Home to Tamworth Brewing Company, the multi-award-wining pub boasts a range of eight cask beers from both local brewers and across the UK, along with a wide selection of ciders, gins, wines, and bottled beers.  
The Tudor building with a 16th century shopfront and historic courtyard beer terrace offers stunning views of Tamworth’s Norman Castle for a scenic spot to enjoy a pint. Owners George and Louise have also been awarded the town’s Freedom of the Borough in recognition of their commitment to the town and community. 

Reacting to the win, George and Louise Greenaway said:  
“It’s not often either of us are stuck for words - ask anyone! - but we really are struggling to express how we feel today. When we won the first time, we believed we’d reached the pinnacle of our achievements and were absolutely astounded with our second consecutive win. To have won for an unprecedented third time is beyond our wildest dreams”. 

The Tamworth Tap has previously taken home the prize in both 2022 and 2023 – only the second pub to be awarded the final prize in consecutive years since the Kelham Island Tavern was crowned in 2008 and 2009. 
The other Pub of the Year 2025 finalists are: Blackfriars Tavern, Great Yarmouth, the Pelican Inn, Gloucester, and the Volunteer Arms (Staggs), Musselburgh: run by the same family since 1858.

This podcast brings you the presentation of the award by the Campaign for Real Ale.

David chats with drinks expert and pomelier (cider expert) Alison Taffs, to learn how real cider is made and how to find it in supermarkets and online.

The online retailer Alison recommended is the Cat in the Glass.

In this podcast, David King talks with Tom Robinson about the change in direction, and asks what will be available after the launch on 17th September.

Read more on the Robinson's website.

You can keep up-to-date with the Rustic Food Shop, which was the Wolverhampton BID's New Business of the Year 2025, on their Facebook page: 

Read about the Real Bread Campaign on their website, and their "Say No to SourFaux" campaign.

In this podcast, WCR's David King talks with Jody Fox and Wayne Dutton to find out more about the new guide.

Read more about the guide here:
https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/south-staffordshire-business-hub/uk-shared-prosperity-funding/south-staffordshire-good-food-and

Chief Executive Officer Justin Platt said this week that selling the remainder of the brewing operation now frees the company to focus entirely on its pub operating, and reduces their debt by £20 million.

CMBC will continue to brew beer for the Marston's pubs. Carlberg has also agreed this week to pay £3.3 billion to take over the Britvic company.
Carlsberg now owns three large brewery sites: their original site in Northampton, Marston’s Brewery in Burton-upon-Trent, and Banks's brewery in Wolverhampton.

You can read the full text of the podcast in the latest Taste Wolverhampton blog post.

UPDATED with news of the closure of Banks's Brewery announced for Authumn 2025.

Billy talks to David King about his background, his ideal pub, and how he worked on the Lesters Arms.

Read more about the pub at https://thelestersarms.co.uk/

Gillian Hough, National Director and Chair of CAMRA’s Real Ale, Cider and Perry Campaigns Committee, said: "CAMRA believes that these practices come under the scope of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, as the average consumer may choose to buy the product on the basis that they believe it to be cask conditioned beer, which in this case it is not."

This podcast delves into the archives to uncover an interview from March 2000 when, in the week of the opening of the Banks's Brewery Visitor Centre, David King spoke with head brewer Richard Westwood about 'Fast Cask' - expected to offer a revolution in cask beer storage. 

The branch Club of the Year 2024 winner is The Firs in Codsall, which also has its own small brewery on-site.

Both winners are excellent choices, and have featured in Taste Wolverhampton several times.

Last year was the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Hail to the Ale, and I interviewed Angela and Gary Morton in August 2023. They were the first micropub to open in the West Midlands. To celebrate this year's success, we are making last August's interview available in the Taste Wolverhampton podcast. 

The Campaign defines Real Bread as made with all-natural ingredients, and without the use of any processing aids, chemical leavening or other additives.

Making your own bread is easy, and the notes provided with this podcast provide more information about the Real Bread Campaign, types of flour, and a simple bread recipe.