It's a good nice place and I would go there any time very polit staff. Friendly and they go out the…read moreway to see to you

I was here for a blogger event but it was quite an intimate event so I got a good feel for the…read moreplace. This is one of the only Bitters & Twisted venues I haven't been to. I loved the cosiness of it, it was perfect for a miserable evening. I liked that it's a traditional 'local' but with the quirky touches you expect from the brand. Think wallpaper featuring geese! I tried a couple of their wonderful hot cider and apple based cocktails. The Hotini was made with vanilla vodka, ginger syrup and hot cider. This would be so lovely on a cold winter day when you're feeling a bit under the weather. These are only £5 too! Food is all very hearty and rich- winter pub classics. Tuesdays are pie night and they are very proud of their pies. I'm not a pie person but I enjoyed the ocean pie and game pie- both very well seasoned and served with lovely mash and green veg. As well as pies, they have some lovely sounding sharer boards, fish dishes and an excellent vegetarian curry. This is definitely added to my list of places to pop into when I'm in Harborne!

The decor and vibe of arcos is really cool - in general I love the aesthetic and it's one of the…read moremore interesting places to go in Harborne. I've been here before for food and really enjoyed the food (I can recommend the burgers) but had a bit of a mixed experience this time around. I came with a group of six others for an improptu leaving meal. Although I wasn't drinking, I tried my friends lycee g&t and it was really delicious, and they have a really interesting cocktail menu. However, another friend got the house wine and wasn't impressed. If you order separately, the food comes out at different times. Although we wouldn't usually mind this, there were quite long gaps between when each of our meals arrived despite all order consecutively after one another. I had the veggie kedegree, which was ok but nothing special (but that might be because I found it a bit spicey). Some found the tapas a bit underwhelming. The staff were mixed, some were quite nice but some were a bit short with us. Overall I might go back but it wouldn't be my first option!

Arco Lounge is the original 'lounger' to come to Birmingham some six years ago. Arco is tucked into…read morea snug space on Harborne's high street that suggests a quirky coffee shop first and foremost. As a regular of some of the other local area loungers, I finally made my way down to Harborne for Arco's weekly Sunday quiz night with fellow Yelper Jeanette M. and friends. Arco is decorated in the typical lounger way with a colourful palette and interesting paintings covering all wall surfaces. Aside from an absurdly long hallway upstairs that connects to the toilets, this lounger has the smallest square footage in the chain I've seen yet. In this case it's an asset, as it makes the space cosier and more inviting as a coffee shop and snack bar. For whatever reason, this visit also marked the first time I've entered into a lounger quiz. The pay in is only £1, and unlike some other area quizzes, good old fashioned pen and paper is all you need. Our team had to make it through seven categories of ten questions each plus a picture fill in the name of the person section. The questions were at points esoteric, likely owning to the large number of grad students and academicians that frequent the area. You might want to brush up a bit before entering this quiz! I wasn't too hungry on this visit, but still decided to sample their offerings. The loungers have an extensive menu for vegetarians and vegans. I decided on the falafel tapa, which for £3.75 gives you three falafel balls, a smidgen of hummus, and bread. While not the most traditional falafel you'll find, the taste was outstanding and flavourful, and the tiny amount of hummus was good with the bread. To drink, I went with my lounger go-to, a Stowford Press cider. I can happily report that the cider tasted exactly as it was supposed to, so it's clear that this lounger takes keg line hygiene and maintenance seriously. It's not often that I find myself in Harborne, but next time I'm around Arco Lounge will get serious consideration as a place for a quick bite to eat or caffeine fill-up.

