please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Not much to be said that hasn't been said already. Great pub, great beer and the staff are top notch.
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Brums finest pub.
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This is a fantastic pub, currently surrounded by large building sites. Newcomers might find the location a bit obscure (unless they have come by bus) but it is well worth seeking out.
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Wow! What a choice of beers from micro breweries. A must when in Brum.
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Save the Bowling Green, New Street, Leamington Spa.
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This place is excellent for local Beer. I never miss the Church End Beer festival.
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Not been in for a few weeks but have to say what a lovely place this is. I always try to get here when I am in Brum. Highly Recommended.
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I love this place. Top Marks.
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I really like the beer in the pub and the huge, ever changing selection of real ales. Its a very nice, traditional, Victorian boozer. The traditional pub food looks nice too. Its certainly popular, but I have not tried it yet. Yet somehow, the fact that its divided into 'small' rooms and is popular, I find this pub a bit dark and claustrophobic. But that's just me. Go in and try the beer!
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Easily my favourite pub in Brum, but I have been going in there since I were a lad. Part of my going to St Andrews ritual, a few in the Anchor then the walk to the ground. A brilliant and ever changing range of beers to try with regular festivals. The food is great value and hearty. Gets packed at times but rightly so, it is a classic.
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Excellant Ale. Not like any other pub I Know. The is passion in this pub for the art of Beer Keeping. Birminghams best pub by miles. Its like a beer festival on every trip. Keep it up. Recommended. If i could give a rating of more than 10 I would.
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Called in on Tuesday and found 4 beers new to me. There would have been 5 but I had to return one as it had gone off and it was replaced - no problem. Still a brilliant pub for finding new brewery beers.
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A four-roomed Victorian pub in the dingy side streets of Digbeth, The Anchor has just won Birmingham CAMRA pub of the year for the 4th time. There is always a good range of constantly changing Real Ales - at least 3 on a weekday and around 8 at the weekend.
There is a pool table in the front bar and a jukebox in the rear lounge. The decor has been maintained as original as possible, including a snob screen that helps form the snug.
The food offering has recently been vastly improved and there are some good home-cooked offerings at very reasonable prices. The staff are generally quite friendly and helpful. It is also home to friendly Birmingham City supporters that welcome well-behaved visiting fans who enjoy a good pint.
This is probably the best pub in the world. Rates 10.
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Very traditional Brummie Irish pub with a fantastic range of real ales.It has a very good cook but could do with a more extensive menu.Great on match days if you are a Blues fan!.Has won award for best real ale pub in Brum.
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Came across this place by chance, when walking from New Street railway station to the Paragon Hotel on a dark, rainy evening without a map (on reflection, perhaps not a very sensible thing to do as the industrial estates behind Digbeth bus station are not exactly the most salubrious parts of town). Anyway, the place is full of character and has a great range of real ales. Thoroughly recommended.
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Great proper pub. Had a trip to Birmingham for football and made sure we found this pub. Well kept real ales, good atmosphere. Worth a trip to Birmingham just for this place which deserves the awards it has.
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I have had 2 great visits this month. Last week I attended the presentation of CAMRA pub of the year 2007 and a great night it was too. I was there again last night for my Haggis and Neeps. There was a superb selection of Scottish Ales, well served as usual in this friendly local.
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I hadn't been in for about a year but it never disappoints you when you go back....great range of ales (about 30 on?), great interior and traditional lounge/bar set up, and a good juke box which had been upgraded. You really know what the fuss is about here.
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thought might be a bit of an old mans pub! but was really nice, friendly staff and good music on the jukebox and my first real ale!recommended by a member of staff. will return!
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The Anchor is fully deserving of its P.O.T.Y. 2007 for Birmingham. Almost spoilt for choice once again on 28/12/07 when I had the pleasure to spend an hour or two sampling the beers.
A somewhat lively pool game was in progress on my arrival, and I enjoyed the pleasant company of two Camra guys with a railway interest up in Birmingham for a special cross-country event.
Still smelt fairly strongly of paint following the recent redecoration of the interior - but don't let that put you off, the beer soon dealt with that! The decorators did a fine job and, apart from this, the interior of the pub remains unchanged.
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On a stag weekend in Brum I went into The Anchor Inn on the off-chance. It had just won the CAMRA award and I can see why - lovely interior broken up into smaller bars/booths, twelve ales on - the ones I had were great - and friendly staff. The only thing wrong with it was an old chap who kept tapping his beermat on the table (why not put a drink on it instead?!). Not too much of a problem though, I simply moved seats - of which there are plenty. Top pub.
