The Holly Bush, Alcester

In a town with pubs by the dozen, the Holly Bush outshines the lot. This is the sort of pub that needs to be explored rather than just sat in. A central corridor leads to 4 different rooms. First on the left is a carpeted front bar that is delightfully simplistic with built in pew seats and a welcoming fire. There are no TV's or games machines to distract one from conversation and the music from the other bar is barely audible. Without doubt, you will end up chatting to the locals. 2 rather interesting pictures London Bridge designs seem a bit out of place here but they make interesting viewing. On the other side of the central bar (note the unusual central stack for storing bottles etc) is what appears to be the local's favourite gathering spot. The tongue & groove wood paneled room contains brasses, old pictures, a post horn and few more personal artifacts like cards and teddy bears. Opposite on the other side of the corridor is another small room with old photos of town (including an aerial view), a newspaper rack and a couple of solid and sturdy tables. Tongue & groove wooden planking covers the upper part of the original wattle & daub wall (some of which is exposed behind a glass panel). Yet another room branches off at the rear, probably used more for dining but again, it is cosy and simplistic with just a couple of tables and a welcoming fireplace. As for the beers, there were 7 Real Ales including a mild and they have been regular winners of the local CAMRA pub of the year (there seems to be an annual battle for this with Three Tuns down the road). The only downside was the absence of a real cider, something the barman was genuinely apologetic about. During my stay in the area, the pub was undergoing refurbishment so I was unable to get into the remaining rooms or the garden but there was certainly enough here to more than warrant a return visit. I understand that they do regular folk evenings and have a beer festival a couple of times a year. Very highly recommended to anyone who likes a real and genuine, unpretentious pub.