I am smitten with this gem of a neighborhood pub. My favorite parts are the atmosphere and friendly…read morestaff. Bolder Tap is the flagship location for Joule's Brewery in the Midlands region. The interior has been painstakingly restored to its original charm. Decor highlights include display cases of beer bottles from the early 1900s, a wood fireplace, cosy seating nooks with leather cushions, and the outdoor patio. Because this is a neighborhood pub, families come in throughout the day to enjoy a refreshing pint and most know the servers by name. It's a bit like being on the set of Cheers (American TV show from the 1980s). I went here with Seth S. and took my laptop with some reading. While the Tap doesn't have wifi, seating is comfortable and atmosphere is conducive to relaxing. We stayed for a few hours, enjoying a few pints of cider and then ordered two sides of chips when the kitchen opened at 5pm. The chips were perfectly cooked and flavorful. The portions are HUGE. We could have easily split one side, which was served up in a pasta bowl. The staff were very welcoming and made us feel right at home. I'll definitely be coming here often.

Market Drayton based Joule's Brewery entered the Birmingham footprint last year, opening their…read morelocal flagship location in Boldmere. The Boldmere Tap has refurbished the previous Old Cork & Bottle into a homely neighborhood pub that is one of the most welcoming in Sutton Coldfield. Joule's is a craft brewery that jump-started a defunct 19th century brand (the first ever trademark in England) in the early 2000's that had been purchased by one of the big macro-breweries. The brewery is an easy one hour journey from Birmingham, and centers on crafting real ale with the local spring waters of Shropshire. The focus on the Joule's brewing legacy has led to the creation of some very well done ales and lagers. The Boldmere Tap is the first pub in Birmingham to be under the Joule's umbrella, and features their full line of beers on tap. I recently dropped by one afternoon with one of my mates to see what the brewery had to offer. I have previously tried their pale ale at a pub in city centre, and was excited to see the other featured beers. Joule's has four main beers in their stable, which are complemented by seasonal offerings. The mains are their flagship Pale Ale, Slumbering Monk (a malty bitter ale), Joule's Blond (nice and citrus forward), and Green Monkey (their lager). Their winter seasonal, Old No. 6, is a dark ale. All of the brews are available in half or pull pint pours (a half of the Slumbering Monk is only £1.50). If you aren't in the mood for Joule's taps, the pub also provides more standard fare, including Guinness. All of this is on top of their food menu. The kitchen opens at 10AM, where you can start the day off right with a full English Breakfast for £4.95. The main courses at dinner average around £8, with fish and chips at £7.95. For vegetarians, there are four main courses to choose from, including broccoli cheese bake, mushroom stroganoff, vegetable lasagna, and a bean burger, all for £7.25 or less. The neighborhood feeling that the Boldmere Tap elicits is woven into the very fabric of the building. The pub is decorated with bric a brac of old photos, vintage beer bottles, and a railway sign from the Chester Road station before the branding was refreshed by London Midland. On a cold January afternoon, a stove fire roared near the entrance, heating up the front room. Events are held throughout the week, with a quiz night on Mondays at 9PM and open mic nights on Wednesday. The Boldmere neighborhood, and Birmingham as a whole, are lucky that the Boldmere Tap has been chosen as the flagship Joule's pub for the area. The pub gets all of the benefits that come from being affiliated with a craft brewery, while still maintaining a very old school English pub charm that is increasingly lacking in the city.

Having a friend who grew up in the area was the perfect excuse to have a dinner out at White…read moreHorse. My husband and I already heard about the food reputation of this pub so we trek to the village of Curdworth, in Coleshill, to meet his friend and wife for a perfect meal. We had been in Curdworth before enjoying other nice pubs in the area but I have to say, White Horse is a 5 out of 5 experience! Checking their deals, we decided for a Wednesday visit when there is a steak night when 2 meals + a bottle of wine costs £29.95. Considering the size and selection of steaks and also the the vast wine list, the meal was not pricey at all. This very cozy pub is an invitation for those who want to bring your family, partner or just want to treat yourself with good meal and good drinks. Update: I just forgot to mention this pub sponsors a local team called Coleshill Athletic which our friend Simon plays for and he probably will be very happy now that I mentioned it! So, go Coleshill Athletic!

A really nice pub :) The food was really yummy. My friend and I really love the beer battered…read morehalloumi from bistro 1847 but as it is slightly expensive and so more for a special occasion, we jumped in happiness when we saw the pub offered it! The halloumi came with chips, mushy peas and a gorgeous gherkin relish. The gherkin relish was so nice, the waitress went and got some more for me! It was priced at £9.5o, so not cheap but definitely worth it. I had the Melba crème brulé for dessert, it was nice but I think I prefer my creme brulé as just that rather than with an added layer of sponge as this had. The pub has a feel of a countryside village pub so didn't really feel like I was by Birmingham.

