Quiz nights are here every Monday night from 8:30 pm until about 11 pm. It is 2 quid per person, and the winning team gets 50 pounds! This place gets packed so I try to get there by 8 to have a table for my team. The staff here are very friendly and fast! Even with a full pub, I've never waited more than a minute or two to order a drink. The location is clean and dimly lit - but in a good way. The atmosphere is always nice and welcoming even when in competition! The bathrooms are also clean. There's a reason we're there almost every Monday read more

The Actress & Bishop is a real institution in Birmingham. It has that traditional pub feeling with a real connection to Brums live music community. I have been coming here for literally years now. In my early student days a very young me would be down the front of the gig room getting sweaty to a mates band, when I visit now however it is much more if a civilised affair usually with food on the terrace or a pint downstairs. Its great to see so much still going on here, the venue still has strong following and keeps providing young Birmingham acts and bands with a stage to play on. Well done Actress & Bishop! read more

Actress & Bishop - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

See all

As stated by Vicky O the A & B has long been regarded as a great venue for bands and the odd comedy gig. Recently(ish) they sorted out the rather tired looking decking out the front and refurbed inside as well. Unfortunately in doing so it seems to have lost some of the charms it previously had. They've reduced the amount of seating downstairs which is probably great when it's really busy on a weekend but during the week (which is the only time I ever go) it leaves the whole place looking rather sparse. Being an ale fan I have been continually disappointed as the ales have always been off when I've been in (along with most of the better lagers as well). I can understand the intention behind the refurb as the area round St. Pauls is a little more upmarket but in sprucing the place up and removing the dive bar aesthetic they seem to have also removed the soul of the venue. Although, the Monday night quiz is well worth a go! read more

Actress & Bishop - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Ive seen some great bands upstairs here, there's a really good atmosphere when everyone is waiting to go up before the band start playing. Sitting outside here on a warm summer night when a band are getting ready upstairs might be one of the best feelings I've had on a night out in Birmingham. The bar is well stocked and the staff are quick are making sure everyone is well watered. The down stairs is really chilled out with a great alternative sound track playing some well known hits. Crowds here tend to change a lot depending in the acts playing there but it's all friendly and due to the intimacy of the venue you might even end up meeting some like minded people. The sound upstairs is great for the bands and the stage is very low so it feels like even the band are still part of the crowd witch adds even more intimacy during the shows. Great place to some indie artists play located in the heart of St Paul's Square. read more

See all

-popped along for the Yelp team pub quiz event. I have been here several times before but hadn't revisited since the 'refurb'. The venue is just off St Paul's Square an is easy to find. Upstairs they have a room that they use for small gigs. outside is a terrace area which is quite spacious with nice views of the church, so pretty good for Birmingham outdoor space. Inside, the venue is quite dark and it looks really spacious, however I know it gets really busy at the weekends so the removal of the booths/bench seats will be welcomed by some. Great atmosphere at the weekend, but fairly dead during the week; having said that, the Monday night pub quiz was good fun! read more

Actress & Bishop - Bit quiet tonight! - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Again... Another review from 2013! Again... High time for me to go back and give you an update. So, I have probably been to the Actress and Bishop this year more than any other. Largely down to the Smartphone Quiz that's hosted here on a Monday (deffo check it out if you haven't yet), I have taken friends down here numerous times to grab a chilled out drink in a cool atmosphere. The indoor table situation is sometimes a bit bleak when it's busy (there is only 2 or 3 high tables and 2 low tables to sit at), but if you're either a) an earlybird and can grab one or b) not fussed and are happy to perch at the bar then it's a grand little place to grab a beer and catch up. There are drink offers on constantly, meaning you can grab a pint or a glass of wine for under £3 and the music is always on the rockier side (so it's a little more interesting than many of the wine bars around this location). The busiest nights (as you can imagine) are Fridays and Saturdays. It can get very full, but has a buzzing atmosphere and the deejays (mainly focusing on rock and indie) really do pump up a great dance-floor. In the summer, the decking area provides a great place to sit and chill with a group of friends. More often than not, there will be someone with a guitar out here when it's warm (so you can be serenaded whilst you enjoy the heat). The Actress has a late license, so whether it's early evening or late into the night... I can recommend popping in, grabbing a cider and chilling out. read more

Actress & Bishop - Yelpers Concentrating at the World Record Breaking Quiz - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

See all

Live music or d.j's seven nights a week (aparently) Student nights on monday and tuesday - which means some drinks only cost £1.00! Downstairs is just your average bar, with a little d.j bit cornered off. Bands upstairs. Alot of people seem to hang outside. oh, an they serve food on weekdays! read more

