BITE user comments - Roy22
Comments by Roy22
Fairly well kept community pub in a quiet, pleasant suburban area. A few TV screens showing sport, but not too intrusive. Smartly decorated and comfortable front room. Landlord not especially welcoming to strangers. Being a Marston's pub, beer offerings weren't amazing, but the unusually good Banks’s Sunbeam was on and very enjoyable. Lovely old real fireplace half way down, pool table to rear. As ROBCamra rightly said a few years back, probably not a pub you’d travel to especially, but a decent one to spend some time in if in the area.
12 Feb 2015 19:00
The Dolphin Pub has been renovated and reopened by the Joules Brewery. Visually, it’s very attractive, with plenty of wood and brass on show, leather seats, and a decked outdoor area for smokers (overlooking the railway). The bar is central as you enter, with a U-shaped seating area spreading either side of it. There’s a dart board to the left extreme.
But there is a problem: Beer. We worked our way through all the Joules hand pumps without finding anything we remotely liked. ‘Bland and insipid’ sprung to mind, being hard to differentiate them much. Turning to the two guest pumps, ‘Bass’ and Muirhouse ‘Tick Tock’, both failed to score any better. Wall displayed pump clips from many great breweries including Thornbridge and Oakhams left a tantalising glimpse of what had been before. We noticed another visitor leave half of his only pint unfinished as he went.
We liked the physical appearance of The Dolphin, much good work has been done here, though I’d drop the dartboard as no-one dared sit in the nearby seats despite being quite busy. We really wanted to stay longer, and had been given high expectations from locals’ reports, but they were dashed. It reminded us of our impression of the Bricklayers Arms a few years ago, Joules having likewise delivered a lovely interior but mediocre beer.
If the Dolphin could keep at least one reliable guest beer on, it would be worth the trip to visit. But with the in-house brews so dull, it’ll be a while before we risk it again.
5 Oct 2014 18:53
The plain exterior and Doorman on duty outside almost persuaded us to skip trying the Greyhound, but we went in anyway and were very glad we did!
Internally completely modernised, comfy sofas and tables in the front room, to the rear a room with many more tables. On a Friday night it was pretty much heaving, a good natured mix of all ages. The central bar had several real ales and a few more ‘craft beers’, the gas-dispensed modern alternative to real ales but often highly creative &unusual which more than compensates. Barman very friendly & helpful, even topped my pint up for free when I spilt a bit! Food served from nearby kitchens. Felt like a bustling friendly place where all were having fun. A very pleasant surprise.
21 Aug 2014 19:30
Actually a hotel with pub part accessed from side entrance. Lots of wood paneling, covered with film pictures (mostly old) with what little wall space remaining taken by pubby artefacts. Old red phone box in one corner. Food being served at tables when we arrived, which smelt OK. The barmaid was very friendly & helpful, offering us a three thirds taster of their home brews for £3.20. Sadly, none tasted great to us, a comment other BITE reviewers have made, to my palate an odd antiseptic flavour to a couple of them. There were other offerings on at the bar which we didn't try. If this place could improve its beer we’d gladly return, but Derby’s no place to be so-so on that front.
21 Aug 2014 19:18
Lovely backstreet boozer, attractively modernised both outside and in. About 6 real ales on, in good condition, served in handled ‘dimpled’ beer glasses, a nice touch from the past. Wide, changing selection of beers. Dog friendly. Bar staff prompt and welcoming. Seemed to attract a nice group of locals when we visited. Board announces live music every Thursday 8-11pm, though we haven’t sampled that yet. Upstairs open too, though rooms distant from the bar never have quite the same atmosphere in any pub. Overall, felt like a genuine, friendly pub getting everything right. Will return soon
21 Aug 2014 18:54
Set on a relatively modern estate, on the northern outskirts of the Derby City Centre CAMRA crawl. A couple of large rooms with a pool table in one and at the bar about four real ales including Salopian Lemon Dream.
Very much a Community pub, quite busy for early Friday evening. In one room, a family with young children running about freely put us slightly on edge; in the other room, the noise of Sky Sports competing with background music created a different kind of din. Overall, probably fine if this is your local, but a little too noisy for us to feel relaxed or stay long. One to try if in the area, but not to travel for.
21 Aug 2014 18:42
I can only agree with the earlier comment about bar staff ‘attitude’.
We called in for a swift half about 10pm on Saturday night to find this multi-room pub almost empty. The four staff behind the bar were chatting to a few blokes propping it up. After a few moments, my partner ordered a drink from a young blond girl (Aussie/NZ accent?). She then returned to chatting with the customers she had been talking to, about exchanging email addresses and such lovely stuff.
After about 30 seconds of this entertainment, and with a train to catch at the nearby station, my partner asked ‘Are we going to get served’? The chit-chat stopped instantly, and the young girl turned to a male colleague and said we ‘were rude’. I pointed out that ignoring a customer is rude. Her male colleague then intervened and politely served us, as she had failed to do.
Whilst I can understand a member of staff ‘chewing the cud’ with someone she likes at the bar, this should never be whilst customers wait. Owners of The Brunswick please note: There are far too many wonderful pubs in Derby to ruin yours with an ill-mannered young fool.
11 Aug 2014 18:34
What a shock. We returned to a once favourite haunt to find it almost empty and in a miserable state.
A few years ago, we’d often visit the White Lion on a Saturday night, having had many enjoyable evenings there. Back then, the Lounge was comfortable with a decent juke box for those who wanted it. The public bar would be fairly full, with occasional bands or other acts playing on a tiny stage area to one end. How things have changed.
