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    Old Joint Stock

    4.0 (47 reviews)
    ModeratePubs
    Open 9:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Old Joint Stock Photos

    OLD JOINT STOCK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Live music

    Recommended Reviews - Old Joint Stock

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    Reviews With Photos

    Daniel G.

    Lovely traditional boozer slap bang in the middle of Birmingham city centre. If you are looking for a venue with some WOW factor this place has it.....big time. The venue is a former old theatre and the interior is beautiful! Vented ceilings with paintings and awnings covering most of the surfaces in the place as well as a beautiful dome window that is above the main bar in the centre of the room as you walk in. Behind the bar you will find a normal selection of spirits but the wine and ale lists are pretty comprehensive! I like to have a try of a few ales before committing to a pint and the bar staff I have encountered have always been happy to let me do just that. They always seem to know the lines and a bit about them which is nice. I have also eaten here.....I went for a Sunday roast a little while ago which was decent....not mind blowing but pretty good. I want to try the pies at some point......they are looking and smelling seriously good! Review soon :)

    Imperial stout
    Jason L.

    Went here for a family meal On a Sunday. We heard great things about the Sunday dinners but unfortunately after sitting in the bar area for a bit we were told they had all sold out which was disappointing. We looked at their regular menu to decide what else to have and saw their pies which I think Is their speciality. I never normally have pies but these were amazing. I had a lamb one with everyone else having chicken or the vegetarian option. Mine was by far the best it was just so tasty and served with great mash and seasonal vegetables. Everyone else who tried mine also agreed that they would have got my one too, though they still really enjoyed theirs. The style and decor inside is really nice and great to look at on the balcony from which we were sat. They also have a really good range of beers with a lot from the fullers brewery. In particular I had Fullers imperial stout with my meal which was also a highlight. Haven't been back since but will 100% go back for the food, drink and great relaxed atmosphere.

    Pies. All a little posher than the norm
    Michelle B.

    Theatre AND Pub? My lord is there anything more perfect? It is actually a Fullers pub, which while a chain is one of the better ones out there for maintaining a pubs soul, not to mention stocking the best non-alcoholic beer, bitburger. There's high ceilings inside, ample seating and a nice big bar. Random stone busts decorate the tall arched windows, bringing the old into the new. There was nothing on in the theatre when I went - on a bank holiday they're missing a trick there - but we did have a sneaky peek into the auditorium which is a cosy 80 odd seater studio space. Reading the various paraphernalia I can see it has its own Musical Theatre company - exciting. The pub side is very popular and buzzing with life and people. It tries to push its pies - not a pie person myself, so spending £10 on a pie is a bit to mad. Just a stones throw away from New Street and opposite the beautiful St Phillips it's in a great location.

    The Old Joint Stock pub
    Ad T.

    This nice pub, with it's very high ceiling, classical decor and lighting is the perfect place to visit with friends. The ambiance and atmosphere here is very different to many other pubs and one which pleases tastefully. They offer good food and even curry, and although seating booths are available, it's best to sit by the large windows. You do have a bit of an echo in here, due to the large space, but the service is very very friendly, and the interior is very beautiful being a former bank. This is also famous locally for it's Ale and Pie menu, so if you do get a chance to visit, I would recommend this pub. Again one of those joints that's extremely popular after 5pm with local city workers clocking up the hours in here, but also quite popular on the weekends, and many local Birmingham and West Midland residents visit here occasionally.

    Lovely new addition to the Fullers range: pale, hoppy and well balanced.
    Alex L.

    Old Joint Stock remains one of my favourite spaces in which to while away the hours; it certainly doesn't hurt that they've got a great selection of beers and sell a mean pie! Built in a repurposed former bank, it retains the grandeur of its former occupiers with its vaulted and domed ceiling and neoclassical decor. The dark wood central bar is impressive and welcoming, especially since the introduction of the customised hand pills for the ale. More intimate areas can be found around the mezzanine and in the club room, when it's open to the public, so there's a little bit everyone will enjoy. The London Pride I'm drinking this evening is one of the better kept examples of this ale, surpassing many of Fullers own pubs in its traditional heartland in the capital, and was sold to me by friendly and knowledgeable staff that, unlike in other chain establishments, will spare you time for conversation, other customers queuing permitting, of course. All in all a great place to have an after work beer, especially earlier in the week as it can get quite busy towards the weekend.

    Steak pie, chips and seasonal veggies.
    Thomas K.

    The beer selection is pretty good and so is the food menu. We paid £13 each for a steak pie, chips, and cooked veggies. Everything was just okay. I thought the pie crust was delicious, but the meat was dry and didn't have much flavor. It felt expensive for what we got and for the size of it as well. The gooseberry pie with vanilla custard was amazing though. Thus 3 stars. Mostly "okay" with a little good. ----- Changed to 4 stars because the business owner took the time to follow up with me. I appreciate that--thank you. I look forward to trying Old Joint Stock again!

