The Ivy House, Walsall

Pleasingly traditional pub in three parts on the northern outskirts of the town. It retains a central servery, with the main lounge / dining area on one side, a snug-like bar on the other and another small seating area in a slightly raised position to one side. Banks's Mild (£4.10), Hobgoblin and Cumberland available from three of the total of five handpumps.

Brief one hour visit for a pint and some lunch, pub as adequately described in the review by Soup Dragon et al, No music playing during my visit and no more than six folks in at the time. Good selection of Beers with guests being Varsity and Marstons Royal Ryder with Marstons Pedigree and Banks Mild also on Pulls. Decided to try the Varsity (£2.85 pint / £1.43 for half) as I had not sampled this before... tasty pint even if not fully to my own preference, but still enjoyable. Food seemed well priced so I chose to try their Club Sandwich and Chips, which turned out to be a normal sandwich (two slices of bread) of chicken and salad filling with chips on the side, quite tasty none the less. The staff were very friendly even though at the time of my visit the licensee seemed a little stressed trying to instruct one of his staff how to fill in the food orders so he didn't confuse the kitchen staff!! A pleasant hour and I will definately pay this another visit soon.

Arrived here after a 15 minute walk from Bloxwich in heavy summer rain. I'd never been before but I was pleasantly surprised to find a friendly multi-roomed pub. On handpull there was Banks's Bitter and Mild, Pedigree, Wytchcraft and Marston's Long Hop. I went for the Mild, which was OK, although probbaly tainted by my cheese and onion cob and a bag of pork scratchings. From a recent review in my local evening paper, I know this place is also popular with diners. I felt comfortable here and I liked it so I will go back

A white rendered brick built detached cottage type Banks’s pub, with fake ivy painted up one side and a nice beer garden at the back. The interior has three areas. The first is an open plan lounge area, consisting of two 'rooms' at different levels, decked out with lots of brass ornaments, spoons, plates, jugs, old pictures, round tables, bar stools. There is a second is a bar area, with wood floor and TV, with the same kind of ephemera. The third area is a large dining area. The food here is decent and good value at £5-10. Decor is white walls, with ceiling and support beams, that looks a bit twee in parts. The service was very good and the clientele is always mixed. The background music was decent level. Beer; usual tap stuff, with and excellent Banks's MILD, as well as Banks’s bitter and a decent Pedigree on handpull - there is guest, or two, which were Brakespear Hooray Henley and Wychwood Regal lager – which was a decent, at my last visit Always a decent visit to this place, and it wins the local CAMRA awards often. I always look forward to going and its is most worthy of GBG2010 status

Official site of the Ivy House, contains menus and event details - www.ivyhousepub.co.uk