On a day out of the city we visited this super secluded pub on the outskirts of Kings…read moreNorton/Wythall. I actually really like the vibe of the place! Apparently this place brews their own ales onsite which I like a lot I however am not drinking at the moment so went for a reliable diet coke and just took in the country side setting and traditional vibe of the space......oh....and half a pack of pork scratchings ;) If you are looking for a nice quiet traditional countryside pub where you can walk in in your wellies with the dogs this is ideal!

Revisited -8/8/12. I checked the website to read the menu, and saw things were the same; which was…read moregreat I was looking forward to the whiting, and the fillet steak. As I have said before, one of the best places around for a fillet steak. It was our wedding anniversary, and my wife and I were looking forward to the evening. I'd booked a taxi (£20 round trip), booked the table. All set Arrived very few people in the place, the music was bordering on the funereal (ner the end of the evening the CD went into a stutter). Still I had my steak to look forward to. Arrggh! They've changed the menu. No whitebait, no fillet steak. New Chef! I was a captive audience. The next best thing I liked on the starter menu was the pâté. This was good, the toast was nice and hot, the pâté was flavoursome, and the Cumberland chutney added to the flavour. The only thing that let it down was that I was looking forward to the whitebait. Now that I have revisited the site I can see where things went wrong. I used the drop down tab Real Food and looked at the standard menu. I should have looked to the left-hand side and looked at the item: **Take a look at our 2012 main menu** Unfortunately, this wasn't obvious enough on my previous visit to the site. If you have top tabs then that is where I am going to go first and not news items. Drinks to start I had a pint of WHB My wife had a large glass of Pinot Grigio; it would have been more cost effective to have bought the bottle. Again I missed read the wine menu per glass prices. Perhaps it's my age. My wife chose the sirloin steak, and I had the ribeye. They were very tender, but mine was quite thin for a ribeye, and the streaks of fat, that normally makes this steak juicy, were absent. The chips were nice and chunky, but too much for me after the starter. The waitress assured me that the peas weren't tinned, but they had that sweet flavour. However, I must admit that I enjoyed the flavour. It was all washed down with our favourite red wine Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza a bit overpriced at c.£19, shop price is about £9.50. We even order another bottle of wine at the end, a Pinot Grigio, that was nice too. The waitress was very attentive, and took time to chat, but I suspect that was due to the lack of clientele. Also, when I arrived, I couldn't see my name in the book for the reservations. Yes, the evening was clouded by what we expected, and what we went to the restaurant for in the first place. My wife said she wouldn't revisit. I've dropped it one start, but really would only have done so by a half. Shame.27/7/11 Update Food good as usual. One of the best places locally for a good fillet steak. I have mine blue, and no blood oozing out. I didn't have a sweet, but I had a starter of whitebait, which was very nice. My wife went for the traditional prawn cocktail. She enjoyed. This is so 70s, but it's a favourite with most people. I enjoyed the beer. The wine, which we have bought in Spain when on holiday, was perhaps a bit overpriced, but couldn't fault the taste. Only one fly in the ointment I had to wait over half an hour for the bill. -- I haven't been back here for quite some time. When we arrived it was packed with elderly folk, and I believe they do a special deal before 18:30, but I haven't got the details. Starters, not a great selection from my point of view, but that makes for an easier time in the kitchen. I had the pate, and it was fine, I like mine coarser, but still very nice. My wife like deep fried brie, and there was plenty for a starter. We decided to take the chance on the 21 day hung Scottish beef. We both had the fillet. My wife likes hers closer to well done, whereas I prefer blue. If the steak is as sold it shouldn't be a problem. Both were actually quite something. Mine just seem to melt in my mouth, and had a lovely taste. My wife enjoyed hers, and left some simply because of too mu brie. So I helped out. Everything was freshly prepared and cooked. The starters had freshly prepared salad. None of this preparing in the morning, going dry in the afternoon, and served limp in the evening. The staff were friendly, and joined in with the banter. Yep, a place well worth visiting. I was too full for the sweets. I hear that the pub side have very good ales. Comment from their website: The only pub to win the CAMRA Pub of the Year Award four years running. Evening Mail Restaurant of the Year.Returning on the 18/9/09 will do a follow up review. Some people hade said that this place isn't consistent, but it has been for me. I had the Chilli Chicken for my starter, and it was delicious. The chilli sauce sweet, with a little kick. I had the T-Bone steak this time, and wasn't disappointed. My wife had the fillet, and it was equally as good. A chatty waitress who we knew from a previous restaurant. If you get her talking, she won't stop. No, that's not a criticism, she was very nice, and funny, with some witty banter.

Good pub grub. The pies are on point and they accommodate children well. Service was alright and…read moreaverage noise level. The 'homemade' lemonade alone was enough to only give 2 stars. I saw the guy make it and it was not home made at all, but just some overly tangy lemon syrup with water. Big no.

