Popular pub just off the City Centre and easily walkable. It has a stripped out feel to it, but still nicely comfortable. The service was slightly slow as the staff were busying themselves elsewhere but it wasn’t a major problem. There is a smaller range than many places nearby with a mix of Blue Monkey and a couple of guests. It is well worth a visit.

A busy Blue Monkey brewery pub in the vibrant Canning Circus area of town.

The Blue Monkey brewery produces some pretty good beers and the Organ Grinder, one of their two pubs (the other is in Loughborough), is a great place to try them. There are nine hand pumps with Blue Monkey beers dominating although there are a few guests too (from Liverpool Organic and Boggart when we were there) plus some keg taps and bottles.

The pub was formerly the Red Lion (I think) but it’s been stripped out inside and has a good vibe about it – modern and uncluttered but comfortable and relaxed. There’s a confident air about the place, with neither a young nor an old crowd.

Steps at the back lead to a little yard with yet more steps up to a delightful outdoor balcony / garden. Inside there’s a bookshelf by the brick fireplace with a few good books to browse through – various leather bound volumes and a well thumbed copy of the Good Beer Guide.

(Visited 14 July 2012).