MS wines is a Good place to get your alcohol and its fairly cheap it really is in an ideal…read morelocation. It can get quite busy in there especially on a friday or saturday so its best to plan ahead. The staff are fairly nice when you walk into the store and will help you if necessary the alcohol is nice and the store is great. One problem is there is a lot of younger kids that hang around outside just be weary of them as they are usually after someone to buy them some alcohol or cigarettes etc. Otherwise good.

Drinks World is a surprisingly well stocked off-license on Harborne High Street that sells a big…read morerange or real ales, foreign beers, luridly coloured liqueurs and Cuban cigars. They also do a large selection of ciders, perrys and cheap to mid range wines. Although if you opt for the latter I wouldn't rely on the advice on the staff who work there - asking for a Rijoja the other day resulted in much confusion, but in the main they are helpful. I also like the minibar sized spirits they do at the till and the range of premixed drinks - gin and ton, vodka and coke etc - haven't seen those for ages.

There's something a bit weird about an off-license on a high street. They tend to be more of a…read more'local' thing, tucked away at the end of your road, rather than next to travel agents and health food stores. These days I suppose there is call for a more specialised booze outlet selling high end goods like whisky or wine (and for specialised you can also read expensive, of course) so it's a further surprise that Drinks World keeps going as it is pretty much just a standard outlet selling a bit of everything intoxicating - much like the old Victoria Wine chain of stores used to do. There's a fair selection of wines and beers on offer here and the prices are ok - neither cheap, nor expensive - and the staff are friendly and willing to help, which is pretty much all you need if you're nipping in for a 4-pack. Fair play to them, then, for making this work when Vic Wines clearly couldn't - they are clearly doing something right.

Manor Wines - Your typical local newsagent? Correct…read more There is always a stereotypical newsagent around every corner you turn in either Halesowen/Bartley Green, all pretty much selling the same products at similar prices. The service in a lot of these places is sub standard, as if the staff don't want to be there. The majority may be family and tied in to the shop, making matters worse. Regardless, Manor Wines is a fairly decent place to go, if you're looking to buy a few beers or a cheap bottle of wine, then I would recommend swinging by if you're close enough, I wouldn't say it's worth a journey though, I must admit.

Manor Wines is the best place to go for alcohol without getting in the car. They carry most types…read moreof alcohol and the prices are hard to beat. Would definitely recommend as it has been owned by the same family for at least 15 years and there are always good deals, especially with the usual drinks like fosters, carling, strongbow etc.

If they've not got it, then it's not worth drinking…read more They have everything from your standard beer, spirits and wine choices through to options such as port, sherry, champagne, and if you want it they even have low calorie alcohol options. I was looking for a quality wine to complement the fish I was cooking that evening and I was pleasantly surprised with the help on offer from the shop assistant. I left with a couple of bottles of white and it tasted great.

Dave's Wines is a little on the small side, but manages to offer a decent selection of beer, cider,…read morespirits and (you guessed it) wines in its slightly cramped premises. I do appreciate some good offers though, and £6 for three big bottles of Kopperberg during the brief sunny spell was too good to pass up. For more classy evenings, there is always enough choice in the wine selection to keep you going for a long time. The staff are quiet but friendly and are always quick to offer assistance. Perhaps not as chatty or knowledgable as Wine Stop for example, but if you're in a pinch and on Oak Tree Lane, Dave Wines is always a safe bet.

Whilst waiting outside (public path) the store owner felt the need to challenge me by asking me…read morewhat I was doing and by telling me to move away. -Baring in mind I'm staying at the hotel next door and purchased an overpriced bong from him the night prior. He then threatened to tip a bucket of water on me from a window above (but pussied it) - before making his dog bark at me on command of "speak". Soft lad couldn't do nothing on his best day and knew it so he eventually shut up and backed off. If he had any sense he'd realise that his actions meant I actually stayed there longer than I would have and returned there whenever I wanted a smoke or waiting for a taxi hahaha Ps clean ya shop ya minger

Wine Lord in Hockley is the absolute GOD of off licenses!…read more When you walk into what appears to be a battered, old, derelict public house you are suddenly overwhelmed with floor to ceiling (and they are high ceilings!) shelves of every kind of booze imaginable. It's not a case of 'what do they have' but more a case of 'what haven't they got?!' Beers, ales, ciders of a zillion varieties, walls and walls of wine, Champagne, spirits, banned alcoholic energy drinks such as CRUNK JUCE and FOUR LOKO (they're allowed to sell off their current stock) - Wine Lord have it all. You can even satiate your late-night chocolate and ice cream cravings. This is a dangerous place! The store manager is a friendly guy of about 30 and he's really helpful. If you can't see what you want then just let him know and I'm sure he'll get it in stock for you. They always have great offers on and it's worth asking for recommendations. It's a great place to grab a few drinks for a sneaky summer picnic in St Paul's Square which is just round the corner. Put that Tesco Clubcard away and hit this little gem instead - you won't regret it. Wine Lord currently have a couple of Facebook pages. Make sure you add them both to get all the updates: https://www.facebook.com/#!/winelord https://www.facebook.com/#!/Winelord1

I love the guys that run this place. They are so knowledgeable, but really friendly too. You don't…read morefeel stupid but not knowing much about wine and asking them questions. The shop is situated only a few minutes walk from the City Centre and worth the walk I think. They often have offers on their end of bin ranges, so you can get some really bargain on your favourites, or pick up a decent bottle for a present. -they sell gift tags and wine bags too which is helpful. It is also worth checking out some of the events they hold in the shop. I went to the Burns night special a few years ago, which was sold out and had a brilliant time. I think they regularly do cheese and wine nights, though I've not been yet!