I actually love this place. Really sweet with the train set up and great staff…read more We came for a working lunch meeting, and now I really want to come here more! The food was genuinely epic, sandwich, salad and chips- and seriously good value- the decor was gorgeous, and the bar looked well stocked even though I was only on the Diet Coke! I hope to get across for one of their infamous and intimate comedy nights soon

This is one of my favorite pubs in Birmingham. When all food items on the menu are available, they…read moreare superb! I'm wary of going on the weekends though, because they typically run out of the vegetarian items by then as well as some beers. They occasionally host tap takeovers and fun events like a vinyl fair, plus comedy upstairs Thurs-Sat. My absolute favorite item on the menu is the vegetarian filo tart. It usually has a lovely blend of spinach, cheese, pine nuts, and mushrooms and is served with a superfood salad and optional chips. The superfood salad is divine - mixed lettuces, onions, pomegranate seeds, tomatoes, carrot shreds and peppers drizzled with a mustard seed vinaigrette. The chips are always cooked to perfection, never mushy. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The outdoor seating includes heat lamps for winter and dazzly lighting.

1st time there. Popped in while passing for a beer or two. Tom was alone behind the bar. He greeted…read moreus very politely and was courteous. He explained what beers they make & what is what. We were guided by him in our choices & he was bang on. Tom was pleasant, polite and most helpful. We had no intentions of dinning but did share a Key lime pie that was to die for. The menu was not just pizza & burgers there are a lot of great healthier choices too all reasonably priced. The outside is amazing. Will we go again? YES!!! Only negative we found was there are no litter bins in the garden.

What a fantastic addition to Sutton! Seth S. and I had a friend visiting from the states and took…read morehim here for a tasty beer and meal. The decor is posh and welcoming, the interior is highlighted by reclaimed wood, Edison bulbs, industrial metal, mid century styled seating, and lots of books (which you're actually welcome to read while sipping a pint or 5). I ordered the ribs, which come with fries, slaw, and grilled corn on the cob. The meat was tender, fall off the bone, perfect. I would have liked just a little more BBQ sauce on the ribs though. I asked for an extra ramekin, which the wait staff kindly brought. The BBQ sauce is unique and makes use of bright orange rind and juice to punch up the flavor. The corn was seasoned just right. There is enough food on the "plate," a cutting board, for two to have a large meal. I ordered tea to drink to soothe my sore throat. Tea was served in the cutest little tea pot and was very tasty. I tried a sip of the stout. I will definitely be getting that next time. It was phenomenal! (If you go for just beer, I'd give that 5 stars). The stout had smooth chocolate notes and drank like a delicious cuppa cocoa.

Located off the main road with a convenient parking lot. Offers outside dining - weather…read morepermitting. Nice, friendly atmosphere, tasty menu selections, and a large offering of ales.

get new staff and a decent manager. get a new chef. enforce disabled bays. serve breakfast from 5am.read more

Is the King Arms a summer pub? I've always thought so but after a couple of years away, I decided…read moreto spend a Sunday afternoon there with a group of friends to see if the answer is still 'yes'. I was amazed to see how many of my fellow Sutton residents were taking advantage of the rare June sun to see if they could also find the answer to this burning question. The beer garden which flanks the entrance was packed. Cold lagers were being drunk. Children were playing games. A barbeque sizzled with burgers and hotdogs. We fought our way through the throngs and towards the bar, which was a little quieter. The draught lager choices weren't particularly to our liking so we went down the bottled route, buying a round of Portugal's famous Sagres, a beer that's not always easy to find. As there was no room out front we exited through the back door, to stand in a quieter part of the pub's grounds. We remained there for a good few hours, sunning ourselves and making occasional trips to a very reasonably priced barbeque. Sadly, my summer love affair was not to last. A member of staff came out and warned us about standing too near to customers cars. We weren't, and had been in the same spot for several hours with nothing said to us. The fact other families were standing in exactly the same way made the comments feel slightly mean and inconsistent, as did a large sign informing customers that the pub accepts no responsibility for the cars parked there. Maybe I'll go back in winter.

Looking for some great beers? The food isn't bad either! I stumbled across this pub when I couldn't…read morebe bothered to cook one night... I took a book and thought I'll have a bite and see what it's like! I was very pleased; friendly staff, nibbles on the bar and Affligem on tap! I ordered the chilli con carne to enjoy with my beer and it was very tasty. Rich and spicy with sides of rice and nachos. A truly wining combination. Paired with my book and a comfy leather sofa, I'll certainly be visiting again soon!

Fuzzy Ed's? What's that? There is a big ' Fuzzy Ed's ' sign outside this very smart looking pub in…read moreFour Oaks. It's a kids indoor playground, tubes, slides, ladders, ballpits. I just wish I was 7 years old once more. This kids mecca may put off some people but it's upstairs so if you just want beer & food stay on the ground floor and you'll never know it exists. Charming staff, good beer and very nice restaurant area were enjoyed by my family and there is an outside area for better weather. Excellent!

I hadn't been here for a number of years, so I decided to pop in for a quick drink one Friday after…read morework. The place is nice enough, it's smart and well decorated, clean and spacious. However, I couldn't help feeling slightly under-whelmed. With quite a few pubs in the area a place has to be special to keep me coming back. There's just not a lot here for couples enjoying an afternoon out. As a family pub though this place must rank fairly highly. There's a large garden out the front, with lots of seating and pretty outdoor lighting of an evening. But there's even more play inside. The pub houses it's very own indoor adventure playground. Fuzzy Ed's is the perfect place to let the kids play whilst the adults take advantage of a well earned rest. As a pub it's not my first choice, but I'm sure the local kids wouldn't agree with me.