Actress & Bishop - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Of course I'm going to give this place 5 stars as not only did we conquer, we also took the £500 loot and had a merry old time during Stoo's Monday not Quizbox. The venue itself is just off the trendy St Paul's Square and is a late bar compared to most in the city centre, housing bands and DJs several nights of the week. It's a cool place and it's not one of my favourites ;) read more

The Actress & Bishop is a great boozer which is open until late, situated in St Paul's Square with a large outdoor seating area. Unlike many of the bars and pubs nearby, this is a a much more laid back, casual place, there's no dress code and the vibe is mainly alternative, indie & rock although literally everyone is welcome. I DJ here the first Friday of every month with my pal Maria so obviously I'm a big fan or I wouldn't play here. Every Friday and Saturday they have DJs playing danceable tunes from 1950s through to present day with a large helping of indie, punk, rock, hip-hop, soul, funk and disco. It's free entry downstairs where the DJs play and the bar staff are really friendly and on the ball. There's even a little dance floor which can get pretty lively in the early hours of the morning and usually stays open til 4am. Upstairs The Catapult Club usually have live bands playing for about £3-£5 entry - bargain! I've held a few live nights here myself and the atmosphere is always brilliant. There is a HUGE outdoor seating area at the front of the venue so it's ace for summer evenings as well. If you get peckish there's a kebab stall just inside the door! I wasn't a fan of this idea at first but it's really popular so I've been proved wrong! ;) read more

A great live music venue that I have been to on a couple of occasions. The prices of drinks are reasonable and the bar staff friendly. This bar is spilt over two floors, with the live music taking place upstairs on a stage - great setup! I agree with other reviewers though the place could do with a spruce up! read more

I really like the Actress and Bishop. I feel it has two things going against it - it's always overshadowed by the likes of the Victoria etc. and it's location is that little bit out of the way for people who are eating/drinking/partying in central Birmingham. That said, I feel the music they play is right up my street (indie / rock / more obscure stuff and older stuff too) and the crowds that congregate there seem to be slightly older than the teenagers you could anticipate bumping shoulders with in places like Snobs. It opens late, and as the night goes on more and more people get up to dance - so it stops feeling like a bar and has more of a club vibe. They've also got outside seating and smoking out the front, so if you need fresh air you can pop outside. read more

I tend to visit the Actress when one of my bands play here and that tends to be quite a few times per year. The Actress, a staple of Brum's music scene, is a decent venue with a nice vibe and okay priced alcohol. The sound isn't top bad either. Generally with appreciative crowds, I have always had a good time playing here and look forward to playing here in the future. There are though a number of areas for improvement. Here are three for starters. First, the toilet facilities are really in need of refurb; second, they need to stop people smoking by the entrance (even if it is raining); third and finally, there isn't a really safe place to store gear at the venue which is a little disconcerting when it is really busy and you can keep an eye out. read more

The Actress and Bishop has a nice location near the jewellery quarter's nightlife hub and acts as a late night band and dance venue. The set up for bands is pretty good, with a decent stage and sound system (although one band did lose the guitarist halfway through). I just feel a bit meh about the actress. Drinks selection is ok, staff are nice but there just seems to be a lack of care. Upstairs in particular is really shabby and the loos aren't nice. I also find the music selections a bit odd. read more

One thing you can say about this place is that you never know what kind of night you're going to have here. I've had mixed experiences here, but it's usually a bit bizarre. Idk if the recent refit of the place has necessarily improved it, but you certainly get a lot more of the short skirted girls that you might associate with Mechu and The Jam House at weekends than you used to. Which is a bit of a strange mix with a teen metal band playing upstairs! In the week it's a different place, staying open way past midnight every evening. You get a real mixed crowd which is nice, whilst you enjoy a fairly priced drink and whatever random music the Dj is spinning that night. The outside area at the front is great for enjoying a cold one on a hot summers' day! Enjoy a cool night out, but watch your drinks here... read more

I tend to ignore how young and cool everyone who hangs about in the Actress today seems, and I try to remember the first time I was drunk here. Was it 10 years ago? Was it more? I have no idea. Friends of friends were in a band. I tried not too look too impressed. Birmingham people are not supposed to look too impressed. Stand with your hands in your pockets and don't smile. I feel like i should be in torn jeans and a hoodie to come here.. I feel like i should be feeling full of ale and hungover the next day. Find some mates who know someone in a band. Grab a beer and enjoy yourself.. Someone there will think you are too cool to be there! read more

