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Exploring Pubs in Wolverhampton and Codsall
The Great Western in Wolverhampton started out as an ale house back in 1849 and has seen quite the transformation thanks to railway growth. Now, it’s a Grade II-listed pub celebrated for its deep history and great cask ales. Other standout spots include The Lych Gate Tavern, which boasts beautiful Georgian architecture, and The Posada, a Victorian gem filled with original décor and historical importance. The Crown in Codsall, with over 180 years of history, has been revamped to blend modern vibes with its classic roots. Plus, micropubs like Hail to the Ale and Keg & Comfort bring their own unique flair and a variety of ales, making the pub scene in Wolverhampton and Codsall even more lively.
Wolverhampton and Codsall have a rich history that goes way back to medieval times. Wolverhampton was quite the bustling town during the Middle Ages, while Codsall started off as a tiny village. As the years rolled on, both places changed a lot—Wolverhampton grew into a major city, and Codsall turned into a bigger village. You can trace Wolverhampton’s roots back to 985, when it popped up in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It really took off during the Middle Ages, becoming a key player in the wool and textile trade. Codsall, on the flip side, was first noted in the Domesday Book of 1086, with a mere six residents. It stayed small until the 19th century when the railway came along and sparked some growth.
The Great Western
Starting my day in Wolverhampton. The Great Western Wolverhampton dates back to the mid-1800s, right in the heart of the Industrial Revolution. It was built in 1849 as one of nineteen terraced houses by Richard Robinson, on land that would soon see the rise of railway development. Originally, it operated as an ale house named “The Board,” run by William Keay, who served only ale and cider. With the arrival of the Great Western Railway and other rail lines, Keay rebranded the pub to “The Great Western” around 1854, taking advantage of its prime spot right across from the main entrance to the new Low Level station. The pub saw a boom in business thanks to the influx of railway travellers.
In 1893, after Keay passed away and the property was auctioned off, it was taken over by William Butler & Co., a prominent local brewery. Over the years, the pub changed hands multiple times, including a significant expansion in 1938 and eventually becoming part of Holden’s Brewery Ltd in 1987. Today, it stands as a proud symbol of Wolverhampton’s industrial past. It’s a Grade II-listed building and was even named CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 1991.
Holdens Brewery was established in 1915 by Edwin Holden at the Park Inn in Woodsetton, Dudley, starting as a pub and brewhouse. The brewery grew in the 1940s with the launch of Edwin Holden’s Bottling Company and continued to expand by acquiring local pubs. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2015, Holdens boosted its production capacity and opened a visitor centre.
The inside is amazing, filled with railway memorabilia, signs, photos, and so much more all around. It’s divided into a few different rooms that lead to a lovely conservatory and an outdoor space. You could easily spend hours exploring. Even the bar at the entrance is a real eye-catcher.
When it comes to beer, there’s a great selection of 7 cask ales on tap, including 5 from Holdens Brewery and a couple of guest options. Plus, the food menu looks fantastic and sounds super tasty. I tried the “Black Country Mild” from Holdens Brewery, and it was a tasty nutty mild ale with a touch of chocolate. Super smooth and really easy to drink.
The Lych Gate Tavern
A walk back into the centre brings me to The Lych Gate Tavern. This is located in one of the oldest buildings in the city. Its Georgian façade goes back to 1726, and the timber-framed part at the back is thought to have been built around 1500. This makes it one of the oldest surviving buildings in Wolverhampton. Originally converted from offices by Black Country Traditional Inns, the tavern welcomed its first customers in August 2012.
You’ll find the bar just down a few steps from the street, and there’s a function room available on the upper level. This cosy and inviting traditional pub has a fantastic split-level beer garden at the back that totally surprises you when you step inside.
Like all Black Country Ales pubs, it boasts an impressive selection of cask ales, with 10 different styles available today. I went with the “Golden Fiddle” from Branscombe Brewery in Devon. It’s a super light and refreshing golden ale packed with fruity flavours.
The Posada
My last call in the centre is to The Posada. This is a charming Victorian pub that has been around since 1886. It was built where the old Noah’s Ark used to stand and boasts a striking ceramic tile front that was revamped in 1900 by local architect Fred T. Beck. Inside, you can still find a lot of the original décor, like the bar fittings, panelling, and those rare snob screens that you don’t see much in pubs anymore.
Snob screens were a thing in British pubs, especially back in the Victorian days. Made of etched glass in movable wooden frames, they let middle-class patrons peek at working-class drinkers in nearby bars without being noticed. The whole idea was to keep things private and maintain social hierarchies. Plus, they helped reduce interactions with the bar staff, giving a more exclusive vibe for certain customers.
