Latest reviews from Birmingham
| 30 /100 Selfridges & Co. (Grocery Store) UPPER MALL EAST, THE BULL RING, “The wines and spirits area in the basement of Selfridges. Used to have more beers but on my visit today there's just a lonely looking bottom shelf of around 10 cans hidden behind the till, some on sale. Nothing interesting and not worth descending the two escalators for.“ |
| 60 /100 20 WATERLOO STREET “Located overlooking Victoria Square, this is a one-room deal, with a handful of sofas splattered with bright pink, yellow, blue paint. Simple bar with Untappd screens displaying their wares and one upright fridge. A lot of Sommar's offerings, 3 or 4 from Turning Point and a few other guests. Seems strange to have a line-up mostly from a relatively unknown brewery like Sommar, especially in this location. No one here on my visit. Beer hasn't impressed me in the past, but the haze I tried this time was ok, though fairly sweet and thin bodied. When you have The Colmore, Purecraft and Post Office Vaults in the immediate vicinity I can't envisage going out of my way to come back here.“ |
| 86 /100 Bundobust Birmingham (Restaurant) 38 BENNETTS HILL “Situated in the former Pint Shop, Bundabust moved in last year, giving it a colourful lick of paint and making it a much more welcoming place to be. I took a shine to Bundabust Manchester so it's great to see them open an outpost here. There's around five of their own beers on tap, plus numerous collaborations with the likes of Attic, Northern Monk and Nothing Bound.
We visited on a fairly quiet Tuesday late afternoon, so orders came fairly quickly. Excellent as always. I asked about hot and spicy food, which they don't really do, but noticed the chef very kindly included a very hot chili alongside one of my dishes, free of charge, which was most welcome! Really can't praise this place highly enough - if it's a choice between this and Indian Brewery there's no contest.“ |
| 54 /100 Queens Head (Davenports) (Bar) 28 STEELHOUSE LANE “Walking back into town from the Gunmakers Quarter you can get to this one. I just don't remember there being a pub near here from my younger years but I suppose you cannot do them all. It's sort of squeezed into a row of offices and shops but easy enough to spot. It's quite blingy inside, the bar being particularly so. All Davenports beers, lively staff having a good time. The major off putting thing for me is the banks of televisions throughout the pub all showing the racing at full blast. I know it's Cheltenham at the moment but there were only a few people in there and no-one seemed that interested.“ |
| 72 /100 The Bull (Bar) 1 PRICE STREET “I don't often get down to the Gunmakers Quarter these days and I notice that I haven't reviewed this cracking little boozer before, so to put that right. It's right in 1000 trades central, factories all around and this welcomes the lunchtime visits of the workers and the managers with clients alike. Two roomed with a bar and snug, very traditional and better for it. The jug collection is a bit overwhelming. 4 Hand pumps serving a good variety of brewers and styles. Well worth visiting this gem of a pub in a proper working class area.“ |
| 68 /100 32 GREAT WESTERN ARCADE “Visited early afternoon on Monday 4th March 2024. Quiet, it's opposite the whiskey store in a lovely Victorian shopping arcade and it's a pleasant place to sit and enjoy a pint. Upstairs is 'cool' and has some good seating, outside it's a people watching paradise and the ground floor area where the bar is was functional and clean. Friendly barman. Sadly Craddock's beers don't seem that exciting or interesting, two new rates for me, could have been more if the quality had been a little better.“ |
| 70 /100 CHRISTCHURCH HOUSE, 28-30 WATERLOO STREET “Visited on Monday 4th March 2024, early evening and very quiet. Cask Purity beers, a few keg lines and some pretty expensive stuff in the fridge. Bare brick walls, solid warehouse look inside. Helpful young chap behind the bar priced a couple of bottles for me, didn't buy because of the cost, draught/cask beers in good order. Glad I popped in when empty to be honest. Liked the vibe.“ |
| 72 /100 UNIT 1, NEW STREET STATION, SMALLBROOK QUEENSWAY “Huge one room Spoons within the New Street station complex. 12 cask pouring on my recent visit.“ |
| 70 /100 BrewDog Birmingham (Bar) 81-87 JOHN BRIGHT STREET “Situated just round the corner from New Street Station, spread over two floors, it's a typical Brewdog bar with the usual industrial vibe. A very sparse smattering of guest beers on my most recent visit, given that BD's own beers are rarely of interest these days.“ |
| 80 /100 Bundobust Birmingham (Restaurant) 38 BENNETTS HILL “The usual great food offering, with a fair range of beers. Always worth a visit! Love Bundo.“ |
| 70 /100 Cherry Reds Cafe-Bar (Bar) 88-90 JOHN BRIGHT STREET “Relaxed cafe bar space over two floors close to New Street Station. Around 10 beers available on cask & keg, plus a big fridge full of craft cans“ |
| 56 /100 93 BATH STEET, “I visited on a Thursday lunchtime and was the only punter on entrance. Its a functional room, somewhat cold so that even the artworks don't help. There was a poster for live music and they seem to double up as a Chinese takeaway weirdly. A previous licensee lost there's after leaving a comatose drunk in the pub to get a takeaway and then returning to find them dead. Maybe a solution has been found for such a dilemma?