I recently visited the Actress for the first time since its makeover and while I liked it, I felt it lost its original 'vibe'. Long gone are the booths to be replaced with a stage and there's much less seating than before. However, the chairs are much nicer and more comfortable. I think they are trying to push it more of a club/live music venue but it is a good place to catch a drink as there is a large area out the front right on the street which is covered. The drinks still seem reasonably priced and they show the football which is great news for me! I stopped by the Quiz which happens on a Monday at around 9pm. It's a late starter but totally worth it! It's all done via an app on your phone and while the team i was in came last, we throughly enjoyed it and I'd go back just for the Quiz! read more

We went here for a friend's birthday party after having pre drinks at his house. It's a pretty large venue with a dance floor area and a bar. The bouncers at the door are friendly but some of the security inside the venue are just horrible people that you want to avoid. We were with a large group of females and some of them were touched up by random sleazy drunken men. You have to simply walk past someone and there's a random hand touching you was an account from one of my freinds. The toilets in this place are ville. Can only speak for the men's there's hardly any space to move and no body washes their hands. There's a security at the door so there no way you can reach the hand dryer even if you wanted too. Overall a bad place to come too later at night, if you've had a few drinks.. also there's no food shops nearby for a late night munch.. sad times read more

The Actress is one of my local pubs and it's really refreshing to have a more casual, alternative joint in amongst the swanky wine bars and restaurants of St Paul's Square. A variety of acts play at the upstairs music venue here. From Jeffrey Lewis and The Junk Yard to Lucky Dragons; artists are usually of the more obscure variety and due to the size of the venue you can really get involved and even meet the bands. Downstairs, it gets quite rowdy at the weekends. The music is loud and everyone dances; it has a real party vibe. Drinks are fairly cheap here with lots of £1 deals on Mon and Tues nights. There is also a quiz on Mondays. The Actress hasn't got a beer garden as such but there is a decked area outside which is nice in the summer. read more

Good drinks and good bar staff however sanitation is not on point-Black Mould in the toilets could easily cause health defects needs to be checked out immediately!!!!!!! read more

Actress & Bishop - Black mould in the mens cubicle wouldn't the health inspectors like to know about this - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

It's always good to see a place so active in promoting local talent with an events list to impress. It's obvious the promo team here work hard to bring a varied selection of bands to the stage. Okay, some are a bit out there but this place caters for the masses and that's what it's good at. I was pleased to see they had a £1.00 drinks offer on during my visit. read more

Actress & Bishop - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Oh dear. The actress and bishop used to be a place to head for crazy dancing when nobody could be bothered to go 'all in' at a club night. It had a real charm about it and an eclectic music policy. Having not been for a good while, i was greeted with the recent facelift the place had been treated to. They have successfully ripped the soul out of the place and replaced it with crap neon lights. Drinks wise there is a great choice of crap larger, the two hand pumps sat there unloved (because nobody drinks ale anymore do they?...). At least the music policy hasn't changed, but really it's gone from being a great little oddity of a venue to just another St. Paul's square 'bar by numbers'. There are a lot better places in the jewellery quarter these days, so it's really hard to recommend the actress and bishop at all. read more

Yet again, I can't believe that i have not reviewed this place. Mainly because like The Lord Clifden, I run the quiz here. Maybe it was just an assumption thing again. You can't really take too much of my word for this place really anyway as I am going to be a bit biased but hey. This place is unique, you wont find a place like this around for miles. Its not unique in a trendy or hipster way at all, its unique cause its a sort of 'anything goes' type of place. Most businesses now are very controlling of the way that people act but here it really doesn't matter do much. Whilst that can be most often a negative point, here it is most definitely a plus. It has its regulars, it has well priced beer, it has a LOT of entertainment, DJs on every night of the week, bands on up stairs quite often, quiz night on a Monday (done with Smartphones, check it out). They don't do food here but then I do think that might be a good thing, it would probably be taking on more than it could chew if it did. The beer on offer is very standard and thats probably where it loses a star for me, its all just lagers and ciders really. Recently it has picked up by having some Midlands based ales on, including Froth Blowers and Backyard Brewery. At the weekend is where this place really comes a live, despite that fact that this place is open till 2am every night, at the weekend (Fri and Sat) you can stay here till 4am. With that its quite a popular place for people to go to once they have been kicked out of places elsewhere in Birmingham. Music wise it is top notch, 2 fab DJs each weekend who play a mixture of indie, rock, soul, punk and generally anything that keeps people dancing really. Check it out, but don't expect to leave sober. read more

