WILLENHALL.

Situated in a street off the main thoroughfare this real ale pub is an oasis in what is otherwise a real ale starved zone. The pub, behind the lock museum, has two rooms with the back one doubling up as a games room and, in appearance, bringing back memories of a school youth club, note the motorcycles. The main room has a large wood panelled bar with barrels on the top and plastic flowers. There is also a prominent brick fire place housing an original looking (working) range. Seating is plentiful and is of the buttoned burgundy velvet type. There is lots of trivia around walls including pots and pans, dolls house, photos and the like, though their arrangement and lack of a central theme suggests that the owners are either avid car boot sale purchasers or just needed somewhere to store their junk! Food is reasonable (£5 for 2) standard pub grub and is served between 6 - 9.30pm Monday and Wednesday to Saturday. Besides Jacket potatoes there was nothing for vegetarians. At least 6 real ales are generally on (sometimes up to 8) and at least one Wye Valley beer is usually featured. Access is OK for the disabled. No accommodation but situated within walking distance of the local bus station for those who want to travel in from elsewhere. (H. Wynter)

A free house that serves a good selection of beers. There is food served here, though not an extensive menu it is wholesome and home-made. The beers are the real reason to come here, they have up to 5 on from places like Highgate, Greene King, Taylor's, Bass, etc. All served well.

Not much to look at from outside and proclaiming itself to be a Sam Smiths house, the Falcon has more to offer on the inside. Just around the corner from the Brewers Droop, there are usually six to eight guest ales on, a couple from Hydes and a Queen Mum celebratory beer among them this time. A brick building from the outside, The Falcon is very much a traditional back street boozer full of the local characters (who incidentally get over staring at you after a while), the line "Are you local" comes to mind here. The bar is a smallish room that fills in the evening with those avoiding the bottle bar rat run for kids at weekends. Seating is benches and stools in red leatherette and there's nothing on the floor. The smoke room (unusually smoke free this visit) also had a bare floor and is 'L' shaped though the bar fills a small strip opposite the door. Seating here is as the bar. Look out for the jet black long-haired pub cat - who wont shift if you want to sit and loves fuss and attention. We didn't see any food on offer, but basic snacks are served at lunchtimes. Access is good with wheelchairs possible, though toilets (clean and basic) are difficult to negotiate. There is also a beer garden, however, it is tarmaced and there are no chairs to be seen in the summer. No accommodation here and very little at all in Willenhall.

Taken over by Ushers, this old Mad O'Rourkes pub situated behind the main street has been refurbished. Outside it still retains some of the wacky colouring, though in more subdued colours. Inside it has gone all dark wood furniture and lost the bright blue decor. There is a pool table and TV now. Not a lot of seating is available at present, though more should be coming soon. The bar area slopes at an angle towards the toilets and is long, carrying two Ushers ales (Spring Fever and Best). The obligatory wooden floor, bland magnolia walls and high ceilings don't add much to an otherwise dark pub. The small area at the far end is very dark and ripe for assignations. Food is served lunch and evenings and will retain some of the O'Rourkes flavour for now at least. Access for the disabled is OK. No accommodation here (Birmingham A-Z ref 31, 1H)

This is one of those Wetherspoon pubs, but with a difference, it is light, bright and different inside. From the outside it has the look of an upper deck from a large cruise ship of the 1920s. Inside the same motif has been carried through with art deco walls and ceilings. The high ceilings are brought lower by some slung light fittings. The toilets are also excellent. The ladies are all green mosaic and the gents blue - very well done and subtle (not sure the bottle brigade can appreciate such things). The beer was good, three guest ales on: Everards Equinox, York Terrier and one other. Food is served until 10pm every night and is the usual well thought out menu - though more and better vegetarian options would be of benefit. Good disabled access/toilets. Not far from the above pubs, so worth a try. Watch out though for the Saturday night bottle crowd of youths who spurn real ale for lager or alcoholic fruit drinks. No accommodation here but try: Quality Hotel, 20 Wolverhampton Road West, Walsall, West Midlands. WS2 0BS. 20 Wolverhampton Rd West. (01922) 724444. 1 km from Willenhall. Price: under £40.