Latest reviews from Wolverhampton
| 54 /100 Moon Under Water (JDW) (Bar) 53-55 LICHFIELD STREET “A grotty Weatherspoons, you know what you're in for.“ |
| 84 /100 SUN STREET “Having only 20 minutes to spare, this place was a short run in the torrential rain from the station. Could only stay long enough for a pint of mild, but what an absolute gem of a place for traditional beers. Worn in, friendly and with great beers!“ |
| 64 /100 Moon Under Water (JDW) (Bar) 53-55 LICHFIELD STREET “Busy city centre spoons. Have called in here occasionally when visiting the theatre opposite. Starts to get very busy around 6 onwards, where finding a table or seat becomes hard work. Expect six hand-pulls, but don't expect regional offerings. Recent visit saw beers from as far afield as Scotland and Buckinghamshire. Wolverhampton Wanderers football memorabilia in a few frames along the wall. Like any spoons in the UK it attracts a mixed clientele, but it's always been fine and not too rowdy on our early evening visits. Staff pleasant to deal with.“ |
| 66 /100 SUN STREET “Classic Black Country pub. As others have noted it's right by the Station but it's a palaver to get to. Just veer left or right and continue round and you'll be somewhere close to it. It is of note to RateBeerians as it's a good place to source traditional black country styles and breweries, such as Bathams Best Bitter (one of the best beers in the world) and Holdens (not quite the best beers in the world, but true to style) and a general assortment of milds and bitters.
It is also here you can find traditional pork scratchings and cobs, plus an assortment of pub games such as dominos, cards etc.. Good outdoor seating round the back. Lots of railway and post office workers on my visit. No real cider selection.“ |
| 84 /100 SUN STREET “One of those classic pubs that time seems to have forgotten ! I’ve been coming here for about 25 years now, nothing seems to have changed. Though, on reflection there have been a few changes (mainly concerning food) but it has been a process of evolution rather than revolution.
First of all, how to get there. I always tell people it is “literally underneath the station”. The subway under the station is currently closed (it may reopen), so the quickest way to the pub si now as follows. Turn sharp left once outside the station, through the taxi park, then turn left down a narrow steep curving street, past illegally parked cars, underneath the railway and you’re there. [ Probably quicker than the old rout as well ]
Once through the front door, the island bar is literally straight in front of you. There are tables and seating round the outside walls, with (in season) a fire to your left. Further round to the right is a small seating area with another fire (when appropriate). We call this the “Glyn Bann lounge” ! Left rear of the bar is a similar larger area – which is the main seating area in fact. This has one of the few concessions to modernity in the form of a couple of small TV screens (which could be sowing anything – usually silently). Right at the very rear is the modern “conservatory” / overspill area. If you are forced to sit here you are missing the whole point of the pub !
And absolutely everywhere is full of railway memorabilia. From the platform ornings over the bar, the rail in front of it for footrests, to numerous pictures on the wall (mostly local) and models in cases.
And now the Beer ! There are usually 4 or 5 Holdens beers available, plus Bathams Bitter and 2 or 3 guests. The guests often include Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby, though the last time I was there I had eland 1872 Porter. Beer quality is usually very good – except whenever my friend goes there without me, when it is “awful” ! Service can be decidedly variable – you may well have to ask for your glass to be topped up. Prices were very reasonable, but have gone up recently.
Food – this has been through some changes but is currently a basic range of “pub grub” at lunchtimes. Outside those times, there are “gray peas” and hot pork baps available. Kitchen is closed on Sundays (and bank holidays).
A list of beers currently available and “coming soon”, plus details of food, is shown on a TV screen to the right as you enter the pub. However, the list is notoriously inaccurate ...
A WW1 Beer Festival is held in November every year.
Avoid visiting on days when Wolves are at home !
This is definitely one of my top 10 pubs in the country. If you have never been here, you MUST go at least once. And, who knows, you might even find a tick or two ...“ |
| 58 /100 Moon Under Water (JDW) (Bar) 53-55 LICHFIELD STREET “Ok, this is a Wetherspoons. So you all know what to expect basically, right ? All you need to know is how it compares with other Spoons. Well, middling I would say ...
