ReviewA brilliant traditional two room local’s pub owned by Punch Taverns. Inside the front entrance are two doors leading to the public bar on the left and the lounge on the right, the public bar has a small bar counter, a large brick fireplace with a log burning stove, small round tables and two TV’s. The lounge is of a similar size with a small bar counter, small inglenook fireplace and rectangular tables set for dining. The decorations in the lounge are extremely interesting, nailed to the overhead beams are three rifles (two bolt action with small magazines and one single action, all dating from around the end of the First World War) there is a mounted deer’s head and a pheasant with antique animal traps, old photos and a display cabinet containing various clay pipes on the walls. If you just fancy a quiet drink, then there is a third small area at the back of the public bar which is up half a dozen steps, this has a door leading out onto a partially covered patio area on the left hand side of the building.
Regular ales are Banks’s Mild, Green King Abbot Ale and Draught Bass Premium Ale with a single changing guest from Punch Taverns national portfolio which on my last visit was Hook Norton Old Hooky. All were very well kept in my opinion.
This is a great traditional local’s pub with an abundance of character that puts most “modernized” pubs to shame. There is a modest menu of traditional English dishes but this is really a pub for drinking and socialising. Note that the pub is on a small road which runs parallel with the duel carriage way that passes Wombourne. I think the only reason this place is not in the current Good Beer Guide is because the local CAMRA branch (Dudley & South Staffs) is simply spoilt for choice when deciding on candidates.