Beer wise I wasn't expecting much, I tried 6 of their bottled versions at the height of covid and they weren't great. However the mild I tried in the pub was pretty decent.“ |
| 64 /100 The Bull (Bar) 1 PRICE STREET “I often write that a pub is traditional but this one goes back further to a period before I was born. The long benches, jug collection, cat, old hotel paperwork and the age of the locals gave this place an otherworldly eeriness in my eyes. Is there where people frequent to await the grim reaper? They even had a beer called Grave Diggers Ale. I was glad to leave, if I had stayed any longer I may never have left.
A few decent cask options and managed to pick up a new tick.“ |
| 62 /100 The Gosta Green (Bar) HOLT STREET “A student bar located 2 minutes from the Sack of Potatoes pub. Its not the sort of venue I would usually add to this site but to be fair they do have a line of 8 craft taps. I use the term 'craft' loosely as you have your standard types like Punk IPA and Neck Oil but they also did a couple of Attic Brew beers. No cask that I could see.
A very spacious venue with a decent outside area, two pool tables, a dart board and some other weird game contraption. Relaxed and airy. I preferred this place to Sack of Potatoes although don't expect many new rates if any.“ |
| 54 /100 10 GOSTA GREEN “A traditional pub which seemed to be frequented by campus staff and lecturers rather than the students. I suspect their choice of place would be Costa Green close by.
There is a nice outside area which would be good in the spring/summer.
Six hand pulls but 3 were Lilley's flavoured ciders and 1 was out of use. The other two were Purity and Silhill offerings which I had tried previously.
I overheard a conversation that Stonegate may be selling this joint but not sure who too or if it will remain a pub.“ |
| 60 /100 The Bull (Bar) 1 PRICE STREET “Called in with Jeremy on a tick raid of Birmingham's lesser known establishments. This was first on the list, overlooking the busy main road into Birmingham from the M6. A lovely old pub that really does not seem like it's changed much since the 50s - 60s, from the long wooden benches, tankards and all manner of china plates & bells right down to the grumpy barmaid. "Who let them in here?" she scolded a local whilst giving us a look of genuine disdain. Turns out doors are locked when beer delivery takes place, but a local opened a back door for us. There's a plaque on the wall outside detailing Birmingham's role in gun and ammunition production, which this building and surrounding area played a part in years gone by. Worth visiting for the old fashioned charm of the place.“ |
| 52 /100 Bacchus (Nicholsons) (Bar) BURLINGTON ARCADE, NEW STREET “Got dragged in here by BlackHaddock as soon as we left New Street station, as I'd not been in before and it was en route to where we were going. Very much hidden within the bowels of the Burlington Arcade, you descent a spiral staircase with Greek / Roman fresco artwork on the walls (I counted four bare arse cheeks), which gives a little taster of what's to come. Inside is really quite something, Greek / Roman influenced decor, an Egyptian room, French dining room.. like some kind of Las Vegas hotel bar. Beer selection is centred on a crowd-pleasing line-up of national blands, plus the brewed-for-Nicholsons St Austel pale and a re-badged Birmingham Beer Company blonde. Only reason to come in is the decor and general feel of the place.“ |