    Seth S.

    The Old Joint Stock (officially the 'Old Joint Stock Pub & Theatre Venue') is a pub that I've walked by many, many times but until now never bothered to see what was behind the magnificent Roman Tuscan columns. The OJS is a pub with history. The building was built in the mid 1800's as a library for St. Philip's Cathedral. It went through several changes as a bank, and finally opened in its current form in 1997. The pub is part of the Fuller's Brewery chain and is the only one of their pubs in the greater Birmingham area. The interior not only hosts a massive bar and dining area, but a theatre that seats 100 in the back of the building. I could write about the architecture all day, but to summarize it features detail that you don't see in many buildings, especially pubs, and is capped by a beauty of a dome. The oblong bar in the middle of the downstairs area is large enough to host many of the Fuller's lineup of real ales as well as standards like Guinness. Surprisingly, they also offer a reasonable wine list. Brittany A. and I stopped in for a very early 4PM dinner on a Friday recently. Like most pubs, the OJS is self-serve with ordering at the bar. Given its interior volume, there are many tables of all sizes for patrons. Unfortunately, there are no dividers between floor areas, which means at a busy time, it can be difficult for those seated near the wall to get to the bar. Although it was only the late afternoon, the pub was already crowded and became even more so as 5PM approached. Fuller's pubs are well-known for their pies, and the centerpiece of this reputation is their Ale & Pie Tasting Board, which includes three of their ales and three mini pies for £16.95. However on this particular day there were no pies in stock that suited our tastes. Wanting a lighter dish, I ordered the sweet potato, feta, and spinach salad over quinoa entree while Brittany chose their tomato cream sauce gnocchi. Even with a large crowd looming, the bar was staffed well and we were able to order quickly. The food was prepared fast as well, with both dishes arriving to our table within 15 minutes. With my entree, the sweetness of the potatoes was balanced by the salad dressing that had a hint of horseradish, not too much to be overwhelming to the palate. Although the salad may not look like much in the photos, it was surprisingly rich, making it difficult for me to finish entirely. The gnocchi won't make you swear off a trip to Italy, but it was good enough that I would order it again. Both of the dishes exhibited a certain finesse in the ingredients and preparation that is almost unheard of from chain pubs. This upmarket feel extends to their excellent beers as well. I must confess that I am not fully versed in the Fuller's ale lineup, having only previously tried London Pride and their ESB. On this occasion I branched out and gave their Oliver's Island Pale Ale a shot. It's the latest ale added to their beer list and the first permanent addition since 2007. As a cask beer clocks in at 3.8% ABV (4.55% bottled). The beer is well balanced with a hoppy bite at the forefront, followed by a malty biscuit and orange zest note. The beer definitely makes me want to try others in their lineup. Fuller's encourages repeat visits, since you can join their mailing list and receive a coupon for a free beer the next day. Although the Old Joint Stock has not been on my regular list, based on this very positive experience I will plan to return to try their pies and explore the full range of ales.

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    Food (pie sampler) was tasty and quick. Bar service was friendly and didn't miss anyone.

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    Old Joint Stock Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Old Joint Stock

    Other than that it's probably the most beautiful pub in Birmingham, converted as it is from an impressive old bank.

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    The Craven Arms - Quit staring at the architecture and grab yer beer money

    The Craven Arms

    4.5(15 reviews)
    0.4 miWestside
    ££

    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.

    Photos
    The Craven Arms - Victoriana

    Victoriana

    The Craven Arms
    The Craven Arms - Nice windows!

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    Nice windows!

    Peaky Blinder - pages from ceefax doll

    Peaky Blinder

    2.5(4 reviews)
    0.2 miCity Core

    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.

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    Peaky Blinder - Hello poppy rowan

    Hello poppy rowan

    Peaky Blinder - Happy christmas

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    Happy christmas

    The Crown

    The Crown

    3.3(4 reviews)
    0.3 miHistorical Quarter - Chinese Quarter, City Core
    ££

    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.

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    The Crown

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    The Sun On the Hill - Sunday Supper

    The Sun On the Hill

    3.6(23 reviews)
    0.1 miCity Core
    £

    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.

    Photos
    The Sun On the Hill - Sunday Supper Menu

    Sunday Supper Menu

    The Sun On the Hill - Pork up close

    Pork up close

    The Sun On the Hill - The bar

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    The bar

    Briar Rose

    Briar Rose

    3.4(25 reviews)
    0.1 miCity Core
    £

    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.

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    Briar Rose
    Briar Rose
    Briar Rose - Curry Club! £6.15 for a microwave curry, rice or chips, poppadoms, naan AND a drink!

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    Curry Club! £6.15 for a microwave curry, rice or chips, poppadoms, naan AND a drink!

    Old Joint Stock - pubs - Updated May 2026

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