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Cant complain when you walk in this grade 2 listed building and enjoy a nice cold pint. been good on my viists... Beer well kept and the pub has recently been awared as per comments below...recommended
Seaman Max
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Bostin boozer
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Congratulations to the Anchor for being awarded Birmingham CAMRA pub of the year 2007. Gerry and the staff deserve the praise for the excellent beer they serve from the micro breweries, both from new and old favourites. Nice to see the decorators in too. Well done.
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Always had a good pint in here personally whether it was ale or cider and thats the main thing in my eyes. The changing line-up always brings in the nerdy beer-spotter types but the rest of the locals are sound and last time I was in the girls behind the bar were a top laugh and eager to serve which is always a bonus. This place makes a night in just Digbeth itself worthwhile and when your ready to breathe beer fumes over unsuspecting birds you can head down the street to the Sanctuary club.
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A down to earth pub, perhaps in need of decorating inside but welcoming nonetheless
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A real gem just 10 minutes walk from railway stations 5 from 2 minutes from Digbeth coach station. Always has a vast selection of ales
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Always worth a visit as they get new breweries and unusual beers in. Regular beer festivals held too. An intersting pub with various rooms including the non smoking room separated from the main bar area by a partition, and a quieter lounge area away from the main bar with its pool table.
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Decent beer but a bit hit & miss in terms of atmosphere
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Decent beer but bar staff lack personality and enthusiasm.A good place to pop into if your heading to or from the coach station.
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Traditional unspoilt pub within easy reach of Birmingham City Centre. 4 seperate rooms. Note the original partitioning between the large main public bar and the much tinier snug. Pub is listed in the CAMRA National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. There is a good range of real ales for the enthusiast, predominantly local micros. I had a pint of Styrian Goldings from the Outlaw Brewing Co -and very palatable it was too.
To the previous contributor who feels the interior is "dowdy and oldish" all I would say somewhat sarcastically is - let's modernise Stonehenge, Canterbury Cathedral etc, now wouldn't that be cool !
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A drinkers pub, a smoke free area, real ales, good range, cant give this pub the accolade it could have, just lacks the character for me, maybee its the overall feeling, hurry to serve you staff, and no familiarity/joviality, not rude just efficient, also the pub has retained its original victorian decor, wich for some is ok but for me dowdy and oldish, you know the brown ceiling feeling.
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A classic English boozer, fast disappearing. Probably as it was 40+ years ago. The sort of pub Londoners really want.
A full range of beers for the bitter drinker.
As a MILD drinker pleased to see 2 of these were on tap and at the time of my visit there was Hobson’s Mild from my native Cleobury Mortimer and a delicious Beijing Black (Pig) Mild from Pot Belly Brewing Co of Kettering.
So a good score for this pub on behalf of serious MILD drinkers.
In addition the pub served a range of draught German wheat beers and a range of traditional fruit wines.
Basic and good value food to help mop up a few pints of excellent MILD.
Top of the Shop!
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This has got to be the best pub in the cuntry, a real gem in its own time-warp. Part of our Birmingham mini MILD trail which began at the Wellington took in the Lamp Tavern and back to the Wellington. Other pubs in this area don't even cater for the MILD drinker but here we had several pints of Hobsons MILD from Cleobury and Bieging Black (pig) 4.4% MILD from the Pot Belly Brewery in Kettering. Both drinks were excellently kept, service was very friendly and first class, everyone knew their beers.
Besides the MILDS there were loads of other cask ales for the bitter drinker. Loddon Ferrymans Extra, Outlaw Hoptastic, Highgate Old Ember, Church End Pint of Two Halves, Blakemore Spirit of 66, Moor Pennine Deltic, John Logie Bear and a 6% Brunswick Black Sabbath. There were also foreign beers, Dortmunder Original and Erdinger wheat beer as well as a range of Cheddar Valley wines.
Couldn't believe the price of the food, I get fed up with being charged restaurant prices for food in pubs so don't bother eating in them but here it was a real bargain, a variety of burgers and 10" baguettes for under £2 with nothing much over £3, delicious.
On our Saturday afternoon visit the place was quite busy the atmosphere cosy and a quick mooch round the pub revealed three other smaller even cosier rooms. Forgot to look at the outside area. Decor throughout looked original and unspoilt, just how it should be.
A well deserved 10/10 from me.
Back home in Wolverhampton we have no pub like this and on our recent London MILD trail we found nothing even close to this place. If this place was in London the real ale drinking Londoners would just have to move in.