| 52 /100 93 BATH STEET, “Called in on a crawl with Haddock who sums it up well below. It's situated close to The Bull, so two pubs for the walk out of town. Imposing earache music. Art from various local artists adorning the walls. A local was tucking into some Chinese noodles at the bar as we arrived, the pub also doubling as a Chinese, Asian and Mongolian takeaway. Very cheery landlady, happy that we were taking interest in the four cask beers brewed on-site. We got a half of each and sat next to the pub cat guarding his spot on the radiator. Unfortunately, despite drawing off a little of each beer beforehand, the beers did not seem the freshest. Perhaps on a busy weekend we would've left with a different opinion, but can't say it's a place I'd be returning to in the immediate future.“ |
| 66 /100 Lituanica (Grocery Store) 12 ARCH, 22 LIVERY STREET “25th January 2024, minutemat (Mat) knew where this was, so in we went. Usual brightly lite 'Eastern European' store. Interesting can/bottle offerings from weak Kvass to stronger Baltic Porters. Left with three low alcohol Kvass beers, hopefully return for some proper beers soon!“ |
| 54 /100 Somewhere In Brum (Bar) 30 MARY ANN ST “Visited with Mat (minutemat) on 25th January 2024, late afternoon. Just us, an old bloke reading his paper and a young couple in this cellar bar. Bloke serving wasn't interested, no cask lines but some interesting keg stuff if you looked past the usual Camden and Beavertown stuff. I thought it had an old 'Speak easy' vibe, but with a rainbow gay twist, didn't feel right to me (or Mat). Be very surprised if this is still a going concern in 6 months, so if you fancy a ganger, get in here very soon!“ |
| 56 /100 Indian Brewery Snow Hill (Bar) ARCH 16, 214 LIVERY ST “Visited on 25th January 2024 with Mat (minutemat). Initial vibes were good, but it fell away pretty soon, food was fine, beer a little bland/safe/boring. At least get the beer and food order correct, it's not even busy! Don't want to rant, but it's got all the attributes to be an awesome venue, sadly it's no way near that.“ |
| 54 /100 93 BATH STEET, “Visited with minutemat on 25th January 2024, mid-afternoon. Pretty empty, friendly barmaid who pulled off a load of cask beer to allow us a half of each cask ale available, all their own (four). Pub Cat stared at us, then moved on top of the radiator and goaded us. Local artist's with various painting/photographic styles adorn the walls with their wares, all for sale, open plan, footie on a couple of big screen, local bands advertising their dates in the place (it's a music venue apparently, didn't seem big enough to me). Sadly the beer was lacking and although I tried to like the place it felt a little cold and uninviting, which is exactly what the lovely lady behind the bar was trying to avoid/stop/prevent. Would love to have scored it highly.“ |
| 74 /100 The Bull (Bar) 1 PRICE STREET “Visited with minutemat on 25th January 2024 (lunchtime). Please don't let them pull this down! it's surrounded by a raised roadway and new multi-story blocks, standing alone in a 'regenerated area'. Lovely Old School Boozer, just cracking and a proper 'throw back' to the 1960's Brum. Two huge bench tables and benches to match in the upper room, small snug attached, the lower 'public bar' is basic, but very traditional and where locals gather to chat before the pub or they fall off the mortal coil. Really glad Mat dragged me out to this establishment. I also managed a new cask beer rating, but it didn't matter, I loved the place, as would my wife (but getting her to it might be problematic).“ |