Standard of service : variable. There are some staff who work diligiently, there are some who would rather have a laugh with their mates, that bother to serve you. What you get depends who is on duty.
Range of beers : average. There are 15 handpumps. It used to be that that meant there were always 9 or 10 guest beers on. Nowadays you are lucky to get 6 or 7 – though there is usually at least 5, Doesn’t practice the usual Spoons trick of displaying pump clips for beers that aren’t available, so a number of blank pumps can be a depressing sight.
Choice of Beers : average. Usually sticks to the standard Spoons “national guest” list, though recently a number of Titanic beers have been available.
Quality of Beers : above average. Usually pretty well kept, and I can’t remember the last time I had a bad pint here.
Food : reasonable, in terms of choice, quality and speed of service
Cleanliness : variable. Can get very busy especially if wolves are at home, or there is an event on at the Theatre (opposite). So empty glasses tend ot pile up on tables iat those times. See “standard of service” for explanation ... Has had a recent change of management so that might make a different
Decor : tired – but is known to be due for a refurbishment soon.
RateBeer advice : always worth popping your head round the corner on the off-chance of a tick. Probably the best place in town for pub food – though that’s not saying much.
“ |
| 80 /100 44 QUEEN SQUARE “Genuinely old building that was refurbished as a pub by Black Country Ales a few years ago. Done out in their house style with black and cream panelling and old prints on the walls. The place is spread over three levels, though the middle level only has the entrance.
The bar is on the lowest level. – to your left as you come down the stairs. There is a board listing the beers on the right, and there is some seating by that. More, comfortable seating is sharp left from entry, including two high stools by the window, give great views of peoles knees ! This is where I normally sit. You will probably find the landlord sitting at the bar as well.
There is another room (similar) upstairs which is normally open as an overspill. There is a small bar here as well, but I think it is only open during private functions. There is a disabled lift which goes between the levels – but if you are able-bodied and attempt to use it you will get banned !
As for the beers, there are 10 available. Usually, three or four of their own Black Country Ales, two dark beers, a cider and assorted guests. Guests are normally unusual beers, but can sometimes be run of the mill. Beer quality usually excellent. Holds occasional Tap Takeovers. As for price, it is in the middle of the large expanse between Wetherspoons and Hogshead !
Food takes the form of cobs, sausage rolls etc - £1 each. You are welcome to bring your own food however.
Certainly worth a visit if you are in town.
“ |
| 76 /100 Hogshead (Stonegate) (Bar) 186 STAFFORD STREET “This place specialises in two things – Sports TV and decent beer ! Looks pretty naff from the outside, and inside as well it has all the trappings of a typical student pub. However, the clientele is by no means exclusively students.
The beer range is what attracts me here though. There are 10 cask beers available. Constantly changing, though there is a house beer that is often available. Mainly but not exclusively local breweries, so people like Byatts, Birmingham, Dig Brew and Salopian often feature. Almost always have at least one dark beer. There are 8 craft taps advertised – though 2 are always ciders. These have a tendency to be mainstream names like BRewdog, Beavertown and Goose Island. There is also a range of bottles available (one TV screen is dedicated to listing them), but I have never sampled them. Often have Tap Takeovers (usually starting Thursdays)) with the likes of Tiny Rebel, Salopian and Frothblowers. Takeovers may be cask, craft or both.
Most importantly, the quality of the beer is usually excellent. There is a downside to this, they certainly aren’t cheap - £3.50 being an absolute minimum. However, CAMRA discount of 10% is available. Staff are usually pretty knowledgeable about the beers.
A large number of TV screens showing up to 4 different channels – not always the most obvious either. Some seating booths have their own TV screens. Luckily all TVs are usually on silent. There is background “muzak” however.
Can get very crowded particularly if there is a nig match on, or on Friday evenings. When it’s quiet, the atmosphere is pleasant though.
