The Penny Black, Tamworth
Post
Subscribe
It may not be the newest pub in Tamworth, but it certainly boasts the newest name.
The Penny Black, which lies within the centre of the Staffordshire market town, in the historic Lower Gungate, owes its title to 'people power'.
For when the former Yates's venue closed in April this year ahead of a planned major refurbishment, members of the public were asked to name the new pub through an online vote.
And the winner came out as The Penny Black, so named because the pub, which now has a coffee shop, is located on the site of a former post office.
The other contenders which failed to come top of the poll were The Mercia, named after the Anglo Saxon kingdom, The Ginger Pig, due to the local breed of Tamworth pigs which have a distinctive ginger coat, and Thomas Guy, who founded almshouses in Tamworth in the 17th century.
The Penny Black, which is actually the name of a rare postage stamp, is now building a reputation as a friendly venue offering great food and drinks, while also showing major sports events on large screens.
The pub reopened following its refurbishment on May 1 this year, and I was tempted in barely a fortnight later to watch TV coverage of my football team, Aston Villa, only for them to go 4-0 down in no time.
Hopefully there will be better sporting success in store when the pub screens every single game of the forthcoming 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and Wales from September 18 to October 31.
Now owned by Stonegate, The Penny Black is open from 8am for breakfast right up until 11pm Monday to Wednesday and the early hours on the rest of the week.
The pub offers good-value pub grub in its ample, large L-shaped room, while there is also a small café-style outdoor area at the front of the premises.
On my visit I was just there for the beer, which ended up drowning my sorrows over the football result.
There are three regular beers to choose from, namely Jennings Penny Black, Marston's Pedigree, and Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold. In addition, the pub serves one changing beer.
#bars
#food_wine
#nightlife
#pubs
%wnbirmingham
68065 - 2023-01-26 01:27:27