The flapper and firkin is located about 5 minutes walk from the ICC near broadstreet. It's a standard pub with nothing much to rave about. No pretensions are held here and there is definitely less than a dress code. Good for an all night drinking session although the location isn't great for staggering home/to a taxi rank/station. There are some good drinks offers but not enough to drag people away from the main hub of the city. The main draw of the flapper and firkin is its gigs listings with rock and indie bands playing here regularly. Admission is cheap and there is a pretty cool, dark and sweaty atmosphere downstairs where the bands perform read more

The Flapper - Pubs Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

A top place for beer garden weather. With a large outdoor seated area overlooking the canal this place is always my top choice when I want to go for a few drinks in the sun. If you've never been before it may take you a little while to navigate the bridges and backstreets to get here, but it's worth it. Clue: entrance is most easily accessed from the same road as the Prince of Wales (black pub behind Brindley place). On entrance you cross a bridge to enter the pub itself, which is decked out in old varnished wood with proper pinball machines and a pool table to keep you occupied. The drinks selection is fair considering that this is a rock venue. The pricing is also reasonable. The venue hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including gigs, Dj nights, quizzes etc. read more

The Flapper strikes the perfect balance between pub and venue and hosts an eclectic and satisfying number of events which cater particularly well to those with a heavier palette. Tucked away from the glut of gastropubs that dominate the town centre, it is a welcome break from the ordinary that is secluded without requiring a pilgrimage to reach. Simply walking from the centre of town to The Flapper is a treat in itself; treading up and out through The Mailbox and then following an idyllic canal route beyond Brindley Place is perhaps my favourite walking route in the city centre. The décor is welcoming without being tacky; aged wooden interiors and a spacious bar area upstairs boasts an excellent, varied and reasonable selection of beers and real ales on tap. The gem in The Flapper's crown lies downstairs where a perfectly sized venue (roughly 200 capacity; not big enough to be alienating but not so small that it's claustrophobic) that is home to perhaps the best sound and atmosphere that I have ever enjoyed at a gig in Birmingham. The Flapper and Firkin isn't the sort of place that tries too hard to be quirky - it doesn't need to. However, it's individual charm and friendly staff imbue a certain lure that will have one making many repeat visits for shows, casual drinks or simply to get away from the hustle of the centre - although not too far! read more

I'll never forget discovering The Flapper as it was at that point of moving to Birmingham that I really felt like I'd come home. I've always been an indie rock kind of girl at heart so when I discovred this massive canal side pub with it's eclectic rock mix I was instantly in heaven. During winter on some weeknights it can be on the quiet side but this makes it perfect for a post work catch up with friends or relaxing beverage with your beloved. If you are going to check it out, I thoroughly recommend quiz night. There are regularly about ten fiercely competitive teams and a good range of general knowledge style quiz rounds. In summer there a few better places to be in my humble opionin than outside in its beer garden overlooking the canal. Be sure to get in early as it does get crowded at weekends and particularly sunny evenings. If you like to nurture the local music scene be sure to check out their gig listings for the room downstairs, many who have played have gone to much more notable status. And if partying on halloween is your thing, definitely check in for details of their annual party - it's always a scrreeeeeam! read more

How have I not reviewed the Flapper before? This place is a fixture of summer drinks in Birmingham. So, as you may have gathered from previous reviews... I am a bit of a rock fan (and live music junkie). The Flapper fulfills both these needs. With a downstairs gig area (with consistently good sound for such a bijoux venue) and bar, a large seating area next to the canal (brilliant in the Summer) and a large pub area upstairs (complete with selection of ale, retro pinball machines and regular live DJ's), it is a real winner. I really don't use this venue as much as I should, but I DID visit with a bunch of the Yelpers last night to sample their pub quiz delights. Firstly (and briefly), I will tell you why you need to visit on a Thursday night (if you are a fan of pub quizzes). £1 entry, free pizza and numerous mixed rounds. A real winner of an evening. But.. I digress. So, back to the facilities. Toilets are located downstairs (near the gig area) in this venue. They're always... OK actually. Not sparkling or fancy, but there is usually enough toilet roll, lockable doors and enough cubicles to cope with a pub and gig crowd. I will mention that the toilets aren't male and female but as a hint, a male duck is called a Drake. As previously mentioned, the sound quality is always pretty darn good here. I have been to rock gigs, metal gigs and even more electronic tinged music - all good. There is a small bar area attached to this (so you don't have to traipse upstairs during the show). The bar upstairs is cool. The retro pinball tables (which change a lot - they are currently "Congo" and "Star Trek" themed) really make the place, but the background rock music is good, the bar prices are pretty good (a pint of real ale will set you back £3.10 and there are numerous offers on different days of the week) and the regulars are a pretty mixed and friendly bunch. The real star of the show is the courtyard. It's light, bright, big and situated right next to the water. On a hot day, this place is heaving; but it deserves to be. If you haven't been to The Flapper before, head down early on a Thursday night, enjoy a pint in the sunshine and then give the quiz a go. If you're a fan of the humble rock pub, you won't be disappointed. read more

