Have we got boozers for you
DAVID BENTLEY
terrace has quirky seats and tables and heaters. Most nights there’s something on in the purpose-built, first-floor theatre.
CRAVEN ARMS, Upper Gough Street, Birmingham city centre
This early 19th-century pub, located in a side street and covered in blue tiles on the outside, has a cosy interior and regularly holds beer festivals. Customers are welcome to bring their own food.
GUNMAKERS ARMS, Bath Street, Birmingham city centre
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 elegant metal chandeliers.
HOP GARDEN, Metchley Lane, Harborne
Formerly the Sportsman, this pub serves five real ales from small and local breweries, along with craft beers and craft ciders and a selection of bottled beers. The Good Beer Guide says the pub takes its name from plans to grow hops in the large garden.
WHITE HORSE, York Street, Harborne
The Good Beer Guide describes this as “a much improved and extended free house” just off the busy high street. It has an island bar with a front snug and a rear heated area. There’s a “basic food menu” available if you want to eat. The main emphasis is on real ale, with Ostlers brewed on the premises. The pub also offers live music on Friday and Saturday, an open mic night on the last Wednesday in the month and a quiz night every Tuesday. Art on the walls is by local talent, including the landlord.
LAMP TAVERN, Barford Street, Highgate
Described by the Good Beer Guide as a “hidden gem of a pub with a homely feel”, it has two excellent permanent real ales plus other changing guest ales. The guide says the pub
“has been run by the same friendly landlord for 25 years”. Visitors will find a folk club on Friday night and a jazz club on some Tuesday evenings. Parking is on the street only. It can close early on quiet nights.
1000 TRADES, Frederick Street, Hockley
Described in the Good Beer Guide as a “delightful addition to the Jewellery Quarter”, this independent craft beer bar has a distinctive atmosphere. Full-width doors open on to the pavement and inside you’ll find a changing range of beers, including at least one from a local micro. The bar is also a music venue showcasing independent labels. And there are kitchen residencies to ensure the food offering is varied.
BURNING SOUL BREWERY, Mott Street Industrial Estate, Hockley
With limited opening hours, this venue offers a changing list of smaller experimental pilot brews so the makers can find out first-hand what people think of their beer. The most popular choices are brewed again and sold more widely. All ales meet CAMRA’s definition of real ale and tours are available on request. There is a pool table. Card payments are preferred, the guide notes.
JEWELLERS ARMS, Hockley Street, Hockley
Refurbished and reopened by Black Country Ales in late 2017, this pub has 10 real ales and two ciders. This open plan pub gets busy in the evenings but food is limited to cobs. A real fire at one end is lit in winter, and there is a function room upstairs. Parking is available at the side of the pub.
ROCK & ROLL BREWHOUSE, Regent Place, Hockley
The Good Beer Guide describes this as “a small and quirky brewery taproom bedecked with music memorabilia”. There are usually three vegan-friendly ales available, and the guide says the bar staff and their knowledge of beer is excellent. There are limited opening hours and the venue sometimes closes for music festivals.
KING’S HEATH CRICKET & SPORTS CLUB, Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, B14 6DT
The Good Beer Guide says this is a welcoming sports club where CAMRA members are permitted entry when they show a membership card (maximum 10 visits per year). There’s a comfortable lounge and a larger room with big screens for sports plus two snooker tables. Events through the year include live music.
BARTONS ARMS, High Street, Newtown
Run by Oakham Brewery, this eye-catching, red-brick pub has a 1901 interior that’s Grade II listed and on CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. There are ornate Minton tiles throughout, including a central staircase, plus original stained-glass windows and snob screens on the bar. The Good Beer Guide says that “superb Thai food is served in the lounge”. Monday is quiz night and there are regular music and beer festivals.
ARTHUR ROBERTSON, One Stop Retail Park, Walsall Road, Perry Barr
This is a Wetherspoon pub named after Birchfield Harriers’ very first Olympian and medal winner. You’ll find a standard Wetherspoon food menu. It can get busy when Aston Villa are playing at home – once crowds return.
BREWHOUSE & KITCHEN, Birmingham Road, Sutton Coldfield
The guide calls this a spacious and prominent brewpub, part of a small national chain.Real ales are produced in a small brewery which is a feature at the entrance. Expect to pay premium prices, the guide states. With a rustic look throughout – including the cabins and cask tables in the beer garden – you can also drink at the streetside beer terrace.
STATION, Station Street, Sutton Coldfield
This attractive rail-themed pub near Sutton station has front and back bars, a quiz night on Wednesdays, live music on Tuesdays and Fridays, and comedy on the last Thursday of the month.Meet The Brewer sessions, held every month showcase the ale choices, many of them local. A multi-level beer terrace to the rear hosts DJs and live music in summer. Children are welcome until 6pm.
BUTLERS ARMS, Lichfield Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield
The Good Beer Guide describes this as a “plushly comfortable suburban pub, with seating in many colourful and eccentric styles, plus lamps, mirrors and curiosities”. The family-run business has a main focus on dining but the guide says drinkers are always made welcome. A small beer terrace can be found at the front. Parking is free but you need to enter your registration number at the bar.
MARE POOL, Lichfield Road, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield
This is a Wetherspoon pub with an interesting set of ales – local and national, regularly changed. Named after one of the many pools that used to surround Sutton, the pub has a comfortable interior with cafe seating at the front and a beer terrace to the side.