Starting Gate, Merridale, Wolverhampton

Having been at the Winning Post in Worcester the previous day, I ended up at the Starting Gate in Wolverhampton on a winter's Saturday afternoon. As with the Winning Post, this is a pub with a horse racing theme. In fact this place is a micropub and one that is much larger than you initially expect. Located in the Penn Fields area of the city, there's not much else around here. But it was just about worth the trip out of the centre. There is a small bar area, with a rather cold lounge extension with a disabled toilet to the rear. A spiral staircase leads up to a third room with the less accessible toilets. Just a handful of other customers were in, some of them being upstairs. A few other strange characters wandered in and out including a bloke who had left his purse in the pub the night before (luckily I've never managed to do that). I'd planned a little more time for us in this pub before we needed to head to the football match. However, whilst the ale selection was fairly good, I was a little disappointed not to find any new beers or ciders for me to try. Ales on were Titanic Plum Porter Grand Reserve, Castle Rock Screech Owl, Beowulf Dark Raven, Three Tuns XXX & Wye Valley HPA. A bag-in-the-box cider on the bar back was Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon. With another really friendly barmaid here and some fairly friendly punters, I'd give this place another go. Certainly an unusual set-up for a micropub though.

Visited here a few times now. A micropub (whatever your definition) that is house in a 30s building that was formerly a bank. The serving bar is to the left on entry, and a narrow drinking area faces it, but there is a second at the back and another up a helter-skelter staircase on the floor above. The bar and rear area have some horse racing pictures and the rear area has some glass in a cabinet, a few books and a bit of Wolves memorabilia. There was no TV and the background music was low. The service was very good and it has a mixed clientele. Four pulls were on with Butty Bach, Sarah Hughes MILD, Enville Ale and Pardoe's Bumblehole - the MILD and Bumblehole being excellent. Have been before, will go again.

New micropub due to open July 26th.