Arriving early Friday evening, we headed for the Lounge only to find every table set for food – but not a single diner there. A pool table (also empty) had appeared at the far end, rarely an improvement to any pub. As non-diners, we felt obliged to head to the next-door public bar. The barman was playing darts with what appeared to be the only customer. He broke away from his darts match to serve us, only to return to his game afterwards. This is a pet hate of ours, bar staff who are busy with their mates/laptop/accounts, as the customers then feels like a disturbance to their routine.
The beer range was Wye Valley IPA, Adnam's Southwold Bitter and Marston's Pedigree. With the latter almost always a disappointment, we opted for the Adnams which proved fairly dull. I was glad we’d only ordered halves, whereas my partners regretted not walking out.
A large, old TV had been dumped at one end of the public bar, presumably to entertain the bored staff, but killing any chance of atmosphere or conversation as a result. The cook, in the absence of any customers, kept appearing to sit down and watch it. We could smell the kitchen’s deep fat fryer heating in the hope of some customers, but this didn't smell very nice. My partner visited the ladies toilet to find a large bin full to bursting with what she guessed was well over a week’s worth of waste, something you might have expected the bored staff to have dealt with. The ‘Specials Board’ listed Chilli, Cottage Pie, Ploughman's & Steak Salad, leaving us wondering just how more basic the standard menu could have been.
Asking locally, it seems the owners we fondly remembered left a few years ago. Since then, the PubCo has changed, and several new landlords have passed through in quick succession. The latest crew are rumoured to be just holding the place whilst a ‘Change of Use’ planning application is made, presumably to change it away from its pub history forever. CAMRA are said to be fighting this, but I have to say things don't look optimistic. The phrase ‘running down to close’ was used by one local, and based on our visit, that seems spot on.
10 Aug 2014 19:54
The newer and smaller relative of the flagship Marble Arch on Rochdale Rd, this Thomas St branch of the Marble Brewery chain takes advantage of the growing Bohemian atmosphere of the Northern Quarter.
One long table (with two smaller ones in the window) create a more convivial atmosphere, at busier times encouraging friendly chat. Casks are bar mounted and gravity dispensed, the range of four favouring the excellent lower strength session beers like 'Pint' and 'Best'. This limited range thankfully excludes the novelty 'beer the same strength of wine' offerings which have become a pest at the Marble Arch, though there's plenty of this stuff for sale bottled if you miss it.
There's also fridge full of bottled belgian beers. There's a pleasingly wide range of snacks and sandwiches, much of it Mediterranean inspired, for those who are peckish, without the Marble Arch's gastropub menu which can leave session beer drinkers feeling out of place.
Having just one unisex toilet is about the only aspect which disappoints, but like the bar-mounted casks that another reviewer complained of, this is unavoidable for such a small venue. A great place to chat with others on a Friday night or to take the papers on a Sunday.
23 Nov 2013 17:21
It’s been a while since we last visited The Woodman, and so we were hoping it would be as nice as our last visit. We weren't disappointed.
Just a few minutes walk from the train station, The Woodman has a lounge and public bar. The lounge is wood panelled, with tasteful decoration, whilst the public bar with TV was more populated. Beer-wise, we were very happy. Pictish, Saltaire, Ossett and a couple of other pumps were well chosen, with strengths upto 4.5% - ideal for session drinking.
Generous cheese cobs are always welcome with us, and staff were consistently friendly. We were on a crawl around Shrewsbury, but in truth we could have happily stayed at the Woodman, being perhaps our overall favourite in this area. Well worth the train fare.
28 Jun 2013 20:01
The Salford Arms Hotel, Salford
This recently refurbished pub is transformed from the grotty old place it used to be. Scattered, varied armchairs and tables create a Bohemian feeing. Three changing real ales were in good condition. It felt young and lively, with a pool table too. Our only real criticism is that on a snowy January day it was far too cold! We would have stayed longer, but for being frozen.
The wider front corner lounge area was empty and appeared locked, which seemed odd, maybe they’re weren't not enough bar staff when we called to open it fully. Lovers of old Salford may mourn the transformation of old boozers into new ones aimed at young monied punters from the nearby flats, but we say it's an awful lot better than dereliction. A pleasing addition to Salford.
10 Feb 2013 19:07
Hidden little backstreet boozer sandwiched between factory units in an area being developed for housing. A three roomed pub, open fires, some tasteful renovation evident, comfortable. Quiet on a Friday afternoon, the three hand pumps were Holts IPA & Bitter, and Wells Bombardier. I'm not a fan of mass market breweries, but we thought the two Holts were in good condition regardless. It was a shame the only alternative on was a relatively dull choice.
The barmaid took care to check the Bombardier before serving, which was a nice touch. A recent newspaper article says former Coronation Street star Rupert Hill (‘Jamie Baldwin’) has recently taken the place over. It certainly looks lovely from the outside, and the recent internal renovations (upholstering, tasteful pictures) add to the place. Toilets were clean too. We like the feel of the place, but would need to see the real ale choice improved to visit often. It’s not in a situation where anyone will stumble across it by accident, but equally it's only 5 mins walk from the other notable Salford boozers around Chapel Street. A good addition to a Salford pub crawl which just needs whatever real ale beer choice improvement can be negotiated for a tied pub.
10 Feb 2013 19:01
A bohemian music pub hosting regular plays and other events upstairs. Ten changing real ales, in excellent condition. Feels like a friendly community pub. A bit youthful/studendty (featured in the recent ‘Fresh Meat’ TV series), but there were plenty of us older people there when we called. Toilets could do with a bit of a refurb I think.
