WITH the last Bank Holiday of the summer upon us, it’s the perfect time to seek out a pleasant beer garden to enjoy a pint before autumn arrives.
Amblecote, just outside of Stourbridge, has some of the best rated pubs with outdoor spaces in the area.
Most of Amblecote’s watering holes have picked up CAMRA awards over the years – with the most recent handed to The Swan on Brettell Lane which was named runner-up in The Stourbridge & Halesowen branch of CAMRA’s Pub of the Year contest.
The Swan in Brettell Lane, Amblecote, run by the Furious Pub Company, picked up the award for its fine selection of real ales, niche lagers, wines and spirits and bar snacks, its cosy surroundings inside and its popular beer garden to the rear.
It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating based on 744 Google reviews, and is rated for its “fantastic beer garden”.
The Red Lion, in Brettell Lane, Amblecote, which is also run by the Furious Pub Company, also scores highly on Google. It has a 4.6 out of 5 rating based on 705 reviews and is praised for its pork pies and cobs.
Customers say it has a “great beer garden, only the rain to spoil”.
Philip Guy, of the Furious Pub Company, said: “We pride ourselves on our beer gardens and kerbside flower shows. We spend a fortune on them yearly and also have some fantastic gardeners who we love.”
The two pubs will be hosting a Fire & Ice Festival this weekend, from August 23 to 25, with rum and Caribbean food on offer at The Red Lion and gin and tapas at The Swan. There will also be music events and entertainment from fire artists.
The Robin Hood in Collis Street, Amblecote, is another firm favourite in the area. It has a 4.6 out of 5 rating based on 495 Google reviews.
The pub is popular with real ale fans and was named Stourbridge & Halesowen branch of CAMRA’s 2024 Pub of the Year thanks to its wide range of real ales and guest beers available.
Reviewers have praised it as a “lovely pub with a great beer garden, nice beer and friendly staff”.
The Starving Rascal, Collis Street, Amblecote, is another popular choice.
The historic pub, which dates back more than 200 years, is said to be one of Britain’s most haunted. According to a long-standing folk tale, it is haunted by the ghost of a local beggar who asked the landlord for food and water on a freezing cold night - only to be refused.
The ghost story, however, has not spooked customers and the pub has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Google based on 371 reviews.
Run by Black Country Ales since 2021, the landmark watering hole is praised for being dog-friendly and its selection of “great beers” and customers say it has a “brilliant beer garden” and an “excellent pub layout”.
The Maverick, in Brettell Lane, Amblecote, is another favourite.
The pub, which has a South West American/Mexican themed interior, has a 4.5 out of 5 customer rating based on 443 Google reviews.
Located on the corner of Brettell Lane and Amblecote High Street, it has long been known for its live music, and punters have praised its “nice little private beer garden in the back”.
This weekend there'll be live music from Fuzz on Friday August 23 from around 8.30pm and Together with Grace on Sunday August 25, from 4pm.
So, if you’ve never experienced the charm of Amblecote’s top rated watering holes - perhaps it’s time to make a stop off.
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