The Railway Inn, West Bromwich

Traditional-looking corner pub, located near the Dartmouth Street tram stop on what was once the Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level Line. None of the original character has been retained during whatever remodelling and refurbishments it may have had over the years, and it now mostly caters for the local community of West Indian origin. The music is loud but good, and a pool table can also be found in a small area to the right of the entrance, but that's about it for facilities. Just three keg beers on draught - Carling, Coors Light and (of course) Red Stripe (£1.50, half) - but there are a variety of bottles and cans in the fridges behind the counter. I would also add that the staff and regulars were curious (rather than unfriendly) about my incongruous presence, so I quite enjoyed my brief stop here.

A victorian corner pub, now detached, but once terraced. The pub is rather plain, and is mainly in white, with black paintwork around the entrances and lower windows, as well as the foundation level. The interior has a main room, with side areas, now all the interior rooms have been ripped out. The decor is the familiar coffee and white and there is a pool table and dart board at one end. The TV had some 'Dine with Me' kind of programme and there was no music. There is a mix of perimeter seating and a sofa seems to have been added. The service was friendly and there was nobody in. Beer; no real ale and not a lot of keg was on either - lager and cider - i had the cider. I had a feeling that it had just been taken over, hence the small choice. Nothing for the real ale fan.