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Partly a scoopers pub with many a guest ale, partly alocal's
pub geared to the Irish communit, with a multi-room layout
accomodating non-smokers (the front bar can get boisterous).
Note that the full roster of guests is only available at weekends.
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Called in here on Sat. 21st Jan 2006 while on our Real Ale Tasting Society - R.A.T.S. 12th Anniversary 'Crawl'. Brilliant atmosphere, and Staff were very friendly ! Beers and Cider were on top form. One NOT to miss while in Birmingham. They hold 'themed' Beer Festivals practically every month !
Cheers ...
Dave,
The Sec-RAT-ary,
Real Ale Tasting Society - R.A.T.S.,
Llantrisant Old Town,
Mid Glamorgan,
www.the-rats.org
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Another superb night of "scoops". Of particular interest was Canavan's "Dublin to Liverpool" stout, 4.5%. Everything a stout should be, thick and warming without being heavy, yet aromatic with a hint of smoked sausage. Smooth mouthfeel. Great.
Top marks also for WF6 brewery's Christmas Cracker. An exquisite combination of fruit and bitterness made this a good session ale despite its 4.2% ABV rating.
This was one of my best visits (beerwise) to the Anchor.
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Possibly pips the City Tavern (by Five Ways rail stn) for best pub in Brum. Digbeth (Brum's version of Kilburn)'s a good area for a session anyway, but the sheer choice of beers and the atmosphere in this magnificent old boozer take some beating. Friendly staff and cheap food don't hurt either.
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Another "out of towner" and another happy punter. Very impressed with decor and the beer. I'll definately go back.
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I agree with previous comments - as an "out of towner", I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this pub on my ( first ever ) recent evening visit last week. Splendidly traditional decor - its on the CAMRA National Inventory of unspoilt interiors. Try the Hobsons Bitter if you get the chance, if not there will always be something else worth trying, evidently. Pub is a bit of a walk from Birmingham City Centre, but well worth it. Highly recommended
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Fantastic! Can't believe I lived in Brum for three years & never knew about this place. Its a bit of a walk from anywhere else but its worth it! Superb selection of beers, great building, friendly staff and great atmosphere. The real thing.
anonymous - 24 Mar 2005 18:20 |
Great place. Example to all pubs wishing to serve good beer, good food and not keep people waiting at the bar. Excellent
Arnie - 22 Feb 2005 16:33 |
Do not miss this pub if you live in or visit Birmingham. Good real ale and good example of a real corner plot local town pub. regular beer festivals.
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Still a superb pub - last night was no exception. Oakham White Dwarf amongst the excellent beers on offer. I also noted that food is served at certain times of the day, with curries being a speciality - best phone the pub for further details.
Also, the locals are a charming eclectic bunch, friendly and approachable, 't is a must-visit pub. I cannot remember why my original rating was only eight points, I have today upgraded it to a full 10/10.
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agree with all comments below. The pub has a gr8 atmosphere and is worth going to especially with all the festivals. The best beers are usually the Church End ones, "scoopers" should ring pub and find out what's on b/4 going - I'm not sure if they have a web sight
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Great little real ale boozer tucked just near the bus station. The place has a great selection of ales plus a nice 'worn' feel about the place.
Eamonn - 21 Aug 2004 16:41 |
Absolutely brilliant! Shame it's in Birmingham and not nearer to where I live!!!
anon - 7 Jul 2004 01:35 |
Excellent street corner local with separate rooms. Good range of beers. Has several beer festivals throughout the year.
John - 8 Mar 2004 13:02 |
I agree with Lee who seems to like the same pus as me!! TASTE!!!
The Anchor is just a belter of a pub. You see the same faces usually or are they just there the same times that I am??? Beer is always good and there are usually one or two continental (Belgian style) beers on draft! Worth a visit anytime, but get a train or a bus!!!
Andrew - 29 Jan 2004 11:00 |
A real classic. A beer-orientated boozer in the back streets of Birmingham. Very friendly staff serve up to 8 ales most of which come from micro and regional breweries with a smile. The pub is divided into three rooms, the largest of which has a pool table. Frequent beer festivals. The most recent one featured Church End ales. Special offers include every 7th pint free. Jukebox features rock, heavy metal and a comprehensive Irish selection, all of which are played at a moderate volume allowing comfortable conversation. Within 20 mins walk from Birmingham New Street, or a short bus ride away. A MUST for any beer lover finding himself/herself in Birmingham by accident or design!
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