I wasn't a massive fan of the flapper for a long time, but couldn't really put my finger on why. However, I seem to have spent more time here recently for whatever reason and it's most definitely grown on me. Definitely a pub for the summer months with its huge canal side beer garden The Flapper regularly puts on gigs allowing local and unsigned artists a chance to get their music out there to the masses. There's regularly as number of cask ales on as well as a reasonably healthy selection of ciders both on tap and bottled. Upstairs you'll find a good amount of seating, pool table and the usual pub furniture as well as a nice outdoor balcony perfect for nipping out for a smoke. Their weekly quiz is pretty good, although be prepared to be in it for the long haul - last time we barely got away from it before midnight. But there is free pizza for teams of five or more! read more

Hidden out of site at the back of the NIA, and away from the more obvious collection of pubs on the Brindley Place canal system, The Flapper nurtures its own unique aesthetic and crowd. On the upstairs floor, large glass panels allow punters to look out over the canal, with wooden heritage beams and frames inside providing a window into Birmingham's industrial past. Pop Art-esque canvases of musicians, past and present, are placed high up on the venue walls, slowly coming to view after first-timers have taken their time to familiarise with the surroundings. Drink prices range from reasonable to cheap, with a large choice of rum, from Brugal, to Havana to the good old fav Sailor Jerry. Most rums (with a mixer) barely reach £3, which is the perfect price to wet the rum connoisseur's pallet. Other more exotic beverages such as Red Stag, a black cherry liquor, also hardly damage the wallet. The regulars are a healthy mixture that slightly leans towards the rocker stereotype, though both the punters and staff are highly welcoming and friendly to all. The Flapper also seems to unintentionally have its own mascot, in the form of their over-working bouncer. The 70s throwback lookalike, who could easily be mistaken for a football linesman may look slightly menacing in person, but means no harm, as his job description seems to go from standing guard on the door, to collecting empty glasses from tables (I hope he's getting two wages!) The Flapper couldn't be mentioned without its highly diverse live music, which is held on the underground floor. If you've ever been to the dungeon at Warwick Castle, this is exactly how the underground room feels. When entering the room, you do feel as though you've bought a ticket into one of Britain's listed museums. Even the smell replicates that distinctive heritage, and as your eyes climatise to the darkness, the bricked arch ceilings don't allow you to think anything different. The venue provides the perfect atmosphere for music, especially heavy metal which resonates through the walls and echos Birmingham's industrial past. For an unusual night out that isn't too heavy on the wallet, The Flapper is a great place to experience. Whether that be to see live music or to sip on rum, I for one will certainly be returning. read more

This pub is great to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, even though it's so close to Brindley Place! Situated on the canal it has a much slower pace than many other pubs and bars nearby, and a large outdoor area to relax outside when the weather is nice. They do some cocktails, although they are out of a bag, and have a small selection of ales which are usually nice. I think the drinks selection could be better, but people tend to come here because it's a nice pub on the canal rather than the choice of drinks. I should say that it's a rock pub, and it can get quite loud when there's a DJ on the decks, but during the day and early evenings the music is fairly inofensive popular rock. read more

If i'm out in Birmingham and with my rock friends this is our regular, the venue is good for a saturday night it is open until 1am, and generally a music bar playing all your rock favourites where you can have a good drink and a really good atmosphere inside with lots of friendly people, it is very popular with students but its a mix of people of all ages. The room upstairs has pool tables and has a jukebox when there isn't a DJ there, there is a small room downstairs for gigs and special events which take place reguarly. There is a balcony with seats and room downstairs with seats which is an overview of the canal which is ideal for the hot weather. The staff and door staff are very friendly and approachable and since the customers they get in are very friendly they are very understanding. The venue is generally not open sundays but occasionally it does open on sundays. I haven't been here in a while but I need to go back soon, the drink prices are actually quite good compared to other pubs and with a friendly atmosphere what more could you ask for. read more