The Duke Inn sits almost hidden on a side street in Sutton Coldfield, away from the traffic and…read morecrowds of Gracechurch and the parade. At over 140 years old, it is one of the only traditional, non chain pubs left in the town. New landlords Kelly and Mike are bringing fresh energy to the pub, and a new coat of paint or two that is sorely needed to keep it up to modern standards. This includes switching out the previous cider (Strongbow) to Symonds, and rotating about five cask ales (cask marque awarded). Currently, a number of these include ales from Greene King. You can debate Greene King's beers all day, but it's none the less refreshing to walk into a traditional pub and not be immediately faced with a requisite Carling tap handle. The Duke Inn is split between a bar up front and a lounge in the back. The bar has two tellies, a darts board, fireplace, and walls covered in historical photos of the area. The lounge is cosier, and can be hired out for gatherings. They also feature the only pub garden in the center of Sutton Coldfield, currently a grassy yard with benches that will be further developed by the new owners in the spring. The Duke Inn is rolling out activities to get more people in the door, including their quiz night, held on Tuesdays at 8PM with a £2 per person entry fee. You'll find a lot of regulars that frequent the pub, but the atmosphere is still welcoming and homely. One of the few downsides is that the inn has no kitchen, which means no hot food! There are the standard bag of crisps and scratchings if needed, however. In keeping with an independent pub, the pint prices are generally more expensive than a Wetherspoons but cheaper than what you'll find on Broad Street. A pint of Abbot Ale and a pint of Cider will run you seven quid. If beer is not to your liking, there are other drink options behind the bar available. I am very much looking forward to seeing what 2016 has in store for the Duke Inn. The local community seems excited about the new changes, so hopefully their support will mean that the pub stays a relevant piece of Sutton history.

When the sun is shining get yourself down here!…read more The Duke is a lovely little pub, hidden just out of Sutton town centre. It may only be dinky but it makes up for it with a huge garden at its rear. I have spent a lot of summer days sipping on a crisp pint, doing the crossword and colouring my cheeks here. The pub itself belongs to the locals but they are willing to share it with you, dartboard and all. The main room contains the bar and there is a smaller side room, great for meeting up with friends and having a catch up. Keep an eye out for the hatch to order your drinks through, I always feel special getting served here. If you do venture out into the garden you may need some sun cream as the breeze is deceptive and you'll come out of here with a rosy nosey. No other pub in Sutton offers such a garden so grab your mates, an old football, your wallet (as the prices here are a bit of an eyebrow lifter) and let yourself have a great afternoon. It's a really good old-fashioned pub that has a real mix of regulars. The old fella by the door who has been sitting there for 20 years, a young couple with their two kids, some friends fancying a decent pint and then little old me. There's not many of these pubs around anymore so appreciate it whilst it's here...

Food is amazing service is so great the carvery tastes so good and the waiters are super kind and…read morefriendly

I've been a big fan of Crown Carveries every since I found out about them. You can get a big meal…read morefor a small price. Its only been recently that I've found some better than others and I was very happy to found that The Fox in Warmley was one of the good ones. The beef is always I good indication how good a carvery is because its the easiest one that become dry. The beef I had was lovely and easy to cut being the best one there. The gammon though is always good and I would think you should always try the three meats they have to offer as you wouldn't get the option at home. What sets The Fox apart is that you have two seperate pubs in one. The Carvery is at the back and the sports/pub section is at front, I really liked that layout.

Heading out of Sutton, past Good Hope and towards Falcon Lodge; the first pub you come to is The…read moreBoot. An old Victorian pub which has been updated through the years, The Boot is probably one of the better bets out of the four other nearby pubs (The Anvil, The Reddicap and The White Horse) if you're after a quiet night out. There's a pull-down screen which shows the football and a small garden out the back. It's the sort of pub where, if you've lived in Sutton for a while, you're bound to bump into someone you at least vaguely know. If you don't have the benefit of being a local, then it still has an easy-going vibe about it and you're not going to get stared at for being a stranger. The pub backs on to Rectory Park so on a nice day you can walk your beer off or rehydrate after a stroll.

The Boot is a decent enough boozer but is let down by its location. It's just that bit too far out…read moreof central Sutton to make it onto most people's crawl list. Also, as The Boot is right next to Good Hope Hospital, parking at this pub can leave you feeling sick. However, for those lucky few who live on the Number 71 bus route it is possible to get off at the stop directly outside, making this the first port of crawl. The upsides? The Boot Inn has a very decent beer garden situated at the front of the establishment - making it ideal to catch the sun and watch the world go by. Inside, The Boot is pretty roomy with plenty of tables and chairs. You'll never be stuck for a seat here even when it gets pretty busy, usually of a weekend. There is also a digital juke box, which can't be a bad thing, can it?