Forgot to mention the food - it's OK“ |
| 88 /100 44 QUEEN SQUARE “Enjoyed our visit to this Black Country Ales pub on Saturday. It has a brilliant lift for disabled access. our beer choice was Binghams Doodle Stout and Kinver Witchfinder General, both of which were fine.“ |
| 84 /100 Hail to the Ale (Morton) (Bar) 2 PENDEFORD AVENUE, CLAREGATE “Enjoyed our visit here on Saturday and both our beers from Morton Brewery, Penkside Pale and Moxee Valley IPA were fine.“ |
| 78 /100 SUN STREET “Undoubtedly the best pub in Wolverhampton.“ |
| 70 /100 SUN STREET “Id say one of the best ale houses in Wolverhampton... always worth popping in ..“ |
| 46 /100 Hogshead (Stonegate) (Bar) 186 STAFFORD STREET “Certainly nothing to write home about ...service was slow and it wasnt busy 10 handpulls on out of 6 craft only 3 avaible..“ |
| 54 /100 Dog and Doublet (Bar) 9 NORTH STREET “Wife and visited on a Friday afternoon (9th Mar 2018). This is a town pub in decline, needs some love and money spent on it. Only one other customer, two hand-pulls in use, lass behind the bar was friendly and chatty, we had two halves of the cask offerings and a bottle of St Bernardus 6 each. Roaring wood fire, plastic buckets and rubbish stacked in corners, poorly maintained stairs down to the keg urinals. It just gave off a 'couldn't care less' sort of feeling, beers were fine though.“ |
| 76 /100 Hogshead (Stonegate) (Bar) 186 STAFFORD STREET “Revisited on 4th March 2020. It's a whole lot better than the last time I was in. Ten cask hand-pulls and 6 ever changing 'craft' keg lines, best selection of beers in Wolverhampton. Old review follows: Can't believe I have never rated this place. When it first opened I thought it fantastic, part of the Whitbread 'Hogshead' mini chain of cask ale houses. The casks were behind the bar on spring racking and everything was gravity poured. It is now a student 'circuit pub' with more TV screens than beers. To be fair however the cask beers are still in good condition (even if you can no longer see the firkin) and I often find a new 'tick'. Often busy with Wolverhampton's University students spending their parents money. I even had my end of course 'Piss Up' in here back in 2009 when I finished a 9 month post-graduate TESOL at the Uni.“ |
| 68 /100 Dog and Doublet (Bar) 9 NORTH STREET “Thought I'd rated this a while ago. Located fairly close to the Civic and Little Civic, both of which no longer seem to attract the same level of bands as when I used to go to gigs here late 90s, but if you were to see a cover band or comedian here Dog & Doublet would be the place to go beforehand. Don't expect too much on draft, a lot of taps dedicated to crowd-pleasing lagers and guiness, though my last visit saw a nice Abbeydale APA on keg, a couple of regional cask. Bottle selection has more variation, some nice well-chosen modern craft, some Rogue, some interesting UK cider. Decor is decent, some comfortable large chairs and sofas. Worth a look.“ |
| 86 /100 SUN STREET “A commendable establishment indeed, not far from the railway station. Traditional in every way, the pub has much memorabilia relating to railways, signs, posters etc. Beer range consisted of Holdens and a few guest ales. Quality was reasonable and prices were on the lower side. Definitely worth a visit.“ |
| 62 /100 Posada (Bar) 48 LICHFIELD ST “Well preserved Victorian pub, original features much in evidence. What lets the place down is the very poor beer range, on my visit they only had one generic ale on. As others have said, the place does seem rather cold and there were only two customers in when I was there. Pubs like these are a dying breed, all the more reason for more imagination on the beer front, traditional boozers are getting rarer by the day.“ |
| 80 /100 44 QUEEN SQUARE “Great basement pub with plenty of cask ales and all in good condition. We had five new ones all from local brewers including an excellent Mild Ale. It was fairly packed with locals on a Friday evening, but we got a table at a window, which was also just about the only place in the pib, where we could get connected, so we could make our ratings. Great place and just what we needed after the horror that was Hogshead.“ |
