The Vine, Wolverhampton

This is a superb example of an unspoilt 1930’s pub which is grade II listed and owned by Black Country Traditional Inns. The exterior has unusual red brick mullioned windows and a nice detailed stone door frame. The interior has three rooms, a public bar on the left, a lounge on the right and a comfy snug at the back of the building. The public bar has a small bar counter on the right with a tiled fire place and cast grate opposite in the left hand wall, on the right hand wall between the door and the counter is a dart board with a large flat screen TV above, fitted wood settles, tiled floor and various brewery mirrors and memorabilia on the walls. The lounge or smoke room as the front window states has a small serving hatch from the public bar in the back left wall, a large stone fire place with stove in the right hand wall, fabric upholstered wood settles with original bell pushes fitted above the back rest, parquet wood floor and more brewery memorabilia on the walls. Both rooms have back doors that lead into a hallway with tiled floor and a piano in the left corner, off the hallway at the back of the building is the snug which has a second stone fire place with cast iron stove in the back wall, fabric bench seats and parquet floor also. There are two separate outside areas, one down the right hand side of the building and a tiny covered space at the back left corner. Regular ales are Black Country Ales Fireside, Bradley’s Finest Golden and Pig on the Wall (Mild) with up to five changing guest beers which on this occasion were Morton Penkside Pale, Ludlow Boiling Well, Wincle Undertaker, Lentworth Lemonale and Wentworth Mild Chilli & Chocolate Stout (GBG 2012). I tried Fireside, Boiling Well and Undertaker and found them all in good condition. A simply brilliant traditional working mans pub with tons of character. The pub won Wolverhampton CAMRA pub of the year in 2009 and is on the CAMRA National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors as it has changed very little since the late 1930’s. The building is easy to miss as it is set back from the road unlike the buildings on either side, the reason for this is that this pub was built behind an existing pub which was open while the new building was being worked on, when the new pub was ready the old building was demolished leaving a big gap. I totally agree with Soup Dragons comment about the pub looking “like it should be on a model railway”. I love this place and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good pint of ale in a genuine traditional environment.

A lovely little 1920/30s undressed brick building, with nice coloured glass windows set back slightly off the road, that looks a little like it should be on a model railway. The interior has three rooms. On the left when entering there is the bar room. It, like the lounge is in white and a kind of wood colour walls, with white ceiling and lino floor. There is a TV, which had the footy on and a stone fireplace. There is a beer board in each room and no music. The lounge, to the right, is in the same decor, with a stone fireplace as well. It has so beer memorabilia on the walls and a wood floor. Food is served here and i have eaten here before and enjoyed it. There are bell-pushes on the seats. The last room is a games room accessed via a corridor, with a piano in it. There is a dart board and the darts team play in here! The service is very good and friendly, the place attracts a wider crowd than the other pubs in the village i feel, as it is the mecca here for real ale. I have been a few times now and the beer choice is excellent. The three regular Black Country Ales on handpull; Pig on the Wall MILD, BFG and Firelighter. There are also 5 changing guests; (an old list)Rymney's Silver Drum, which was lovely, Wem's Golden Honey. which was ok, Salopian's Golden Thread, Moreton's Merry Mount, Worfield's Dabley Ale and the nicest, Goff's Galahad. The place is CLASS

This pub was shut when I went to visit, despite the hours listed in the GBG. I will go back at some point & give it a chance, but just beware if you are early.

Under new management for 3 months, as at November 2008. The new landlord and lady, Carl & Trish, are doing a superb job. Ever changing variety of excellent real ales which are always well kept. Guiness and Carling too. Also serving fantastic pub food, good quality meals at good prices. You would have to go a long way to beat this place. The regulars, myself included, are a great bunch and offer a warm welcome to friends old and new. Definitely worth a visit. I love the place!