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ONE PUB ONLY?
Black Eagle
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Jump on and off the metro for the Black Eagle and Vine before returning to the Hawthorns stop
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Waggon and Horses
|  |  Black Eagle
16 Factory Rd, Hockley, B18 5JU T 0121 523 4008 W www.blackeaglepub.co.uk
G Tony Lewis
F Excellent home-cooked traditional English fayre 12 to 2.30, 5.30 to 9.30 (Bar), 7.30 to 9.30 (Restaurant). No food Sun eves.
SP BM D
O 11.30 to 3, 5.30 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11 to 11 Fri, 12 to 3, 7 to 11 Sat, 12 to 3 only Sun
Geoff Clarke and the London branch of the Baggies supporters club recommended the Black Eagle as a place to have a good pint and food before taking the metro to the Hawthorns. How right they were when they talked of high quality beer in a beautiful local. The pub is positively warm. The design is traditional and the décor distinctively well cared for, down to the flowers on the mantle piece and gleaming mirrors and clocks among the Victoriana. The pub is not overly-ornate but has features that make it stand out from the normal back-street boozer one expects to find in this workaday suburb. Tony has a theatrical past and it is no wonder this is so much loved by the throngs of office workers who come to lunch and impress. Frequented by baggies on a Saturday, it never loses its classiness.
I had a very pleasant lunchtime sat in the sun-lit front bar. The tone is set by Radio 2 which subtly invites a reflective and peaceful attitude to drinking here. It meets the needs of foodies, drinkers and couples merely chatting, equally well. It is recommended to book for food in the rear restaurant-lounge. I would be perfectly content to hog a corner in one of the two bars for a long session.
BWV 18. 11 .05: Ansells Bitter, Mild, Batham Best Bitter, Burton Bridge Stairway to Heaven, Hadrian and Border Reiver’s IPA, Marston’s Pedigree, Timothy Taylor Landlord
BWV Oct 02 Ansells Mild, Bathams Bitter, Marstons Pedigree, Timothy Taylor Landlord, + Guests
Black Eagle (update)
A bit further out from Birmingham city centre than the Church Inn (see Aston Villa), the Black Eagle is a continuing triumph for former actor Tony. He has developed it into the comprehensively excellent pub he’s been running for some years. It’s certainly his stage with so much good stuff to enjoy: one of the better pub quizzes on alternate Mondays, courtesy of Gwyn. I write as a former runner-up team member, proving that it’s of the not-too-daunting variety. And that would be accompanied by a few pints chosen from 4 regular and 3 guest beers, or even Freedom organic lager, a mere 4.8%. More can be sampled at the beer festivals Tony holds over a July weekend. The food is varied and interesting with tempting casseroles alongside standard pub fare. Food is important here, winning the Evening Mail’s Best Pub Grub award in 2006. Sunday roasts, in two sittings, a good idea as it’s all freshly cooked for the 2.30 one, should be booked in advance. A meal could provide a tasty prelude to a Sky-induced fixture rearrangement. The pub is well worth the metro journey to Soho Benson Road, followed by a few yards’ walk. The area is not prepossessing, with much industrial dereliction in evidence, but this is a true gem, down to the pleasantly laid out garden. Football fans have long been familiar with the Eagle, e.g. London Baggies on the metro to the Hawthorns. As with most Birmingham pubs this will serve a visit to Villa Park, St Andrews or Bescot Stadium as well.
BWV 18.5.07: Timothy Taylor Landlord, Ansells Bitter, Mild, Marstons Pedigree (always), Bathams Best Bitter, Acorn Barnsley Bitter, Abbeydale Devotion (guest)
Mick Escott
Metro (from Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton) : Soho Benson Road. The Hawthorns is a few stops in the Wolves direction | |  Church Inn
22 Great Hampton St, Hockley, B18 6AQ T 07515 460175
G Vicki Banks
F Good, honest, traditional pub food, with large helpings 12 to 2, 6 to 9
MP SK JB
O 11.30 to 11 Mon - Wed, 11 tolate Thu - Fri, 12 - late Sat, 12 - 10.30 Sun
The Church Inn is a fantastic boozer in a rather neglected part of rapidly-regenerating Birmingham. What it lacks in location it makes up for in massive meals of high quality and a no-nonsense attitude to good ales. As local lad Ian said “You have got to come here, it’s pucka! The food is awesome and the company just great” In a change to the normal pattern, it is the evening that brings out the professionals, using the pub as somewhere very different to the traditional town haunt. On matchdays the pub is heaving, whoever is playing in town. I enter it in the Baggies page but it could equally be a base before visiting Villa or the Blues.
