The Duke William, Stourbridge

A fanstastic Edwardian corner pub dating to 1903 according to the date stone. It is in a mix of undressed brick, with red above and brown around the pub. There are stone mouldings around the doors and windows, with a a dog-tooth moulded cornice and etched glass. A delight. The interior has a couple of rooms, the main bar at the front and a smaller lounge at the back, served by a central bar. The bar room is in red and green walls, with a green ceiling and a wood floor, with a brick fireplace with a furnace fire. There is mainly greean leather seating. There is a piano and lots of ephemera dotted about and on the walls; jugs, bottles, maps etc. There was no TV and the music was supplied by the radio at a decent level. The lounge is in red patterned wallpaper, with a white ceiling and wood floor. There is red leather seating. This room also has a brick fireplace with furnace fire. The service was fine and there were few locals in, until a few footy fans arrived. Beer; some of the usual tap stuff, with Freedom stout. On handpull there is the Craddock's Brewery choices; Goat Hearder's Stout, Crest, Capra and Saxon Gold, with guests Milestone American Pale Ale, Wye Valley Butty Bach, Cottage Brewery's Western Champion and Saddler's Red IPA. All beers I tried were well kept, though i preferred the guests on the whole. A class choice though. They operate a loyalty card - buy 8 pints of Craddocks and get one free. This is a superb pub, in which i could stay for hours. It is, like many pubs around Stourbridge, a must visit.