STOURBRIDGE.

This is one of those Bank's Ruby Red Tap Houses. The ruby red refers to the Cameron's Strong Arm, a brewery it took over in 1992. It serves food from 11-10.30pm and Sunday 12-10pm, so you are assured of a bite to eat at all times. The food was wholesome what's now called 'trad' pub food of burgers, pies, steaks and jacket spuds you can find at other 'theme' pubs. Prices were good from £1.60 for sandwiches, £2.40 for a burger and chips to £5.25 for a 2lb pie! It also does guest ales and the main one this time was Enville Ale. It also had one from Bank's (nee Camerons) called The Ashes at 4.8%. this tasted OK, though had a rather unpleasant aftertaste if you tried to savour it. Beer prices are OK. Traditional pub games are available such as "shove ha' penny, put and take, nine men morris, shut the box (?) and bar billiards", oh and there's darts too. It's a mutli-roomed pub in the Firkin style with lots of wood and nooks and crannies all covered in colour wash paint. There's a TV for the football and they screen the sky matches regularly. You can laze in front of the TV in the leather armchairs. Outside there is a beer garden with a children's activity area climbing frame. The beer garden is next to the road, so it can get noisy and a bit smelly. It's right near Stourbridge Junction station, so you can crawl home late. There is plenty of tat covering the walls, but the staff are friendly and service is quick and efficient. The gents toilets however, left a lot to be desired. At the time they were leaking and swimming was required. They must have a peculiar type of customer here as the cistern lid was tied down???? There are many entrances to this pub, but only two of them are suitable for the disabled - the beer garden and the main road entrance. Oh, it used to be a hotel before it was bought up and turned into a pub - if you look closely the original etched glass is still in the windows. No accommodation here though.

An old Victorian pub with high ceilings and lots of tiling, this is a gem of a decor. It still has the original high bars, though the fittings have changed except for the main public bar back fitting which is ornate wood carving. This bar is on the right as you go in and has a tiled floor so it's cool in summer, but cold in winter. The heating arrangements still look original too. The second room in directly behind the first and has a smaller bar. This is sort of an eating room come bar while food is being served. There is a restaurant to the left. While it's open all day, food is only served until 2pm at lunchtimes and commences again at 7.30pm. The guest ales - only one available now - was from Greene King Old Speckled Hen. It's within a stones throw of the station (Stourbridge Junction 1 minute) and just down the road from the Labour In Vain (see above). While there is a single small (2-3 inches) step to get up into this pub, it's a little narrow once you get in and the high bars prevent wheelchair users from being seen to be served. No accommodation here.

A large one room pub in a sort of 'C' shape. Not far from the railway or bus station. Done up in the usual wood floors with weathered furniture there are seating areas which are up a step. The walls are covered by the usual entertaining tat - guess where it used to be? The long bar faces the doors and you can now buy thirds of a pint to test as many beers as possible in a night without getting (too) drunk. Not a bad selection of real ales can be found here, usually four to five on. On at the time were Enville White, Hampshire Lionheart, Abroad Cooper, Fullers London Pride and two others. Food is served here 12-8pm and there is a no smoking area to eat in. There is a TV but no music except the live stuff on the Thursday (Tuesday is quiz night).