Seems to have been a while since I've called in here, so I thought I might just spread the word about a notable pub I happened across this week as we head north up the Oxford and the Coventry towards the Shroppie.
Rugby centre is a bit of a way from the popular Bridge 58/59 moorings, and the adjacent Harvester isn't everyone's go to hostelry, but there's a place well worth a stroll in Albert Square, just beyond the station.
The Seven Stars serves a good range of cask ales and ciders (as well as a few of the usual suspects), which is enough of a draw in itself for many, but if you like a good scotch egg on occasion you need look no further. Proper home made on the premises, soft yolks obviously, and flavours including traditional, chili and garlic, and chorizo. I can vouch for the first two. I can also vouch for their cobs, made with proper home made on the premises bread. We were beyond the 12-2pm lunch hours, but landlord Graham had no hesitation making up fresh cobs so we can also attest to the ham (cured on the premises) and onion as well as a cheese and onion cob both being noteworthy. Drinks are your own taste, but the hoppy pale bitter I'm rather partial to was very well represented by a couple of "Platinum Blondes" from Coventry's Byatts brewery not far down the road.
You can Google the place as well as me to see the rest of what's on offer (charity work, rugby, music, etc) but if you have a liking for a proper pub, run by a proper host of a landlord with excellent food and drink as a starting point, you could do a lot worse than wearing the dog"s claws down a bit on the pavement that leads to this outstanding establishment. He'll be welcome too.
@mrsmelly wouldn't like the place because of how shiny ex Royal Navy chef (he says cook) Graham keeps his brasswork, but otherwise I'm pretty sure that any good landlord and many of us would recognise this fine, welcoming local pub as a bit of a gem.