The Waterfall, Cradley Heath

First an admission - arrived here on a coach with frankly no idea exactly where in the Black Country conurbation the Waterfall is located (apart from being on a steep hill, which hardly helps...). However, leaving that aside, this Holdens house has just about everything one might hope to find in a proper pub. Solid but attractive frontage. Traditional two bar layout, with a comfortable lounge area to one side (albeit with a step up to catch the unwary). Lots of nic-nacs about the walls and ceilings. Some tasty food. Excellent selection of beers from local breweries, including a fine pint of Golden Glow (£2.63). Overall, now that I know where it is, I will try to return as soon as possible for a proper visit. Thoroughly recommended.

The Waterfall is a Holden’s pub that I visited early on a recent Friday afternoon. There are two bars and in the rear bar there is a dartboard and a plasma screen that was turned off in favour of some crooner hits. I only wandered through the back bar as I spent my visit standing in the front bar where I enjoyed a nice pint of Holden’s. I counted nine hand pumps that, along with the Holden’s brews, were also drawing offerings from Bathams, Enville, Pardoes and some guests. The kitchen is open from midday until 14:00 and from 18:00 until 20:30 during the week, all day Saturday and from midday until 16:00 on Sundays. This isn’t that biggest pub and the presence of 16 PubsGalore pub crawlers, along with the locals, gave a very cosy feel. There were no free tables so it was a bit of an effort to eat the curry and chips that had been laid on whilst I held my pint, but I persevered! There is a small beer garden up a few steps out the back and to the left of the pub is a large car park. I really enjoyed it in here and I find it depressing that I may never visit again as a crow would have to fly 260 miles from my front door to enjoy the atmosphere and friendly welcome that I witnessed.