Our only real criticism was the food. Initially appetising, our veggie cheese burger with homemade onion rings and chips was one of the greasiest meals we've ever had, and we both regretted ordering it only half way through. I think there’s more to cooking than the heavy handed use of a deep fat fryer.
But food excepted, a worthy real ale Salford pub.
28 Jan 2013 21:26
The Briton's Protection Hotel, Castlefield
This historic listed building is greatly loved. A smaller front bar hides two tastefully decorated rear rooms. Well managed, quick & attentive staff put in a highly professional service. The clientele attracted tend to be discerning, often including musicians from the nearby Bridgewater Hall, promoting interesting chat in the cosy rear rooms.
But this place can get very busy. Large groups hoping to find a table are expecting a lot.
A very large whisky range is a pleasant change, but if there is one problem with the Britons Protection, it's the Beer. A Robinsons pub, the standard offerings will do little for beer lovers. Two hand pumps given over to alternative breweries will often, but not always, offer something worth drinking. Recently, one of those has been assigned to a brew made in honour of Guy Garvey from Elbow, who loves this pub. Sadly, it's another mediocre Robinsons creation.
Beer choice for these 1 or 2 non-tied pumps seems poor. Whilst the strength (usually under 4.5% ABV) is wise, the taste is consistently a sweeter, caramel sort of taste, regardless of brewery. I can only assume this is the personal taste of whoever does the choosing, but in my experience, sharper citrus type beers are far more widely liked. A price of �3.30+ a pint does nothing to soften the blow of another dull pint.
So, a beautiful, well managed pub, but one which needs to carefully consider its real ale choices if it isn't going to vanish from the radars of beer connoisseurs.
23 Jul 2012 19:05
Reopened........but don't bother!
The closure of the Black Lion in Salford, over a year ago, was a tragic loss. Tim Flynn, the excellent landlord of the nearby New Oxford, had done wonders in his brief tenure. But rumour has it that impossibly high rents charged by the owners forced him out.
So when we heard it had reopened a few months ago, we were interested. It was however, a big dissappointment. Calling in on a Saturday night, we found it to be as rammed full and raucous as any other tasteless Deansgate pub. The clientelle were young, perhaps in their twenties, and the music playing was what you'd expect for that for that target group. There was nowhere to sit, whilst the bar was surrounded by many more customers.
Of the four or five handpumps, only two were working, One was Jennings Cumberland, usually a mediocre brew which announces 'tied pub' to the world. The other was Roosters Yankee, which we were intending to try. But as the football song chanting at one end of the bar grew louder, we realised that this was a place we were never going to use, and left.
So if you want yet another loud nitrokeg pub filled with kids, give this a try. Otherwise, keep walking....
4 Dec 2011 22:03
Nice 'locals' pub, very busy on the Saturday evening we visited and it was standing room only which wasn't very comfortable given that the pub is quite small. There was a rear room given over to dining and this was empty at the time we were there, always annoying when you've travelled especially.
The beer however was excellent, we had Kelham Island 'Pale Rider', Enville's 'Enville Ale', Salopian 'Up for the Cup' and a Craddocks. There's also Bathams on. We thought the quality was excellent, but all were on the sweeter side and more of a balanced range would have been nice. Oddly, the beer pump area is very poorly lit.
Really liked the Robin Hood, but with beer this good, it would be lovely to see the dining area at least partially opened to the many eager drinkers.
28 Nov 2011 18:56
This is a quirky pub, large building in a Wild West theme which is done well, right down to the authentic looking horse blankets thrown over the beams! Lots of interesting stuff on the walls, including a roulette wheel - will have to go again to have a good look. Very decent County & Western music playing - not a fan of C& W usually but this was good. There were a few wannabie cowboys with Black Country accents, as you'd expect.
The beer was excellent, we had Jennings 'Cocker Hoop' & 'Cumberland Ale', Malvern Hills 'Cyneweard' and Dancing Duck's 'Ay Up'.
A decent walk or quick bus ride from Stourbridge town, assuming you're not on a horse, but more than worth the effort of getting there.
28 Nov 2011 18:46
Nice cosy, friendly pub, nice d�cor, lovely outdoor seating area (must try it in the summer!) Very good beer, we had Woods 'Shropshire Lad' and Three Tuns '1642 Bitter'. also available was Salopian 'Dawwins Origin'. Didn�t try it but food looked really good and was reasonably priced, Friday nights is beer battered fish and chips!
22 Nov 2011 19:01
CLOSED!! It's up for sale and locals say it shut 2 months ago. There are rumours of the Three Tuns brewery being interested, but our journey was wasted.
22 Nov 2011 18:51
The Dog and Pheasant, Shrewsbury
Nice 'locals' Marston pub in a quiet back street, two rooms, friendly bar staff and customers, nice and comfortable. 4 hand pumps, we had Everards 'Equinox' and St Austell 'Trelawny Gold' both were good.
22 Nov 2011 18:47
This will be one of our favourite pubs in Shrewsbury! Lovely old fashioned place, the lounge has wood panelling and old wooden settles with cushions to sit on in the lounge, smartly kept, and a lovely roaring fire. The bar staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. The beer quality couldn't be faulted - we had Pictish 'Columbus', Abbeydale 'Deception'. White Rose 'Honey Blonde' and Salopian 'Shropshire Gold'. All were excellent. There's a board at the bar showing what's in the cellar, tantalisingly a Kelham Island and an Ossett . Clearly this pub is choosing the right beers and keeping them perfectly!
