There’s a few pubs I always thought would be certs for my Top 100 when I’d revisited them to confirm their continuing brilliance.
It was a mild disappointment that the Great Western‘s beer wasn’t quite at the level I’d expected, but I’m confident I’ll be back soon to review that decision.
The Vine looked even more difficult to award Top 100 status when I visited. One of my favourite pubs in the world is very clearly now supported by food sales, so how can it be on my list ? There were even a few “reserved” signs on a few tables !
It’s possible that you’ve only been here if you’ve been to The Hawthorns, as this is the default pub for visiting fans on account of the legendary indoor Indian barbecue. On Saturday I met an old work colleague in Bearwood, 3 miles away, who’d still never been.
15 years ago this was quite a basic looking pub in a dodgy industrial estate, but then so was the Kelham Island Tavern. Suki and team have gradually improved over the years without losing the core custom.
Over nearly 20 years I’ve popped in here a dozen times, enjoying simple grilled meats and fish with naan and inadvisable chillies, washed down by a single changing beer.
I would have liked a decent shot of the barbecue area but there were too many children around to safely take photos, so here’s the bar.
Nothing special, and the main seating areas are basically conservatories. But the atmosphere is wonderful. Perhaps it was the contrast between Cambridge and multi-cultural Brom, but this has always struck me as the pub where every section of society meets for cheap grub, beer and football on the TV. I believe the Good Beer Guide would call it a cultural melting pot.
The atmosphere has only slightly been affected by the latest smartening-up, which has made this the destination pub in West Brom on a Friday night.
That alone makes the pub unmissable, but the Abbeydale Moonshine was the best beer I’ve had this month. Carling is the beer of choice, but I shan’t be telling folk that they’re clueless idiots who should be drinking real ale with their Methi Chicken.
Proof that one beer is enough if it’s good. Bathams is often that beer in the Vine, and when it is this is almost the best pub in the country.
retiredmartin 
It was a wonderfully dark, dingy, drinkers hole on my 2 visits. Weird to imagine it doing posh food and having a conservatory.
I know what you mean about taking photos in pubs when kids are around! A real occupational hazard of pub blogging.
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It ain’t posh food yet ! Know what you mean though, used to be falling down with a kiddies play area we used to love that’s now a smoking den.
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I see it’s succumbed to “pastelistis” as well. What’s wrong with dark brown wood?
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Yes. I share your preference. Find it hard to criticise as it has no pretension as a boozer, though front rooms aren’t bad. Have you been ?
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Was on errand to West Brom today and I thought I’d finally check the Vine out.
Before I went I thought I’d check out if you’d been , so when it was in the Top 100 that firmed up my decision to go.
Its a cracker and the food was very good.
My ale wasn’t the best but that wasn’t any fault of the place , was just a bit non descript.
Also popped in the cricketers a mile away, that won’t be troubling the GBG (no cask) but it was very lively. One for Life after Football.
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I’ve seen the Cricketers ! Yes, lively.
I haven’t been in the Vine since City played there in 2017-18 and the beer was good, though not the Bathams they occasionally had on. Deserves a return. Actually, I’m in Brum on Tuesday for Peter Allen’s funeral so that’s a possibility.
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