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| The Black Swan corner of Bridge St Walsall West Midlands. |
| Additional Notes: | This pub has now been closed and turned in the Sofa Bar. Enough said. |
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| Tap and Spile John Street off B4210 Walsall West Midlands (01922) 627660. |
One of the chain taken over in 1998 and had its beer list cut. However, this fact seems to have escaped the licensees here and they still serve a very good range of gust ales which are always served to perfection, even if they give you a funny look when you ask for the sparkler off. Not in the centre of Walsall, but a little way out turn right at the Sikh temple from centre of town. The pub is an old Victorian two-bar one. The first bar is bare floored with a high dark bar on the left, an old partition screen remains. Seating is benches and stools at the bar and there is a fireplace at the end of the room. The second room has carpet and more benches and tables. A wood burning stove at the end of the room is lit in winter. Seating is down the edges of the room, although there is not a lot of room between. The smaller bar is on the right here and usually has four handpumps in action. Beers are notified via a blackboard on the wall in both bars. Choice varies from Adnams Broadside to Breakspear's Special to Wells Bombardier to Burton Bridge Duck Soup. Food is served and is homemade where possible, but matches the menus in other Tap and Spiles. Good value and choice, though not a lot for vegetarians. Regular quizzes are held here and the local CAMRA branch meets here often. There is also a beer garden for the summer and the railway station is about half a mile away. No accommodation here, but see above. Access for the disabled is possible, though spaces small and wheelchairs will not fit.
| The Victoria 23 Lower Rushall Street Walsall West Midlands (01922) 725848. |
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A two roomed pub on the outskirts of the centre of Walsall (bottom end nr
Safeways). Pretty much still a Victorian pub with steps
everywhere inside. In the lounge at the rear there is a good sized bar with 4 hand pumps. The room has been knocked through to extend the seating area. A tiled fireplace surrounds a gas-fired wood burning effect stove.
Decor is dark brown paint and cream walls in keeping with the Victorian theme. Brewery mirrors adorn the walls, some from those now closed and one or two from recently closed examples. Seating is high stools at
the bar with benches and a mixture of square/round
tables. Also some chairs and short stools. Public bar is on the street
side and is narrow. There is also
a
step down into the bar from the entrance. Carpet on the floor matches the decor of the
lounge with pub mirrors. Tables are also square but smaller and there are chairs and stools too. 5 guest ales on at
the time (though additionally 4/5 regulars from national/regional breweries
Marston's, Green King, etc). on at the time were: Lichfield Blooming Ale, Cotleigh Barn Owl, Burton Bridge Sprint Time, Brains SA, Holdens XB. All served with sparkler on, but they will happily remove it, should you wish. Food is served at lunchtimes only and is good traditional fayre (chilli, burgers, etc). toilets are upstairs and there is no disabled one downstairs. A beer garden is available for summer months out back away fro the road. Free meeting room too. No accommodation here, but try
The Caledonian (£19) on the corner.
Also Try:
The Prince, Stafford St, Walsall. 641292. 1 guest ale.
The Rose and Crown Hotel, Old Birchills, Walsall, WS2 8QH. (01922) 720533. 12-11, 12-10.30 Sun.
The White Lion, 150 Sandwell Street, Walsall. (01922) 628542. (guest beer)
Walsall's CAMRA Beer Festival Venue:
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