The Teapot Cafe – Walsall Wood FC, John Sylvester Stadium, Walsall Wood. Reviewed 25/06/25

Saw a post for this on the Brownhills Bob Facebook group and thought why the hell not? I jumped on the 10 and got off a stop early. Standard for me in Walsall Wood. I always get the wrong stop there. Oh well, it was a nice day and I was in no hurry.

I didn’t really know where I was going. I’ve been to the ground once, this was for a Walsall CAMRA meeting in the clubhouse a few years ago, I got a lift and it was dark. I just knew it was behind KFC.

I found the KFC and took a left. As I approached I thought this cafe is a bit off the main road. Wonder if it gets much use.

I was caught taking a picture outside by a man, I presume to be the owner who was wheeling in a large shipment of mushrooms (I think – I only glanced, I was concentrating on my shot). I quickly waffled an excuse that I’d seen this place on Facebook and was checking it out.

Once inside it was clear that there is footfall. It was busy with workers, casual customers and a large group celebrating a birthday. Not sure what age. There was an 8 and a 1 balloon but the slight breeze through the open door meant they wouldn’t keep still. They eventually settled on a 1-8 formation and to be fair there didn’t look anyone 81 in the group but if I live to see that age, I want my morning breakfast there.

No menus on the tables just a sizeable board on the wall with 3 breakfast types. I disregarded the smaller two and went for the jumbo option at £8.50 asking them to hold the tomatoes and mushrooms. Apologies to the man if he had been wheeling mushrooms in, there was no need on my behalf.

Breakfast came quickly and I was puzzled as a second one was plonked down opposite me. Was there a buy one get one free going on? I’d have been all over that but I called the waitress and basically fessed up that I was dining on my own. I would have added that I haven’t yet got Patsy Kensit to join me for breakfast but I doubted she’d know who she is. The spare brekkie was quickly on its way to its forever home.

Break fast was ace. The toast was not cut in half. They deserve a Michelin star just for this. I’ve never known a cafe not cut the toast, and I don’t cut my sandwiches so I was all over this. Let us decide how we want our toast yeah? And don’t start me on cafes that cut it in to non matching triangles. I don’t want triangles. I aint Pythagoras.

I really enjoyed the breakfast and there was a nice buzz about the place with songs from Pet Shop Boys, Pat Benatar, Savage Garden and also “Band Of Gold” – sorry the artist won’t come to me but because I know that I know it, I’m not allowed to Google it.

The fridge looked good with Apple Tango and those glass bottles of orange juice that the milkman used to deliver available. The condiment shelf had enough bottles of sauce to make a Wetherspoons jealous. There is even a choice of sweeteners for your tea too, I went for one out of a white dispenser.

The toilet is a one man at a time affair but I clocked this so timed my visit perfectly. I just missed the 10 bus back to Walsall and the next one took 45 minutes to arrive but I won’t let that put me off attending again. Superb place

The Boathouse, Park Road, Rushall. Reviewed 29/06/25.

I woke up on this Sunday in a seriously I can’t be arsed with anything mood. It took me an hour to make coffee. I finally made it onto Facebook and saw a post in Common People for The Boathouse Sunday dinners. I was in. Craig had stopped over at mine, I mentioned it to him and he offered me a lift. Motion carried – sorry given a lift there.

I knew what I was having straight off so no fannying around upon arrival. Straight up the bar and ordering chilli garlic prawns starter and an XL roast. Mug of tea also. I was advised of a 20 minute wait for the food. Absolutely no issue with this. It was nice to be advised of it though.

I’m no stranger to this pub – hadn’t been in for a while though but this was my first experience of eating there other than demolishing the buffet at Woza and Becky’s party in 2017.

The tea was first to arrive and sweeteners were brought along which was nice. The dispenser gave me two, must have known I only like even numbers. I’d said the food could all come out together and it was ace. I could eat prawns all day long and would have happily took another bowl of these outside afterwards to eat by the canal. The Sunday dinner was, well XL like it said in the brochure. Sausage on a Sunday dinner was a first. I ran out of gravy early on but a nice member of staff came over to ask if I needed anything and another boat was quickly rustled up.

