Plough & Harrow, Stourbridge

Official site of Plough & Harrow - www.craddocksbrewery.com

Official site of Plough & Harrow - www.craddocksbrewery.com

I was recommended to try this pub after getting into conversation with a chap in the Seven Stars. I'm very glad he did, because apart from the fact that the pub's original many rooms have been opened out over the years, this is very much a proper pub, run by a man who knows what he's doing and supplied with beer by a brewery ditto. All the beers were from Craddocks, except Timothy Taylor Landlord and Titanic Plum Porter; there was also Old Rosie cider. Three hand pumps are on the bar, with two pairs in addition on the bar back. The landlord took time to talk to me, an obvious stranger, about beer, pubs and football - we'd both been at the Hawthorns the previous Saturday, though supporting opposing teams. I've now done nine pubs in Stourbridge in two brief visits and hope to do a few more soon - when I do, I'm sure this one will be on my revisit list. An excellent pub.

Very traditional ex-Holts pub, now run by Craddock's Brewery. Seemingly unaltered layout of various semi-open rooms arranged on three sides of the compact central servery, and lots of interesting pictures about the walls. Pleasant side beer garden, part covered under three shelters with the central section having artificial grass but otherwise a generous amount of real greenery. Three of their own ales - Saxon Gold (£3.20), Crazy Sheep and North Star APA - plus Purity Mad Goose as the guest on the four handpumps. Their Wasted is also available from the keg taps.