The Boldmere Tap, Sutton Coldfield

My first visit since it was the Boldmere Oak and I liked it. Good selection of Joule's ales and good service. Worth a visit.

Remodelled, alehouse-style, by Joule's to leave bare boards, plain furniture and old-fashioned decor within the various seating areas scattered around the partly opened-out interior. Also has a covered terrace along the side elevation. Live music night with different local performers when I visited. Good selection of the brewery's beers from five of six handpumps, from which I went for the Old No 6 (£3.00).

Due to reopen 18 December.

purchased by Shropshire based Joule’s Brewery

Not exactly sure why we stopped off here, we were walking from Erdington after a disappointing stop at the Red Lion and wanted to break up the journey, what a waste of time!There was Banks bitter on the bar so ( when we eventually got served) we asked for two halves. The pub was crowded and there was karaoke, an Amy Winehouse lookalike who tortured " You Know I'm No Good" which didn't improve my opinion of the place, There had obviously been handpumps at some point ( all turned around) and an impressive line of beer pump clips adorned the area above the bar. But they obviously don't sell any real ale at all, the guy serving us ( who reminded me of James Corden) had no idea how to pull a pint, and after several wasted glasses, preceded to sell us Guinness and then overcharge us, by denying we had given him a ten pound note! He clearly had some earache from one of the other bar staff about how much beer he'd poured away. Avoid this place at all costs, unless you have no taste! Or have any taste in music..

A corner pub with patio area, formerly the Cork and Bottle. The square looking pub is in half undressed brick and half white render, with brown windows and corner entrance. The interior is a an open-plan modern-ish room. The decor is a mix of red, coffee and cream, with white ceiling and wood floor and a DJ area. The seating is a mix of sofas that you sink into, comfy and general chairs. There are landscape pictures on the walls and blinds on the windows. There is a TV, which was showing the Simpsons until someone put some music on - Abba - which was blasted out at a near painful level. There is a dart board. The service was OK and the clientele mixed - it was pretty busy. Beer; usual tap stuff with a so-so Banks's Dark MILD. There are three handpulls, but all the clips were turned around. A pub in the Sutton area that isn't actually a food place, however, the loud music, lack of beer choice and the quality of the MILD mean't i didn't stay long.