We asked West Midlands pub-goers for the most loved locals, and their answers made us thirsty

30 pubs across the West Midlands have been ranked in The Telegraph’s The Best Pubs in the UK 2026, a formal guide to the best pubs across the country.

The guide, which was organised by a panel of experts at the national newspaper, includes 650 pubs, with 500 of them being in England, 75 in Scotland, 50 in Wales, and 25 in Northern Ireland.

Among the must-visit pubs in the region were Wolverhampton’s The Great Western, The Vine Inn in Brierley Hill, The Old Swan Inn in Netherton, and The Pretty Bricks in Walsall.

Now, we have hit the streets to ask pub goers for their favourite watering hole to go to come rain or shine.

Rob, aged 65, Ashby Park, said: “I think The Fountain Inn, in Walsall. I go about once a month.

“It has extremely friendly staff, it’s only small, but they have gigs on there, it’s really nice.

“I think the old pubs are better. The new ones where there’s lots of youths in, it’s just a bit of a hassle.”

Kennith Duncombe, aged 79, of Wolverhampton, said The Great Western is one of the best around, saying that the ‘old world atmosphere’ makes it great.

He said: “The old world feel of The Great Western, that old atmosphere and the camaraderie when you enter.

“A good pub needs to be comfortable, have nice drinking beer, and a good sense of friendship.”

Sue Bowen, aged 75, of Wolverhampton, also said The Great Western pub is one of her favourites, and thinks it's well placed on the list.

She said: “When we used to go, it was very, very good. It was really good service, it was comfortable, it actually felt like you were sitting at home.

“It also has a great beer garden and mostly has whatever you want, even if it’s non alcoholic.”

See the full list of the Telegraph’s 30 Best Pubs in the UK 2026 list here.