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Image posted by Richard Lloyd
Submitted on Thursday, 9th April 2015
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Detail Pages
The Vine (Bull & Bladder), Brierley Hill
Brierley Hill
DY5 2TN
Served areas
Reviews of The Vine (Bull & Bladder) (Average Rating: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Vine
So – the advertised highlight of our Black Country Bender and after a pretty glum day of places (or beer) not living up to expectations we were on tenterhooks for this one. Sadly, it didn’t really deliver. Now, let’s be fair – it was rammed, with only a few seats left. We eschewed the morgue-ish front bar and went into the long and basic rear room (as the side lounge was full). This, unfortunately, was subjected to a blaring TV showing the Strictly final and was populated by a load of yammering goons who had clearly spent their day in the nearby shopping centre which made for terrible acoustics and an uncomfortable atmosphere. But the real killer was at the bar which should have been the salvation, what with this being the brewery tap – we were (not) served a double whammy; not only was there no XXX, there wasn’t even the Mild (“it’s still settling in the cellar” quoth he barman who barely looked old enough to be doing A levels). So just the Bitter on; to not have either of the brewery’s other wares available the penultimate Saturday evening before Xmas was a complete travesty. So we settled for the Bitter which, despite the ferocious turnover, was nowhere as good as that served at the Lamp the previous evening (NBSS 3.5, but lacking flavour) and after one pint we shoved-off back to our digs – at 7.30!!. A real let-down; a brewery tap that can’t even organise itself to have (at least!) 2 or its 3 beers on Saturday so close to Christmas? Eyes off the ball - why could the Lamp manage it, but not here where the beers are a short barrel roll away?
November 2012
Another superb Black Country offering. This Batham's brewery tap is a classic, unspoiled pub with various rooms leading off a long central corridor. Known locally as the Bull and Bladder due to a butcher’s shop previously located next door, the 1920's stylings of the exterior and the small right-hand bar are a delight. As is the beer - two Bathams ales are usually offered (Bitter and Mild on my last visit…Bathams ales are just divine so that’s all you really need!), invariably in top quality and cheap to boot. The food offering is old school Black Country – pork pies, faggots etc. The regulars are friendly (though on by my visits the staff haven’t been) and it’s easy to settle in here for a session if you enter the cosy lounge to the left of the corridor. The front bar has various clippings about the pub and surround and you get a real feel for the history of the area, where the family-owned Bathams brewery has been going since the 1870’s. And be sure to catch the Shakespeare quote on the pub exterior: "Blessings of Your Heart, You Brew Good Ale". I couldn’t put it much better myself. Make sure you visit this place. I’d give it a ten if the staff smiled a bit more. Rated 9
On 30th December 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Vine
Little point in repeating PSM's comprehensive account below, suffice it to say that after too long I finally made the pilgrimage. Wild horses won't prevent a repeat performance sooner or later, hopefully when someone else is driving and thus more opportunity to sample the delicious beer in such fantastic surroundings.
On 23rd January 2019
- rating: 10
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Vine
What can I say that hasn't been said about the Bull & Bladder? A gem of a pub. I don't think the Bitter can be beaten. I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of this pub (And Ma Pardoes) and it remains one of my favourites.
If you haven't visited, you really should!
On 24th December 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
View more reviews of The Vine (Bull & Bladder) (20)
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Black country crawl Aug 2015 by Roy Collins
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- The Vine page at the Bathams Brewery site - www.bathams.co.uk
- Facebook - Bull and Bladder
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Vine (Bull & Bladder) - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Lye (West Midlands), 1.29 miles, 24 min walk (show)
Stourbridge Town, 2.18 miles, 42 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Car Park : Yes last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 27 October 2013 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes - Weekday Lunch - last updated 02 March 2014 by Aqualung .
- Jukebox : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 27 October 2013 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 08 April 2017 by Pub SignMan
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 30 December 2021 by Quinno _