A beautiful cocktail bar in art deco style, totally reminds me of the sets of movie The Great…read moreGatsby.The opulence and over the top style is really fitting with the building and the area it is in. The cocktails and afternoon teas here are sublime, cocktails can end up being expensive but really quirky. Service is always really good too. Incredible value for money with what you get with your afternoon tea. I was taken here by a very good friend for a pre-xmas treat. The Edgbaston has a lovely menu of different flavoured teas. Before our tiered platter of finger sandwiches and mini cakes arrived, we were presented with an aperitif of elderflower and apple, served in a glass within a bowl of dry ice which then had apple & elderflower juice poured around it to "awaken our smell" senses. Sorry to ruin the surprise! I couldn't smell it but loved the drama and theatre of all the dry smoke pouring out of the bowl on to our table. The sandwiches were lovely (they catered for my friends dietary requirements too), the cakes were scrumptious, especially the salted caramel puff was simply delicious, and then we were served scones some with and some without raisons and jam & cream. Quintessentially British in a very trendy setting i'd say. Thoroughly enjoyed it and at £20per person (this was the no alcohol option) I thought it was very good value. I will definitely go back and sample the alcoholic option :)

I have had this place bookmarked since I moved to England 10 months ago. When I heard about the…read moreFestive Afternoon Tea I knew it was time to try it. We booked in for the last day of the Festive Tea. From the moment I walked in, I was blown away by the sheer beauty of this place. We were seated promptly and each given an explanation of the menu. We each went with the Moseley Serve which is the afternoon tea with all the trimmings plus a fancy cocktail (£32 each). As they were still in the festive spirit, they were offering Christmas cocktails. I had In A Pear Tree which was the sweeter of the two offered, with gin, honey, and pear. It was garnished with two slices of dried pear. Great start to the afternoon. As many have mentioned, the china used is beautiful and ornate. It accompanies the dining room perfectly. Even the sugar bowl was visually appealing with cute little bird claw tongs. Everything looks very vintage and was in pristine condition. I was pleasantly surprised at the amuse-bouche that was brought out prior to our cakes and sandwiches. I've never seen anything presented like this at an afternoon tea before. It's a pretty special presentation. It made me feel like I was dining at a Michelin starred restaurant! Now for the food. There were 4 types of sandwiches. I can't remember exactly, but pretty standard sandwiches that you would expect. The cakes, however, were truly exceptional. We were told they were all made in house. They were so pretty I didn't want to eat them. There were a few flavored meringues, macaroons, a mince pie and a boozy rum tart. Very festive and quite good. This is the first time that I ever had afternoon tea and actually enjoyed ALL THE FOOD! Scones (plain and fruit) were brought out last for us with the cream and jam served in adorable but hard to scrape out jars. We were told to dig in as they were nice and warm..but our scones were not warm at all. None the less they still tasted great. The only reason I refuse to give this place full on 5 stars is the service. For the price point and atmosphere I expected top notch service. Our hot water ran out in both tea pots and we were never offered a top up although the menu mentions unlimited hot water top ups for tea. Dirty dishes and glasses were not cleared so our small table was over crowded. It also seemed odd that there wasn't a coat check. Our baggy winter coats were left shuffled next to me on the bench seating. Despite this, everything else was fantastic. They have a fantastic looking cocktail menu. I am hoping they come up with a new seasonal tea soon so I have a reason to try The Edgbaston again!

Aww me and my friends had a great time here on Saturday night. The staff was welcoming and lovely…read more They served a great range of cocktails and cheap too!! The martini pornstar was a big hit with my friends.

I visit this pub every so often as its round the corner from where i live, we found the food was…read moreonce more plentiful, tasty and really competitively priced. Found my 10oz steak was very good, cooked excellently as medium even though i had asked for rare. My friend enjoyed his mixed grill but did say the steak, cooked medium rare, was a bit tough. Another of our party of six had "The Real Corker", which was certainly a generous meal and you need to be hungry. Everyone else enjoyed their various meals and desserts. Decor has had a bit of an upgrade and is ok. but the mens toilets needs attention as it is smelly and floor wet (say no more). Appreciate the pub is very busy and it would take effort to keep Gents properly, however, could well put people off which is a shame. Overall we enjoyed our meal, there are pleasant beers and everything is a great price. Service was efficient & bar staff friendly enough.