Connolly's has just been refurbished with a fresh new look and thus has earned itself an extra…read morestar... I have always loved Connolly's for it's ridiculous wine selection, great range of interesting spirits and helpful and informative staff; but the new layout, lick of paint and increased selection is just the cherry on the top. Connolly's is situated on Livery Street, over the Queensway from the Colmore Business District. It's quite easy to find (being a few minutes away from the entrance to the St Paul's tram stop), but it might be the kind of place that you have walked on by a few times without checking out the treasures within. Having bumped into Ed at Brewsmiths, I knew the refurb was underway. I had heard they were having a relaunch event from Mary Griffin - but hadn't had time to have a peruse. Yesterday (before an appointment), I had a few minutes to kill and was practically next door. I thought it would be worth a look to see if their new beer selection was as good as Ed has expressed to me when I had seen him... I can confirm the refit has made the business pretty much perfect. They haven't lost the "cave of wonders" feel of having crates of wine scattered around the place, but have extended the amount of storage and space significantly. You've now got a selection of spirits and bubbly to the left hand side (as you walk in), wine EVERYWHERE and a good selection of beers at the back of the store. I popped in and had a quick chat about the new additions to the line up before heading to the back to nose at the beer selection (as I was in the market for a couple of craft beers for "Yelp's Big Night In"). A good selection of both local and further reaching breweries are represented and the beer seems to be priced very reasonably. I picked up a bottle of Bellerose (a local one clocking in at 6.5 - described to me as a very interesting one by Ed), Brewdog "Hardcore IPA" (Which was a total BARGAIN), Sacre Blue "Quaker Cowboy" (mint, lime and coconut porter - can't wait to give this a go), Birds "Apocalypse" (from Bromsgrove - another local one) and a bottle of 3 Tigers "Curry Head" (a brand new one to me) for the princely sum of £11.63. Being a bit of a craft beer fan and having gotten used to paying £3+ a bottle for really interesting stuff, I thought this was more than fair. Obviously, I can't write about the ales yet - but I can commend Connolly's on the refurb and the wider selection. I would still always pop in here for guidance on wine (especially when looking for presents), but I now know I can get my Ale fix here too. I thoroughly recommend a trip to Connolly's to have a nose... I can't recommend your wallet will thank you though!

If you are looking to buy drinks at reasonable prices then this is the place to come to…read moreparticularly if you are local. Oscar Wines has a wide selection of drinks to choose from including beers, wines and soft drinks. This shop is similar to being an off license and you will find European foods, chocolates and some household products here. Being next to another shop that sells more or less the same items means the competition between the two is fierce. I have only been here once and to be honest I have no plans of coming back here since I am someone who doesn't drink that often. But there is no denying that there are loads of drinks you can purchase from here. Staff are friendly and you can talk to them about anything. Having a conversation with the shop owner felt good and you can have some banter with them.

South Birmingham is spoiled at the moment for beer. Cotteridge Wines has been the Best Bottle Shop…read morein England for 4 years running and just down the road you have the second best, Stirchley Wines. You can see why when you walk in to Cotteridge Wines. Two long aisles rammed full of beer, bottles and cans from all over the world. There's apparently more than 1400 beers on site. They also have a taproom at the back of the shop with seating and a patio area for warmer days. I met some friends there before we headed on to Akram's for dinner. I had time for a couple of beers before we had to leave, and I had time to pick up a few more for the road too. In the taproom I tried Brew By Numbers 08|07 Stout Coffee & Milk and Magic Rock Brewing Sour Passion. Both of these beers were great in their own way. The BBNo beer was great for a cold evening. The Magic Rock could easily keep you going for a session sat in a hot beer garden during the summer and I could happily have sat there all night trying the remaining taps but we had to be off for our reservation at Akram's.

What does the word 'Beer' mean to you? If its 6 cans of Becks Vier for a fiver, you probably arent…read moregoing to be particularly plussed about Cotteridge Wines (though they will happily provide such tipples). If on the other hand beer means wierd, rare and wonderful brews from breweries around the world from Double IPAs to Saisons to Chocolate Imperial Stouts, then Cotteridge Wines will be your Nirvana. A choice of 12 cask ales to be taken home in your 'growler' (or sampled on site in their tasting room / speakeasy), a wall of american, belgian and scandinavian beers and a huge selection of british ales make this possibly the best off license in the UK. They stock beers from brewers such as The Kernel, Mikkeller, Evil Twin and Siren Craft, some of which are seriously difficult to track down in the UK. The beer here isn't cheap (limited quantities, import tax/costs, high quality ingredients, but the prices are very reasonable for what you get, they often beat many mail order companies on price, which is an impressive feat for a 'bricks and mortar' shop (they even sell bottles of certain Brewdog beers at lower costs than the brewery themselves!).