| 50 /100 4 TEMPLE ROW WEST “Got dragged in here by Haddock on a crawl of Birmingham's lesser known haunts. And I'm glad he did, as I do like to admire a nice old pub from time to time. Tall ceiling, central bar and plenty of suits enjoying an afterwork pint. Unfortunately nothing for us, a bit noisy too, so we made our way through the rear exit straight into the Welly.“ |
| 60 /100 Lituanica (Grocery Store) 12 ARCH, 22 LIVERY STREET “Pulled Haddock in here on our crawl through Birmingham's lesser known haunts. It's a couple of doors down from Indian Brewery, and acts as a decent Lithuanian grocery store. Expect to find a fridge with numerous kvass options, Lithuanian lagers plus some Russian lagers which are becoming increasingly rare to find. Worth a nose.“ |
| 52 /100 Somewhere In Brum (Bar) 30 MARY ANN ST “Underground bar, somewhat hidden down a staircase off the street in the Jewellery quarter. Looks like it was possibly a nightclub in a previous life. To the left of the bar is what looks like someone's living room, sofa, coffee table and flat screen TV, with bookshelf. A couple were sat there watching TV. Half the room was dark, barman explains there was a problem with the lights. Some interesting 'craft' options in the form of Tiny Rebel, Exale and Vault City. Wasn't feelin it in here.“ |
| 36 /100 Indian Brewery Snow Hill (Bar) ARCH 16, 214 LIVERY ST “Visited with blackhaddock on a crawl through Brum. Located under a railway arch just outside the main city centre, close to Attic's Barrel Store. Feel inside looks ok, colourful bollywood illustrations, street food vibe complete with scaffolding holding up the air ventilation system. However, it started to go wrong fairly soon, when instead of the two halves I ordered, the waitress delivered two pints. We were then given each other's order (and only noticed half way through, as quite similar). Food could've been better, cheap chicken thighs and overly gloopy sauce, cheap fries. Wouldn't have minded as much if it was half the price. Asked for extra chillis, charged a £1 extra but they weren't brought. Beers were generally quite poor and flavourless. (Ok one was ok). Would recommend going to Bundabust instead.“ |
| 70 /100 Bonehead (Restaurant) 8 LOWER SEVERN STREET “Visited mid-week lunchtime. Looks quite dark from the outside and certainly once inside it has a slick heavy metal feel. Quite small but has a good atmosphere for the time of day with all but one of the tables in use which I managed to nab. There were also 3 stools by the bar area for drinks. Not sure about an upstairs area mentioned previously; maybe this is for evenings and weekends.
6 craft tap options and a fridge of beers. Not extensive but some decent options. My burger was good as well.“ |
| 66 /100 Bundobust Birmingham (Restaurant) 38 BENNETTS HILL “Visited on a Sunday afternoon, fairly quiet although there were 3 tables in use. Its right next to the Wellington and my wifi connected to the pub. I tried some of the food so sat near the bar - tables and chairs are fairly functional so not the most comfy. Good variety of beers on offer and I tried a couple of their own branded ones.
Staff were reasonably friendly but I didn't find it the greatest of atmospheres. Might be a decent option with friends in the evening though.
