The Spring Meadow, Cradley Heath

I drove past here yesterday and it was boarded up - Either being refurbished or closed I guess.

A strange one this. The pub is an end terraced cottage-styled pub with a double gable. Generally in white painted bick with dark green base and other paintwork, the pub has, or did have, elaborate windows, one a bay, with some other moulded stone decoration. I did say had, as, as per the poor photo, most were part boarded-up at my visit, leaving me unsure if it was indeed open. The interior has a central wooden island bar and an open plan room that nearly encircles it. It was in a patterned wallpaper, with coffee upper wall and red and coffee coloured ceiling. The red carpet floor wis a little tired. There was also some wood panel, especially at the one end where there was a dart board; there is a tiled fireplace at the other end. The seating is mainly blue leather perimeter and stools. A few old plates decorate, with a number of England flags. A small covered section lies between this room and the toilets and rear smoking area. It is in red and cream wallpaper, with a tile floor and has a few tables. There was a TV, but this wasn't on at my visit and the music was general and at a decent enough level. The service was OK and the clientele were mixed locals, friendly enough and playing a bit of dominoes and so forth. Beer: All the usual tap stuff, no real ale. The keg Banks's MILD was fine Nothing for a real ale drinker. The boarding-up of the windows makes it look like it had been the victim of a riot, sadly. Happy enough for a swifty - one more for the locals.