The Posada is celebrated for its architectural value and is listed as a Grade II building. It’s also got a three-star rating on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors because of its remarkable historical significance. Over the years, it has drawn a diverse crowd and is especially lively during Wolverhampton Wanderers home games. Even with some changes over the years, the Posada still proudly displays many of its high-quality Victorian features.
A great choice of 5 cask ales on the bar today with a nice mix of styles to choose from. I went with “Gem” from Bath Ales, which is based in Bristol. It’s an awesome traditional English Bitter that has a really nice malty taste.
The Crown
I then made my way to Codsall, just two train stops from Wolverhampton. My first stop was The Crown at Codsall, the oldest pub around, which has been serving drinks for more than 180 years. Joule’s Brewery bought it in 2015, and they did a major renovation that wrapped up in March 2016. The goal was to mix a modern vibe with some historical charm, resulting in a stunning Edwardian-style pub that still honours its roots. Inside, you’ll find cosy open fires, beautiful stained-glass windows, and furniture that’s been reclaimed.
From 1967 to the early ’80s, the Crown was famous for being one of the top jazz clubs in the West Midlands, drawing in big-name British and international jazz musicians. After the jazz scene faded, different operators took over for a while, but then Joule’s Brewery stepped in to breathe new life into the place and strengthen its connection with the community. In spring 2023, they did another round of renovations, which included adding more outdoor seating and a bar in the Library function room.
There’s an awesome selection of 4 cask ales at the bar, featuring their seasonal special—a Blackberry Porter—plus a variety of keg beers to choose from. They also serve a delicious sounding street food menu. I decided to enjoy a “Pale Ale” from Joule’s Brewery right here. It’s a super clean and refreshing pale ale that’s perfectly balanced.
Love & Liquor
A quick stroll over the road to Love & Liquor. This little micropub opened its doors in December 2019 after transforming from a shop. The vibe inside is super cosy and inviting, with comfy seating and a charming wood-burning stove.
The inside is divided into two rooms, each giving off a warm and inviting vibe. You’ll find a variety of seating options, from high chairs to comfy sofas. The lighting really sets the mood too. At the back, the bar is a real showstopper with its beautiful tiled front, making it a standout feature.
There’s an awesome variety of 5 cask ales at the bar, plus plenty of keg beers to pick from. I tried out two beers here. The first one was “Stairway” from Ludlow Brewing Company in Shropshire. It’s a really nice honey golden beer with a sweet, rich flavour. The second one was “Surprise” from Sarah Hughes Brewery in Dudley. It’s a great premium golden ale packed with awesome hoppy notes.
Codsall Station
Codsall Station Pub is housed in a Grade II listed building that used to serve as the waiting room, offices, and the stationmaster’s residence for Codsall railway station, which has been running since 1885. After sitting unused for around 20 years, the building was thoughtfully transformed into a pub by Holden’s Brewery Ltd in 1997, officially opening in 1998.
This one-of-a-kind spot blends the cosy vibe of a classic pub with railway-themed décor, featuring a bar, a lounge, a snug with log fires, and a conservatory that opens up to an outdoor terrace with views of the active railway platforms. There’s lots of great railway memorabilia and signs around the place which adds to the experience. There is an additional overflow beer garden over the other side of the road.
When I got there, Toby and the crew gave me an awesome warm welcome. The bar had a solid choice of 4 cask ales, plus a big variety of Holdens bottles. I couldn’t resist trying out their tasty food menu, and it definitely lived up to the hype! I kicked things off with the “Black Country Special,” which is an ESB (Extra Strong Bitter). It’s a tasty amber brew packed with rich malty flavours and a nice full-bodied vibe. After that, I switched to “Golden Glow,” a hoppy, sweet, and super tasty golden ale.
Ale Hub – Perton
I took the train back to Wolverhampton and then hopped on a bus to the Perton area. My destination was Ale Hub Perton, which opened in May 2023 after being transformed from a shop. It’s situated in a cosy little shopping precinct.
I stepped inside and discovered a stylish, contemporary one-room micropub. The seating was set up along both sides and in front of the window, creating a nice vibe. There’s a good mix of high and low seating, making it super cosy and inviting. The bar is tucked away in the back left corner, and it really catches your eye.
At the bar, you can pick from four cask ales, including a dark beer. Plus, there’s a solid selection of keg beers and other drinks available. I went with “Crusade” from Woodcote Brewing Co in Bromsgrove. It’s a light and flavourful pale ale that’s super easy to drink and really refreshing.
Hail to the Ale
Hail to the Ale is a cool micropub in Wolverhampton that kicked off the micropub trend in the West Midlands back in 2013. It was started by Gary and Angela Morton, who ran Morton Brewery over in Essington, Staffordshire. Before it became a pub, the spot used to be the Claregate Post Office and an antiques shop.