What a little treat! I lived in Harborne with a group of friends for 6 months and I think we must…read morehave ended up in here nearly every Sunday afternoon during that time. I love nothing more than going to a classic 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 Bell Inn. It used to be a coach house and it still has a number of its original characteristics. It's been closed for a while but it reopened last week on the 30th May so just in time for Jubilee weekend. 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 whilst sat outside in their garden area. My best recommendation, get down there on a Friday evening for 241 cocktails from 5pm!

Resembling a country pub with its bowling green and views of nearby St Peters Church, The Bell is…read moreprobably my favourite pub in Harborne. Popular at weekends and especially on sunny days it consists of two rooms - a medium sized lounge, where people tend to eat and a much smaller snug, that houses photos of the bowling team through the ages. The bar is tiny so during busier times expect to queue but service is generally pretty quick. As well as real ale The Bell offers regular guest bitters and lagers and they serve food - which is pretty decent and reasonably priced. They hold regular quiz nights and have started to offer acoustic and open mic nights. They are also one of the nicer pubs in Harborne open on Christmas Day and after a few pints you may be tempted to join in with an impromptu carol service! Well worth a visit.

The concept is super simple: a speakeasy cocktail bar which can be discovered only by a hidden…read moreentrance within the venue itself. It contains a mock-up of a launderette just off Birmingham's Gas Street. What's not to like?! When you see how realistic the laundrette is you know that this is going to be a super fun evening! You won't be able to resist taking taking photos because it is so bizarre. Upon entering the bar you come into a really cool area which is split into lots of different of quirky themes with bird cages, funky chairs and guess what games boards dotted everywhere - yes it's a bar but feels like the coolest hangout ever. You will find an eclectic cocktail menu full of wonderful concoctions served in tin cans, tea cups and mason jars. The bartender was super accommodating and in creating two delicious mocktails especially for us. Be sure to check out the happy hour deal which is one 5-7pm. What's great is that this place was not busy for a Friday night, maybe because people don't know about it, so you could quite hideaway for a few hours. Looking forward to heading back here soon. Note to self - this place has a couch. *happy dance*

I absolutely loved this speakeasy bar which moonlights as a laundrette. The exterior is so…read moreconvincing, and the theme carries on as you head upstairs to the bar. It feels magical in the way that only a speakeasy bar can. The bar itself doesn't disappoint; the interior inside is super slick and definitely well thought out. Inside the tunes are a mix of electro swing and upbeat jazzy numbers. This bar is a really fun place to be and I imagine, as the night goes on, that it would be oh so easy to lose track of both time and cocktails. My band recently played music here as part of the Birmingham Jazz and Blues festival and it was really great to play in such a unique venue. Next time I'm in Birmingham, cocktails in Suds & Duds will surely be on my agenda!

