The Posada, Wolverhampton

A small tiled frontage with fancy leaded windows above leads into a tiled front bar with a nicely carved counter. The front bar is mainly for vertical drinking although there is battered bench seating round the window. Six handpumps on the bar give a choice of beers from local and regional brewers all I tried in good condition – the pub is a GBG regular. A seventh pull dispenses a cider. Behind is a small sitting room with two screens, a repro fire, a sign says don't put anything on it as it is gas. There is a small cosy booth to one side. There is also another sitting room right at back but as it was full with a gaggle of noisy women I didn't bother checking it. A discount is offered for Camra members.

Old pub with fine exterior. However it never feels comfortable to me, there's lots of tiling but for me it feels like you're drinking in a subway or even a toilet! Maybe I went through the wrong door! There are some nice features, just not a pub for me I'm afraid, despite the reputatuion for good real ale.

Initial impressions are promising – an eye-catching façade, with Victorian tiling and a beautiful large curved stained glass window. The interior is also quite interesting (snug areas at rear, stripped wooden floor, nice bar area) but looks very tatty and smells quite badly of old fags and well, wee. Five ales on the go – my last visit found Brew Dog Trashy Blonde (which drank fine), GK Abbot, Enville Ale, GK OSH and Adnams Broadside. CAMRA discount of 20p per pint (and 10p per half!) was welcome. Apparently ‘Posada’ is Spanish for ‘inn’ - not sure why Wolverhampton gets a pub named in Spanish but there you go. I think it promises more than it delivers overall – it needs a good dose of TLC to get it up there. It’s still well-worth a visit but I doubt most casual visitors would stay beyond a pint.