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Plough & Harrow, Stourbridge
Stourbridge
DY8 1AX
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Plough & Harrow
I was recommended to try this pub after getting into conversation with a chap in the Seven Stars. I'm very glad he did, because apart from the fact that the pub's original many rooms have been opened out over the years, this is very much a proper pub, run by a man who knows what he's doing and supplied with beer by a brewery ditto. All the beers were from Craddocks, except Timothy Taylor Landlord and Titanic Plum Porter; there was also Old Rosie cider. Three hand pumps are on the bar, with two pairs in addition on the bar back. The landlord took time to talk to me, an obvious stranger, about beer, pubs and football - we'd both been at the Hawthorns the previous Saturday, though supporting opposing teams. I've now done nine pubs in Stourbridge in two brief visits and hope to do a few more soon - when I do, I'm sure this one will be on my revisit list. An excellent pub.
On 17th February 2020
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3482 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Plough & Harrow
Very traditional ex-Holts pub, now run by Craddock's Brewery. Seemingly unaltered layout of various semi-open rooms arranged on three sides of the compact central servery, and lots of interesting pictures about the walls. Pleasant side beer garden, part covered under three shelters with the central section having artificial grass but otherwise a generous amount of real greenery. Three of their own ales - Saxon Gold (£3.20), Crazy Sheep and North Star APA - plus Purity Mad Goose as the guest on the four handpumps. Their Wasted is also available from the keg taps.
On 9th September 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Plough & Harrow
This is a former Holt Plant & Deakin pub with lot's of their signage. For those who are unaware, this was a cynical marketing ploy by Allied Breweries back in 1984 to boost their underperforming (mostly) Ansell's pubs in the Black Country. They decorated them to make them look more "Olde Worlde", added some "real" fires and started a new microbrewery in Langley near Oldbury to provide the beer. I sat by an example of their handiwork from the 1980s which was a frosted glass window with a plastic transfer sheet over it to make it look like it was a leaded stained glass window! The trouble is after all that time not only was the window cracked but the transfer was peeling away. I suspect that this pub is not owned by Craddock's but leased from one of the big pubcos. The brewery web site makes a big play on the fact that they bought the Duke William from Marston's but little mention of here. The said pub is top of my list for the next time I visit Stourbridge.
Having said all that, it's not a bad place at all. It does have a traditional pub feel to it despite the old Allied Brewery bodges. I missed the other two pumps, but on the three I saw there were Purity UBU, Taylor's Landlord and Craddock's Saxon Gold. The Saxon Gold was a decent pint in good condition but at £3.05 was the most expensive pint on my visit to the West Midlands. Of course this simply reinforces my theory about the large pubco ownership of the place. It could be a lot better out of their hands.
On 3rd August 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Plough & Harrow
A decent traditional pub and a must if you're visiting Stourbridge. The pub has a central bar, with a lounge area either side and a patio area. The staff and customers were friendly and chatty. Five ales on handpump, plus a couple of ciders. I relished the Craddocks Saxon Gold, which was drawn from a handpump on the side of the back bar.
On 10th October 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Plough & Harrow
This is an end terraced cottage styled pub with a side patio area. It is in white render with red apintwork and has a small central entrace flanked by bay windows, with lovely etched Holts Brewery windows.
The interior has a U-shaped room around the central bar that faces you on entry. The decor has red and yellow split walls with a yellow ceiling and a mix of patterned carpet, wood and stone flag floor. There is a brick chimney and three firplaces in all. There is nice bench seating. There is no much electic fun in here, a paino, waterpump, old radio, with lots of prints, plates and old photos on the walls. There is a dart board, though there is a table in the way, so play at quiet times i think! The service was fine and the clientele locals mainly, though a group of 20 bikers came in the other day - that would be mature cyclists by the way!
Beer; usual tap stuff with 5 handpulls, some served from the back of the bar. There was Timothy Taylor Landlord, Wye Valley HPA, Purity UBU and Craddock's Goat Herder Stout and Billy the Kid. The HPA was excellent.
Another Stourbridge winner. A great pub served by a bloke that looks like a Viking warrior. It was busy on my first visit, but idyllic on my second. Class.
On 2nd April 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Plough & Harrow
Smart local, comfortable, with bench seating. Old HP&D pub still with windows & wood in their style.
On 28th March 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]