The sight of the Slug & Lettuce branding is not normally something that draws me into an…read moreestablishment, so I may be bias. However, seeing one open on my local High Street, I felt I should give it a shot. The Proverbial, which occupied the space previously closed in early January - as soon as the Christmas rush was over. The pub hasn't switched hands at all, Stonegate have just decided to rebrand it, deciding that Harborne requires a more high-end brand than it's previous occupant. I've walked past the place whist the refurbishment was taking place, so I know that they stripped it right back. If I hadn't have done, I would have guessed, as when I first entered I felt it looked pretty much the same. Of course this is an exaggeration as there's some mirror tiles behind the bar, the furniture has been reupholstered, and the wood re-varnished, their team must have worked very hard, but to me it feels the same. Perhaps this is because every table and chair is still in the same place, the layout and lighting is still the same. Actually it was EVEN darker! What has changed are the prices, a pint of beer will now cost roughly double what cost before. It's gone from being one of the cheapest bars on the High Street, where a beer would cost £2.50-£3.00, to being one of the most expensive with beers at £4.00-£5.50. That's one expensive lick of paint! Admittedly the list has changed with draught additions being Brewdog 5AM Red (£5.25), and Purity Longhorn (£4.75), amongst others. The care and dedication required to keep cask ale is obviously too much for Slug & Lettuce staff. The hand pumps that once gave us sub-£3 pints of Wye Valley HPA have been ripped out, replaced by on-trend 'craft' beer taps. My friend ordered a Guinness, it was poured in one, no time given to allow the drink to settle. I wouldn't mind if the bar was rammed and the barman was rushed of his feet, but we were the only people at the bar! At these prices I expect service level above the cheaper places down the road, not below par! The bottle list has improved vastly too! Now bosting 16 different beers from around the world, not bad for a branded chain pub! The only highlight from the list however is Kwak, although at £5.75 per bottle, I would want the correct glassware & stand, which I doubt they have. The rest is fairly predicatable: Brewdog, Leifmans,. Meantime, Curious Brew, etc. It's the 'craft' breweries with large distribution backing, like St Stefanus - the Belgian beer owned by SAB Miller. We sat outside, where the wooden tables were original, but they've added some garish white plastic chairs and a strip of astroturf in the middle of the courtyard. I can't really judge the food as all we had was some garlic bread, which tasted exactly like Wetherspoons garlic bread. So much so, that I would say it's the same product (probably from 3663), just cut into strips. I don't mind paying more, when I feel I'm getting something for it, be it service atmosphere, convenience etc. Unfortunately the S&L failed to deliver on any of these. I shan't be returning in a hurry.

Came for bottomless brunch and it was wonderful! The veggie breakfast was so yummy & drinks were…read moreamazing! Abigail was so sweet and welcoming and constantly made sure we were taken care of!

I'm a bit of a sucker for a voucher. I don't buy loads of them, but occasionally something pops…read moreinto my inbox and either reminds me of somewhere I want to revisit or try... A voucher for this place reminded me that I hadn't been for around 4 years (I know, terrible right?) and I thought it was high time I should go back and give it another go. I actually really love the decor of this place. It's a basement restaurant and bar (hence the name), with the entrance being located on Newhall Hill. Once you enter and head down the stone steps you are presented with two doors; the entrance to the restaurant and the entrance to the bar. We proceeded to follow the labyrinth to the eatery and found the check in desk with relative ease. The staff were ON IT from the moment we walked in. Reservation confirmed, seated and presented with some water within a couple of minutes. We went on a fairly busy Saturday night, but everyone seemed to be looked after during our visit. There was no snobbishness that we had used a voucher and we were presented with the wine and food menu (which wasn't so large that it was a nightmare to decide, but there was plenty of choice) and left to ponder for a couple of minutes. We opted for a bottle of house white wine (on top of the glass that was included with the deal), which wasn't too overpriced at £16.95 and had a good think about what we were going to have. Our waiter had recommended the pigeon (something that I love, but don't have as often as I would like), so I went for this to start and the venison for main. The first course was bought out piping hot (obviously freshly cooked) and within about 10 minutes of our order. Although the portion wasn't massive, it was very tasty and all of the flavours in the dish complimented the complex flavours in the meat. The venison was the star of the show. This was tender and delicious. Now, not having a huge sweet tooth, I opted for a cheese board for dessert. This looked great (being presented on a slate) and offered 4 kinds of cheese, a range of crackers and a honey jelly (as well as the obligatory celery). We left £20 (with tip and the cost of the wine) and the voucher had cost £29 making the meal just under £50. The cost of a 3 course meal was £25, and 2 course was £22.50 when we visited - so I would say it's pretty reasonable. For a sumptuous dining experience in an underground basement, I would recommend a trip to the Vaults.

The owner of the Vaults, Julian, first opened the bar and restaurant a few years back. Back in…read moreVictorian times, I've heard that the venue was used as a mailing house that had been forgotten as time went by. Luckily for us, Julian found this little jem - which is quite fitting as it's situated in the Jewellery Quarter - and restored it to its full glory keeping the original characteristics including the popular 'vaults' which have been turned into private booth areas. The venue itself is probably one of my favourites not only because of its detailed and stylish décor, but also the quality drinks and delicious food. Daryl the bar manager will ensure your cocktails are mixed to perfection and if you don't see any that you fancy, ask him as he's always busy making his own concoctions. Food wise, I highly recommend pretty much everything on the menu it's that good but my personal favourite has to be the salmon. They often have food deals such as 2 courses for £15 so it's worth checking their website before you book a table.

