would it be to have some coals/logs on there in the winter? I wish this was my local. An absolute classic. Rated 9.5

On 2^nd April 2025 - rating: 10
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