We visited a 'hidden gem' pub run by a former teacher who reckons it's got 'the best Guinness in Wolverhampton'

These pubs can be found in communities across the Black Country, usually with a devout following of regulars, and which are ingrained in people's memories when they leave due to the unique or historic layout.

Settled in the Chapel Ash area of Wolverhampton is a pub which has been described by its landlord as a hidden gem, which has a range of comfortable places to sit and even has a tree growing in one of the toilets.

The Combermere Arms is set in a Grade II-listed building with original sash windows, just a short walk from the city centre, and has had a history since it was built in 1836 of being private homes, then a doctor's surgery before eventually becoming a pub around 1910.

It is currently run by landlord Gavin Craig, who said he had just celebrated his 23rd year of running the pub and 30 years of working there, having made the decision to change careers.

He said: "I've done many things in my life and have worked as a teacher, but I started working here part-time.

"The previous owners had a manager, but she had moved away to Spain and so they asked me and, to be honest, I had had enough of teaching to be fair, so I decided to take the plunge and do it.

"I'd been a student at university here in 1989 and the Combermere Arms was just somewhere that we always hung out at and it had a pool table and the beer was always good, plus it had a community feeling and was family friendly and I think it's always been that way."

The pub comprises three rooms with cosy fireplaces replete with classic adverts, while to the rear is a courtyard and beer garden. Mr Craig said the pub was perfect for all types of people.

He said: "It's got a lot of character and identity and that goes down to every room as the bar is somewhere that you can go to if you want to have a chat and a bit of craic and all that.

"However, if you want to sit and read your paper and maybe enjoy some peace and quiet, there's other rooms you can go and sit in and that fits for everyone."

Mr Craig said the pub has remained largely the same since he took over, apart from making a few changes to the bar and adding a few hand-pulls.

He said that while the pub is a freehold, he gets most of his beer from Greene King and said that the ale selection came down to things that were in demand from customers and that he could get.

He said: "There's a couple of beers that they like and I'll get that as often as I can, so if people ask for it, I will do my best to get it.

"We've also got stuff like Carling and Pravda and Thatchers, and we're just about to take Dark Fruits off as winter is coming and it doesn't sell as well in the winter.

"I also think we've got the best pint of Guinness in the whole of Wolverhampton, so we're a great place for that, and we try to play with the theme of the seasons for our different beers."

Mr Craig said the Combermere Arms was like an extended family to him and was somewhere people could enjoy however they liked.

He said: "It's one great family and it's just somewhere you can come to and you know you're going to have a great pint of beer.

"You can come in and have the craic and we have things like people bringing in the vegetables from their allotments and we also have Pie Fest and Cheese Fest.

"I think we're a hidden gem as well and if I had a pound for everyone who has come in here and said they've walked past 1,000 times and never thought to come in, I could have retired, but they always say they're happy they did come in and that's great."