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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Wednesday, 28th February 2024
With picture contributions to 10780 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (8 more images)
Requested be closed with reason - Other: Closed according to Wyre Forest CAMRA. Google agrees.
Detail Pages
Pennies, Kidderminster
Kidderminster
DY10 2AZ
Reviews of Pennies (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
This centrally located Wetherspoons pub takes its name from the world's first postal stamp which was created by Kidderminster resident Rowland Hill, a statue of whom can be found just down the road, outside the Town Hall. The pub is a fairly unattractive unit in part of the town's extensive retail district, boasting a few scruffy blue mosaic tiles on the outside, but otherwise looking entirely run down and outdated. Inside, we find a shallow but wide single room layout with large ugly windows along the front wall. You enter directly to the bar area, with the servery running along the back wall. The right side of the room has a lot of high tables and stools, whilst standard tables and chairs make up the majority of the remaining seating options through the rest of the room. In true Wetherspoons tradition, the pub is carpeted throughout and has an unusual three-tone wood striped wall effect that doesn't look too bad. Decor is limited to the usual information boards, giving snippets of local history, although I did also spot a dartboard over on the right hand wall, which must score a fair few points in a game of Wetherspoons I-spy. Stairs lead up to a first floor seating area which I failed to explore, but seemed to be popular given the amount of food that was being taken up there throughout my visit.
The beer range was pretty disappointing by 'Spoons standards, with three guest ales and two regulars across the five handpulls. I was here early on for breakfast, so decided to pass on the beer and enjoy a mug of tea instead. There was only one person behind the bar when I arrived and he was dealing with a remarkably complex order from a nightmare customer, so I had quite a long wait before another barman finally arrived. Aside from this delay, I found the staff to be very friendly and helpful, especially the waitress who offered me the chance to pick an extra for my breakfast when it transpired that they'd run out of black pudding.
This isn't the nicest Wetherspoons your ever likely to visit and seems to fit a profile of pub that the company are increasingly moving away from. Like most 'Spoons, it still seems to be disproportionately popular with the locals and remains a good bet for top value food and drink but there are plenty of nicer pubs around town that I would use ahead of this one.
On 9th April 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
As noted below this is a pretty grim Spoons, something I can only put down to the rather bare decor and the fact that it's a shopping centre Spoons. I thought the service and quality were fine. It opened in early 2000 and gets the name from the fact that Rowland Hill the geezer that invented the postage stamp was from Kidderminster. No doubt he's turning in his grave after the Royal Mail privatisation.
It doesn't help the fact that there are only five hand pumps but on the plus side there was no sign of the usual suspects.
One was unused so the beers were Caledonian Por La Playa, Prescott Chequered Flag & Hill Climb and Backyard D&B Porter. I went for the Caledonian international brew (£2.20) which was in good condition and also ordered some sausage & mash which went down a treat reduced by £1.10 with the 20% CAMRA discount.
It's not one of the better Spoons but it's not the end of the world coming here for a pint and a bite to eat.
On 15th October 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
A small and pretty unlovely JDW that is a standard shop conversion. Two-tiered with modern, turn of the century décor. Large plate glass windows do at least let in a decent amount of light. Narrow mezzanine allows for good people-watching below. Five pumps with a decent selection, my Oakham was ok, no great shakes. Barmaid admitted she had no idea about anything, which was at least refreshing if not exactly helpful. Not much to write home about and there was a bit of something about the place I didn’t care for (without being able to put my finger on why) in addition.
On 10th November 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
View more reviews of Pennies (6)
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Pennies - whatpub.com
Blakedown, 3.65 miles, 1 hr 10 min walk (show)
Hartlebury, 4.64 miles, 1 hr 29 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 20% on food. No discount on beer. - last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Darts : Yes last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Function Room : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Jukebox : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Karaoke : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live Music : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Pinball : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Pool Table : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Quiz Night : No last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
- WiFi : Yes last updated 01 March 2017 by ROB Camra