Music was mainly 80’s from a tv channel that I couldn’t clock the name of, with a random modern hit in the form of Hand & Heart by Joel Corry and MNEK which is an absolute belter.

This was a great visit. All the staff were friendly and courteous. The lad serving the food was great and looked proper chuffed at my feedback that the pork was amazing, promising that he’d go and relay it back to the Chef. I need to be honest now. I’m on a diet at the moment, yeah don’t sound like it. But I was going to have a little break from it and have the cheesecake, but I’d done my research and knew that the hourly 997 back into Walsall was due so I left it at the 2 courses.

They do food on other days too, check out the Facebook page. I’ll go back. I need that cheesecake.

Moghul Palace, 4 Norton Road, Pelsall. Reviewed 04/07/25.

I dragged Swill out for this one. Well in truth he didn’t need much dragging. I jumped on the number 9 bus, which was a first. I’m quite up on Walsall bus routes but had no idea there was a number 9. Only found out when I was researching times. It took a bizarre route though. By the time we finally reached Pelsall I was starting to wonder if I’d ever see family and friends again.

I met Swill in The Railway. He wanted The Old House At Home, I was pushing for The Queens so this was the compromise option.

After a couple of pints, and a bit of Emma Raducanu action on the big screen we set off for curry. We are no stranger to this place. We used to have our annual quiz team night out here until Alan, the Pelsall resident of the group moved away.

Moghul Palace is unlicensed so Swill marched across the road to get supplies whilst I walked in bang on 9pm which was the time I’d booked it for. Swill soon joined me with grave news. They had no Cobra where he’d gone. “Didn’t you tell them we were having curry?” I asked. Swill cracked the bottles open and served. The results were stunning in a way. My pint was frothier than a bath with a whole bottle of Mr Matey thrown in.

It’s the law that you have to have 2 poppadoms each so these were quickly ordered along with a fish pakora starter for me and chicken chat for Swill. Typical of him. He can have a chat anywhere.

The poppadoms came quickly. Swill seemed keen on getting some onion in my diet by depositing some of this in both poppadom dips. He then went on to play around with the touch activated lamp, going through all the different settings. I still had poppadoms left when the starters came out and Swill took the piss. I really am not a quick eater. I like to savour my food.

My fish pakora was amazing. Swill said his chicken chat was like a main course. We were both intrigued by the green thing the starters were served on. Swill tried a bit to see if it was edible. He deduced it was and ate the lot. I tried a bit and walked away from the experiment. He asked the waiter what it was only to be told it was a banana leaf and just used for decorative purposes. I tried to eat some of the salad on mine, also to Swill’s amusement. I’m still new to this healthy eating lark.

I still had poppadum left when the mains came out. I’d had chicken balti with no tomato or onion, along with a cheese naan. This was very quickly despatched, even with how I eat.

The bill came to £48.20 which was decent, there was also a free chocolate for both of us. Swill mentioned that a free shot would have earned a bonus point. “Yeah, they are not licensed Swill.” “Oh yeah.” Then again, you have to have a licence to sell alcohol but to give it away? This needs looking into. We also got the basket with facial wipes which included an extra one. “You can use that one to wipe your balls” said Swill. Hmmmm things I’ve got no intention of doing in a curry house number 2053 – wiping my bollocks with a warm facial tissue.

Swill checked out the loos, to see if the music was on in there to match the nice ambience in the restaurant. He does like to film himself dancing in curry house toilets. He came back with the news that the music isn’t in there and docked a point for this,

We still had a bottle of booze left so he cracked it open, and this time served it in a way that it bubbled over and went everywhere. Upon this being dealt with, it was then in his opinion my turn to play with the lamp and he took pictures of each setting. The waiter caught me doing this and thought I was really odd.

We departed and had a pint in The Queens. Swill left his umbrella somewhere – standard for him and then he sorted taxi’s. He’s got Uber on his phone where as I’m still a ask the barmaid for a number (hers or taxi company’s). Yeah fakey news corner. I’ve never had the balls to ask a barmaid for her number. Swill found that after ordering my Uber, it wouldn’t let him order one for himself but this was resolved once I’d been picked up. Decent curry visit this. Will go again. But I’ll get the number 8 bus next time.