Slap bang in the central of the student haven, that is Selly Oak, the Indie Lounge somewhat…read moresurprised me on my first visit, with its friendly yet relaxed atmosphere and top quality service, it fast developed into one of my favourite drinking spots in the area. Serving drinks at relatively cheap prices in comparison to other places nearer to town, Indie Lounge is a perfect stop on a pub crawl or even as a quick refueling point if you were to be heading into town. Abiding by the student budget, this bar is extremely popular with students who attend University this side of the midlands, with a healthy buzz without being too overcrowded, Indie Lounge is definitely worth a visit by anyone who is in the Selly Oak area.

Out of all the bars along the Selly Oak student strip, I would say that Indie Lounge is the place…read moreto drink if you are low on money as I find it is satisfyingly cheap. I personally love Indie Lounge, as the bouncers are extremely friendly, funny and easy to get along with as well as the staff members that work there which gives off a pleasing and an adequate welcoming to the bar. I find that the only down point to Indie Lounge is that they don't have a dance floor to match the great music they play, however, you will find customers (mainly girls) dancing regardless of this aspect. A further fact that I find negative, especially when consuming many drinks, is that the girls' toilets always lack toilet roll. So I would recommend before going to Selly Oak's Indie Lounge as a girl, bring a small pocket size pack of tissues. Other than these critiques, I would say that Indie Lounge is my second choice of bars along the Selly Oak student strip.

This is a review of a takeaway delivered by…read moreDeliveroo(http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/deliveroo-birmingham?hrid=cwHQxa0Hm9yi7FXF5sBMVw&page_src=shared_via_messages_or_emails), for Yelp's Big Night In (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/yelps-big-night-in-birmingham?hrid=OG4fnArZlqOrukTkK2nSMA&page_src=shared_via_messages_or_emails). Pushkar are well regarded in Birmingham foodie circles, despite being located amongst some of the worst food in the city, only worth serving to those too drunk to notice, Pushkar regularly feature as one of the top Indian restaurants in the city. It was then met with great anticipation when they opened a sister venue on the Hagley Road earlier this year. The restaurant occupies a grade II large Victorian building and doubles up as a cocktail bar - something I doubt they would do on Broad St through fear of attracting hen/stag nights or student pub-crawls. I been fortunate to visit yet, but I certainly intend too. Luckily for me I live within 2km of the restaurant so Deliveroo bring their scrummy food right to my door. So order I did! I went for their Paunjabi Chicken Masala, which had enough heat to make my nose run, but not enough to numb my tongue. The chillies, and spices were perfectly balanced so as one could taste the more subtle flavours too. The dish itself was £10.95. I ate it with a garlic & coriander naan (which was also awesome!), which was £2.95. It was the first time that I have had this dish and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so that I'm going to hunt out a recipe and try it myself sometime. Although I know I'll never be able to recreate it anywhere near as good. The food was delicious; I can't fault it. I knock a point off as I thought £3.50 for poppadums' and dips was a tad expensive, I know many Indian takeaways give these out for free with an order. Had I been sat down for a meal the service could have earned that point back (or lost more, who knows).

Snazzy Indian restaurant from the guys behind Pushkar (this is newer and more swish). Plenty of…read moreparking round the back. Interesting menu, not the run of the mill selection. I had the Praza Platter to start which was excellent. Main courses: Tried the Chicken Punjabi and Laal Maas, both good curries. I found the curries very rich which was positive for me but might not be to everyone's taste. Drinks: Excellent selection and the quality of the cocktails is first class. I'd particularly recommend the Black Forest martini. Service was friendly but on the slow side. I also found the seats a little uncomfortable (albeit they looked good!). Overall a good experience and I would recommend a visit.