Talbot Hotel, Stourbridge

Now back open after a refurb. None of the old "grandmothers living room" now, all very smart and modern. No ales, best bet was Atlantic Pale amongst the fizzy kegs.

This place has hardly changed over the years. It is very old fashioned - a bit like your grandmothers living room. No real ale so I had a Bass which was only OK. Better options nearby.

A poshish hotel with bar and dining open to non-residents, decorated in standard 1950s hotel style that is beamed with prints of old paintings, plates and traditional furnishing upholstered with material showing a medieval hunting scene. A big carvery stand takes up a bit of space at one end of the bar which rather spoils the look of the place. As Soup Dragon says only a limited range of keg beers in an unfortunate echo of the past. One for the maiden Aunts, in fact I'm sure I saw a couple of them in there having luncheon.