The Cross Inn, Stourbridge

This was one of three Hanson's pubs in Kinver back in the day but is now a Black Country Ales pub, a chain that I'm becoming increasingly attracted to. Inside it's quite a small single carpeted room with a prominent dart board at one end. It was quiet on my Saturday lunch time visit when I was the only customer. The bar has ten hand pumps with three devoted to cider. Beers available were the usual three Black Country Ales, Wadworth's St George and the Dragon, Titanic Iceberg, Mr Grundy's Big Willie and Full Mash Seance. As seems to be the norm in BCA pubs the beerand cider list was posted on a blackboard. I went for Mr Grundy's Big Willie which was a fine specimen. It's on the edge of Kinver town but is well worth a visit. It's GBG 2015 listed.

This is a detached cottage styled fronted pub, in white render, with extensions to the rear. As the review below says, it was a former Banks's pub and i never managed to go in when it was, but did a crawl of Kinver due to Mr McGarr's review - the pub is now a part of the Black Country Ales chain. There is a patio. The interior forms an L-shape around the bar that faces you on entry. The decor is red and white, with a white ceiling and a brick fireplace. There is a dart board, i didn't see a TV and the music was general and at a decent level. The service was very good and the clientele mixed and it was quite busy for a Monday. Food is limited to the usual cobs and crisps. Beer; well, the usual tap stuff, with 10 handpulls. I tried a number of half-pints and all were well kept, if not to my personal taste - but hey, you have to try! I listed Titanic White Star, Backyard's Prima Donna, Mallinson's Station Best Bitter and The Good Life, Morton's Merry Mount and Slater's Top Totty Another BCA winner. A pub that you could sit all day in (if you bring your own dinner). Go, I beseech thee

This ex Banks's house is now (since spring 2010) a free-house specialising in real ales - typically up to 10 ales. Local ales from Enville, Kinver and The Black Country brewery were on when I visited and were supplemented by a good changing selection of other real ales. I found the beers I tried very well kept, and the pub itself clean and welcoming. It is a beer house, and just does a limited range of bar snacks - it is not an eatery, and all the better for that. I'll certainly be revisiting it.