This place has racked up some serious accolades, winning the Campaign for Real Ale’s Wolverhampton City Pub of the Year for five straight years from 2015 to 2019, and then again in 2022 and 2024. They’ve also snagged other impressive titles, like the West Midlands Regional Pub of the Year and the Wolverhampton CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year.
The inside has a really cosy vibe with a layout that encourages customers to chat with each other. The décor is simple but warm, featuring touches that pay homage to its history, like an old post office sign at the bar and stamp-themed light fixtures. It all contributes to a wonderful traditional experience. When it gets chilly, there’s a lovely log burner to keep things warm. Outside, there’s a great seating area that showcases their awards, just like the wall inside.
Angela and Peter gave me a warm welcome right when I walked in. At the bar, they had an impressive selection of 6 cask ales, a wide variety of ciders, and some delicious snacks like cobs. You can tell they’ve really put a lot of thought into everything. I kicked things off with a “Solaris” from Newbridge Brewery in Bilston. It’s a fruity pale ale that blends American and English hops, and it really hits the spot with its refreshing flavours. After that, I switched to “Essington Blonde” from Morton Brewery, which is a golden ale hopped with American varieties—super light and refreshing!
Keg & Comfort
Keg & Comfort is a fantastic Micropub which opened in June 2018, especially since many pubs in the Oxley area of Wolverhampton had shut down. It took over the old Barclays Bank location and became the second Micropub in Wolverhampton.
The pub features a unique bar crafted from hundreds of beer bottles, and it really stands out, especially when it lights up. It gives the place a cosy vibe, with a blend of wooden tables and chairs alongside some comfy sofas and seats. They’ve got a cool variety of bottles and cans lined up on a shelf, plus a bunch of snacks and all sorts of dog treats. It’s a solid addition!
Louise and John gave a warm welcome tonight, along with some regular customers like Richard. They’ve got a fantastic lineup of 4 cask ales at the bar, plus a nice variety of ciders. They even throw a cider festival every year! You can grab some cobs and other snacks, and I got to taste some homemade bread pudding that was absolutely amazing. I decided to try the beer they just tapped from Fixed Wheel Brewery in Blackheath. “Through & Off” turned out to be an awesome session IPA—super hoppy, fruity, and packed with flavour.
The Starting Gate
I picked up this last one around Wolverhampton on Saturday morning. Out in the Penn Fields area of Wolverhampton. The Starting Gate Penn is set up in what used to be an HSBC bank branch that had been sitting empty and falling apart before it got a new lease on life as a Micropub, opening its doors in October 2018.
Back in May 2018, brothers Mark and Stephen Wright took over the old bank building with the idea of turning it into a Micropub. They went through some serious renovations that lasted about four months and required a good chunk of investment to transform the space while keeping some of its original charm. One cool feature is the old bank counter, which they turned into the bar, giving The Starting Gate a unique vibe and even includes one of the original serving counters. Plus, the impressive back door leading to the garden, complete with covered seating, is a nod to its past. The décor, including paintings and silks, showcases the owner’s brother’s passion for horse racing, which is where the pub gets its name.
Charlotte gave me an awesome welcome, and it was really nice to chat with her. The bar has a solid selection of 5 cask ales, plus some keg choices to pick from. I started things off with “Anthem” from Froth Blowers Brewing Co. in Birmingham. It’s a super pale ale made with Mandarina Bavaria hops, and it’s really tasty. Next up was the “Baldwin IPA” from Bewdley Brewery in Worcestershire. This one’s named after Stanley Baldwin, who was the MP for Bewdley and served as Prime Minister three times. It’s another fantastic hoppy pale ale.
New Invention Brewery
My final visit of the day was an extra over in nearby Bloxwich. Here I visited New Invention Brewery. The brewery was set up by Karol Kawecki in 2019 in an industrial unit just behind Bloxwich town centre. He was a home-brewer who decided to take his passion to the next level. The brewery uses a 30Hl brewing plant to produce a range of modern craft beers, from IPAs to chocolate stouts and peach melba sour beers.
The taproom is awesome and has now moved to the ground floor (it used to be on the first floor). There’s a cosy bar in the corner with tables all around. When the weather warms up, you can also enjoy more seating outside. They serve freshly made pizzas that look super tasty.
At the bar, there are 14 keg lines and a rotating cask line. You’ll find a great variety of styles and strengths, so there’s definitely something for everyone, including some unique and fun flavours. The first beer that really caught my attention was “Scoop – Cranberry & Orange Ice Cream.” It’s this awesome mix of tangy cranberry and bright orange, creating a creamy and citrusy vibe that’s just fantastic. Then I tried “Cybernetic Ghost,” which is an American Pale Ale. It’s super hoppy and packed with flavour—definitely a winner!
Micropub Adventures 