No obvious signage for the toilets left several people wandering around confused and staff oddly weary of the question. Turns out they are down the stairs near the main entrance.“ |
| 60 /100 Candy & Liquor (Grocery Store) 15 NAVIGATION STREET “Nice and close to the station. I used the opportunity to buy sweets and chocolate for those at home. Obviously the beer is a bonus. I wish a minimart near me would catch onto the fact that craft will sells as well as Eurolager. Although I guess what the shopkeepers have really noticed is that they can charge a wedge. I may be completely wrong but the beers all seemed pretty pricey. I was really after some more local ticks so ended up worth a couple of Brum beer Co cans and then A Sureshot beers as I liked the Stranger Things artwork. With a load of expenses still to file I didn't bother with any more as anything interest all seemed to be a tenner. Grumpy monosyllabic shopkeeper.“ |
| 72 /100 Bundobust Birmingham (Restaurant) 38 BENNETTS HILL “On a Monday night in early November we were pretty much the only customers but once it got nearer to 20:00 it started getting busier. Can't complain - interesting array of beers, including quite few of their own of course. Enjoyed the food far more than my visit to one in Manchester. Helpful staff. Weird toilets. I sat down on the loo and realised that there were that I had three doors inside the cubicle. The one I had entered through on the left. Some sort of cupboard in front of me and then another door to the right. I realised that the door on the left was ajar so opened it and at that point discovered a stairwell heading upwards. Some sort of fire escape? Anyway I a killer could have easily gained entry whist I was mid-shit. A place to visit but avoid the loos. Oh yeah, a prior review is misleading. they have to casks on if that is your kink (it takes all sorts).“ |
| 66 /100 10 GOSTA GREEN “Given its proximity to Aston Unuversity (basically on campus), I'd have pegged this place for a student bar. Bit it has more of a locals' vibe. It is that sort of modern traditional but still has character. I've bagged a seat where I can watch the cricket and sip my pint in relative peace. Now, the beer may leave a little to be desired, with only 3 casks on (all UK staples such as Holden and Oakham) plus BrewDog Planet Pale. So no ticks, and it is out of the way, but it's friendly with good, cheap food.“ |
| 62 /100 172 EDMUND STREET “Probably one of the most good looking pubs I have been into
Traditional and solid English pub
Not more than about 10 min walk from the city centre
Absolutely a must place to visit
Fair enough beer selection. I did get some tick here
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| 76 /100 UNIT 3B, UTILITA ARENA BIRMINGHAM “Nice location close to the canal
Lovely place to sit outside when the sun is shining
Not really what I would call the city Centre. Think we used 30 min from New street train station
Solid beer selection and lovely burgers
Absolutely a recommendable place
“ |
| 64 /100 The Briar Rose (JDW) (Bar) 25 BENNETTS HILL “It's a Spoons. This one is in an attractive building. A few ticks. Packed on a Saturday morning.“ |
| 60 /100 Malt House, Birmingham (Bar) 75 KING EDWARDS ROAD “Not somewhere I’d make an effort to visit but handy being so close to the Utility Arena if you fancy a beer to kill an hour before the gig starts.“ |
| 62 /100 Dragon Inn (JDW) (Bar) HURST STREET “A reasonable spoons. A touch gloomy but not the worst, furnishing slightly dated but not the worst, cask selection limited but not the worst, food not lukewarm and clientele young, hopeful and looking to the future (it was exam results day). I think the later cheered me up the most and you are not going to get that at The Square Peg.“ |
| 72 /100 20 WATERLOO STREET “Thanks to BlackHaddock for bringing us here on my stag do around Birmingham. Small, modern cocktail bar with funky décor. 7 of us managed to squeeze on the sofa's in the corner. Good selection of beer, friendly staff, bit hipster-ish but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
“ |
| 64 /100 Bundobust Birmingham (Restaurant) 38 BENNETTS HILL “Thanks to BlackHaddock for bringing us here. An interesting place, nothing wrong with it, I just prefer a more traditional, old man kind of pub. Very modern, clean, great selection of keg beer, just a bit 'youthy' for me.“ |
| 80 /100 4 TEMPLE ROW WEST “Thanks to BlackHaddock for bringing me here last weekend. A very grand building with a big island bar in the middle and a balcony section at the top. Couldn't not have a pint of ESB whilst in a Fullers pub. Didn't eat so can't comment here, but worth a visit if not to enjoy the architecture and décor.“ |