Without a doubt, the best pub in the universe! Greaat booze, Great people, Great Music, Great Pinball! Been frequenting this fine establishment since 2004. read more

The Flapper may not be the swankiest joint in town, but it is one of my favourite places to grab a pint, especially in the summer. This is one of the few 'rock' pubs left in the city centre and the typical playlist includes a healthy dose of Black Sabbath. There's plenty of seating upstairs and gigs are hosted in the downstairs room. For me Flapper's best feature is the terrace. It may not be the prettiest of places but during the summer it gets the sun all day long and it's right beside the canal, providing some lovely views. read more

The Flapper is a pub with a rockier edge but an eclectic clientele. With regular gigs and live music downstairs, pub games, big screen and an outdoor terrace overlooking the canal this is the ultimate summer pub and a place to while away many an hour. Drink prices are competitive and it's a large enough pub to fit a rugby team in. Set back behind the NIA it's easy to forget about this pub but it also means it's easy to forget the rest of the city centre isn't that far away. Relaxed atmosphere and a jukebox to put all your change means you won't leave till you hear that song you paid for. Since my misspent youth days the Flapper has always been a favourite pub of mine, you can't really park near here except for in the NIA car park so its always best to meander over on foot, either along the canal path or the cobbled street that leads down to the main entrance. read more

Great pub and live music venue situated on the canal side. The Flapper is one of my favourite live music venues in Birmingham. The downstairs gig room is intimate and the sound is consistenly brilliant. The pub has a reputation as a rockers pub but over the years it has developed a more mixed crowd of regulars. Upstairs is a long bar with seating and pool tables and outside there is a considerable amount of seating both upstairs and downstairs next to the canal.The bar staff are friendly and helpful and there is a good selection of reasonably priced drinks and possibly the biggest selection of crisps I have ever seen! I've held several events here over the years both live and with DJs, each time the manageress Sammy has been very accomodating and supportive. Highly recommended for canal side drinking, meeting friends for a natter, dancing to DJs or catching up and coming live bands in one of the best small live venues in Brum! read more

It's been a good number of years since I started going to the Flapper. The relaxed atmosphere and non-existent dress code made it a perfect place to grab some cheap drinks before heading onwards to Eddies or another club. Additionally, the Flapper would regularly play host to some of the best small to medium bands Birmingham and the rest of the UK had to offer. I even played there myself a couple of times back when I was in a band, and the experience as both performer and audience was fantastic - the technicians and bar staff alike were friendly and without pretensions. In recent years the venue has suffered something of a decline, based in part on the growth of live music venues in the city, as well as competition from other similar pubs that are a little closer to the city's public transport links. The pub has had a facelift or two over the years, and a number of promoters who used to put on shows here have either moved on or stopped altogether. All the same, the Flapper remains somewhere that you can go to relax along the water's edge without the fuss or the crowds of Brindleyplace, or the exclusive prices of The Mailbox. It's still very alternative-friendly, but it's missing a certain something that made it such a draw in years past. read more

With a downstairs music room this venue is really "rock" with the upstairs playing heavy rock / metal, its quite the opposite to what you think it'll be. Got a lovely outdoor beer garden looking out to the canal. Such a shame that its going to be demolished soon for flats as even my parents remembered it from years ago when it was named the longboat! read more

I have fond memories of the flapper for the odd gig I've been to there back in my uni days and being situated right next to the canal, it's a good place for a sunny pint. However it wouldn't be my first choice in the winter as it's a bit dingey inside and not particularly inviting. I haven' tried the food, but looks like pretty standard pub grub - will probably stick to the drinks! read more

The Flapper and Firkin is a great little pub on side of a canal which is great to chill by in the summer as well as drinking and listening to awesome music! The beer garden is fairly huge for great groups of friends to socialise with other great groups of friends. It's a very approachable scene going on at The Flapper and would suggest people should go check it out, what's the worst that could happen aye? They also provide great stages and private venues to hold gigs and events and they make really nice cheap or on offer homemade pizzas and cocktails! Yum. Definitely a wicked place for a gig to be held, or if anything, a great place to socialise with friends on a warm summer's day! read more

Used to be good changed when they refurbed and put the prices up. Atmosphere has gone, used to be a free for all genre but become an Indie Stereotype Pop Art, Brown and Creams, Artic Monkeys. hmmmm bit predictable but would still go quiz nights on thursday (Though everyone cheats on their mobiles!!) read more