Combermere Arms, Wolverhampton

After a failed attempt in 2010, I finally got to visit the Comberemere which is a lovely traditional building set back from the pavement making it look more like a house than a pub. This extends to the interior which is comprised of three rooms linked by a corridor; the main front bar, a lounge and a telly room. I spent my visit in the main bar which had an attractive tiled bar back (with some old beer bottles perched atop), Wolves memorabilia scattered around. Unsure of how ‘original’ the interior is but it does the job. The floor was carpeted (well-worn!) and I have to say that there was an underlying whiff of the old damp and it was quite cold. Five ales were on (Banks Mild and Bitter, Brew Dog Trashy Blonde (£2.75), Brakspear Oxford Gold and Black Sheep). The Trashy Blonde was spot-on and I ended up staying for three pints more than I expected, aided by the chatty demeanor of the Black Country barmaid. I noted a coffee machine available which I wouldn’t have expected in a place like this. Point of interest is that the gents have a large tree growing in them and out of the roof. From conversation I gather that the pub is owned by Punch. I really enjoyed my visit and it feels a million miles away from the junction and town centre but there needs to be a bit of TLC in the offing I think. Well-worthwhile (beware that it doesn’t open until around 6 on weekday afternoons).

This is a proper pub with three small rooms that has somehow managed to avoid being ruined by the “improvers” who should be beaten off with a large stick. The front room has lots of sporting pictures on the wall mainly of Wolves of course, there's also a display cabinet full of bric-a-brac. The first room on the right has old Marston's displays on the walls and a quiz machine and jukebox. The rear right room has a golf machine and a large TV. There's also a smoking area out the back which is probably illegal as it's got 3 sides and a roof. There's a full sized tree growing through the floor in the gents and upwards through the roof, very strange. There are 5 handpumps, last night they had Banks's Bitter and Original along with Triple fff Alton's Pride, Moorhouse's Blond Witch and Shugbrough Farmer's Half. I had a pint of the Farmers Half (can farmers buy pints of this?) which was really good. It's a great little pub. Note to any developers/pubco's. LEAVE IT ALONE!

A very traditional three room terraced pub that’s owned by Punch Taverns, It’s quite easy to miss this place if you’re driving past as it doesn’t look like your typical pub and its set back from the building on the right therefore it blends in with the other terraced houses on the left. The building consists of three small rooms all off a central passage way, when you enter you will find yourself in the corridor with the public bar on your left, this has a small bar counter, a small log burner and loads of Wolves FC photos and memorabilia on the walls. On the right of the passage way (opposite the bar) is a small snug with an old open coal fire and various brewery memorabilia on the walls. Finally at the back of the pub on the right there is another slightly larger lounge with a large flat screen TV on the wall. The bar has a serving hatch in the passage way and there is a beer garden with picnic tables behind the pub. Regular ales are Banks’s Mild and Bitter with three changing guests from the Punch Taverns nationwide portfolio. The landlord has good taste in real ales in my opinion; I always find an interesting guest beer to suit my pallet (GBG 2010) This is a great pub that is always worth a visit, it’s got a good authentic traditional look and there are plenty of interesting bits and bobs decorating the walls that add character. When the Wolves are at home the fans queue out the front door to have a pint in here and it’s pretty busy all week long, I think that says it all really. Also I can confirm that the rumours are true! There is a bloody great big tree growing in the corner of the gents urinal and out through the roof! How about that for character.

Traditional pub with three small rooms. The front room has lots of sporting pictures and other memorabilia. The second room old beer memorabilia on the walls and the third has a large TV. There is patio. A tree grows through the gents floor. This should be the best pub in Chapel Ash, yet often when i visit, and that is every couple of months, i find the clientele friendly, but the service is functional.We go for the beer of course, but the MILD varies to the point that i often have a guest beer instead. Last night, two of the pumps had sold out, leaving Banks's MILD and Hydes Jekyll's Gold, which i thought was OK. You just have to go when in the area.