| 48 /100 Hogshead (Stonegate) (Bar) 186 STAFFORD STREET “This was quite the contrast to Hooded Ram. We went here on a Friday evening, and it was really loud and partying people everywhere. I spotted a free table and went to grab it, but the first thing I noticed, when I got closer was a left behind dildo on the table. I’m guessing a bachelorette party had just left as there was pink stuff everywhere. I obviously wasn’t about to sit there. Points off to staff for allowing dildos in their bar, and for not clearing the table the second it was vacated. That’s not a good impression to leave for other customers. They had four new beers for me, including three locals, and one of them was an excellent porter. I’m never setting foot here again, though.“ |
| 60 /100 George Wallis (Bar) 11–15 VICTORIA STREET “Visited on 13th May 2017. Large Spoons-a-like venue on the edge of the Mander Centre. It’s a huge single room downstairs with a Pool room upstairs, focus is on cheap food and watching Sky Sports, decor is OK. A little basic but functional. Food is cheap and was decent enough. Marstons beers on cask and keg plus Punk IPA. Prices and service decent enough. It’s OK but not one to dash back to“ |
| 60 /100 Bohemian (Bar) 25-27 LICHFIELD STREET “Visited on 13th May 2017. Student friendly cocktail bar at the top end of Lichfield St. It’s a large single room, decor is fairly dark and basic, lots of high tables. We were the only customers so service was pretty good. Beer range is on 2 banks of taps with only keg, a mix of macro lagers and a few craft beers plus a range of cans and bottles in the fridge. Prices OK. Not the best venue in town and I wouldn’t rush back.“ |
| 64 /100 Dog and Doublet (Bar) 9 NORTH STREET “Visited on 13th May 2017. Town centre pub not far from Slaters, two rooms and a little patio out back. Decor is OK, fairly standard modern pub decor, maybe a little sparse. Beer range was OK with 4 cask beers on from local brewers, beer in decent condition, prices OK. Service OK. Reasonable place but not the best in town.“ |
| 74 /100 SUN STREET “Really nice find, near the hotel I was using in Wolverhampton. The place has a traditional feel, small room at the front, and just gets bigger the further it goes back. Nice selection of 3 Holdens beers plus a few guest beers that were also worth trying. Food in the day, but did "Grey Peas and Bacon" in the evening. Really not sure what this Black country dish is...“ |
| 48 /100 Moon Under Water (JDW) (Bar) 53-55 LICHFIELD STREET “Visited on 8th October 2016. Large Spoons opposite the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton, about 5 mins from the station on the way to the City Centre. Central bar splits the venue into two, place is fairly shabby and unloved. It was busy and took an age to get served, empty glasses strewn on tables made the place look a mess. Cask beer range was OK, not a great deal of choice on the sticks with beers from macro brewers plus Davenports Imperial IPA. Decent condition though, prices low. Probably one of the worst Spoons I’ve been in.“ |
| 68 /100 Hogshead (Stonegate) (Bar) 186 STAFFORD STREET “An uninspiring looking pub, from the outside it appears to be part of a lager-swilling circuit, but has a far more adventurous (and larger) selection of cask ales than would be supposed (and it was local CAMRA pub of the year a couple of years ago).“ |
| 52 /100 Moon Under Water (JDW) (Bar) 53-55 LICHFIELD STREET “Pretty large and cavernous Spoons, choice seemed fairly poor and had few ales available (including one of my pet peeves of keeping pumpclips on for dead beers to pretend you have more selection). Far better local choices.“ |
| 74 /100 Posada (Bar) 48 LICHFIELD ST “Lovely heritage pub, well worth visiting for the architecture. Decent enough beer choice, the pint I had wasn’t in very good condition. Not sure of the opening hours, it was closing about 5pm on a Sunday with enough customers inside to justify staying open.“ |
| 80 /100 44 QUEEN SQUARE “Another of the excellent Black Country Inns chain, again it felt like drinking in somebody’s front room, again an excellent selection of mainly local ales at reasonable prices.“ |
| 76 /100 SUN STREET “Another time warp of a bar, and long may it continue. The Holden’s beers were in fine fettle, a few interesting guest beers, all at a more than reasonable price.“ |
| 78 /100 SUN STREET “Corn Hill remains closed. However, it is quicker to use Wolverhampton station’s subway anyway. It is to your immediate right as you exit the front of the station.