22 Nov 2011 18:45
This pub had very good beer - we had an excellent Salopian 'Darwins Origin' and a very good Three Tuns 'Pale Ale', also available at the time was Salopian 'Oracle' and 'Golden Thread'. The pub seems to have been given a bit of a 'sports bar' makeover with sporting memorabilia on the walls, a large screen tv, quite smart looking but feels a bit cold as most of the walls are white and the lighting is a bit on the bright side. We didn't think the makeover had quite worked as intended. Sadly it was also a bit quiet for a Friday night so the atmosphere was a bit lacking, but the bar staff were very friendly and we'd definitely visit again.
22 Nov 2011 18:39
Huge pub but absolutely heaving when we visited on a Friday evening. Good quality beer, we had York 'Centennial' and Hobsons 'Twised Spires', both were excellent. Others on at the same time were Salopian 'Brewers Gold', Three Tuns 'XXX' and Shires 'Autumn Classic', There was a good selection of bottled beers and wines available too.
D�cor is a bit contrived but smart, lovely tables and chairs and various seating areas. Didn't eat there but the food appeared to be very good with some interesting things on the menu - bit pricier than the usual pub food.
22 Nov 2011 18:37
We really enjoyed this pub, bar staff and regulars were very friendly, excellent range of beers, we tried the Stonehouse Station Bitter, The Fine Ales of Scotland Jarl, Woodland Midnight Stout and Uncommonly Fine Ales Avanlanche (another good one). All the beers were in absolutely perfect condition - the Jarl was excellent. Seemed like a friendly, busy place on a Saturday night. We can't wait to visit again.
2 Oct 2011 17:29
Very comfortable old pub, friendly staff and locals, interesting signs and pictures on the wall. We tried the Taylors Landlord, Hobsons Bitter and the Ludlow Gold. The Hobsons Bitter was the best of them. Make sure you have a look at the beer garden and the amazing building outside, which attract most of the customers in summer.
2 Oct 2011 17:27
Lovely old multi-roomed pub, friendly barman, sadly the beer, Ringwood and a Jennings were pretty poor. The old multi-room layout is beautiful and demands a visit if in the area. But such a shame to see a magnificent old quirky building let down by dire beer. I just hope someone wiser takes this pub over.
2 Oct 2011 17:26
Lovely old building, nice bar area and two very comfy seating areas. Two handpumps with Salopian Gold and Three Tuns The Cure, both beers were in excellent condition. We sat on comfy sofas near the magnificant fireplace, would be lovely sitting here in the winter with that fireplace blazing away. Felt like drinking in a National Trust property, not your typical dead hotel bar! Free WiFi. We'll definitely come here again.
2 Oct 2011 17:22
The Coach and Horses, Shrewsbury
We liked this better than the Admiral Benbow, good selection of ales, we had Purple Moose Brewery's Dark Side of the Moon and Shropshire Oracle, both were very good. They also have Leffe on draught. Bar staff were very friendly and the food menu for the (rear) dining room seemed quite interesting too. Felt like a nice place to spend some time.
2 Oct 2011 17:19
Modern wine bar style, mix of ages, very busy on a Saturday night. We had the Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and the Burton Bridge Top Drop, both should have been much better than they were. Perhaps more of a social pub than a real ale drinkers one.
2 Oct 2011 17:17
The Prince of Wales, Shrewsbury
Very friendly community type pub, quite busy for a Saturday afternoon and it was lovely to sit outside on the decking area overlooking the bowling green. We tried the Hobsons Mild which was a bit too cold but the Salopian Golden Thread and the St Austell Tribute were both very good. Great beer, nice atmosphere and seemed to have a good following of regulars. Wish we had a pub like this in our neighbourhood
2 Oct 2011 17:14
The Belle Vue Tavern, Shrewsbury
We thought this pub looked better from the outside than it was on the inside. Disappointing to have the barman sat down with his mates and only manning the bar as and when people needed service. Only 1 handpull - Wells Bombardier - ok but not amazing. The Theakston Smooth Dark Extra Cool on nitrokeg was better in fact. The presence of a large Sky Sports screen doesn't improve atmosphere, in our opinion. Wouldn't bother visiting again.
2 Oct 2011 17:12
The Admiral Benbow, Shrewsbury
Not as good as we'd expected given previous reviews. Nice pub, friendly bar staff and very busy for a Saturday night. There was a good range of beers available, we tried the Titanic Anchor, Monty's Sunshine, Bishops Castle Fork Handles and Ironbridge Brewery Foundry Gold. They were all adequate but not great and we were glad we were drinking halves instead of pints. We had thought, based on reviews here, that we'd not want to carry our crawl any further once we'd reached the Admiral Benbow, but based on the four beers we tried, we were happy to move on.
2 Oct 2011 17:09
This slightly hidden pub is best reached off Newton Street, and is certainly attractive from the outside. There�s plenty of history (including some grisly) to be found by reading the information boards & newspaper cuttings near the entrance. The clientele was surprisingly old, and football was playing on a screen at the far end of the bar.
The mature landlady was not friendly, not really acknowledging us whilst serving us. The Hydes beer was in poor condition, one half was enough.
Overall, we loved the building & history, but felt let down by the poor beer and absence of any welcome.
