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Detail Pages
The Crooked House, Dudley
Himley
Postal town: Dudley
DY3 4DA
Pub Type
Leased (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Crooked House
One of the nation’s most famous ‘strange pubs’ by dint of it being seriously subsided in a torre pendente di Pisa style resulting in one end of the main building being (I am told) 4ft lower than the other, 15 degrees off-centre. Perhaps less remarked upon, but almost as strange, is the long gloomy drive up a rutted and fly-tipped track to get to it – the pub is at the end of this track and felt very, very isolated on a mid-December evening. Making this journey in twilight we got the whole spooky effect, especially when we entered (by heaving open a door that leans into you) to be greeted by…nobody. The place was empty and deathly quiet. After a couple of minutes a ghostly teenage apparition emerged from the depths; pleasant enough, took my cash and then promptly disappeared for five minutes before re-emerging with my change. She then disappeared again and that was the last human presence outside of our own we encountered. Having had plenty of time to clock four empty handpumps we all opted for the Banks Dark Mild on keg (which was a decent drop) and perhaps a merciful fate given the reviews of the cask below. The interior layout; two rooms either side of the bar, with a large and in darkness eatery out the back. Just the right-hand room open, perhaps no surprise given the lack of punters. The interior is basic but pleasingly traditional; quarry tile flooring, wood panelling, cream walls. The pervading smell of damp hints at there being more problems incoming for the fabric of the building. The advertised wonkiness is everywhere and the floor is far from level and yes, you indeed feel drunk if you walk around the room - I had to catch myself a couple of times. It’s absolutely worth a visit once to say you’ve done it. Whether you’d be tempted back for seconds is, based on my visit, unlikely.
On 31st December 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Crooked House
Famously lop-sided building with wonky doors and windows which provide a disconcerting misalignment with the traditional furniture inside. The bar on the left-hand side is currently closed, and the lounge to the right is distinctly plain. However, it has been extended with a more modern (and vertical) dining room, and outdoor seating can be found on the split-level front patio and in the rear beer garden. Disappointingly, no Tipsy Tipple (re-badged Marston's EPA) or other real available from any of the handpumps, so made do with the Banks's Dark Mild (£3.70).
On 20th October 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Crooked House
A must visit once to experience the uniqueness of its well documented listing.
As a pub - it appears to run by amateurs. Unmanned bars. £5 minimum card purchase (who has cash these days). All cask - which would have been Marston - turned around with only keg available.
On 9th September 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Crooked House
A very famous pub due to its almost collapse into old mine workings, I've wanted to visit here after seeing a 1930s photo of the place many years ago, it has changed externally since the photo mainly being cleaned up and a big car park laid, along with some sort of kiddies playground to the side. I was warned about the beer and the warnings proved correct, fortunately it was a big short measure so that saved the taste buds a little. I was also daft enough to walk here along the old railway from Gornal Wood through a landscape of scrap yards, open cast mining and rubbish dumps, the footpath/cycleway is rubbish and has been redirected without any signs, don't try this at home just walk down the main roads and the country lanes, dodging the massive lorries.
On 15th September 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Crooked House
Visited September 2009
Another well-known Black Country pub situated in Himley, close to the Staffordshire border.
That intrepid explorer, Roger B, has, as usual, summed up the unusual features of this pub pretty well and I shall refrain from repeating these, suffice it to say that there were the inevitable wondrous and wide-eyed children rolling marbles up the window ledge during my recent visit.
As you turn off the A 4176 ( the pub is signposted ) and drive down a narrow country lane towards the pub, you could be forgiven for thinking you had missed it, but helpful signs saying such things as "it is the right road, we promise" and "mind the bend or you'll be in the cut" encourage you to keep going. I would add another sign - watch out for the potholes in the road!
The pub is now called The Crooked House, but was formerly called the Glynne Arms and that is the name by which it still appears in my well-thumbed Birmingham A-Z.
