Railway Inn, Pelsall

Friendly and efficient service, value for money and comfortable surroundings is how I would describe The Railway Inn.

I called in on a Friday teatime and it was my first visit. My boyfriend and I parked on the sizeable car park at the back of the pub in and wandered in to the lounge.

First impressions were good, it was warm, a small space with about eight tables and a bar area. Countless trinkets adorned the walls as well as blackboards advertising main meals and puddings.

Stuart and I were greeted by a friendly barman who took our drinks order before we took a seat to consider the menu, which featured the usual pub favourites and more exotic dishes like curry. Menus and baskets of sauces are on every table and cutlery is brought over as necessary.

Stu chose the mixed grill, consisting of a sausage, pork chop, gammon and steak, while I went for 8oz rump steak.

Both meals came with peas, chips, onion rings, half grilled tomato, salad and mushrooms and were a bargain at £5.49 each. We also ordered two portions of bread and butter and a combo side of garlic bread, a portion of breaded mushrooms and onion rings.

In total the food bill came to £13.08.

It did not take long for our food to be served by a friendly waitress who collected them from the kitchen hatch and advised us the plates were piping hot. Each of them was large and full of food. Everything was nicely cooked and hot through.

The portions of meat, particularly the steak and pork chop, on Stu's plate were not huge but still good value.

We polished off our main courses and thought we would each have a pudding, as a list of tasty, traditional puds had caught our eye.

Out of a selection including treacle sponge, spotted dick and jam sponge we chose the latter two and ordered them with custard.

All the desserts cost around £2 and are worth every penny. The custard was thick, hot and there was lashings of it. The old-fashioned puddings were perfect comfort food for a cold, dark night and rounded our hearty meal off wonderfully.

We left with full stomachs and happy hearts and I would recommend The Railway Inn for a comfortable meal with friends or family.

Diners with a sweet tooth or a weakness for all things nostalgic should keep aside space enough for a delicious pudding at the end of their main course.

ADDRESS

The Railway Inn, Victoria Road, Pelsall

Tel: 01922 686911

By Lyndsey Hunt