Former lorry driver's 'Desi pub' is a hit with locals and West Brom fans

Former lorry driver Rajinder Singh has owned the pub, where he once was a local himself, for more than 20 years.

He said that after breaking his arm he was informed that the previous owner wanted to sell the venue. 21 years on, Rajinder is still loving life in charge of the Prince of Wales pub on High Street, West Bromwich.

He says: "I really enjoy it, running pubs. I used to run a pub on Soho Road in the 80s and so I knew what it was like to run a pub when taking over here.

"I know most of the Asian community and so I bring that feel and sense here into the pub.

"We run live shows here every week with live bands and dancers, which everyone enjoys.

"It created a great atmosphere in the pub, and everyone enjoys the music, they are really popular nights."

The Prince of Wales is a Desi pub, where it serves a variety of Indian food including curries, mixed-grills and barbecues.

A huge wave of popularity of 'Desi pubs' has risen in recent years, where pubs that were maybe once struggling or just simply had a transformation and change with the times, now serve top quality Indian food, including the ever famous 'Mixed-Grill', which arrives to your table sizzling on a platter, with a range of items including tandoori fish, lamb chops, chicken tikka - the options are endless and mouthwatering.

The Black Country is known to be the hub for 'Desi pubs', where people travel from all over the country to visit the establishments and dine on extremely popular Indian food.

According to Rajinder, this is where the Desi pubs started off, and it was the first one.

He explains: "We were the first Desi pub, and from here several more opened such as the Red Cow and the Red Lion."

The pub is also a hugely popular location for West Bromwich Albion fans, and the staff said fans of the football club are the regulars here.

West Brom fans tend to visit the pub in huge numbers on matchdays, both before and after the matches, and Rajinder is proud of the connection he has built with the football fans.

Food is served everyday except Tuesdays.

Speaking about the relationship with the regulars and locals, the staff add: "We have a very mixed clientele coming in here.

"We have people from all around, with no prejudice towards anyone, it is a really friendly environment,

"Jinder (Rajinder) is really well respected by everyone.

"We also have a popular pool team here too that plays in the Birmingham borough."

The Prince of Wales, on West Bromwich High Street, is packed with memorabilia from landlord Rajinder's love of Bhangra music.

In tribute to Rajinder's love for the music, artist Caroline Jariwala produced a beautiful mosaic wall piece that is hung within a prime position on the wall of the pub's stage, marking the connection between the Black Country pub and its Punjabi heritage.

The mosaic features gidda dancing women, which is a traditional folk Punjabi dance, along with Bhangra men playing music, making it a really jolly, lively mosaic piece, and it contains laughter, smiles and joy, which is what the pub stands for.