Birmingham pubs and bars

We arrived at the Charlotte Street / Newhall Street Travelodge after 4pm on Tuesday 28 May after a bus ride from Dudley. This hotel is on the southern edge of the Jewellery Quarter in a quiet location near Birmingham's extensive canal network.

View to southwest from Newhall Street

After checking in, we walked northeast up Charlotte Street towards the railway arches for the line that runs from Snow Hill to the Jewellery Quarter and beyond. 

We passed the attractive sloping square space with St Paul's church in the middle.

At the junction of Charlotte Street with Livery Street we noticed the large building that will house Indian Brewery and its Taproom later in 2024. The brewer was by the open doorway when we passed.

We continued under the railway as far as Constitution Hill where we noticed Hen & Chickens on the corner but only stopped to take a photo, not realising that it was a Cask and Curry desi pub.

Indian Brewery, Snowhill

We turned back and soon reached the Indian Brewery Taproom in two railway arches, just before the side entrance to Snow Hill station. It was a nice surprise to be greeted by the Indian Brewery's brewer who was at the entrance and recognised us after we had passed him earlier.

There's a beer menu in the window which includes two cask ales.

We found a sunny spot to sit by the full height windows and ordered Indian Brewery Pekok lager which was chilled and refreshing and served with a smile by friendly bar staff.

The lower room has some individual tables and chairs and a window to the kitchen while the main bar has a long table with bench seating.

We would return here on Wednesday evening for 'Faat Naan' curries.

The Good Intent

Based near Stourbridge, Craddock's Brewery have an outlet in a Birmingham arcade. It was only a short walk from the Indian Brewery to find The Good Intent at 32-33 Great Western Arcade, which has an entrance opposite the main entrance to Snow Hill station. It's a Non Profit Bar donating profits to local charities.

They have a shortage of half pint glasses and my Saxon Gold was served in a Brooklyn lager glass!

We would return to this bar with Mark Geeson, Jon Gadd and CAMRA friends tomorrow for our third rendezvous of this trip.

Jon Gadd is on the left of the group at the bar in the photo above. It was interesting to see the casks elevated to the left of the bar in a cooled environment. 

A mini blackboard on the bar lists bottled beers available from the fridge including Dutch and Belgian options.

Thanks to Mark Geeson for supplying this photo of our group at the back of the Good Intent taken by Meg Thomas. 

The Colmore Tap

The Colmore Tap, a collaborative project between Thornbridge Brewery and Pivovar was the next destination after our second visit to The Colmore Tap. It was a short walk to find it, on the other side of the cathedral.

There's a handsome bar with the keg taps set in a slab of marble on the wall behind.

My choice of beer was Big Ozzy, named after a mechanical bull named after Ozzy Osbourne who was born in the city. Weighing in at 5.6% ABV, the IPA is a collaboration between Thornbridge Brewery and Birmingham based Burning Soul Brewing Company. 

Our group was able to enjoy our beers in a pleasant partially screened area at the back of the room with comfortable leather banquette seating and marble topped tables.

Purecraft Bar and Kitchen

Our next move was just around the corner of Waterloo Street to Purecraft Bar and Kitchen after a brief stop to get a photo of the 'Floozie in the Jacuzzi' en route!

There are 20 beers listed on the blackboard behind the bar including Purity Brewing beers from the five handpumps on the bar.

Luckily there was plenty of room to accommodate our large group in comfort as the photo below from Mark Geeson taken by Meg Thomas shows.

Sommar Birmingham

The Sommar bar is just across Waterloo Street from Purecraft. (The Sommar Brewery and Taproom overlooks the canal at Utilita Arena and is only open from Thursday to Saturday.)

Twenty draught beers and ciders are listed on the screen behind the bar including a Milkshake IPA brewed by Sommar. There is a mixture of comfortable seating options and plenty of space for our group.

The main group would visit the Post Office Vaults next and Tim took a farewell group photo before heading to the Prince of Wales with Meg, passing Birmingham Library (below right) and Repertory Theatre (below left) in Centenary Square on the way.

