A Right Royal Round: Tamworth’s Pubs, Pints & Hidden History

A Right Royal Round: Tamworth’s Pubs, Pints & Hidden History

A Day Exploring Tamworth

I had a brilliant evening exploring the pubs of Tamworth. I started at The King’s Ditch before calling into the Sir Robert Peel, the award-winning Tamworth Tap, Market Vaults and Hop House, then finishing with Old Bank House and the wonderful Moat House. There was a lovely mix of historic buildings, traditional pubs and modern beer choices, with some fantastic welcomes from the people I met along the way. I also stopped at St Editha’s churchyard to see the memorial to the six servants who died in the Castle Hotel fire. A fascinating evening of beer, history and conversation!

A Little History of Tamworth

Tamworth has a remarkable history, stretching back to its days as a royal centre of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. Mercian kings spent time here, and in 913 Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians, strengthened the town’s defences against Viking attacks. After the Norman Conquest, Tamworth Castle was built and remains one of the town’s best-known landmarks. The town grew as a market centre, with historic streets and buildings still telling its story today. Tamworth was also closely linked to Sir Robert Peel, the former Prime Minister who issued his famous Tamworth Manifesto in 1834. There’s history around almost every corner.

Explore Tamworth with CAMRA’s Ale Trail

If you’re planning your own visit to Tamworth, the local Lichfield, Sutton and Tamworth CAMRA branch has put together a fantastic little ale trail. Their free leaflet includes a handy town-centre map and information about some of the town’s best-known real ale pubs, with plenty of interesting places to discover along the way. Several of the pubs featured are ones I enjoyed visiting myself, and there are a few more worth exploring too. It’s well worth a look before heading out, especially with so many pubs just a short walk apart.

Leaflet by Lichfield, Sutton and Tamworth CAMRA. Check current opening times before visiting.

Stops on This Trip

The King’s Ditch
Sir Robert Peel
The Tamworth Tap
Market Vaults
Hop House
Old Bank House
The Moat House

🏛️ Historical Stops Along the Way
Castle Hotel Fire Memorial

The King’s Ditch

My first call in Tamworth was to The King’s Ditch, a lovely little micropub on Lower Gungate. Opening in 2014 in a former cycle shop, its name comes from the ancient King’s Ditch, part of Tamworth’s historic defences dating back to its days as an important centre of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. The micropub has built up quite a reputation for its impressive cider and perry selection, reaching the finals of CAMRA’s National Cider Pub of the Year competition several times. It’s become a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, with good beer, cider and conversation at its heart.

Inside, there’s plenty of character, with exposed brick walls, wooden flooring, dark ceiling beams and bunches of dried hops hanging overhead. Wooden benches run along the walls, brightened up with colourful cushions, while little tables and a mixture of red and blue upholstered chairs provide plenty of places to sit. Old brewery mirrors, vintage signs, framed photographs and CAMRA awards cover the walls, giving you lots to look at. Towards the back is a small wooden serving counter, with chalkboards displaying the drinks available. It’s a lovely, cosy little place with something interesting wherever you look.

The welcome was every bit as good as the surroundings! It was fantastic to meet owner Chris and have a good chat with him and several of the locals, who all made me feel very welcome. There were three cask ales available, served straight from the cask, alongside two keg beers and an impressive selection of ciders. I went for American S.I.P.A. from Huddersfield’s Mallinsons Brewery, a lovely session IPA with citrus and resinous notes and a lingering bitter finish. A cracking first stop in Tamworth, and somewhere I really enjoyed spending a bit of time!

Sir Robert Peel

The Sir Robert Peel was my second stop in Tamworth, just a short walk along Lower Gungate. Named after the former Prime Minister and local MP, the pub celebrates a man who helped establish the Metropolitan Police in 1829 and issued his famous Tamworth Manifesto in 1834. The pub has appeared in every edition of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide since 2005 and received a Golden Award during CAMRA’s 50th anniversary celebrations. With its changing selection of real ales, occasional live music and friendly atmosphere, it’s a popular choice for locals and visitors alike.

Inside, the pub is full of character, with bright red ceilings, dark wooden beams and walls covered in music memorabilia, old photographs, posters and brewery signs. Around the bar there’s plenty to catch your eye, from colourful badges and hanging glasses to rock music posters covering the ceiling. Warm lighting, wooden tables and seating across several areas give the place a welcoming feel. It was lovely to see the pub busy, with plenty of people chatting and enjoying themselves. Outside, there’s a fantastic beer garden with wooden picnic benches, old stone walls, trees and plenty of lighting for an evening visit.

