This place is a very basic and serviceable pub. I had a beer and it met the criteria of being cold…read moreand wet. I was also hungry and was told that the only food options were a couple of sandwiches. But I was assured that the sandwiches were quite good. I was told by the bartender that the cheese and onion was the best. Fast forward to a couple of seconds later as I stared in horror at this abomination before me. Perhaps they were just ribbing this yank. I will include a photo. It was a dry roll with the hardest block of cheese know to man and four gigantic rings of raw onion. And that is it! I could barely smell it much less eat it. I love the UK for so many reasons--their sandwiches are not one of them. Perhaps caramelize the onions, or pickle the onions, add some mayo or mustard, anything would have improved this thing. I should have know better as I am still trying to figure out the breakfast ham roll that is ham on a roll (no egg, no cheese, no condiment, no thanks). Love the UK but you could level up the Sammy game.

A terrific experience in all aspects…read more Great service, beer choice, and food. What more can you ask for? I'll be back...

What a little treat! When I lived in the city centre I think I must have ended up in here nearly…read moreonce a week during that time. I love nothing more than going to a classic, and most importantly, quiet pub to relax after a hard weeks work (and even harder partying on a Saturday night!). If you love venues that have lots of character then you should go and check out The Craven Arms. It offers a great selection of beers for the boys and wine for the girls and the food in delicious. You can't beat their house burger and a nice cold shandy.

I've heard rave reviews about The Craven Arms since moving to Birmingham. Brittany A. and I finally…read morehad a chance to try it out recently on a fairly quiet afternoon, and I can easily say that it deserves all of the praise it garners. The Craven Arms was built for Holder's Brewery at the dawn of the twentieth century. Departing from the Victorian red brick and terra cotta style that is so prevalent in Brum, the exterior of The Craven Arms is adorned with lovely blue and gold tiles, making it one of the more colourful pubs in city centre. Inside, the tile and brick switches over to a traditional 'old man' pub style with wood, carpeting, and dark wood chairs and stools. From the outside, the pub belies the tight quarters inside. The pub makes great use of the space though, and the intimacy and cosiness creates a true neighbourhood feel. Once you grab a stool, be prepared for one of the best craft brew and real ale selections in the entirety of greater Birmingham. Black Country Ales is tied to the Craven Arms, and aside from their traditional golden, bitter, and brown, you'll find more real ales, some IPAs hopped to the max, and fun beers like a red hot chili beer. Hard to find bottled beers and cider in the fridge complete the impressive selections. The pub has no kitchen, but they serve up cheese baps (for £1) and allow you to bring in any outside food and will even provide a fork and knife for you. For the serious beer drinker, you can join their beer club and earn your way up toward the '100 club', tasting all kinds of brews along the way. If you are up for an old pub experience with the latest and greatest in new craft beers, the Crave Arms will suit you well.

Bless them for kind of trying, but I don't think that I have ever experienced so many ill fitting…read morewaistcoats! My friend is entirely obsessed with the Peaky Blinders series, so requested that we checked here out on our Birmingham jaunt. I didn't google or yelp it beforehand, and how I wish that I had! I had imagined a carefully researched themed bar, era appropriate, speak easy vibe, and maybe something special occurring with the final series imminent. However, what we got was cheaply dressed mannequins, t-shirts and waistcoats, oddly placed graffiti, a very run of the mill bar and the weirdest karaoke selection I think I've ever experienced (good on the woman singing Nightwish- 13 year old me would have been very happy, not perfectly executed though, shall we say). It all felt a bit *too* local, which I expect is amazing if you are, mind, and it seemed weird to me that the "speakeasy" behind the big bookshelf was closed on a Saturday night on a bank holiday weekend? It entirely feel like they've simply dibsed a name and tried to cash in on the popularity of the series, with the minimum effort that they could manage. I had themed parties as a skint student that I reckon had a greater budget and craft than this. It's a real shame as it almost stops an amazing one coming along and doing a better job. It's a laugh, but nothing more unfortunately.

