THIS pub always looks so inviting, perched above and offset from the Bromsgrove Road, that I’m drawn to popping in every now and then.

Since I had last been there, it had changed without becoming much more expensive.

And the result of last November’s move up from a Vintage Inn to a low profile M&B Village Pub & Kitchen? You’ll now do well to get a Sunday lunchtime table without booking.

Luckily, we arrived on spec one late afternoon once the rush had subsided.

With an autumnal gloom outside, it didn’t feel particularly bright inside either.

Anyone with poor vision will need guiding around the endearing mixture of nooks and crannies on their way to and from the loo etc.

Probably ever thus, since there has been an inn on this site since 1540. And it was probably one of the best pieces of business that M&B ever did when they paid £5,000 for it in 1944.

Sixty-seven years later, there was a very warm welcome from staff who looked after us splendidly throughout.

After our waitress Gemma kindly checked on the strength of real ale I’d selected, I was able to downgrade from five per cent to four by choosing the Cornish Doom Bar (£3) instead.

And as well as our three children sharing two J20s (£3.30 each) between them, it wasn’t any more trouble for a jug of tap water and even more glasses to be brought over while we waited for the ‘proper Chef’ to live up to his menu billing.