The Mitre Inn, Tettenhall

The Mitre and I go well back, writes Becky Sharpe. It was one of the first pubs introduced to me when I moved to the West Midlands seven years ago.

It became a popular meeting place for a few friends of mine when I first started working in the city, and for 18 months a couple of years back it was my local, when I rented a terrace around the corner.

Although it hasn't enjoyed the success recently as it did in its heyday a few years back, I've always had a soft spot for this wonderfully preserved part of Wolverhampton's heritage.

And like old friends, we keep bumping into each other and it's like nothing has changed.

Until this week, when I visited for the first time in months and realised things had changed quite a bit.

New operators have recently come in and given it the upgrade it so desperately needed.

Tired old sofas have been replaced with plush new ones, trendy but uncomfortable wooden benches have been given new, soft leather pads and feature wallpaper on a couple of walls juxtaposes with bright new paint which together, makes it look very attractive indeed.

It was a Tuesday night, so my friend and I didn't expect it to be heaving. But it was very quiet, apart from three friends sharing a bottle of wine outside, two dog-walkers and a young couple.

Nevertheless, the two cheery lads behind the bar were polite and chirpy and served us our glasses of wine with a smile. We were given menus that were huge in size but actually, didn't feature that many choices.

There were six or ­seven main meals on offer, but there was also a separate tapas menu, which featured lots of dishes for £3 or three for £8. We ordered off the main menu. The pan fried chicken supreme (£10.50) served on a bed of risotto was just wonderful.

Comfort food at its best, it was rich, creamy and crunchy spring onions and celery gave it an extra kick. It was finished with a touch of indulgent truffle oil.

The cannon of spring lamb (£12.50) was also very much enjoyed by my friend, although she was not convinced by the inclusion of green grapes in a jus. Nevertheless it got the thumbs up.

Our bill came to just over £23. As we left, a couple more groups came in, but for a well-placed pub which has just had quite a bit of money spent on it, it wasn't getting the attention it deserved.

The lack of parking poses a bit of a problem, and within a half-mile radius it has to compete with the likes of The Newbridge (cracking carvery), The Dog and Gun (a long-standing favourite on the pub scene) and a little bit further away The Crown in Wergs Road (the new 'place to see and be seen').

But the Mitre is unique, and with a history stretching back hundreds of years when it began life as a coaching inn.

I found a review I'd written about the Mitre back in 2007, shortly after new owners took it over and had high hopes for the venue.

Three years later and it's back in the same situation.

Many people have known and loved the Mitre.

What it needs is for its fair weather friends to come back and return it to the heart of the community where it really does deserve to be.

ADDRESS

The Mitre Inn: 1 Lower Green, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 9AH

Phone: 01902 567890