This is most likely going to be my last review in the UK for some time as I return to my native…read moreland later this week. I therefore had to give this place a try before I left - especially being a fan of The Peaky Blinders. I had passed by this place a few times when it was known as Confessions and it never really enticed me in. So, this time I was more hopeful! Stepping through the door your attention is drawn to the friendly looking bar tender dressed in (roughly) Peaky Blinder style hat. The next thing I noticed was a mannequin also dressed (roughly) Peaky Blinder style. Now for some the mannequins could be considered bizarre, I however am from a small town which considers one of its prime tourist attractions to be a shop decorated with very bizarre looking mannequins! There are a few more of these mannequins type things around the place adorned with a flat cap, and accompanied by instructions not to touch and that offenders will be instructed to leave! The bar area itself is one average size room, it was relatively clean and populated by older gentlemen of varying mental capacity. There was at least one sat alone having a full conversation with himself. The bar itself had nothing special to offer, just the usual bulk items, Carling, Strongbow (original and forest fruits) and Guinness. A simple selection of bottles were stocked in the fridges, the best of which seemed to be bottles of Magners. As for the "Peaky Blinder" theme. Well, I was pretty disappointed. This clearly just an attempt to cash in on the show, with very little actual connection. A few cap clad mannequin's and few pictures on the wall which seem to be screen grabs from the show. So much more could be made of the theme which would no doubt attract loyal fans. This place just doesn't cut it as a themed venue. Its an OK pub but that's about all it is.

I decided to take a walk along the canal and find a place to have a pint and something to eat…read more after one loop, I ended up here at the canal house. It's small and cozy and was playing some great music. The menu was basic but was interesting. when I stepped up to order, I was told we're only serving pizza and chips tonight. Eith that said, I ordered a spicy meat pizza and a pint of cold beer. The pizza was exactly what you would expect at a pub, it was tasty, not too spicy, and cooked correctly. The service was good and helpful and I had no problem getting my pint refilled as needed. This is a great place to sit on an afternoon when the weather is nice and watch the people walk about in the area of the canal while enjoying your food and drink. I would return.

Omg!!!! The food was so good! I think I ate it in 8 minutes lol (greedy) or hungry lol. Anywho the…read morefood filled me up and the chef did his thang! The ambiance was nice and the service was great as well.

The place is beautiful! An old bank? Several levels....the food? Incredible! I got a meat pie and…read moreside of sausages and my girl got fish and we both said it was the best meal we have had on our trip through UK! The English mustard was spicy and incredible too! You gotta order and pay in advance like most places (all?) in the UK...great selection of beers too! Incredible service! Friendly and even found out for me what brand of mustard they use!

I've walked past old Joint Stock time and again since moving to Birmingham and finally decided to…read moretry it out with Seth S. Friday evening. Old Joint Stock is well known for their pie and ale combos, including a cute 3 and 3 tray sampler of each. The pie flavors available Friday just didn't stand out for me, so I tried their gnocchi and a glass of tempranillo (full-bodied red from Spain) instead. The food was a solid 4 stars. The ambiance and drink were 5 stars. The gnocchi had good subtle potato flavor and the texture was a standard slightly chewy pasta that I've come to expect outside of Italy and the Italian enclaves of New York. I'm always searching for more melt in your mouth pillowy gnocchi, but this was a solid representation of standard gnocchi. The gnocchi was served in a creamy tomato vodka sauce and topped with fresh local mozzarella and a garnish of greens. The portion was very filling and well worth the price. The tempranillo was wonderfully full-bodied with a lovely balance of fruitiness and spice. I like that Old Joint Stock offers wine in small and large glasses or by the bottle. I chose the large glass, which is plenty to accompany dinner and dessert, if you somehow have room for dessert. The dessert menu looked amazing - I'm definitely going back to try something. Old Joint Stock offers a luxurious old-world charm that just beckons you to come spend an evening enjoying good food and drink. The church library, turned bank, turned pub has kept it's original splendor in tact, with heavy brocaded draperies, faux marble walls, high painted ceilings, and antique seating arrangements. The management have chosen gorgeous lighting to accent the walls and glass dome over the bar, which is central to the restaurant. I entered feeling like a glitzy party guest and left warm and full.

So, Friday was a manic day. Between meetings and finishing off tasks on the to do list, I was…read moredashing from one side of town to the others. Due to this madness, I had totally forgotten I had scheduled in a call for that afternoon! My phone alarm went off and gave me a 10 minute countdown to find somewhere I could settle down and set up my laptop to be ready. A quick search on Yelp revealed "The Old Fox". Upon entry, the place was almost empty. Perfect. I nabbed a table, turned the laptop on, connected to the WiFi (as with most places in Birmingham, the Cloud Wifi is strong in this venue) and grabbed myself a drink from the bar. As it was a Friday afternoon, I thought a nice glass of white wine would be in order. I was very pleased to note that a glass of house wine (which was perfectly tolerable) was a bargainous £2.75! With drink in hand and equipment ready to go, I settled in to my chat. The Old Fox is a theatre bar which is situated over the road from the Hippodrome, round the corner from Glee Club and just on the gateway to the Gay Quarter. It's lovely from the outside! A cheery old man boozer which looks really well kept and cared for. The inside is worn, but comfortable. It's not a place to go for a posh night out, but I would definitely recommend it if a group of you are looking for somewhere to chat and relax for a few hours. Throughout the course of my swift visit (I was in there for about an hour) more people came in, but it didn't get busy. They also had some music on in the background, but this wasn't offensive or intrusive. The staff were perfectly friendly and helpful and the venue has the usual sort of "pub" paraphernalia inside. I spotted a dart board, a gambling machine and a basic menu of food. I didn't get to investigate the place in too much detail, but it's somewhere I would revisit if I was in this neck of the woods and wanted to grab a decent pint (and avoid the nearby Wetherspoons).

