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Submitted on Friday, 20th November 2009
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The Barley Mow, Penn Common, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
WV4 5JN
Reviews of The Barley Mow (Average Rating: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ale Monster left this review about The Barley Mow
This is a brilliant country pub located on the edge of Penn Common which is just on the border of Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire. The original cottage was built around 1630 but it has been extended a couple of times since, most recently in the early 1990’s. The pub is now owned by Punch Taverns. First of all mind your head as you enter the pub, the door frame was built before building standards existed and it is very low indeed. Luckily there are a couple of steps down into the pub so the ceilings are not as low as the door but there is one thick tie beam across the middle of the original room which could be a problem for some. On entry you will find the small dark wood bar counter immediately on the right filling a large nook, the ceiling above is plastered with old pump clips, beer mats and foreign currency, the floor is red quarry tiles. To the left of the entrance is a seating area with green leather bench seats in a U shape around the perimeter of the room with only four tables, some old hunting and farm yard animal paintings on the walls, patterned carpet and (unfortunately) a string of fairy lights pinned to the oak beam across the ceiling! In the middle of the room opposite the entrance is a cast iron log burning stove and flue which stand out from the back wall on a thick hearth. In a small sympathetic extension in the front left corner of the building there are around half a dozen four seat dining tables, the same busy carpet, half wood panel walls and a nice painting of the pub on one wall. There are half a dozen chalk boards dotted around the pub advertising standard pub grub which I have sampled in the past and found to be very good. Outside there is a separate toilet block at the front right of the building, to the left of the pub is a grass area with several picnic tables surrounded by a picket fence.
Regular ales are currently Greene King Abbot Ale, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Hobsons Town Crier, these mainly national favourites are complemented by three changing guest beers which on this occasion were St Austell Tribute, Three Tuns XXX and Clerics Cure (Cask Marque). Between me and my drinking partner we tried the Landlord, Tribute, Town Crier and Clerics Cure and all four we agreed were in excellent condition.
A great olde worlde country pub with lovely traditional décor (despite the fairy lights) which feels very comfortable, considering its age I was really surprised to find that the building is not listed! The decent selection of beer is well kept every time I visit which isn’t as often as I would like as the pub is quite isolated and has no public transport access. Despite this the place is popular and they have a well attended bring your own instrument folk music night on the third Monday of the month which is quite an experience if you like that sort of thing. It was named Wolverhampton CAMRA Branch South Staffordshire pub of the year in 2009 and was a GBG regular for many years, but it’s not in the 2013 GBG due (in my opinion) to tight branch quotas (only four from their part of South Staffs) and improved competition rather than a drop in quality. This is a cracking little pub and one of my favourites in the area.
On 13th March 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 199 recommendations about 199 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Barley Mow
A fantastic little place - mainly a white and black timber building, perhaps dating back a few hundred years, with a more modern brick extension and beer garden.
The intrior had a small bar room, with the rest being open plan and irregular, but with a dining area. The decor was white and wood panel, with some old photos on the walls. Quiet, the service was good, the clientele mixed, it being quite popular and the food was very good; i had gammon, the wife a steak and ale pie.
The beer; apart from the tap stuff, there was an excellent Timothy Taylor Landlord and Theakston's Old Peculiar on handpull, along with an untried Abbot Ale (though a friend said it was good) as well as Deuchars IPA and Shep Neame Bishops Finger.
A lovely little place and an excellent visit. It had been a number of years since my last visit, i hope it won't be so long before my next
On 20th November 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3053 recommendations about 3048 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Frosty Jack left this review about The Barley Mow
Evening 2006
Situated at the top of Penn Common and commanding views towards Sedgley this small 15th centaury pub, with low ceilings and doors to match, is at its best on a warm summer’s evening when you we be made welcome by the friendly staff.
The food is always excellent particularly the meat dishes and this is hardly surprising as the landlord is also a local butcher. The restaurant is small and it is best to arrive early to ensure a table as – once settled – the diners will be there for the night.
It is also worth parents noting that “The Mow†is also a “child friendly†establishment.
On 26th October 2007
- rating: 10
[User has posted 11 recommendations about 11 pubs]
View more reviews of The Barley Mow (4)
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Pub Details
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- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