6 Feb 2011 17:31
This tiny pub, like the nearby Grey Horse, has managed to cram rather more seating than you�d expect. Spilt into two rooms (TV in the rear), with the miniature bar appearing in the corridor as you walk in the door. The young bar maid was very friendly (didn't try to serve us sitting down, perhaps as it was quietish) and the draught Tetley�s was enjoyable. The walls are plastered with photos of (often famous) people who�ve visited what claims to be the smallest bar. Again like the Grey Horse, a small pub makes for a cosier atmosphere, it being easy to strike up a conversation with other visitors.
Overall, a surprisingly enjoyable pub which we shall definitely return to.
6 Feb 2011 17:18
The Grey Horse Inn, Manchester
The tiny exterior of this pub hides a rather larger seating area than you might expect. Seemingly very much a locals pub, the place felt immediately welcoming. The beer range is the only thing I�d change (fairly standard Hydes, I think) but the landlady was friendly and there was an amusing bit of banter with the regulars. A pub this small makes you feel like you belong there even when you�ve just walked in.
We�ve walked past this place countless times, thinking it was more a novelty than a place to drink, but based on our recent visit, we will be returning soon.
6 Feb 2011 17:11
I�m very pleased to say that the Wheatsheaf changed hands 6 months ago, and is now an altogether more welcoming pub. Gone are the chilly temperature & smell of bleach! The new owners have even installed a coal fire in one seating area, which combined with the comfy sofas, completes the �Living Room� ambience which the previous owners had let down with a few niggles.
The beer selection now includes Taylor�s Landlord, which we found to be in perfect condition. We didn�t get around to trying the others (Black Sheep Bitter, Doombar) such was the quality of the Taylor�s Landlord.
The friendly new owners seem to have the right attitude to make this attractive pub succeed. Its location, a few minutes walk from Ablewell Street in Walsall, is easily accessible via local buses, but just quiet enough not to be spoilt. We had planned to move on to the nearby White Lion, but couldn�t imagine what better it could offer. If they can keep or even improve the real ale range, I think the Wheatsheaf could easily become one of the most promising pubs in Walsall.
6 Feb 2011 17:01
We made a special effort to find the Dutton Hotel, partly due to several revues suggesting it was some kind of classic backstreet boozer.
Located behind the MEN/Victoria station area, just near the bottom of the Cheetham Hill Road, the approach via Park Street was carpeted with broken car window glass and dumped rubbish. At the far end of Park Street, it�s on the corner with Dutton Street, just before the drug rehab centre to the right. If that doesn�t raise your expectations, then you won�t be too surprised by the insides. Smelling like the smoking ban may not always apply in this area, it was very quiet, the few locals not really acknowledging our presence. The floor & seating were pretty damn filthy. In one room at the far end of the pub, there seemed to be some kind of sports screen set up. The smaller central bar area was decorated with a huge collection of old-style brass blowlamps. Unusual, but not unattractive.
The only real ale is a Holts Bitter, which we have to say was in excellent condition. And �2.20 a pint will definitely please some. But that aside, it felt like a very run down pub in rough area. We can�t see any reason to return.
6 Feb 2011 16:45
Beer_Spotter - my whole point was that if the people who 'Use rather than loose' such old boozers think that spitting on the floor, lifting your leg and farting (Oh, how we laughed) and pouring your pint slops on the floor is all OK, then that is all the pub will be left with - grubby old gits.
27 Dec 2010 18:46
The Anchor in Digbeth serves probably the finest real ale in Birmingham. Long in the hands of one family, the current landlord (Gerry) sets a standard that even the likes of the Wellington (in Bennets Hill) can�t quite match.
The pub itself is a beautiful old Victorian boozer, with a handy corner position between Bradford St & Rea St, and is about ten minutes walk from the city centre. Alternatively, several buses pass down nearby Digbeth high street, with the 50 being probably the best as it�s frequent and turns right outside the pub.
Beer festivals seem continuous at the Anchor, with usually a dozen or more hand pumps in use. The wise choice of breweries like Kelham Island, Osset and Fernandes (to name just a few), combined with Gerry�s obvious skill as a cellar man, make the Anchor a sure-fire winner on most occasions. The stained glass windows, traditional interior and friendly young barmaids only add to the charm of the place. The main bar has a smaller/quieter side room partitioned-off (once a non-smoking area), whilst there�s another room on the way to the toilets, which when not used for storage, offers a deathly quiet space away from the main area. A pool table in the main bar area in my opinion, doesn�t really justify the space it takes up,
But if there�s anything to criticise about the Anchor, it�s the clientele, who very much reflect Birmingham�s real ale scene. Dominated by �beer tickers�, these are mostly old men whose �hobby� is to sample (and then tick-off) every new ale they can get hold of. Many breweries capitalise on this source of demand by selling endless one-off real ales, but the big secret of the brewing industry is that these are usually not new at all. Most are just blends of the same few standard beers that any brewery makes, with a dash of flavouring or colorant to change them a little. Sold under novelty names usually pertinent to weather/sport/holiday seasons etc, they rarely return, and occupy much of pump space in the larger real ale pubs (Anchor, Wellington etc.).
The beer tickers following this hobby are often drinking from late morning, every single day of the week. If you think that a bunch of old men with a borderline alcohol problem make for dull company, you�d be right. The Anchor, with its forever changing beer selection, has become a magnet for such old geezers. On one recent visit, just one such 70 to 80 year old decided, after swearing profusely to himself for half an hour like someone on a dementia ward, upped his game by spitting loudly on the carpeted floor. We took flight to another room. The landlord looked concerned, but said nothing. Later, he apologised for this behaviour, but explained that the old man had been drinking there for 20 years, this apparently making it OK. He quickly agreed that they were becoming like a day-care centre for such troubled old men.