Very friendly welcome from the young bloke working there. The pub has old-fashioned railway décor, the open fire is a big plus. 8 casks (5 of which look like pretty static local choices, 3 rotating), a macro-lager on keg for the Italian tourists. Some mass-produced Belgian stuff in the fridge. Overall, I see this pub as a very good option for a single visit from a Ratebeerian, and an excellent local for a non-ticker. Seems like the type of place where the staff get to know you and start pulling your pint before you’ve asked for it. I can imagine being quite happy here with a pint of best and a dog next to the fire in my dotage.“ |
| 68 /100 Hogshead (Stonegate) (Bar) 186 STAFFORD STREET “From the outside this looks like a tacky student pub that you’d find in any other area of the country. The inside doesn’t change that impression to start with - football on TV, pool tables, ITBox. I could probably describe every student pub in England with those three key elements. Generic and soulless.
...but then there are 9 cask ales on. Every single one new to me, so I find myself prioritising. The staff are friendly despite being overworked. This is a pub in need of more staff. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. I expected this to be a ’walk in, walk out’ affair but I was drawn in straight away by the interesting local beers. Definitely worth popping in to, but only for the ticks and not for the ambiance. Note - my relatively high score is solely because of the beers on offer. It’s really not a place to go for any other reason. “ |
| 64 /100 Posada (Bar) 48 LICHFIELD ST “A very attractive, welcoming pub from the outside. The interior is pretty old-school and traditional which is exactly what I like in a pub.
I was literally the only punter on my visit at about 8pm in the evening. Pleasant staff, but maybe that’s because they hadn’t seen another human in days. The beer range isn’t huge but they had three Salopian cask ales on and in good nick. Perhaps they’ve become a bit more adventurous in beer selection since the last few raters’ reviews. Overall, a nice pub which deserves more custom. My rating would be higher if I purely rated it as a pub rather than a ticking destination.“ |
| 80 /100 Hail to the Ale (Morton) (Bar) 2 PENDEFORD AVENUE, CLAREGATE “Bloody marvelous little boozer! A good ambiance, friendly and jovial early evening on a saturday. Quite a few folk with dogs. Really enjoyed this place, will go again. The beer was good but I did have one slightly dodgy pint, but that was the style rather than the quality.“ |
| 76 /100 44 QUEEN SQUARE “Two room basement place. Ten casks on offer. Everyone was ordering the Colchester "Brazilian" while the other punters made crude jokes, so it was like having free entertainment. Staff and locals alike were very friendly, but I didn’t understand a single wotd any of them said. They still had cobs (aka sandwiches, on rolls) in the early evening, very tasty. Great place.“ |
| 52 /100 Dog and Doublet (Bar) 9 NORTH STREET “I know what a singlet is, so I’m guessing a doublet is just the two piece version. The dog bit is plain enough. Two room place, back room has a small stage. House ale is from Wales, oddly. Decent enough place.“ |
| 68 /100 Hogshead (Stonegate) (Bar) 186 STAFFORD STREET “Big modern place on multiple levels reminded me vaguely of a Spoons. Young staff knew thier beers though. Nine casks included a few I hadn’t seen at other places, although a Titanic stout had just kicked. Craft kegs were limited to Sam Adams, Brewdog Punk and......Blue Moon! Selection points off for that last mistake. Still a decent enough place for a bite and a pint.“ |
| 84 /100 SUN STREET “It took me longer than usual to reach this place on foot, only because a building between my hotel and the pub was being demolished, so the road and footpath were closed. But I just walked around the station, and it was fine. You may be able to walk through the train station as well. And, of course, you can drive, and it has a car park. It’s an amazing place. Chock full of railroad stuff, right down to the rails used as footrests. Real fire in the small front bar, then lots of tables in what used to be the waiting room. Small conservatory, and picnic tables out back. Staff is extremely friendly, and expect them to fawn over your dog should you bring one. Food is delicious, and portions are large. I skipped the faggots & chips, though, in favor of the veggie lasagne. And the cask ales here seemed to be in better condition that at the Holden’s brewery tap, the Park Inn, that we visited the previous night. This place has everything you’d want in a pub.“ |
| 74 /100 SUN STREET “A former CAMRA national pub of the year and next to the old Low Level station in Wolverhampton, bit of a scary walk down there but worth it. Walls are festooned with railway memorabilia, lots of seating, real fires and a good range of ales. Holdens, Bathams plus guests. Not had a bad beer here.