The Actress & Bishop is rare among city centre pubs, in that it manages to remain unpretentious and popular without attracting much in the way of trouble. It's just far enough away from the centre of town to ensure that those inside have made the trip especially. Inside, the decor is fairly basic, not too bright and not too dark. The music can be a little overpowering at times, but there's a decent-sized area for smokers (or simply those seeking some fresh air and refuge) to be able to hear themselves speak. Prices are very reasonable for the area, although it can be a little hard to get served at the bar when it's heaving in there. The Actress & Bishop hosts regular live music events in the smaller upstairs room, and theirs is one of the better sounds systems I've experienced in a venue of their size. Worth the trip if you want a no-nonsense night out without having to get dressed up or spend a fortune enjoying yourself. read more

This is a really great student pub any night of the week, serving reasonable food and bargain prices and a good choice of drinks. The main draw for the actress and bishop is that they have live music and lots of different djs giving plenty of entertainment for the main demographic, students. Weekends are clearly the best time for this pub as the atmosphere is really lively and energetic and all the students seem to descend on the pub as soon as night falls! The only drawback for the pub is that it is the cleanest of pubs and i wouldnt recommend the food at all! read more

Another great night at the legendary actress and bishop! Bouncers actually smile at you, staff work quick serving and the dj keeps pumping out the tunes! This is more of an 'alternative' venue originally but really caters for most tastes. Rock, pop, Motown and even some grime. CheAp drinks and a friendly crowd really make this place a brummie favourite to party til after 3am. The only downsides are the 'alternative' toilets and sometimes it can get a little too busy. read more

Actress & Bishop - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

The Actress and Bishop shows live music pretty much every day of the week. I haven't tried the food there so can't comment on that, The live bands are generally upstairs and it costs about five pounds to get in. I've generally gone on a friday night so it might be cheaper during the week and there are normally about 3 or 4 bands on so it's not that bad a price. You'll get a stamp on your hand so you'll be able to go up and downstairs as you please. They also have a small bar up there as well. Downstairs is free and it does get quite busy there on weekends but then that's expected. There is a small dancing area in the corner and also a man near the door selling food like hotdogs (on the weekends I think?) which at 2am in the morning is very welcome indeed as there are not too many kebab shops nearby. The music is fairly good lots of old and new indie/rock and i've always found people in there to be friendly. Definately recommend if you're just looking for a good place to drink with great music where you don't have to worry about getting dressed up and spending loads. read more

If you're a musician in Birmingham, The Actress & Bishop will definitely be a place you're very familiar with: Local promoters The Catapult Club have been putting on young and emerging bands from around the area and beyond for many years and it is a well-recognised venue. This somewhat outweighs its role as a pub, although it boasts a functional and fairly well-stocked bar which is perfect for when you can't bear a support act any longer, torturing you before your friend's band are on. For such a small venue, it has always sounded far better than any of its musical equivalents (Sunflower Lounge, Island Bar, etc), so don't be fooled by the grime - it's all a part of its character! read more

I have very fond feelings towards this place. It's pretty tiny but with plenty of room for dancing. There are live gigs upstairs and music downstairs. You don't have to pay, the crowd is pretty chilled out and the drinks are reasonably priced though nothing special. read more

How can I have only just gone to this place after living here for 3 years? Cool, cheap and casual so ticks all of my boxes. Went on a busy Friday night and service at the bar was still good. Music is indie, alternative and a bit of retro chucked in for good measure. Great place if you don't fancy going to a club! read more

Bit spit and sawdusty, but that suits me fine. You can find some good live music in here, particularly on Thursday's when local guitar hero Dave Onions hits the stage. It's good on the weekend to with some decent music on the playlist such as The Stones, The Jam, ACDC etc. read more

Every town needs an Actress & Bishop! We ended up in here following the advice of a Birmingham cab driver. Fabulous choice, thanks Mr Taxi Driver. A really friendly local pub in the heart of Birmingham, with competitive bar prices, good music & a happy atmosphere. It's just off the beaten track in The Jewellery Quarter, which isolates it from the mainstream bars on Broad Street. Definitely worth a visit! read more

hadn't been here for a few years but a large group met there Saturday - may bank holiday. Wondered why a large terrace was quite busy (not every one smoking) and soon found out why. place has been slightly modernised but still has that dated feel to it. bouncers on door but not a problem. the main problem was the so called D.J. his playlist was VERY dismal and boring.played hardly a tune that was recognisable by any one in my group - seemed to cater for no one accept himself. myself and numerous friends requested tunes but never played one! seemed more interested in his mobile. if I was his boss id get rid and get a proper D.J. in who understood the paying public. price of a pint near the £4 mark. goes on till 4am saturdays. read more