Windsor Castle, Lye, Stourbridge

This is the Sadler’s brewery tap house which was only built in 2006, it has a nice half timber frontage but the interior décor is more modern with four rooms off a central hallway. The entrance is on the left hand side of the building, this leads into a small L shaped hallway which bends round to the left, immediately to the right and left are two small rooms and at the end of the hallway is the main public bar and a dining room. The public bar has a counter along the left hand wall, a piano opposite the bar, a large flat screen TV on the back wall with brown leather sofas below and high tables and chairs, on the walls were a couple of brass instruments and some framed pump clips. Opposite the bar counter next to the piano is the entrance to the larger of the two dining areas, this has high backed wood settles and six tables laid out with table cloths, wine glasses and flower vases. There is a doorway through to a nice snug type area which is also on the right of the hallway, this has a classic cast iron fire place with a pine surround and mantelpiece, a couple of leather arm chairs and three rustic tables. The second small room on the other side of the hallway is very minimalist with three tables and accompanying chairs but very little else. On the wall in the hallway is an interesting display of an antique beer engine. There is a small patio outside the entrance. Regular ales are the standard Sadler’s beers plus a changing seasonal beer, the standard beers are Jacks Pale Ale, Red House (Mild), Mellow Yellow, Worcester Sorcerer, Thin Ice, Stumbling Badger, Hop Bomb and Mud City Stout. On this occasion I tried the Mild and Stumbling Badger both of which I thought were in good condition. I would also recommend the excellent Stout which I have tried several times before. A good brewery tap house with well kept ales, the modern interior is not to my taste but the beer is, I prefer to sit in the small snug with the nice fire place when I visit. The pub had its 15 minutes of TV fame when it was featured in an episode of Oz Clarke and James May “Drink to Britain” series in 2009. In my opinion the pub lacks a bit of character but I like most of the Sadler’s beers so if I’m in the area I shall return.