The food and drink eventually arrived, and they serve cans of Vimto. That's as much praise as I can…read morewrite. After a fun day at Cadbury World (review to follow), we were in serious need of savoury food. Someone suggested Hopwood House. We arrived to a warm, cosy pub with a relaxed atmosphere and made our way over to a big table for 6 and put Lola the toddler in a filthy high chair. We waited for 15 minutes for someone to take our drinks order and then 10 minutes for them to arrive. When someone eventually came over to take our food order, we ordered a range of really nice sounding food. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment! The Jerk Chicken Nachos had no chicken, the steak sandwich had been cremated, and lots of other items arrived incomplete. The manager handled our complaint well and we didn't pay for anything before leaving. Hope dinner tonight is better.

Great pub, has a very traditional, cozy and casual feel to it, as if I could get a warm beverage…read moreand sit next to a fireplace...no idea if they have one or not but this is the feel I get from Boat Inn! Place is great for families as well as probably dates too and serves pretty good food, typical British pub food plus more. I enjoyed a vegetarian ravioli (delicious) but hesitated between a few other options, including the bass with risotto (colleague ordered) and the veggie burger (other colleague ordered)--both of which they said were quite good as well. Appetizers and desserts both looked great too, but none of us were interested in having more than the main course. Service was a bit all over the place (gave one of us the wrong drink, took a while to get the correct one and the waitress also forgot what one of our orders was but hey, didn't matter too much as it wasn't what I'd consider to be bad either) Hope to go back again at some point to try the other meals they have!

This is a nice cosy pub in Solihull. They have some good dark ales, no blondes ales :-(…read more. Good selection of lagers and other drinks. All the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Good is great, make sure you check out the mushroom with pepper and Stilton sauce starter!

Four of us turned up here for sunday lunch on speck we were told no tables were available and we…read morewould have to wait in the bar, a bit strange as it was four oclock.after a short wait we were shown to our table which was infront of a made up log fire which was blazing away.the food arived and i have to say was very nice and the staff were very helpful too I would go back there again but book a table first and one thats not infront of the fire.

As part of my periodic attempts to reconnect with my largely dispersed university friends, I will…read moreoften find myself travelling far outside my inner city comfort zone and ending up somewhere I was only vaguely aware existed. After a considerably long and winding journey down the type of country lanes I had no idea Birmingham possessed, I arrived at The Peacock. A large, traditional family pub and restaurant, The Peacock enjoys a roaring trade despite their somewhat remote location. Their menu is surprisingly diverse, especially in providing for vegetarians and other non-meat eaters. I enjoyed their soup of the day, although several of my fellow diners thought their starters were incredibly feeble in portion size. The main courses on the other hand were ample in size and very tasty. I myself had the vegetarian fish and chips, which consisted of battered halloumi cheese in place of fish. I was a little skeptical, but am happy to say that the meal was delicious and filling, and scarily reminiscent of the real thing. Most of us opted for dessert, and while the vanilla cheesecake I ordered disappeared within 3 modest mouthfuls, the quality of the food remained consistently high throughout my meal. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that the price was similarly high. A cheap slap-up meal, this was not! On the whole I would highly recommend The Peacock for anyone looking for a great bit of quality pub grub, so long as the journey and the price doesn't put you off I am certain you will have a good time. One piece of advice I would offer, though, is that you get there early to beat the rush, or better yet book your table in advance to avoid a wasted trip.

AMAZING is 1 word to describe it the pizza is nice and crispy and great cheese and good tomato…read moresauce fries are a amazing portion. Service is amazing all in all AMAZING.

Went for a quiet drink on a Sunday with some friends, we ended up here after going to check out the…read moreWeighbridge Inn but finding last orders were at 3pm, not to reopen until 7? I have been here a couple of years back for food (which was pretty meh) but it would seem a little harsh reviewing a place based on one experience had over a year ago, so scoring based on the latest drink only visit! Its a lovely looking place, lots of old wood, big chairs, roaring fire etc, set right in the heart of Alvechurch and it serves a few cask ales and a few lagers. Pretty standard drink selection, but serviceable. The bar staff seemed friendly too. There was a large group of people sat behind us who were pretty much at odds with the old country pub setup, some questionable conversation topics and a couple of the group were absolutely battered. That said, they did us no harm, but its interesting to note a previous review which mentions some trouble at the pub (back in 2011 albeit). I've also been to a 'do' in their function room, and the food and space was excellent, with plenty of car parking spaces available, so that is certainly worth keeping in mind. 3 stars on the basis of the nice open fire being nice but drinks being average. Nice enough but nothing to make it stand out.

Realy nice (pub) : friendly and really great food Local…read moreco-workers reccomended to try west of Birmingham. Started with a soft drink on the outside patio, then went in for dinner. Of course had to have a local 1/2 pint of beer -very smooth ok by now you realize i am American, so you'll understand why i was not expecting an upscale restaurant labeled as a pub. Starters goat cheese for me and garlic prawns for my coworker. He had rump of lamb, i had wild trout. Came with platters of fries, potatoes au gratin and steamed veg. Mixed desserts 3 minis - tasty Service friendly and efficent. Highly recommended.