Prince of Wales

Unlike the main group we had not yet visited a Black Country Ales pub on this trip so this was an opportunity to catch up. The Prince of Wales is situated on Cambridge Street, behind the International Convention Centre (ICC). 

We entered by the left hand door and found the pub busy with many tables occupied but we were able to find a good table at the back of the room.

There are framed historic photos of Birmingham and its canals on the walls. Apart from the Old Contemptibles, a Nicholson's pub near Snow Hill station that offers a CAMRA discount, where we had first met the main group after their arrival from Wolverhampton at lunchtime, this was the most traditional of all the pubs we had visited today. 

We had spent Wednesday morning with breakfast the The Briar Rose (JD Wetherspoon) followed by a visit to the Victorian Radicals exhibition organised by Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery at the Gas Hall.

On Tuesday night, our bus from the Figure of Eight (JD Wetherspoon) towards our hotel had passed the Prince of Wales but this evening we had the chance to walk there directly along the towpath, passing Farmer's Bridge locks on the way.

The Jam House

Later on Wednesday evening, we walked back to the Indian Brewery for a meal (see earlier section) and then enjoyed some live music at The Jam House, St Paul's Square on the way back. We were lucky to find Acoustic Sessions with Ben Drummond on this date, a free monthly event at the impressive venue which features live music on several nights of the week. Mainstream keg beers and ciders are served at the bar.

The Jewellery Quarter

On Thursday 29 May, the last day of our trip to the Midlands, we went for a morning walk around Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. Our Travelodge hotel had copies of the useful free Heritage Trail multifold leaflet produced by the Jewellery Quarter BID to guide and educate us. 

Other guides are produced by the JQ Business Improvement District including an Ale Trail. 

We passed two pubs of interest on the route but they had not opened for the day yet. The substantial Rose Villa Tavern, also featured on the cover of the Heritage Trail leaflet behind the Chamberlain Clock, has an interior recognised by CAMRA as being of outstanding national historic importance.

The Jewellers Arms, 23 Hockley Street, is a Black Country Ales pub serving beers brewed at its brewery in Gornal.

Today's breakfast in the Jewellery Quarter was at Costa Coffee, 32 Frederick Street. Subsequent research shows that this handsome building dates from 1914 and was built as a manufactory for E.L. Guide Ltd, Diamond Mounters. It is now Grade II Listed.

Returning to our hotel, we passed a 'peaky blinder'! After collecting our bags and checking out before 12pm, we walked to Snow Hill station to catch a local train to Worcester Foregate Street via Stourbridge on the way back to Newbury via Reading.

A final view of Birmingham was taken from the platform looking southwest towards an A38 Queensway tunnel. There are lots of reasons to revisit Birmingham soon but not roads like this dividing the city!

Wordsley, Sedgley and Dudley

The day's beer highlights would be The Beacon Hotel, Sedgley (Sarah Hughes), The Britannia Inn, Upper Gornal (Batham's) and the Dudley Winter Ales Fayre.

On Thursday 28 November, after breakfast at the Talbot Hotel, Stourbridge, our first bus of the day took us north towards Wordsley. Our famous five (Mark, Bod, Graham, Trevor and Tim) alighted just after the bus crossed the Stourbridge Canal via Glasshouse Bridge. We recrossed the arching bridge on foot and crossed the road to visit the Red House Glass Cone and Stourbridge Crystal Glass Centre.

Dudley Council now manage the Red House Glass Cone as a free tourist attaction.

Inside, remnants of the once thriving glass industry include the Lehr (annealing oven) where glass items could gradually cool as trays were slowly moved away from the hottest area. It is the only remaining example in the world.

Travelling by bus to The Beacon Hotel involved changes in Dudley and Sedgley (near the Clifton). The Clifton originally opened as a cinema in 1937 and became a Wetherspoon pub in 1998.

The Beacon Hotel, Sedgley

We arrived later than planned, more than an hour after the noon opening time.

On arrival at The Beacon Hotel, with 'Doc' Robert having joined en route, I took a photo of Mark taking a photo at the front entrance of the traditional Victorian Public House!

Inside we found the remaining 'Farnham Trubbelers' installed in a far corner of the large back room and they had saved some space for us.

