Distinguished old pub with a jazzy history and a modern but faithful new look in the heart of a village
Some pubs can be inconspicuous buildings, hidden among houses and businesses and only visible to those looking for it.
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Other pubs are a bit more open and ready to show themselves off, either through how the pub looks, its location or something within the design of the pub.
The Crown Joules in Codsall is one of those pubs, visible from roads passing through the village with its vivid white exterior and large car park making it hard to miss.
From 1967 until the early 1980s, the pub hosted one of the leading jazz clubs in the West Midlands with an international guest list. All of the British major jazz bands and performers of the day played the club, as well as American and European artists.
The pub was taken over and given a full faithful restoration in 2015 by Joule's Brewery, having stood on the same spot in the town square and been licensed as a pub for more than 180 years, making it one of the oldest pubs in the area.
The central bar is the hub of the pub with an open fire and wood-panelled flooring visible, plus brick effect walls and book shelves which give the interior a unique look, while the Admirals room and the Vaults are also places which offer a quiet spot for a drink and a comfortable seat.
A further refurbishment in spring 2023 saw a bar added to the Library function room and the outside rear of the pub expanded into an improved, expanded courtyard with olive trees and an area of covered seating.
It also saw the running of the pub taken over by Medicine Baker. Pub manager Francesca Jones spoke about the extra work done to adapt the outdoor area.