So there you have it. Beautiful pub. Friendly staff. Superb beer range. But take your own company, as you�ll find little agreeable here.
14 Nov 2010 14:05
Closed! Got here Fri 30th July, after a nightmare 4+ hour coach trip, in serious need of refreshment. Turning the corner to find the place closed was like a smack in the mouth.
The Black Lion had maintained a wonderful range & quality of real ale lately. The place was beautiful and the bar maids always charming. Only lacked one thing - sufficient customers. Damn shame.
20 Aug 2010 19:15
We first visited the Wheatsheaf a few times in 2008, and were interested in what seemed to be an interesting new real ale development. A lot of money seemed to have been spent, adding an adjoining property to extend the original Wheatsheaf pub. Exposed floorboards, comfy chairs and decorative additions created the impression of a pub designed to offer a living-room like ambience.
On our last visit in 2008, one Saturday afternoon, we had found the place distinctly chilly, and with recent mopping of the floor leaving an unpleasant bleach smell throughout. It didn't feel comfortable back then, and one way or another, it was a cold Saturday evening in November'09 before we returned to see how it had progressed, encouraged by a recent Camra award they had received.
Well, it was chilly and smelt of bleach throughout! The barmaid was sat on the steps smoking as we entered, but soon appeared to serve us. The hand pumps were mostly given over to a pretty uninspiring choice of ales: Bombardeer, Youngs, Adnams, with just one real/guest beer (Pride of Aston). We opted for the latter, but found it very uninspiring.
Whilst sitting shivering with our coats on (all customers had theirs on too, and the barmaid kept her fleece zipped up), the odour of bleach was overpowering the beer. It's commendable to keep your pub well scrubbed, but if you're serving food and drink, use something less offensive please.
Going to find the ladies toilet, my other half discovered that there was a portable gas fire in use just beyond the bar, in front of which was the landlady herself, crouched over a laptop. It beggars belief that the owner can choose to warm herself whilst leaving the rest of the pub's customers with zero heating, wearing their coats. And the sight of yet another modern day owner giving their attention to websites on a Saturday evening, not their customers, sends out a very bad message.
We left after our mediocre pint. Little has changed. If the Wheatsheaf is to flourish, and not just scrape by with a few loyal cronies, the landlady must address the issues of beer choice & quality, and heat the whole pub please, not just yourself.
10 Nov 2009 21:51
Returning to the Lord Clifden again, it was typically busy on a Saturday night (with an increasingly young client�le) and indeed hard to find a seat anywhere. We were disappointed to find no evidence of the 'brew pub' rumoured to be being set up, with Wye Valley HPA and Bathams Bitter being the only real ale choices available then.
The HPA is already quite widely available in Birmingham City Centre's modest array of Real Ale pubs, and we felt something slightly more adventurous would have been nice. As regards the Bathams, this was of only average quality, well below what we are used to drinking elsewhere.
I know that this will be a contentious point, as it has been mentioned here before that the landlord prides himself on the quality of the Bathams Bitter. Well, it simply is not anywhere near the quality to be found closer to its Black Country roots. We drink it every one to two weeks over there, and have never found the Lord Clifden to keep it especially well. It's OK, and far better than the nearby dreadful Church Inn used to keep it, but it will disappoint those who have drunk it elsewhere.
Anyone doubting this claim should head for the Great Western (under Wolverhampton Station) or The Britannia (in Upper Gornal), which will settle the matter once and for all.
So overall, still a pub we like but needing to keep its eye on beer range & quality whilst riding the wave of it success as an urban art pub.
28 Oct 2009 18:54
OK, well here's our opinion on this newly opened sister pub to the nearby New Oxford.
It's been tastefully restored, I'd say that plenty of money has been spent, with lots of dark wood and mirrors in evidence. The pub occupies a corner position (between Blackfriars St and Chapel St), the room taking on a crescent shape as a result, and with a quite ornate bar in the centre position. One half seems to have been set out with food in mind, though I doubt they'd stop drinkers sitting there if desired.
The welcome from the barmaid was friendly, and we found a good five or six real ale hand pumps were on. A few of these were lower gravity (nice to escape the 'silly' strong ones often found), and we thought the two we tried were fair quality if not wonderful. The menu appeared fairly standard pub food, which was slightly surprising as it looked like the place had more serious food ambitions.
Admittedly this was a Sunday lunchtime, and this pub has been open only a few weeks, but it was too quiet to have any real atmosphere, and as CarlUrmston rightly said, it did have that 'new pub' feel to the place. A handful were gathered around the central bar area (swearing a little too much for my other half's comfort), with no spread beyond that and likewise no-one in the substantial dining area either.
We love the New Oxford, and suspect that in time The Black Lion will gain customers, atmosphere and no doubt get its cellar on top form too. But for now, the New Oxford is still very much ahead on all these fronts.
19 Oct 2009 19:45
Certainly the best pub we've found in Salford, and right up there amongst the best in Manchester, the New Oxford is a pub which any real ale lover will want to visit.
I've never found less than 6 real ales on, sometimes 12 or even more during beer festivals, and this is a pub which keeps them consistently well. There are several Belgian beers always on too, for those who prefer this.
Internally, it's recently been renovated and looks almost like a swish continental bar, with leather style seats and light wood all around. There's a jukebox (but not intrusively loud) whilst the large screen TV is thankfully only on in the back-room mostly, giving some refuge for those who don't like sport. There's seating outside too for smokers, in the little courtyard area it opens onto. I have always found staff and customers friendly, and it does get quite busy at times. It's always open on a Sunday too, when others may have closed on you.