It was also lovely to receive such a warm welcome from Charlie, who made my visit even more enjoyable! There were five cask ales available, alongside still ciders and a good variety of keg beers. I went for White Dragon (4.2%) from Sheffield’s White Rose Brewery, a traditional English pale ale with a pleasantly hoppy character and a dry, slightly bitter finish. It was a lovely pint to enjoy while taking in all the interesting bits and pieces around the pub. Another cracking Tamworth stop, with a fantastic atmosphere and a really friendly welcome!

The Tamworth Tap

The Tamworth Tap opened in 2017 when George and Louise Greenaway transformed a former tourist information centre into a home for Tamworth Brewing Company. The building dates back to the 16th century and sits just below Tamworth Castle. What began as a small brewing project gradually developed into one of Britain’s most celebrated pubs. It won CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year award in 2022, 2023 and 2025, becoming the first pub to achieve three wins. In September 2026, it also won Best Beer Pub and Overall Great British Pub of the Year, another remarkable achievement for this independent business.

Inside the Tamworth Tap, there’s so much to look at, with character and history around every corner. The main bar is full of wooden panelling, hanging hops, warm lighting and an amazing collection of old brewery signs and beer memorabilia, covering just about every bit of wall space. There’s even an old telephone and coin-operated cigarette machine tucked away amongst the displays. Wander through the different rooms and you’ll find wooden benches, traditional tables, old photographs and plenty of lovely little features. The quieter seating areas have a really cosy feel, with exposed beams and wooden floors adding to the charm. Outside, there’s a wonderful courtyard and beer garden surrounded by historic brick walls, with colourful flowers, plenty of seating and fantastic views of Tamworth Castle, which looks especially impressive when lit up at night.

There was a fantastic choice at the bar, with 12 cask ales alongside a huge selection of ciders and keg beers. I went for Castle Black (4.9%) from Tamworth Brewing Co, a dark ale brewed with Chinook hops, bringing together chocolatey, roasted malt flavours with hints of coffee and a little bitterness. It was great to try one of the brewery’s own beers while exploring such a fascinating old building. With so much to discover inside and those wonderful castle views from the garden, it’s easy to see why the Tamworth Tap has collected so many awards!

Market Vaults

The Market Vaults was my fourth stop in Tamworth, a lovely historic pub occupying a Grade II-listed building on Market Street. The surviving structure dates mainly from the 17th century, with an early 18th-century frontage, although the site has even earlier associations. Originally known as the White Hart, it had become the Rose and Crown by 1803 before taking the Market Vaults name by 1856. The building has continued its long association with the town’s drinking scene ever since. In late 2018, Joule’s Brewery carried out a major refurbishment, restoring the pub’s traditional character and giving it a new lease of life.

Inside the Market Vaults, there’s plenty of traditional pub character, with dark wooden beams, panelled walls and lovely old decorative glass. The different rooms have comfortable red leather seating, wooden tables, old fireplaces and plenty of interesting pictures and vintage advertising signs, including some wonderful Joule’s Brewery memorabilia. The wooden bar has brass fittings and shelves filled with bottles and books, while an old grandfather clock and stained-glass windows add even more charm. There’s lots to look at wherever you sit, with each area having its own character. Outside, there’s a spacious brick-paved beer garden with plenty of picnic benches and a covered stage for live music.

There were four cask ales available on the bar, alongside a still cider and a variety of keg beers. I went for Moon Madness (4.666%) from Joule’s Brewery, a seasonal dark mild brewed especially for this time of year. It’s a rich, smooth beer with roasted malt flavours, hints of dark fruit, treacle and liquorice, balanced by a gentle bitterness from traditional English hops. A lovely choice for Halloween weekend, and a great excuse to spend a little longer enjoying the wonderful old surroundings of the Market Vaults!

Hop House

My fifth stop in Tamworth was the Hop House on Market Street, occupying the former Bow Street Runner bar of the historic Castle Hotel. The hotel has a long history as a coaching inn, but it was also the scene of a terrible tragedy on 2 November 1838, when a devastating fire claimed the lives of six female servants sleeping upstairs. The tragedy deeply affected the town, and local people paid for a memorial in St Editha’s churchyard, where it still stands today. My visit came just three days before the 188th anniversary of the fire, a particularly poignant reminder of the building’s past.

