Rose & Crown, Wolverhampton

A modern pub and eatery that is a part of the M&B Sizzling chain, which has a patio area. While the building is modern and in white and cream mainly, it does have the smallest nod possible to the Georgians, with its pilasters, sash-ish windows and a neo-classic porch. However, the best feature is the space-hopper light mounted on the pediment. The interior is a U-shape around the bar facing you on entry. The decor is a mix from brick to the most irritating of patterned wallpapers. It has some serious-level crappy arty art on the walls and the vases dotted about the place are a great contrast to the untidy plates and food waste. One side is a bar area, with a pool table, dart board and a big TV showing Sky Sports News in silence. The service was friendly, despite others being served before me yet arriving after me. Beer; the usual tap stuff, with Marston’s EPA and Bombardier on handpull – so the Pepsi seemed far more appealing. Not a great experience, even by Sizzling standards – places like this make me realise just why I am so miserable.

This is one of M&B’s Sizzler branded pubs, there has been a pub on this site for over a hundred years but the current building was built around 1980. It has one large open plan room with a bar counter opposite the entrance in the middle of the back wall. On the left of the room is a public bar area with a large flat screen TV and a dart board on the back wall. The right hand side of the building is the dining area, this has a central chimney breast with a modern gas fire, lots of mirrors, daft vases and statues. Near the entrance are a couple of high leather seated booths. At the front of the pub is a paved patio area with several picnic tables. Regular ales are Marston’s EPA, Banks’s Mild and Bitter with no changing guest beers. I initially ordered an EPA but this came out like muddy water! Which is strange considering all EPA is Fast Cask. I gave them a second chance and they changed it for a Mild which was fine. A fairly standard family food orientated pub, so very little to attract me back. We did eat and the food was ok but nothing special so overall a rather uninspiring experience. There is a hand full of decent pubs in the Penn area that do good beer and good food, but this isn’t one of them.