Award-winning Stourbridge pub that welcomes football fans, weary and thirsty travellers and has hosted famous names

He and his wife Ruth run the popular pub which attracts hundreds of regular punters every week with a variety of events from quizzes to live music, combined with the traditional array of Black Country Ales beers and ever changing guest ales and the added addition of rooms in which to stay overnight.

Apart from the locals and people who come from further afield to enjoy it, the Brook Road boozer sees countless people use it as an 'unofficial waiting room' for Stourbridge Junction rail station, the drive of which lies just 50 yards away, with the departures and arrivals displayed on a screen in the beautiful Edwardian Grade II listed building.

But back to the awards. Pete and his wife Ruth were recently awarded the the Stourbridge and Halesowen CAMRA branch award for pub of the year after being at the helm for three years.

In 2022 Pete won the same award when landlord of the Starving Rascal - also a Black Country Ales pub - and it was the start of a successful partnership with the company, which now owns over 50 pubs from Penkridge to Ludlow to Wolverhampton and two in Stourbridge.

Pete said: "I was running my own pub in Rowley Regis when Angus (from Black Country Ales) approached me to take over the Starving Rascal which I did and thoroughly enjoyed running what was another historic pub with the legend behind the name of it in the form of a reported ghost.

"Black Country Ales supported me all the way and we managed to win the award then which is no mean feat - just within a square mile of that pub in Amblecote was a plethora of real ale pubs with character and great beer so the competition was strong.

"When the chance came to run the Seven Stars  it didn't take much thinking about in terms of wanting to take it over but it was a significant upgrade in terms of size, turnover, staffing, custom, all the things a manager or landlord has to think about but the average punter doesn't see."

Pete and Ruth's  impact was felt from the start, with The Seven Stars landing a place in the coveted Good Beer Guide in their first year. before winning the prize for pub of the year which is perhaps a reflection on not only the quality of the drinks, a warm and friendly welcome at all times and  a packed schedule of events.

There is a weekly Tuesday general knowledge quiz, a regular Thursday music based one, and hosting darts teams on Monday and Tuesday.

Pete's background is in live music and there are regular bands and acts on at weekends, with celebrities known for popping in including Robert Plant and Steven Knight.

He said: "I love live music and have always felt it brings people in  because they can just come in, sit down and have a listen.

"The location undoubtedly helps right by the railway station and we get a lot of football supporters, often Albion, popping in before and after the game , though with running the pub I don't get to watch Villa much

"The building is stunning as well and it is a nice place to stay for a visit or spend a night But any pub will be judged on its beer ultimately by a lot of people and if that wasn't up to scratch, many of them wouldn't come back so that will always be one of my first priorities."