The pub has three bars, the most interesting being the secluded back bar, a bit of a secret den for those who like a bit of privacy!. Others talked of the legendary whisky selection. For me it was a long-lasting pint and a short trip to the local metro station before the hop back home from Snow Hill.
BWV 19.11.05: Batham Best Bitter, Greene King IPA
UPDATE
The pub has been renovated, the back room is now open as a large funsction room. Carol and the mega steaks have gone but instead the all home made food includes 14 oz "t bone" steaks as the feature on a traditional pub menu. The pub has a new smoking area and sky TV. The pub is still busy on matchday, nore Baggies than Villa who have a differnet bus journey to the ground to contend with. No more the gingham tables or Bathams beer
BWV Oct 2009 Timothy Taylor Golden Best, Wye Valley HPA | |  Old Crown
56 Sandwell Rd, B70 8TG T 0121 525 4600
G
F Full menu most of the week, reduced on match-days but Indian snacks and rolls available, 12 to 4, 6 to 9 (not Mon eve)
SP SK BM D
O 12 to 4, 5 to 11, 7.30 to 10.30 Sun
This pub is a throw-back to how I imagine pubs were in the 70’s. Retaining traditional values in the seating, décor and quality of service, this is a truly friendly side-street local. The pub is not only for Baggies friendships, “we have Blues, Villa, Wolves and Walsall and the rapport is fantastic,” (Geoff Clarke of Wednesbury) The customers “welcome good beer, good food and good humour from all who call in, whatever their team.” (David Davies), You can see the obvious family ties with the food ethos found at the Vine, (As Ron of West Bromwich says, it has “a good friendly atmosphere for home and away supporters to toast a good result with award winning ales.“ The Midland Pub Co and Evening Star plaudits are well deserved: as they say, this is “the perfect pub.”
BWV 22.2.05: Archers Golden Ale, Malvern Hills Dr. Gully’s Winter Ale, Old Crown (Ma Pardoe’s) Entire, Wessex Kilmington Best, Thatcher's Cider
BWV 18.11.05: Bath Ales Best, Greene King Abbot, Jennings Red Breast, Snecklifter
Old Crown (update)
BWV 7.11.07: Kinver Ales Entire Crispin , Banks’s Original, Saddlers Best Bitter, Burton Bridge Stairway to Heaven, Enville White
Buses 450, 78, 79, 74 (from Birmingham to West Bromwich and/or Wolverhampton)
Metro: Kenrick Park
Taxi: A1 0121 553 4646 (freephone from pub) | |  Vine
152 Roebuck St, B70 6RD T 0121 553 2866 W www.thevine.co.uk
G Suki Patel
F Tandoori barbecue and speciality curries and baltis, pub grub 11 .30 to 2.30, 5 to 11 Mon - Thu, 12 to 11 Fri - Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun
SP SK BM D
O 11.30 to 2.30, 5 to 11 Mon - Thu, 11.30 to 11 Fri, 12 to 11 Sat - Sun
On my many visits to this ground-breaking pub, the atmosphere has always been the same. Crowded and lively, it has a “great atmosphere, friendly staff, good real ale selection” (Adam of C Heath). It has been extended, extended and extended again so that the original bar is tiny compared to the series of canteen style dining spaces that stretch, it seems, back as far as the nearby M5. Mark says “that if you can be happy after watching the Baggies there must be something in the beer.” The single real ale is always changing so the choice is as surprising as the food is cheap and good. “Away supporters are welcomed” (Chris Whitehouse) and “where else would you find so many footie experts.” (Rose of Sedgeley). Suki makes a great effort to make the casual visitor as welcome as the regular Baggies who swamp this pub on matchdays. Get there early if you want a seat.
UPDATE: Still no food over a fiver and Batham’s will soon be back as the house ale.