| 76 /100 116 COLMORE ROW “Pub number 6 on AndyTF2's Stag Do. What a lovely place Thronbridge Brewery have. Pretty full at 17:00 on Saturday 5th August 2023, raining outside and it's dull; but not inside! Huge bar on the right side of the joint, great selection of hand-pulls, there may well be some keg lines but I didn't notice as I had a target fixation on the cask choices. We manged to squeeze onto a table and four of us got chairs, liked the vibe but we were on a mission so, just the single beer before moving on (actually, I had two halves).“ |
| 64 /100 Bundobust Birmingham (Restaurant) 38 BENNETTS HILL “Visited with six others on AndyTF2's Stag Do. Didn't want food, so ushered upstairs after ordering the beers. Clean, slick, basic and modern, bright colours everywhere. Maybe a bit to 'clinical' and 'new' for me. Great selection of beers though, all keg sadly.“ |
| 76 /100 Tilt (Bar) 2 CITY ARCADE “Nice modern feel inside and love the pin ball machines. Friendly staff who were very helpful. Tiny print on the beer list but a good international beer selection.“ |
| 68 /100 Figure of Eight (JDW) (Bar) 236-239 BROAD STREET “Large Wetherspoons with loads of tables, a long bar and a little outdoor seating area at the back. Usual cask options (Doom Bar, Abbot, Ruddles) available along with 6 other wickets, 4 in operation on my visit (Gadds, Byatts, Oakham & Silhill), with crafty cans in the fridge. Good for random ticks if you’re lucky and beer quality not too shabby. Cask Marque accredited too, whatever that’s supposed to mean!“ |
| 56 /100 Bundobust Birmingham (Restaurant) 38 BENNETTS HILL “Visited June 30th '23 on the way from New Street Station to Snowhill with a little time to play with having visited Bromsgrove Beer Festival. This is the old Pint Shop building but Bundobust seem to have done a ton of work on it, it certainly is very different inside, seems roomier. The bar is on the right but having approached it to sort out my beers I realised they don't like you standing, they were very polite though and carried on regardless. There were a couple of tables being used but it certainly was quiet on a Friday afternoon. They do thirds and a flight gets a 10% reduction but it's still quite pricey. It lacks atmosphere for the drinker, not sure it is a place for me.“ |
| 76 /100 Bundobust Birmingham (Restaurant) 38 BENNETTS HILL “Visited just a week after it opened. Nice modern Indian vibe. Not as big as I expected and of course you need to be seated, so no walk-ins to stand at the bar. Great Indian snack foods and awesome beer. Friendly staff and WiFi. A nice addition to the Birmingham beer scene. Not so sure how often I’ll visit though if I need to wait for a table. Next to the Welly and at the heart of the Birmingham beer triangle.
Strange thing is, that when I’m in here, my phone auto connects to the Wellington wifi next door and the signal in Bundobust is way batter than anything I ever get inside the Welly itself 😁“ |
| 62 /100 SUMMER ROW “The other Shakespeare in the city centre, and for my money the better one. A small front bar, another larger room at the back. Decent atmosphere and service was quick, beer range limited but I did quaff a little known Scottish ale. Worth a look if you are in the vicinity.
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| 64 /100 CHRISTCHURCH HOUSE, 28-30 WATERLOO STREET “Another place we dropped into so I could say I had been. For some reason it's the place that people from Brum office always recommend. And it was certainly pretty full on a Friday night, albeit with a few spare tables. The thing is, Purity are an average brewery and the guests weren't that interesting either. Also language issues with staff apparently not able to understand a Brummy accent! Popular but not a great venue for a ticker despite the range of beers.“ |
| 70 /100 116 COLMORE ROW “Dropped in as I had never been before. Certainly an impressive building. As per a previous rating, it does indeed look like some sort of take on Roman style former bank. Extremely bust at around 17:00 on a Friday. A post-work crowd. Managed to spot one table being vacated. Interested to spot the pool/snooker table downstairs. Large range of beer but as there was no list it was difficult to take them all in and impossible to work out what the beers on the keg wall were. However barman very flamboyantly went through the range. Which was OK... obvs a load of Thornbridge beers and then breweries which ranged from interesting to pedestrian. I went for two new breweries to me, Anarchy and some new brewery from York that so far only do a Pilsner (and are really contracting?). Ultimately too busy on a Friday night to really be able to appreciate it. Will definitely drop in just to see what it's like in a more relaxed atmosphere.“ |
| 68 /100 4 TEMPLE ROW WEST “Realised I'd never rated this place. Can't compallain too much. It's a Fuller's so you know what to expect beer wise, however they have a wide array of their beers. And it's a typical attractive larger Fuller's Pub.“ |