Okay, this pub pretty much feels like your typical old man's pub, except that it happens to be…read morelocated in the middle of one of the progressive areas, so I'm not really sure if you can consider that it is actually an old man's pub. Okay, look, it really wasn't all that bad. Personally, I didn't mind it, but it was still a good pub nonetheless.

Jack fell down (off a pool table in here) and broke The Crown (he actually just broke a chair), and…read moreJill came tumbling after (she fell over trying to pick him up). Just another typical drunk night at the crown. I was most recently in this pub in late 2014 when I was stuck in England for months. I wanted to go drinking (but not alcohol, lol) in the place where one of my fave bands got their start, to some degree. I spent a good hour in here with friends and we all enjoyed it. It's a little run down and dirty and sticky but it's a good old English pub. We didn't pay too much more than we should have for the drinks. My coke tasted pretty good, not watered down. This is a typical English pub, with average prices and a nice facade. It's underrated and it's also secretly legendary. Because a very long time ago, Duran Duran used to hang out here, before they met Simon LeBon of Watford, and before they became famous. And for that reason, it's my review #1980, since they were one of the best bands of the 1980s, and were recording their first album in 1980. If you're a fan of Duran (a Duranie, as they're sometimes known), then when in Birmingham, come and check out this underrated pub, which scores a 5 from me.

I ended up in here completely by random and WOW what an experience!…read more I was out with a group of friends and we managed to get pretty drunk after a night at the Electric Theatre. We weren't ready to go home so we took a stroll and ended up in here. Before we entered the pub, there were a group of people outside, one of which being sick into a beer glass! We thought to ourselves, 'don't be put off, that will probably be one of us later'. So we trotted in and were quite surprised by how busy it was. It took us ages to get served but we kept ourselves amused by talking to a relatively old man who only had one shoe on! We only realised this afterwards and we didn't want to ask him where the other one was in case of another 30 minute drunken chat so it still remains one of lifes mysteries until this day. Overall, it's quite a small pub that gets packed on a Saturday night but I think that's because the drinks are cheap considering its location and there's plenty of characters to keep you amused even if you do have to wait for a long time to get served.

The food, service, and ambiance are 10/10. Best food we've ever had, so incredible vibey and…read moreamazing. Stop reading this review and go!!

The food is literally the best food any of us had EVER had!!! The service was INCREDIBLE!! They…read morewere so sweet and so kind. It's so cozy and eclectic and ACCESIBLE for wheelchairs!! STUNNINNNGGG!!!! Obsessed and will be back!

I was in town, and it was sunday, so the only thing to do was a Sunday Supper. I spent some time…read morelooking up restaurants and looking at menus. I wanted to find something that looked authentic at a decent price. After taking a bit of a walk I found The Sun On The Hill. it was quiet inside, not too many people, but the young lady at the bar was welcoming with a smile and helpful. I grabbed the table and after looking at the menu, I went to the bar and placed my order. Being new to Birmingham, i've quickly figured out that many of these places our pretty much self serve, and pay as you go. I'm okay with that once I figured it out. The choices were Beef, Chicken, Pork, or Vegan, and I chose the pork. The serving came with vegetables a pudding, and covered in a proper gravey. it was cooked well and there was more than enough. I did enjoy my first english sunday supper and would recommend this place for someone looking for a good meal at a reasonable price.

