The Wheatsheaf, Walsall

This pub is comprised of two former Georgian houses which have been knocked together, it is owned by Trust Inns and has a fairly modern decor with a T shaped open plan internal layout, on entering you will see a long narrow public bar straight ahead with two further areas on the left and right of the entrance. The public bar has a long wood panel bar counter down the right hand side of the room, high bar stools and tables with a large flat screen TV on the right wall in the back corner. To the left of the entrance is a small snug type area with a stone fire place in the left wall, a couple of brown leather sofas and shelves of books in the back left corner. To the right of the entrance and down a few steps is a larger dining area with a small bar counter on the left, a nice cast iron fire place with tiled surround in the middle of the back wall and two pianos, one painted white the other has a plain wood finish, on the walls were modern abstract paintings. Throughout the pub the walls are half wood panel painted a kind of pastel brown and the floors are bare wood. At the back of the public bar is a door that leads out to half a dozen steps up to an enclosed paved patio with a couple of picnic tables. Regular ales are currently Black Sheep Bitter and Timothy Taylor Landlord with two changing guest beers which were St Austell Tribute and Wye Valley Hereford Pale Ale on this occasion. I tried the HPA and the Black Sheep which were in decent enough condition (Cask Marque). A nice building, with a little bit of character remaining internally despite a modern refurbishment. A short but interesting menu is available, the pub has been a GBG regular in the past and a former Walsall CAMRA pub of the year, but it seems to have fallen out of favour recently. Only a couple of people in on a Saturday afternoon which is a bit worrying. The selection of beer was good and the quality was ok in my opinion, I would pop in again for a drink if I was in the area.

First impressions of this place suggested that it is a food-led, gastro-style pub. The walls are half panelled with the top half painted in pastel colours, the floors are wooden and there are areas clearly dedicated to dining with tables set ready for lunchtime punters. That said, there is enough to accommodate drinkers as well. The area around the bar has some standard seating and the odd high table with the large windows at the front creating a lot of light, although there is a darker section to the rear. To the left after entering, there is a small, raised area with low tables and big sofas around a fire (which was already lit at 12:30) which also has a book swap set-up. There are lots of old rugby and football photos on the wall which are apparently for sale. There is also an area which looks like it is used to stage live music and there is an upright piano nearby. There are eight hand pumps, although most were doubled up, so the ales available were Everard’s Tiger, Black Sheep Bitter, Greene King IPA, Wells Bombardier and Sharp’s Doom Bar. I had a half of the Black Sheep and thought it was in very good shape. The barman gave me a very cheery welcome and chatted to other customers throughout my visit. I think that my initial impressions of a bland gastro pub were unfounded as I actually really enjoyed drinking in this place. I think this is the sort of place you could enjoy a good pint with your non ale drinking mates, which is always a useful option to have. Not one for the traditionalist, but worth a look nonetheless.

Great friendly pub and even better when there is entertainment on, the current owners have not been there long but are doing a sterling job reviving what had become a quiet pub. Sciattica are going to back in the pub early December so expect another good night.

fantastic night on 9/10.10 live band sciatica were brill keep bringing in the bands lovely pub lovely people lovely management thx for a great night