I can understand that Salford 'born & bred' types may not like such a new take on an old boozer, and whilst I respect that view, there are plenty other unmodernised boozers in Salford if that's what you prefer. But the New Oxford has achieved what it set out to do beautifully well, and with this place just a 15 minute stroll from town (or even a free trip via 'purple' MetroShuttle bus Mon � Sat) I have to say that is a pub I never miss on a trip to Manchester.
20 Aug 2009 18:34
Probably the finest quality beer we've found in Manchester, and in one of the most attractive pubs too. It's hard to beat this place. Anyone who knows their beer knows that freshness is everything, and when it's brewed just a few steps away, you really cannot do better.
For my money, both the 'Pint' and 'Manchester Bitter' are superb lower gravity session bitters, but there are plenty of others to try to, such as the 'Lagonda' (5%) and the strange 'Ginger Marble', the latter not quite being to my taste. But there are even guest beers too, giving a superb range.
The building itself is a beauty to behold, with the old-world tiling around the walls & ceiling transporting you to another age. There really isn't much to fault here, it does get a little too crowded at busy times, made worse by tables being swallowed up by food service (truly unnecessary with beer this good) so anyone wanting to sit & soak up the atmosphere may want to avoid peak times. But all in all, this is the kind of pub which spoils most of the others for you.
20 Aug 2009 18:02
Called in one Saturday afternoon, the barman was friendly and we tried a non-Robinsons real ale as these taste bland to us. We didn't greatly enjoy what we did have, the place felt quiet despite its location on busy Oldham Street, but looked populated by a few loyal regulars. The front room felt rather drab, and with the uninspiring beer priced at a daft �3 a pint, we headed off for one of the other excellent Northern Quarter boozers.
17 Aug 2009 19:31
A backstreet boozer located some way behind Piccadilly Station, we did not especially rate this place. It's clearly an Irish pub, with lots of old Man United photos on the walls, of George Best in particular. This and the other memorabilia are nice to see, but beyond this, the place felt tired and dingy. It wasn't especially full when we visited, so I can't really comment on the friendliness claims, but the only real ale on (I think it was Hydes) was as dull & drab as the surroundings, and we regretted getting pints not halves.
No doubt the kind of place much loved my regulars, but with standard of real ale in Manchester set so high at the moment, there's little reason for anyone else to seek this place out.
17 Aug 2009 18:47
The Red Lion, Hockley,jewellry quarter
The Red Lion has been beautifully restored, and is a pleasure to sit inside. The real-ale beer range is wider too than it's nearby sister pub 'The Lord Clifden', this boozer being a continuation of the 'Urban Art' theme but rather more softly done in this instance. Beer quality of what we've had over a few visits has been was excellent too.
But there are a couple of downsides. Both front & back rooms have huge flat-screen TVs, showing sport, which unfortunately dominate the ambiance. Perhaps one TV in one room would be forgiveable, but both means than wherever you sit, you are gazing at others whose heads are angled over yours at the inane sport. The tasteful restoration is so good, that to kill the natural conversation of a back-street boozer with Sky Sports seems like a crime.
The other problem to be aware of is that a function room often seems to have private parties, those attending then spill into the rear bar room in particular, filling it to capacity. So those who've travelled some way to this very quiet Jewellery Quarter location (get the 101 bus from Colmore Row) may find they can hardly get in on a Saturday night. I've always felt that Saturday parties which either officially close a pub or else make it hard to get into, are rather a smack in the face for both regulars and occasional pub explorers, albeit the pubs themselves would probably claim financial necessity. But ring first, would be my advice, so you don't have a wasted journey to a beautiful pub.
2 Aug 2009 12:46
We called into the City Tavern early one Saturday evening, and were both impressed and unimpressed.
Externally, this red brick pub looks fantastic, a pleasant reminder of the past in an almost totally redeveloped area. On going inside, a tasteful renovation has taken place. Plenty of hand pumps, mostly from the Davenports brewery greet the customer, as well as Davenports related photos everywhere. Perhaps less charming, was a postcard sized sign immediately behind the bar, asking customers to moderate foul language to avoid causing offence to others. I've never seen a sign like this before, and didn't expect it in such a beautiful old boozer.
Well, we went straight for the Highgate Dark Mild, which at �2.50 a pint for a 3.4% ABV drink was no give-away. We thought it was only average quality, perhaps a bit over chilled too for a mild. The pub was about half full, most sitting in the front rooms leaving a nicer back room for a small group of 20 something lads. Heading for this nicer back-room, we were impressed with the d�cor, although the open door outside meant smoke (I presume an outdoor smoking garden?) was wafting back in and spoiling the ambiance somewhat.
But a bigger blow to the ambiance was the group of young lads, whose loud swearing and singing couldn't be ignored. One even apologised to us momentarily, these were the kind of lads who'd have probably responded to a polite word from the bar staff, but none was forthcoming. We tried to ignore it, but a beautiful pub is soon ruined by loud idiots. The front bar opens onto this rear room, for easier service, so there was no excuse for bar staff to pretend they couldn't hear anything.
We wanted to try more of the beer range, but instead left after our average pint of mild, just angry that a few youngsters were being allowed to dominate a beautiful pub. The bar sign about foul language suddenly made sense. This pub is just a few steps off Birmingham's increasingly tasteless Broad Street 'party zone', and perhaps overspill of youngsters is having an effect. But running a pub is about controlling such nuisances, not just pulling pints and being friendly, and expensive refurbishments will not attract discerning customers if a few young 'gob-shites' are allowed to take over.
