The Vine (Bull & Bladder), Brierley Hill

I always wanted to visit this pub after reading about it in an Out in Brum magazine. It defo lived up to my expections from the Victoria interior and the superb Bathams Mild and Bitter. An absolute must visit in the Black Country.

The Vine (AKA The Bull and Bladder) has a special place in my heart as this was the pub at which I first discovered real ale as a fresh faced student in 1975.On my first trip I turned immediate right into the Public Bar,and on exclaiming how great the beer tasted the locals warmed to this invasion of their space by callow youths.Nothing has changed in the intervening years,the Public Bar still has the single strip fluorescent tube ,a gaggle of friendly locals most now considerably younger than myself,and some of the best ale around. Take a look around the interior, unspoiled by progress and a fine example of it's kind. An institution in which I would be happy to be incarcerated.

The fantastic Bathams brewery tap is an unreconstructed Victorian 'corridor' pub. I didn't venture from the front bar which was full, atmospheric and traditional. Just the Bathams Bitter and Mild on but no more was needed and accompanied by quality scratchings this was a satisfying lunchtime stop. An absolute must visit.