The pub features on the front cover of the "Strangest Pubs in Britain" book and, notably, copies were on sale behind the bar.( the book is a good read, incidentally, although I know of at least 2 London pubs in it that are no more - Crockers Folly and the Widows Son )
It's a Banks pub, but both the Banks Bitter and Original ran out during my visit ( are there supply problems I wonder ? - see also my comment re the Shakespeare in Dudley ) .Other beers on were Hobgoblin and Ringwood Filly Drift. The pub proudly displays the Cask Marque symbol, but I don't think it's ever made the CAMRA Good Beer Guide )
It is now very much a food orientated family restaurant, although the original rooms at the front remain. There is a large restaurant area at the back, together with a childrens play area, so it's clear where the emphasis lies.
Perhaps inevitably, the pub makes the most of its fame and I noted that a "Black Country Night and Ghost Hunt" occasionally takes place.
In summary, I'd put this pub in the same category as The Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds for example. The curious amongst us will want to seek it out and visit - as I recommend you do - even if only once
On 14th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Darren Clarke left this review about The Crooked House
Even though you know what to expect nothing really prepares you for the experience this unusual pub offers. Sadly not one of our party of ten was able to finish their pints due to the poor quality of the beer. We were given a partial refund but perhaps more worrying was the manager's assertion that the beer was fine, turning to some regulars for support he must have been somewhat deflated to hear their confirmation that it was off.
On 27th November 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Crooked House
The Crooked House must be one of the most unusual and unique pubs in the country. Built as a farm cottage in 1765, the pub was a victim of mining subsidence in the later 19th century that has resulted in one end of the pub now being 4 foot lower than the other. Despite being condemned in the 1940's, the building was bought by Banks' Brewery and restored it to what it is today. Propped up by supports and buttresses, the pub is still 15 degrees off centre and it shows, although some of the features such as window frames and doors have been deliberately altered to enhance the effect. The wonky bit of the pub consists of 2 bars, the saloon to the left and lounge to the right. As you would expect, the interior is like a fairground attraction with doors and windows completely at odds with the floor and wall angles. Pictures on the walls have been cunningly placed at angles to give an even more dramatic effect. A grandfather clock in the saloon bar tilts at an alarming angle towards the small serving area (you will need to ring the bell during quieter periods). In the lounge bar the floor is a bit more even but the remaining angles still confuse the mind into what is supposed to be vertical and what is horizontal. Bottles, coins etc run “uphill” on the tables and windowsills, such are the optical illusions created (they keep a few marbles behind the bar that can be borrowed for a small donation). For those who cannot handle the sloping floors, there is an extended bar at the back of the pub that caters for large groups and has more traditional angles. Fortunately this does not intrude or spoil the character of the “leaning” bars. There are also several benches outside. They do decent and reasonably priced bar food (mainly jacket potatoes and baguettes) as well as a more extensive restaurant menu. They serve decent well priced Bank's Best and Banks Original as well as a guest beer. The only downside to the pub is that some of the seating is somewhat weathered and uncomfortable but despite this, the Crooked House is definitely a place worth travelling a few miles out of the way for (although it is hard to find).
On 19th July 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Crooked House
A brick built detached cottage styled pub, with central entrace and a large patio and rear extension.
The interior has two rooms that open either side of the tiled entrance. The lounge and bar are both in a mushroom colour with white ceiling and wood panel, there isn't much in the way of pictures, though the grandfather clock pointed out by Roger is still there and proudly standing at a jaunty angle, like pretty much everything else. There are a couple of nice iron fireplaces as well as a larger brick one in the bar, as well as some iron ephemera dotted about. The whole place is of course, fun and different. The service was good and the clientele mixed due to the quirkyness of the place and the fact they serve food. Music was at a decent level, unlike the floors!
Beer, tap stuff with a decent pint of Banks's MILD on handpull, along with the bitter - however, make sure you check out the beer in the lounge, as only two taps can be seen in the bar - there is a cider and a couple of guests on - Hobgoblin being one.
A quality and fun place, worth the walk, though it would be better in the summer rather than a rain soaked winter! I will be back.
On 24th February 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Peculiar left this review about The Crooked House
Once you get used to the wierd look of the place (attracts the tourists) it's not a bad pub. Banks's beer plus guest ales on handpull, fizzy stuff and food available in the bar or restaurant. Well worth a visit, but take care driving up the lane in the dark.
On 8th February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 97 recommendations about 92 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
david johnston left this review about The Crooked House
a must see,but thats it
On 16th October 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 73 recommendations about 71 pubs]