I only have fond memories about previous visits to "The Sun On The Hill", but it's just not one of…read morethose places I visit very regularly. During a catch up over cocktails with Elite Adam S last night, he mentioned that this venue had received a bit of a makeover recently. As it was just over the road from Bodega (the chosen Cocktail venue for the evening), we decided to pay the cheque and wander on over to check it out. First thing to note, it's not that different. You're not going to wander in and be astonished in a "changing rooms" stylee, but it does look smarter. I love the renewed signage on the door and the little design touches in this smart City pub. It's been a while since I had visited, but I did notice that they seemed to have more cask ale on offer than I remembered them having. I went for a pint of "New World" whilst Adam had a glass of the ole faithful "Mad Goose" (with Purity being a fairly local brewery an' all). I do love the mixed seating here. We sat on a table with high stools, but there were comfy booths in the main bar, a sofa area near the door, bar stools and further tables up a level on the mezzanine. It would make a great venue as a "pre-club" stop, a drink with friends, a casual date or even just a swift afterwork pint! Now, I didn't try the food here but I noticed the menu has been updated (as per The Sun At The Station - http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/the-station-birmingham). They are also offering a "Half Price Food On Mondays" offer until the end of October, so I will try and pop in and catch that to give a more round review of the venue. This is a smart city pub, with a bit of a "younger" and "funkier" feel to it than many of it's nearest neighbours. It plays a good selection of music and has a welcoming and friendly vibe. If you haven't popped in before, make a date to grab a pint with a friend and check out this cool venue.

The Briar Rose is one of the new Wetherspoon 'Lodges' which feature accommodation above a…read moreWetherspoon's bar or pub. The aim is to provide simple, modern, good-value accommodation in central locations in major UK towns and cities. The accommodation itself is on the well-established Ibis model: a simple en-suite room, with simple decor, and basic but adequate facilities. There's no room service, but food and drink can be bought in the Wetherspoon's below. The Briar Rose is situated in a refurbished "bankers' classical meets art-deco" style office building, with a large bar on the ground floor. We booked a triple room for a week-end. In terms of our stay, we found: Pros: - incredibly central - between New St and Colmore Row - unbeatable value - £20 per night each (£60 between three) - clean (not spotless, but fine) - surprisingly comfy beds and pillows - spacious, bright room with high ceilings - in-room tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryer - easily booked on-line Cons: - no double-glazing, so some street noise (little traffic, but the odd drunken reveller until 2am. So probably less of a problem on week-days than at week-ends) - no air-conditioning - not much privacy from the the flats opposite (I loathe net curtains, but it needs something) - reception was a bit too casual for my liking, but efficient enough - a mix-up meant the room wasn't ready at 2pm as stated, but this was sorted out quickly by the friendly and helpful cleaner - breakfast not included, but good-value breakfasts available from the Wetherspoons below. I'd happily stay there again (so long as the weather wasn't too sultry), but would try for a rear-facing room. Once I'd fallen asleep I slept like a log, as th bed was very comfy. I might look elsewhere for breakfast, though, which was the only real downer. Although the meal itself was absolutely fine (veggie cooked breakfast for £2.10) and the service friendly, they serve beer at 9am on a Sunday morning, so attracting very late night revellers in various states of inebriation. (Two blokes were actually snorting 'poppers' as they were drinking...) They were all harmless enough and friendly in a drunken sort of way, but the management ought to think seriously about the wisdom of serving alcohol so early on a Saturday and Sunday. It's hard to decide how many stars. I think: - five stars for sheer value - a safe three stars for the accommodation (four had the room been ready) - breakfast experience was definitely two stars. So three stars overall, this time.

Out of all the Wetherspoons in Birmingham, this one is the jewel in the discount chain's crown…read more Obviously, it is still a Spoon pub (so you know what you're getting), but it has several things going for it that make it a more pleasant experience than it's competitors. Firstly, let's talk location. Being slap bang in the middle of Bennetts Hill (just up from New Street), it offers a convenient place to meet or grab a pre-meal drink that won't cost the earth. I popped in for a quick one before meeting Jon B. at Bodega yesterday and was reminded why I used to love it so much when I was a student. A decent pint of Cider was £2.35. Now, with Birmingham's reputation getting better and better - drinks prices are rising. It's amazing to get a pint in certain places for under £3.40; so I was suitably impressed. So location and prices, A OK! Let's talk design. Rather than the bland and lifeless design of some of the pubs in this chain, this one has a focus on animal print (which makes it a little more interesting). Yes, you still have your "cut and paste" bar (looking like every other Spoons in the world), but with a selection of tables, booths and high seats near the bar - it's got a nice layout to maximise seating space. I also have had call to grab a quick lunch or a life saving breakfast (you know what I'm talking about - the morning after the night before) and the food here just seems to be... better. Fresher and tastier than some of the other branches. The staff here are mixed. 9 times out of 10 you'll get a friendly member of staff, but they do get rushed off their feet here and sometimes might be a little curt on occasion. So yeah. If you're in town and meeting someone for a cheeky pint or just want a cheap spot to grab some lunch, I can recommend this Wetherspoons venue over the others on offer in the city.