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Detail Pages
The Dog, Smethwick
Warley
Postal town: Smethwick
B67 5EU
Pub Type
Ember Inns (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Dog
Old inn given the Ember treatment in the various seating / dining areas - all tidily furnished and decorated in a generally light semi-modern style. Also has some wooden benches on the front terrace for those wishing to admire the Hagley Road traffic. Modest selction of real ales from three of seven handpumps, from which I went for the Purity Pure UBU (£3.75). Noticeably well-attended quiz night underway when I visited, so not just the bland, corporate, food-led establishment that it might otherwise appear to be.
On 7th October 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Dog
This is a part of the 'Ember Pub & Dining' chain - not just an Ember Inn - what utter pretentious twaddle. They have taken The Dog - renamed it 'The Dog at Warley' - one assumes for those that don't know where they are, and murdered it. The Dog is, of course, an old pub; it was one of two inns on the turnpike road back in the 18th century, in what was then the hamlet of Beech Lanes. Over time, the pub expanded, getting a bowling green (now the car park) by the 1930s. It is in Georgian style, though now it is cream render with pale green paintwork, but a look around the side will show the old brickwork. It has front and back patios and the anachronistic Ember monolith to add insult. The interior, on two levels, has been gutted. Open plan, but part-partitioned, you can choose where you want to sit in this food orientated place. I am surprised it doesn't advertise home-cooked food, as the rest of the place looks like your front room; with the ever popular sofas, high stools and comfy chairs making their appearance, along with fakey fireplace, rustic bistro art and those job-lot vases that they get. You can watch TV, silently - which is also like my front room, but that is usually because the in-laws are around and you can't hear it. The walls are in the usual mixed colours; brown, grey, white etc, with patterned wallpapers. I didn't eat, so i felt completely out of place - everyone else was - except the staff, who were perfectly friendly. The music was at a decent level, and charty. Beer; usual tap stuff - and out of the three handpulls just the one was on; Adnams' Fat Sprat, which was kept well enough. As you may have guessed, it isn't my kind of place - many of course will love it. Ember will say that this drastic transformation is just another phase in the life of the pub - yes, like God could say "I fancied giving the mammals a chance, so I nuked the dinosaurs". The sad thing is that the other old pub, the Cock & Magpies, has had the Harvester treatment - Beech Lanes has been swallowed-up by Brum, as have the two pubs by bland pubcos.
On 23rd August 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Horton left this review about The Dog
Ambivolant about this ex-M&B house on main road out of Birmingham to M5 junction 3. Been going here since childhood as it was a family & friends favourite, so can remember far to many changes. Ale better than it was a few years ago as too is the food, but then that wouldn't be difficult. Still barely average. However, a recent refurbishment has not improved the ambiance. Large car park at the rear on what used to be a Bowling Green (bring back the Bowling Green!) and a small garden on the Birmingham side of the pub. Backs onto very pleasent public park. The adjacent road tends to be a bit of a race track.
On 14th July 2008
- rating: 4
[User has posted 148 recommendations about 148 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Antony Hollingworth left this review about The Dog
Slightly expensive drinks but worth it for the wonderful surroundings and pleasent staff.
Food is excellent as are the beers (good selection of lagers & ales).
Quiz Nights Monday & Tuesday.
On 15th January 2005
- rating: 10
[User has posted 4 recommendations about 4 pubs]