New addition made to Black Country Museum's unique line-up of locally brewed ales at historic pubs

Batham’s Brewery is joining forces with Dudley’s famous attraction, with the Museum’s two pubs now set to be home to Batham’s Best Bitter and Batham’s Mild. 

The launch means that the Museum is now home to four successful local breweries in Black Country Ales, Green Duck, Holden's and now Batham’s, which makes it the only location in the country where real ale lovers can sample all four brands in the same place. 

Black Country Ales have been a supporter of the Museum as a Partner for several years, with the only pub to serve their beers outside of their own estate, forming part of its popular pub trail, being the Museum’s Bottle and Glass Inn. 

Holden’s Brewery of Dudley is also sold at the Museum’s pubs, with their Golden Glow a particular favourite of patrons of the Museum’s Elephant & Castle. 

The final local brewery making the four-strong line up is relative newcomer Green Duck Brewery of Stourbridge, who supply a range of different ales served in both pubs. 

It all makes for a unique pub crawl, where visitors can go from a drink in 1910 at the spit-and-sawdust Bottle & Glass Inn to their next tipple in the 1950s at the Elephant & Castle Pub. 

Speaking on the new relationship, Claire Batham, Area Manager at Batham’s Brewery, said “We’re incredibly proud of our Black Country heritage, so seeing our cask ale served at the Black Country Living Museum is very special. 

"It’s great to be showcased alongside other Black Country brewers in such a renowned venue. 

"It’s something we’ve wanted to explore for a long time but it’s never been discussed until now. 

"To me our brands go hand in hand - it’s really special and we’re so proud to be working with the Museum.”  

Kate Kirkpatrick, Head of Cultural Enterprises at Black Country Living Museum, said: “It’s an honour to add Batham’s to our already strong roster of historic Black Country brewing suppliers for our historic pubs. 

"Part of our purpose is to champion local businesses, so to bring our brand together with Batham’s is a perfect step. 

"We are excited that we’ve got possibly the shortest but most comprehensive pub crawl in the region!” 

The Bottle & Glass Inn was the first pub to open at the Museum. 

The historic building once stood near the canal at Buckpool in Brierley Hill and was moved to the Museum site brick-by-brick in the early 1980s. 

The second pub in the Museum’s historic portfolio, the Elephant & Castle, is a recreation of an iconic Wolverhampton boozer that stood on the corner of Cannock Road and Stafford Street. 

Both a hotspot for Wolves fans and a gathering place for the community, the original building was demolished in 2001. 

The Museum’s recreation, made possible with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and other key funders, opened in 2022 as the first building of their expansive 1940s-60s development.