My first beer here was Sarah Hughes Pale Amber which was pleasantly sweet. (£1.40 1/2 pint).

View from counter for back room [Photo: Mark Geeson]

The small central bar has three small counters including one to serve the back room.

There are two chimney breasts where coal fires were burning with a minimal Christmas tree decoration on each mantelpiece, in the back room.

This is a large building with a new conservatory at the side overlooking a lawn and the car park.

Passing through the conservatory leads to a broad hall with the entrance to the Sarah Hughes brewery and decorated with framed CAMRA award certificates..

The toilets are found on the other side of the hall.

Lunchtime closing is 2.30pm from Monday to Thursday at the Beacon Hotel but there was still time for me to enjoy a half pint of Sarah Hughes Surprise (£1.45) served with a creamy head and reminiscent of a Belgian Tripel. This went nicely with a pork pie.
Our group enjoyed a conversation with John (75) a local regular customer who told us 'You're in the Black Country, everything's brilliant!'.

Of course, no visit to the Beacon Hotel would be complete without a dimpled glass of the glorious Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild (£3 pint)!

The Britannia, Upper Gornal, Sedgley

It was still raining outside so we caught buses to reach our next destination - Batham's The Britannia Inn.

Inside the pub, after ordering our beers at the main front bar, we chose the back room, on the left side, to sit in. CAMRA's Historic Pub Interiors describes this room as having the, now rare, arrangement of a servery without a counter.

I enjoyed my pint of pale Batham's Best Bitter with a cheese and onion cob (roll) for £4.55.

There is a patio garden area behind the pub, better suited to summer weather! Another idea for a fine day is to follow Mappiman's four mile circular walk from the pub to gain far-reaching views and a chance to sample Holden's beer at the Chapel House (Miners Arms) in Lower Gornal.

Before leaving there was an opportunity to take a photo of the carpeted room at the front which is situated to the right of the main entrance.

The bull's head tiles that feature in Batham's pubs were spotted in the passage leading to the toilets at the back.

Dudley Winter Ales Fayre

Mark Geeson and Tony Lea needed to arrive at Dudley Town Hall by 5pm, as CAMRA volunteers, to help prepare for the opening of the Dudley Winter Ales Fayre at 5.30pm.
After the bus ride back to Dudley, some of us walked to The Full Moon, a Wetherspoon pub for water, coffee or beer according to individual tastes and appetites.

Tim with festival glass - early doors - Cheers!

We returned to Dudley Town Hall for admission to the festival soon after opening time.

The admission package included a programme, a half pint glass (refundable) and a sheet with tokens to pay for beer and cider. Thursday was 'quiet night' but there would be live music on other nights.

Gerald Daniels (Crookham Travel) at top left with 'Farnham Trubbelers' at Dudley Winter Ales Fayre

As relatively early arrivals we were able to join a friendly table that included several locals. Philip Wildsmith (on right of photo) has been involved with Yapton Beerex, a CAMRA beer festival held at Yapton and Ford Village Hall in West Sussex. Visitors arrive from several different countries to attend this festival and I hope to visit the 31st edition in 2020 (15-17 May).

Most of the cask beers I sampled were 1/3 pint measures priced at £1.10 or £1.20. My favourites, as recorded on Untappd, were: North Riding US IPA V32 (ABV 5.5%) a hoppy beer brewed with Citra and Loral hops and Kinver Quindecim (ABV 4.5%) with honey sweetness, brewed to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the brewery.

I also enjoyed a third of Green Duck Wheach, a peach flavoured wheat beer, from the Key Keg bar, priced at £1.60.

The Little Devils food menu for the festival included local favourites: Samosas (£1.20); Gray Paes and Bacon (£2.50) and Bread Pudding (80p).
After spending £10 worth of tokens and sampling a variety of mainly pale beers, it was time for me to leave at 10pm and catch a bus back to Stourbridge.

Now a routine, I ducked into the Duke William, my favourite Stourbridge pub, for a nightcap after the bus journey. A half pint of Craddock's Troll, pale and fruity, would be my final Black Country beer on this visit.