Vine, West Bromwich

From the outside it looks like the kind of place you'd expect to be filled with old men, world-weary dogs and a well-worn dartboard.

You would, however, be wrong. In addition to three comfortable drinking rooms it also runs a huge and unique Indian barbecue seven nights a week, and a full curry-house menu.

Landlord Suki Patel's pub is nothing short of a labour of love, and the affection is returned by thronging crowds.

More than 30 reasonably-priced dishes are available on Suki's regular Indian menu. Punters scoff them in a big, well-lit verandah that connects to the bar, but in my book the pub's star attraction is in the second, canteen-like eating area even further back from the street.

There, the indoor barbecue is a marvel to behold and is staffed by up to half a dozen cooks working over huge grills that crackle and spark next to piled up skewers of marinated food ready to be cooked.

On my most recent visit to The Vine, I ordered methi chicken tikka, which like everything else off the barbecue came with a plate of fresh salad. You serve yourself with mint sauce and can have as many spicy green chillis as you can eat.

The chunks of chicken were huge, fat free, and tasted delicious marinated in methi - one of the main constituents of traditional curry powder.

There probably aren't many healthier pub meals you can get in the Black Country - and with barbecued trout, hake, piri-piri chicken, and pork on the menu, there is a fair bit to please everyone. Vegetarians can still resort to the pub's other menu.

Despite the fact my meal and its accompanying naan bread only cost £3.50, I needed no more food for the afternoon. Add in the cost of a pint and my total bill only rose to £5.60.

The barbecue fires up between 5.30-10.30pm on weekdays and from 1pm to 10.30pm at the weekend.

Last orders for other dishes on the menu are 9.30pm Sundays to Tuesdays and 10pm at other times.

ADDRESS

The Vine, Roebuck Street, West Bromwich

Tel: 0121 553 2866

By Jim Dunton