4 days ago
Five Dudley Borough pubs named among top 500 in England
FIVE pubs from across the borough have featured in the top 500 pubs in England, according to a guide published in a national newspaper.
The Telegraph has published its list of the 500 best pubs in England, with five of them hailing from Dudley.
Expert Will Hawkes curated the list based on their charming character, welcoming staff, history and award-winning beer, The Telegraph says.
With drinking holes from Sedgley, Dudley, Brierley Hill and Stourbridge featured, Dudley boozers counted for one per cent of all the pubs in the list – quite a feat when considering the size of the borough compared to England as a country.
One of the five was The Robin Hood in Amblecote, described by Hawkes as 'probably the best of the town's pubs in terms of atmosphere and beer, which is invariably in peak condition.'
He said: 'The Black Country can be a bit confusing, geography-wise, but things are simple when it comes to pubs.
'They tend to be good, and they're particularly good in Amblecote.'
A stone's throw away lies The Unicorn in Wollaston, which also features on the list.
Highlighted for being a 'small and cosy' spot, Hawkes said visitors to The Unicorn should expect 'robust and often entertaining conversation, filled cobs (roast pork on Saturdays), and a deep sense of contentment'.
The Beacon Hotel in Sedgley is perhaps one of the most well-known in the whole Black Country, so it is unsurprising that it too featured in the top 500 guide.
Home of the award winning Sarah Huges Brewery, this historic drinking hole was described as 'a Black Country pub that doesn't feel like it's changed much since the Victorian era', creating an atmosphere like not many others.
From being crowned the Best Pub in the West Midlands by The Telegraph earlier this year to winning the CAMRA Dudley Pub of the Year for 2025, The Bull and Bladder (or as it is known to the rest of the country officially, The Vine), has been basking in well deserved success this year, so it was to be expected for it to feature in the list.
Hawkes said: 'The Black Country has more high-quality pubs than pretty much any other bit of Britain.
'The Vine Inn (known locally as the Bull and Bladder) is perhaps the best because it's handsome, good value, and, most importantly, is attached to one of England's great old breweries, Batham's.'
The fifth and final local boozer to make the cut was the historic Old Swan Inn in Netherton, known for its beer brewed on site and its beautiful, ornate enamel ceiling.
In his description, Hawkes called it an 'unmissable' pub which has a charm that 'feels more authentically Victorian than any other you'll find in England'.
To view the full list of pubs, visit
