'I lost my job as a coal driver and now I run a historic West Midlands pub that has stood on the same spot for nearly half a century - it's so friendly'

While some pubs try to become known for drink deals or the food they cook, others get custom because of how they present themselves and the welcome they provide.

One pub in the town which has become popular for its look, the welcome people get, the type of beer on offer and an overall nice feeling is the Duke of Cambridge on Coltham Road.

The pub has been on the same site since 1645 when it was built as a farmhouse and was converted into a pub in the 1820s, which it has remained as since.

It was bought by Black Country Ales in 2009 and underwent a major refurbishment before going under the management of licensee Chris Plumbly.

Mr Plumbly said he had been made redundant from his previous role as a coal driver and had been drinking in a Black Country Ales pub in Gornal when he saw an advert for running a pub on the wall and decided to go for it.

He said: "I applied for a job with Black Country Ales and a few weeks passed before I got a phone call from the boss man Angus, who asked me to meet him at the Duke of Cambridge the next morning to talk about me taking over.

"I walked into the pub and I found I just loved it and they've refurbished the pub about four times since I took over to freshen it up and it's just grown in popularity since day one.

"I will be honest, I would never work for another pub company as I think Black Country Ales are fantastic and do it properly and make it just a really nice place to work."

Inside the Duke of Cambridge, the public bar has a solid fuel wood burner and original wooden beams, heavily decorated with pump clips, while there are two small TVs for sporting events.

The lounge is quieter and comfortable with a warming coal-effect gas fire, while a rear room caters for functions and has a darts board and large screen TV for sports events.

Mr Plumbly said the pub was the sort of pub he would want to drink in, joking that it was clearly successful due to his personality, but saying that there was never any trouble and it just had a lovely atmosphere where people policed themselves.

Being a Black Country Ales pub, the selection on the handpulls always includes the brewery staples of Pig on the Wall, BFG, Fireside and Jubilee, but also includes at least five different guest ales.

Mr Plumbly said he was responsible for what went on the handpulls, although admitted he wasn't a big ale drinker and was more partial to a pint of cider.

He said: "I actually prefer Thatcher's Gold, which seems a bit wrong in a real ale pub, but it's the one cider we'll always have on keg, as well as three flat ciders on offer, including the Bee Sting, which is 6.9 per cent and two flavoured ones which are 4 per cent.

"When I think about this pub, it's just a great place to work as we don't get any trouble from people and the customers are something else and just make it one of the friendliest pubs I've ever known in my life.

"I'm 66 now and I've been in a number of trades over the years, but have always spent time in pubs and helping out in pubs and after I had to leave my last job, it was wonderful to get this job and it has given me a new lease of life."