A really good traditional pub. Worth a look. Spent many a happy hour in here over the years“ |
| 62 /100 Posada (Bar) 48 LICHFIELD ST “Been here a few times. Lovely old pub, etched glass and wood. If ratings were purely based on the look then this would be world class. Beer range is uninspiring at best, well kept. Prices are decent. Service was good and staff friendly.
There’s better places in Wolverhampton for a beer, it’s worth a stop just to enjoy the pub. It’s inbetween the station and Lych Gate so handy for that!“ |
| 78 /100 44 QUEEN SQUARE “The winning formula of Black Country Inn is repeated here, in spitting distance of St Peter’s Church. A well-worn, but far from tired, look. Ten real ales on (three from Black Country and seven guests), plus a smattering of basic Belgians. The beer range plays it safe (mostly low ABV bitters/goldens) but the choice are good. A craft tap or two wouldn’t go amiss, but judging from the popularity of the place (very busy at 12.45 on a Monday), they don’t need to change their formula at all.“ |
| 78 /100 SUN STREET “Brilliant Holden’s railway pub. I struggled getting here - the obvious shortcut from the station up Corn Hill was closed - but having got here, I was well rewarded. Four Holden’s beers (Bitter, Mild, Special and Golden Glow) are available, along with a handful of guest beers from the likes of Bathams and Ludlow. A few Belgians in the fridge, and two cask ciders. What more could you want? Well, the pork pies are out of this world, and the whole place is cheap even for the area.“ |
| 72 /100 Dog and Doublet (Bar) 9 NORTH STREET “Unexpectedly good pub in Wolverhampton city centre, not far from St Peter’s Church. Despite the identikit pubco feel, the selection is pretty decent. Four real ales (two from Purple Moose on my visit) are complemented by Brooklyn and Freedom lagers on tap plus about 50 bottles: a good if predictable Belgian cabinet, a smattering of dependable US and a German or three. You may not want to linger for too terribly long but it’s good for a swift half at the very least.“ |
| 74 /100 44 QUEEN SQUARE “Visited a few times, last occasion on a Friday evening before seeing the German Comedy Ambassador do his thing at the nearby Wulfrun Hall.
I’m not a fan of Black Country beers at all so see the pumps dedicated to their beer to be a waste. Usually pick up a good beer or two here from the guest range, service is friendly, prices decent and beer is always in good condition.
Probably the best pub in Wolverhampton for range of beer with nicest ambiance.
50p rolls are the bargain here if there’s any left.“ |
| 68 /100 Hogshead (Stonegate) (Bar) 186 STAFFORD STREET “Visited a few times. Always seems busy and loud. CAMRA discount available. Beer range is decent with always something new on. It’s pretty well kept too. Just the place drags it down. Always pop my head in if I’m in Wolverhampton. It’s ok.“ |
| 76 /100 44 QUEEN SQUARE “CAMRA pub crawl around Wolverhampton on 28th Feb 2015. Full downstairs so the 13 of us piled upstairs and found plenty of room. Good condition cask beers with plenty of guest ales to compliment the Black Country Ales always on offer. Friendly and busy.“ |
| 58 /100 Dog and Doublet (Bar) 9 NORTH STREET “Opened summer 2014. On my first visit the day after opening they’d nearly run out of beer & only had one or two cask beers on. However, returned several months later to find 4 cask beers, all from regional breweries and well kept. Fridges were also well stocked with international bottles, albeit nothing very new or exciting. There’s an outside courtyard at the back, which is surrounded by tall buildings and isn’t very pretty, although they’ve tried their best. There is an outside bar too, but it wasn’t in operation on either occasion I visited (both during the day/early evening). There are a couple of big screens & a stage area which, coupled with posters advertising DJs until 3 am some Saturdays, leads me to believe this isn’t somewhere I would want to visit on a Friday or Saturday night. Not a great venue, but if you’re in central Wolverhampton your choice is limited!“ |
| 50 /100 Moon Under Water (JDW) (Bar) 53-55 LICHFIELD STREET “Wolves first Spoons, located on Lichfield Street which you walk past on the direct route from the railway sation to the town cetnre.
Typical dark and dingy Spoons, natural light to the front, longer than it is wide.
Never the best range of guest beers here but the beer quality is usually fine.
One to visit on a quiet moment and get a quick tick, otherwise skip !“ |
