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The Pretty Bricks (New Inn), Walsall
Walsall
WS2 8AF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
Nationally-known pub run by Black Country Ales. Glazed tile exterior gives the pub its nickname, though those who have been in the pub-ticking game for a few years can likely reel off half-a-dozen other pubs with a better claim to that title. Two rooms either side of fine wood and glass central servery, accessed off a corridor. BCA corporate decor throughout though many of the older fittings remain, enough to merit a ** CAMRA Inventory listing. GBG listed also and in the usual BCA style there were many pumps, in this case sporting eight cask with two ciders. Not enamoured with the quality, the BCA Pig didn't fully clear and was a well-green (NBSS 1.5), the BCA BFG was better (3) and the Beowulf Handover was a flat, hefty stodge (2). We visited twice over the long weekend and neither time did the pub feel busy, indeed it was near-deserted at 8pm on Saturday night. Simple equation - few customers means the beer doesn't shift which means poor beer which means even fewer customers. BCA need to get a grip on this one, it certainly wouldn’t Guide in my CAMRA branch if these visits were indicative. I thought this would easily be my pub of the weekend.
On 13th March 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Ian Mapp left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
Honestly thought I had misplotted the location into my GPS. I walked from the arboretum through never ending light industrial units, to find this around the corner opposite a factory.
You have to want to come here and with the rain, I dont think Walsallians wanted to. I was the only punter in a 30 minute stay on a Saturday lunch.
A classic Black Country Ales Pub - Traditional to the point of conformity to their other tied house. 7 handpulls on but even with the lack of turnover, the Fixed Wheel No Brakes was my pint of the day.
On 7th August 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Old Boots left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
Two bar back street pub north of the town centre, a long term GBG entry, a run of editions of the guide are on a dresser in the saloon bar. The front bar is designated the Saloon and is decorated in Victorian style with exhuberant wallpaper and carpet, cast iron fireplace and the aforementioned dresser or perhaps it’s a rescued bar back. As well as the GBGs it houses a collection of Toby jugs, books and other nick nacks. Seven hand pumps, three with Black Country Ales and four other smaller breweries adorn the neat wooden counter. It’s an unusual affair having a dog leg with a glass screen and intregal seat part way along its generally L shape. Four keg taps, one from Salt plus usual suspects of Guinness, Carling and Thatchers. Pies are sold. I didn’t visit the rear bar but I’m guessing it’s not much different in look and feel, but two more pulls .
On 10th July 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Steve C left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
The New Inn, aka The Pretty Bricks, is a Black Country Ales pub with a mosaic tiled floor up the left-hand corridor where access can be gained to front and rear bars to the right. The front bar is carpeted with seating along the front windows that is faced by a curved bar counter. A windowed wooden partition splits the counter into two sections. Along the right-hand wall is a dartboard and on a shelf to the left of the bar are many editions of the Good Beer Guide, no doubt this pub is in all of them. Limited standard keg was available and I counted eleven hand pumps. The rear bar is also carpeted and has red banquettes across the rear wall. There is a fireplace in the right-hand wall and I counted another eight hand pumps. The available cask across both bars was BCA Bradley’s Finest Gold, Fireside and Pig on the Wall alongside Welbeck Abbey Brewery’s Loyal Duke, Small World’s Twin Falls, Beartown’s Crème Bearlee, Wantsum Brewery’s Hurricane, Salopian’s Shropshire Gold, Salt’s Jute IPA, Snails Bank Cider Company’s Blood Orange and Lilley’s Bee Sting perry. My visit was late on a recent Wednesday evening so there was no food available, but I did spot the kitchen at the rear. It was busy, so I ended up sitting at the table in the corridor that is also served by a section of the bar. I liked it in here and will return when next in the area.
On 17th May 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
Over 10 years since my last visit. Good to see it doing well. Very friendly service. I enjoyed a pint of AJ's IPA and a Mallinsons Simcoe. Well worth a visit.
On 16th April 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
Otherwise known as the New Inn, this place is famous for the glazed brickwork on the facade. The interesting two-bar layout, separated by the central servery, also features in Camra's regional inventory of historic pub interiors; all very traditional and well looked after by Black Country Ales. There are usually eight real ales (including three from the owning brewery) plus a couple of ciders available, but I went for the Korvaks Burden stout from Fowlis (£3.50).
On 20th April 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
I had been looking forward to visiting this iconic pub since reading about it in Camra's book of Real Heritage Pubs of the Midlands, and Luton Town's game at the Bescot Stadium gave me the opportunity. It's a 19th century building that was remodelled in the 1920s, which was when the glazed tile front would have been added, and the interior has remained largely unchanged since. There are 10 hand pumps around the central servery, with two real ciders and eight real ales all listed on a blackboard for ease of reference. There's an enthusiasm for real ale which, as BF says below, deserves a longer visit than my pre-football schedule would allow.
Date of visit: 29th December 2018
On 16th August 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3724 recommendations about 3461 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
The bricks are very pretty ,this is a fabulous Black Country boozer down a road leading to a trading estate.There is a front saloon and back lounge with lots of original features from etched glass to wooden surrounds around the bar and mosaic flooring in the corridor which retains a serving hatch and some seating.The saloon is lively with lots of character and characters,while the rear lounge has a small fireplace and is a quiet spot for a few pints with its own servery from the island bar .The corridor to the loos gives access to a courtyard for exterior drinking.
Operated by Black Country Ales ,the board gives 8 ales options ,namely on my trip Black Country Bradley Finest Golden,Pig on the Wall and Fireside with guests Pheasantry Dancing Dragonfly,Little Eaton Mill Plum ,Fixed Wheel Mr 60%,Branscome Summa This and a very decent Salopian Fault Line (£2.80).In addition there were 2 real ciders.
This is a must visit when in Walsall,there is so much authentic charm it is worth spending a long time here.
On 26th April 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
Cosy, neat, traditional street local, real fire and some rather nice low back church benches with cushioned seats. Old Walsall pictures on the wall.
lovely unspoilt pub with good beer
On 24th October 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Pretty Bricks (New Inn)
As you can see, I've scored this a well deserving ten. This was our first pub on our short visit around Walsall and what an excellent pub to start off in. Especially if you like a good traditional back street pub, as I do, with a warm and friendly atmosphere and a good choice of beers. There were the three regular ales from Black Country and seven guest. We went for the Mantle Rock Steady and Coastal Mosaic Gold, both were in excellent shape. Also tried was the Black Wolf Lomond Gold, also in great shape. Pork pies and cobs were a pound each and Thurs night was curry night.
On 17th August 2016
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]