We visited a hidden gem Wolverhampton pub famed for great food and raved about by Jay Rayner

For the uninitiated, they are places which combine the joys of a cold pint with the wonderful tastes and textures of Indian food, bringing a drinking and dining experience like no other.

Over the years, plenty of pubs have gone from quiet or closed old boozers to vibrant and busy Desi pubs, full of people enjoying a cold drink, a hot meal and a warm welcome.

One pub which has made a real name for itself with the quality of its food and the warmness of its welcome is the Desi Yew Tree in Wolverhampton, a pub which takes a bit of finding, but which is well worth a visit.

The pub is set in a busy industrial estate on the outskirts of Wolverhampton city centre, accessible by taking the A449 Penn Road out of the city, turning left onto Ablow Street and then turning onto Pool Street where, opposite a number of factory units, stands the pub, all decked out in grey slats and with the sign on the wall.

While it looks small on the outside, a step in shows off a large pub with two large seating areas either side of the bar, plus a very large seating area upstairs, while the senses are immediately taken with the smell of Indian food and sizzling grills.

It has been a part of the city’s culinary and pub scene since 2004 when owner Peter Banga said he had been offered the opportunity to take over the then-closed pub and began to slowly bring in the food element.

He said: “It was originally closed, but it came up to me and the guy who owned it asked me if I’d like to take it on, as I ran another pub at the time.

“I said ‘Ok, let’s give it a go’ and he fixed the place up for me before we took it over and, from when we opened, the area was quite busy with factory workers, who would come in here at the end of the week for a couple of pints after work.

“Slowly, over time, we stated to introduce the food element and people really didn’t know what it was all about and they would try it and remember it and be mesmerized by it.”

Mr Banga said the Desi Yew Tree had had a lot of positive reviews in the past, including from YouTuber OnlyScrans and from food reviewer and journalist Jay Rayner, and said that being one of the first in the city had been part of the success, as well as the food being really good.

He said that anyone coming in for the first time could expect a great atmosphere, with sports on the numerous televisions around the pub, as well as a wonderful meal.

Drinks-wise, the Desi Yew Tree is primarily a lager pub, with Cobra, Madri, Stella Artois and Carling all on tap, with Mr Banga saying the drink selection reflected the tastes of the customers.

The menu has a wide range of dishes on it, from favourites like Chicken Tikka Masala to Butter Chicken, as well as the popular mixed grills, which come in several sizes, and what Mr Banga said was Jay Rayner’s favourite, the Potato 65.

He said the pub worked because it combined the best of both worlds for pubs and curry, harking back to a different time.

He said: “The idea was that, back in the day, you’d go to the pub and then go to a curry house in town afterwards.

“We changed that so that you don’t need to leave and you can come in with your family and watch the sport and eat together, rather than just the men going out at the weekend.

“It’s always been about getting families to come together, enjoy the day, have a few drinks and a meal and then go home.

“I’ve built up a loyal customer base over the years and they have supported me so much and even tell me how they will drive past four or five grills to come to mine.”