KIDDERMINSTER.

Situated right next to the Seven Valley Railway station and the Kidderminster interchange, this was once the station house, but is now an excellent real ale pub. This used to be one of the venues for the bi-annual beer festivals (the local authorities objected a few years back), the other being the station bar at Bridgenorth. Done out inside in a 1900 look (actually a replica of Great Western Railway station at Ross on Wye), it has a single bar near the entrance and one large room with square tables and chairs surrounded by stools and fixed padded benches. The room has some natural shapes to it and the posters and pictures are well worth a look at. The dreary brown paint could do with brightening up, but that was the style I'm assured. Beers are usually from micros and vary, though they do like SP Sporting ales from Herefordshire and Highgate ales. Food is served lunchtime and evenings (not Mon-Wed). though they also sell Draught Bass and one or two guest beers. The pub is not always busy in winter, though when the SVR has its open days, it can get crowded in between trains. No accommodation here.