Inside the Hop House, there’s a lovely mixture of modern touches and cosy seating areas. The long wooden bar has dark green panelling, with plenty of keg taps and colourful decorations. Deep green walls, wooden flooring, old-fashioned windows and strings of warm lights give the place plenty of character. There are comfortable booth seats, wooden tables and some quieter corners to enjoy a drink. Framed pictures, brewery memorabilia and colourful displays add interest around the walls. During my visit, the bar was decorated for Halloween, with hanging ghosts, autumn leaves and cobwebs adding a bit of fun throughout.

I received a fantastic warm welcome from Jack and Isaac when I arrived, which was a lovely start to my visit! There were two cask ales available alongside a wide selection of craft keg beers, giving plenty of choice. I went for Hoodoo (4.5%) from Stourbridge’s Green Duck Brewery, a modern English pale ale brewed with British Jester and Olicana hops. It has a lovely fruity character, with grapefruit and citrus flavours alongside hints of passion fruit and other tropical fruits. A really enjoyable choice, and the friendly welcome and Halloween decorations made this another lovely stop on my Tamworth travels!

Old Bank House

My sixth stop in Tamworth was the Old Bank House, occupying a beautiful Victorian building on Ladybank, built in 1845–46 for Sir Robert Peel’s Tamworth Savings Bank. This Grade II-listed building has a distinctive Tudor Gothic appearance, with decorative stonework, tall windows and a blue plaque commemorating its history. After serving various purposes over the years, it was given a completely different future when Jon Nunn and Jim Young opened it as a pub in April 2021. What was once a place for people to deposit their savings has become somewhere to enjoy a drink, bringing new life to one of Tamworth’s most interesting historic buildings.

Inside the Old Bank House, there’s a wonderful collection of four rooms, each with its own character and plenty of lovely features. The exposed brick walls, decorative fireplaces, grand mirrors and beautiful chandeliers really catch your eye. Comfortable leather armchairs, traditional wooden tables and colourful vintage lamps give the rooms a lovely warm and welcoming feel. I particularly liked the different colours throughout, from the deep red walls to the darker blue room, along with the old gramophone sitting by the window. Outside, there’s a lovely beer garden with wooden picnic benches, offering another great spot to enjoy a drink.

It was fantastic meeting James, and a big thank you to him for taking the time to show me around. I also really enjoyed chatting with a few of the locals during my visit! There were five cask ales available, along with a range of ciders and a great choice of draught beers. I went for Murder House (4.6%) from Derbyshire’s Pentrich Brewing Co, a hazy, hoppy pale ale brewed with Riwaka, Meridian and Galaxy hops. It brings plenty of tropical fruit flavours, particularly mango and papaya, with lighter pineapple notes and a little resinous pine. A lovely beer to round off a visit to such a fascinating old building!

The Moat House

The Moat House is one of Tamworth’s most remarkable historic buildings, built in 1572 for the wealthy Comberford family. In 1619, they entertained the future King Charles I, then Prince of Wales. During the 19th century, the mansion became a private mental asylum, later serving as a convalescent home until around 1950. It eventually found a new purpose as a place to enjoy a drink, giving visitors the chance to explore its wonderful historic surroundings. Overlooking the River Tame, this Grade II*-listed building remains one of the finest surviving examples of Elizabethan architecture in Tamworth.

Inside the Moat House, there’s so much character to discover, with lovely old rooms that really show off the building’s Elizabethan history. One of the highlights is the impressive stone fireplace, complete with a roaring fire, surrounded by wooden tables, chairs and exposed beams. Throughout the building, the walls are covered in fascinating old photographs, paintings and prints, with beautiful mirrors, wooden panelling and traditional furnishings adding to its charm. There’s even a wonderful detailed model of the Moat House itself, surrounded by a collection of old clocks. Each room has something different to admire, and it feels more like wandering through a historic country house than a pub. Outside, the large garden overlooking the River Tame is equally impressive, with plenty of seating, lovely greenery and colourful lights.

It was fantastic to receive such a warm welcome from John and Kieren, who really made my visit even more enjoyable! There were four cask ales available, alongside a still cider and a range of keg options. I went for Goats Milk (3.8%) from Church End Brewery near Nuneaton, a lovely golden pale bitter with a good balance of malt and aromatic hops. Brewed with pale barley, crystal malt and oats, it has a full flavour and a gentle hoppy finish. It was crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain in 2017, so a cracking choice to enjoy in such wonderful historic surroundings!