Situated between Stourbridge and Bromsgrove in a leafy lane, this long-established pub is a magnet…read morefor folk seeking good beer and excellent food. The current management has boldly expanded the menu, opened for breakfast, provided access to its kitchen garden and detailed the provenance of all of its staple ingredients. Oh, that more places were like this. Whilst there are two car parks, they barely accommodate the number of drivers who patronise the establishment. The one at the front is backed by an attractive decked eating area. My most recent visit was for a light lunch with a colleague, so we each had a pint of Marston's Burton Bitter, and we had a crab and prawn sandwich and a Parma ham, and mozzarella sandwich, sharing a bow of chips between us. This light lunch was delicious, the service was good and the bill, including a large tomato juice, was £26.60. A firm favourite and we'll be back again.

The Black Swan in Henley may not receive as much tourist trade as the other pubs in Henley as it is…read morethe last on the High Street. However, we made the effort to walk all the way to the end of the street and just before you fall back into the countryside there is a great pub. Inside the Black Swan is a tastefully decorated public house with nicely spaced out wooden tables. This is perfect for a quiet meal, the food is ok for the price. We popped in for an afternoon pint but ended up staying much longer. The bar man had nearly finished his shift but that didn't distract him from giving us a warm welcome. He nearly persuaded us to give the scrumpy cider a try but we opted for a larger and an ale. Outside there is a beer patio next to the pub or a small beer garden through the car park. I'd highly recommend this friendly pub if some of the other places in Henley are too posh or busy for your tastes.

The weather was fine so I took train to the gorgeous city of Henley-in-Arden to and made the most…read moreof it visiting some pubs of its high street. Although it is placed in the end of the street, Black Swan was my first choice of visit. This traditional pub and restaurant has a genuine welcome to guests. Its decor follow a very classic type of pub with wooden booths and carpet. It seems to attract an older clientele so this pub tends to be a quiet place but far from being a boring place to have some drinks or a meal. I have spotted a nice soundtrack in the background with the best of 60 music without being the usual hits. The average price of a pint is a beer not so much over £ 3 and their jacket potatoes are just delicious and costs only £ 3.95. Free WiFi is available and the staff is really friendly, inclusive coming to your table for taking orders. The lady who was serving us was pretty much busy indeed but offered the password of the Internet in the establishment with a pretty smile on her face. Black Swan is probably not the most popular pub in this famous high street but it's certainly the most pleasant one in the area.

Stop that sniggering. Yes it's really called that…read more Got that out of your system? Good. Lets continue. A nice place that is opposite where my in-laws live. I'm surprised we've not been here more before now. Organising a meetup in Droitwich, my husbands home town, I asked we go here instead of our usual haunt, more for convenience that anything else. And it was a good call. We settled ourselves out in the beer garden as it was a really pleasant sunny day, even at 17:00 it was still warm. We started with some pies and cider - they stock Pie Minister pies too, which is always a nice bonus. You can't really go wrong with a Pie Minister pie. A few more ciders in the beer garden and then we moved inside where we completed a very pleasant evening. The decor is typical English pub, with a genuine Tudor flavour. Facilities a little dated, but very clean. Staff were all nice young folk, who were very prompt when it came to bringing your food and serving you at the bar. Recommended.

From the owner: Community pub with traditional food and real alesread more

The best ribeye steak I have had ever. Few places have steak aged over 28 days, but this place…read moredoes. 10oz rib-eye .................................................................................................................................. £22.95 Served with skin on fries, grilled plum tomato + garlic roasted mushroom and one of the below sauces; Peppercorn * Piri-Piri * Aioli * BBQ * Garlic Butter Also, salad bar included. My wife had: Crispy buttermilk chicken burger, brioche bun, house mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle + onion w/ tomato + chilli relish + skin on fries ...................... £10.95 She really loved the succulent chicken. My stepson had a pizza, not sure which one. With drinks. I had a cloudy lager which had a citrus taste, and I acquired a taste for it by having two pints. It was £5 per pint. Wife had wine by the glass (125ml) which was unsually cheaper than my beer!!!!! Total bill came to £70 for 3 of us. Staff members were attentive. Had a refit inside, don't know when, but still has that fresh smell. Good selection of ales. I'd be going back.......

Great location right alongside beautiful canal. Big garden. A great place to walk to and very…read morepopular with the locals. Service is friendly and fast, particularly given how many people are here. There's even a teepee! I expect people regularly more up and eat here - why not!!

Amazing and quaint joint. Loved the Scallops & Pork which came with some tasty roasted potatoes…read moreand I added a side salad. Nicely pan seared scallops with some nice roasted pork loin. Man it was so good and top it off some wonderful brown gravy. So tasty. The atmosphere is exactly what I needed both times I have gone.

Stumbling upon this handsome pub (after a very short hike) up the Lickey Hills was like running…read moreinto an old friend who always made you feel good. The menu is extensive, with numerous options depending on your appetite. Despite being mid October, we sat out in the sunshine, browsed the weekend papers and dipped crispy baguette into gooey baked Camembert with sweet cherry compote. A large grainy salad added a healthy touch. Gorgeous pub food in a lovely area that I look forward to revisiting.