Have we got boozers for you

DAVID BENTLEY

GUNMAKERS ARMS, Bath Street, Birmingham city centre, B4 6HG

This is described by the Good Beer Guide as a “small, pleasant, back-street pub” and you can find it just off the city’s inner ring road, five minutes’ walk from Snow Hill train station. The Grade II-listed Regency building was refurbished in 2017 and has a range of craft beers. There’s a large front bar, smaller rooms behind, and a rear courtyard to access the Two Towers Brewery. For food, the pub serves cobs and pies on Tuesday evenings.

POST OFFICE VAULTS, New Street, Birmingham city centre, B2 4BA

Not far from New Street station, this is an underground pub offering eight traditional beers, plus a huge array of more than 350 bottled beers from all over the world. The Good Beer Guide notes: “The extremely knowledgeable staff will make your visit a pleasure.”

PINT SHOP, Bennetts Hill, Birmingham city centre, B3 2AA

The Good Beer Guide describes this as a stylish pub with a busy bar downstairs and restaurant upstairs. It says there is “an emphasis on food here but visitors are welcome to drink without eating”. Sky Sports is screened and dogs are welcome in the ground-floor bar.

SHAKESPEARE, Summer Row, Birmingham city centre, B3 1JJ

This red-bricked Victorian city-centre local has a traditional bar plus a rear snug that’s usually set aside for diners and is served via a hatch. There is a patio garden at the back and seating at the front. The Good Beer Guide says the pub has “an excellent reputation for good food, with frequent offers such as beer and a burger, pie

and a pint, and so on”.

PURE CRAFT BAR & KITCHEN, Waterloo Street, Birmingham city centre, B2 5TJ

Set in a “traditional building with an industrial exterior”, this was the first venue in the chain to open. With its walls covered in modern art, it offers a wide range of craft beers along with gourmet food that’s all made with beer as one of the ingredients. As it’s right in the city’s business district, it’s popular with office workers. There is also a cellar bar.

VICTORIA, John Bright Street, Birmingham city centre, B1 1BN

This 19th century theatre bar is next to the stage door of the Alexandra and gets particularly busy before performances. The guide notes that the food offering has an American Deep South flavour and a twist on the classic British roast. There’s a quiz night on Tuesdays and music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

WELLINGTON, Bennetts Hill, Birmingham city centre, B2 5SN

The Good Beer Guide says this “multiple award winner is a veritable beer festival every day.” Recently refurbished and extended with an additional upstairs bar and roof terrace beer garden, it offers 16 ales and a wide selection of bottled beers. There are regular quizzes, cheese nights and darts competitions. No food is served but you are welcome to bring your own – plates, cutlery and condiments are provided.

SPOTTED DOG, Warwick Street, Digbeth, B12 0NH

This traditional multi-roomed pub has an Irish feel and the guide notes that although it is off the beaten track it’s well worth a trip. But it can get busy when Birmingham City are playing at home. There is a large covered garden/smoking area with heaters and a barbecue area. Live traditional Irish music plays on Mondays, jazz on Tuesdays, and blues on Thursdays. A big screen shows sport.

WOODMAN, New Canal Street, Digbeth, B5 5LG

This Grade II-listed pub – recently refurbished and on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors – is described by the Good Beer Guide as having an “attractive small drinking area, with a hatch to the servery, which also has a real fire”. There’s a weekly quiz night on Wednesdays. There’s a dining area and outside seating too. “Good pub food is served daily,” the guide notes.

PHYSICIAN, Harborne Road, Edgbaston, B15 3DH

Previously the Sampson Gamgee Library for the History of Medicine, this has been converted into an upmarket pub with several drinking and dining areas. It offers a range of ales including many local brews, plus “quality food, wine and spirits”. The Good Pub Guide lists this as a “substantial, extended pub with plenty of drinking and dining spaces, super drinks, interesting food and a friendly atmosphere”. It goes on to say that “friendly, well trained staff serve a fantastic range of drinks.” Praising the “historical grandeur” of the pub, the Good Pub Guide mentions an interior of high ceilings, big sash windows, leather armchairs, open fires, old prints, large giltedged mirrors, big house plants, bookshelves and lighting that ranges from table lamps to