BWV 22.2.05: Batham Best Bitter
BWV 18.11.05: Burton Bridge Bindle Stiff
BWV 7.11.07 (ME): Cottage Trembling Whippet (guest)
BEERS 19 10. 2009 Batham Best Bitter always on matchdays, or from
Blue Bear Brewery – such as Wander Lust (4.2%), Roar Spirit (3.8%) and White Bear (4.5%)
Saddlers ales (local brewery) - Worcester Sorcerer (4.3%) and Thin Ice (4.5%)
Burton Bridge Brewery – XL Bitter (4%) and Bridge Bitter (4.2%)
BWV 30.1.10 Sadlers Mellow Yellow replaced by Slaters Pale ale over the lunchtrime session | |  Waggon and Horses
17a Church Street, Oldbury B69 3AD Tel: 0121 552 5467 Email: Andrew.gale@unicombox.co.uk
Guv’nor: Andrew Gale
Food: good quality home made
Food times: 12-2.30 Mon to Sat, 5.30 to 8 Tue to Fri
Smoking: none
Parking: car park nearby plus street, free Sats.
TV: terrestrial
Music: cds
Disabled: easy access plus toilet
Open: 12 to 11 every day
This is the recommendation for the Black Country side of West Brom, close to M5 junction 2 and well served by various modes of transport. It is well known to travelling supporters, like the dozen Fulham fans I was told enjoyed their sojourn, not to mention Southampton Supporters Club, and though promoting a family atmosphere is the place for grown up people with a Victorian bar and a real fire in the back room. It’s a place to sit quietly and ingest – it’s a 200-year-old listed building complete with copper ceiling and tiles a-plenty. It is said to be haunted by George Thompson, the founder of Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries. The upstairs function room is popular with a range of patrons - overspill from the bars, small parties (maybe bound for the Hawthorns), which are welcomed, and funeral gatherings, to name a few. Something of an oasis of quality in the Oldbury area, during the week it is well patronized by local workers – Sandwell Council offices are opposite, plus businesses and factories in the vicinity. It’s favourite venue for the homebound at the end of the day. Andrew has been there since 1999, taking over the tenancy in 2007. His policy comprises three permanent beers and three guest pumps, of which one was given over to Thatcher’s Heritage Cider on my visit, more in demand in the summer. The food attracts custom form a large catchment area. I must cite Mr. Dave’s (local) baltis. Only steaks top the £5 mark. By car it’s only a short trawl from here to the Old Crown and the Wheatsheaf. Try it.
BWV 7.11.07: Oakham JHB, Enville White, Brains Rev James (always), Teme Valley Hops, Barum Agincourt Nouvelle (guests)
Bus: 404 to West Bromwich
Trains: Sandwell & Dudley Station a few hundred metres
Taxi: 0800 035 2233 freephone
Mick Escott
BWV (ME) 27/11/09: always (4 now)- Brains Revd James, Enville White, Salopian Shropshire Gold, Shropshire Oracle, guests (2 now) - Saltaire Stein Gold, Grafton Winter's Dream | |  Wheatsheaf
379 High St, B70 3QW T 0121 553 4221
G Dave Forrest
F Good traditional pub food including Black Country specialties and Sunday lunch 12 to 3
SP SK BM D
O 11 to 11
The Wheatsheaf is located “between the doctor’s surgery and the church, handy for Baggies fans.” (Dawn of West Bromwich) The Holden's beer is the major attraction, especially as Dave serves a good range that suits most tastes, and it was very good. The pub has been extended to the rear and the lounge has a stately-home feel. I preferred the smaller front bar, like a market-town tap room and the best bet for chat with the locals and footie fans.
On non-matchdays take a paper and do, as the regulars do, relax, chill out and drink Holden's by numbers. For example Mike Stevens of Dudley waxes, “before the Baggies game I get a golden body that’s wet, goes down with a fantastic head - Holden’s Black Country Bitter, beautiful.” Oo er missus! I’ll have some of what he’s on. Jimmy of Dudley says “the match-day special is bostin!” It is a very good real ale pub.
UPDATE: Dawn’s alias has been blown and the pub has Tom Watsons’ (Local MP) recommendation for top quality ales.
BWV 22.2.05: Holden's Black Country Bitter, Golden Glow, Passionate Monk, Special
BWV 18.11.05: Holden’s Black Country Bitter, Black Country Mild, Golden Glow, Horn Dance, Special
BWV 7.11.07 (ME): Holden’s Black Country Bitter, Special , Black Country Mild, RCH Pitchfork | | | LOCAL CAMRA | | 
THE HAWTHORNS
| | LOCAL BREWERY
Holden's Brewery
Hopden Brewery,
George Street,
Woodsetton,
Dudley,
West Midlands,
DY1 4LN.
Tel: 01902 880051
www.holdensbrewery.co.uk | | WETHERSPOONS
The Billiard Hall St Michael's Street West Bromwich Ringway West Bromwich B70 7AB Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
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