2 Aug 2009 12:18
The Wellington arguably serves the best real ale in Birmingham, with perhaps only The Anchor in Digbeth rivalling it. The quality is so good, so consistent, the landlord (Nigel) is so well respected in the area, that really reviewers who post here doubting the quality are simply reviewing their own lack of taste! Whatever you think of the building or its service, it almost defines what real ale quality should be.
The fact that Nigel achieves this with 15 real ales, whilst many boozers struggle to keep 5 of them fresh, really says it all. The beer comes and goes fresh, peak condition, and no-one sets higher standards than Nigel. The beer list, displayed on large plasma screens, is actually a page from their website which they edit as they change barrels, so google this place and you can drool over the live display of what�s on right now. To the critic of the preferred �order by number� system, this is just a reflection of such a busy, sometimes noisy (with talk not music) place where beers change so fast.
Criticisms? Well, the pub itself only gets daylight into the front few tables, so yes it can be a bit dark. It�s a victim of its own success in terms of busyness, I would advise first timers to avoid evenings in the later week and weekend, as it gets so crowded with office workers etc that you may struggle to sit (or get to the bar!). And yes, it may not be the friendly service of a quiet little backstreet boozer, but the Welly ain�t quiet or on a back street. It would probably take some effort to become known here, so no, this is not a place to cry into your beer and talk to the barmaid about your broken marriage. It�s a place for superb real ale. The tendency to change beers endlessly, with only a few remaining constant, is more to the liking of �beer tickers� than me, but when the next lot are so damn good, who can complain?
But as a place to sink into after an afternoon�s shopping, or on your way home from work, you will truly not want to leave. The Welly doesn�t serve food, but provides crockery and condiments and encourages you to bring your own food. How many places do that? So whether it�s a takeaway from the Thai Garden restaurant opposite, or just some scoff from a city centre supermarket, you can save yourself a mint on pub meals whilst downing some of the finest beer you'll ever taste.
Well done Nigel, even if you probably don�t remember me!
20 Jul 2008 15:57
A really excellent pub. Described by Camra as a �community pub�, this really is justified. Young people, middle aged couples, older/retired people too, they all happily coexist in this friendly place.
The bar staff are very prompt (expect to be asked by about three different staff if you�re being served whilst the fourth pulls your pint) and genuinely pleasant. No sullen skulkers behind the bar here.
There�s plenty of lunchtime food, live bands some nights and a jukebox (moderate volume) which can lead to some amiable music wars some nights. But you�re as likely to hear 60s/70s being played as something current, and the charm of the place is the happy way the White Lion has captured such a broad and satisfied age group.
Beerwise, I have to say we are thoroughly impressed. Highgate Dark Mild is permanently on, always good and sometimes exceptional (well, it doesn�t have far to travel). Other regulars like the Doom Bar are superb, and the changing guest beer is often astonishingly good too. Really a place where you struggle to decide what to have next, and leave feeling like you belong there. A busy, sociable pub with superb real ales, The White Lion shows the others how it should be done.
20 Jul 2008 14:35
I hate to disagree with the other posters, but the Walsall Arms is a fairly disappointing pub. Having visited it occasionally over many years, I have to say it sadly lets down anyone who knows their beer.
Yes, the location is quaint and quiet, and there is much to like about the building. But beer selection is limited (Marstons Pub) and quality is always somewhere between mediocre and poor.
We have given this place many �second chances�, returning perhaps more because of it�s back street charm, hoping that the beer would be a bit better than we remembered it. But sadly, it rarely is. The limited range of real ales tastes frankly stale, and the place itself smells like the smoking ban only came into force yesterday. Surprisingly quiet on a Saturday night, it is impossible to keep real ale in top condition if turnover is slow. This could well be their biggest problem, the place is just too quiet to cut it against the blossoming real ale competition.
So yes, visit this beautiful backstreet boozer, if you�re a lager drinker then you may even love it. But real ale drinkers should go armed with directions to the nearby White Lion in Sandwell Street in their pockets, and salvage the rest of their night out there.
20 Jul 2008 14:02
Well, this place really has been transformed. I think that the pub�s name and location are about all that remains, the new owners have invested serious money into making it something more like upmarket City Centre chic.
Comfy seating, lots of exposed brick work, designer prints on the wall. Beautiful toilets, designer basins, and a �Dyson Air Blade� hand dryer (google it!) which may actually make men want to wash their hands after paying a visit. Subdued lighting, some flat screen TVs showing some sport, but thankfully small & quiet enough not to make it feel like a dire football pub. Dart board with digital score counter, I�ve never seen that before in a Jewellery Quarter pub!
On a Saturday night, a DJ was playing music at good (not overpowering) volumes. To the rear is a covered area for game playing and smokers, whilst behind that is a walled garden which felt like it would be a nice place on a summers night. Especially busy outside, more comfortable inside, it felt like a nice place to spend some time.
Beerwise, the Purity Ubu was good, the Batham�s was even nicer, a pleasant surprise as the latter so rarely lives upto the hype written about it. There was also Ansells Mild, nice to see a mild in a trendy place even if not perhaps our first choice. Also there was Wye Valley HPA which we didn�t sample.
Clientele was quite a wide age range, City Centre prices (�2.70ish a pint) are perhaps going to keep away those seeking more basic back street boozers, but we felt there was a nice mix of friendly people. Yes it was obviously stylish, but you didn�t feel it was exclusive of anyone.
Overall, we�d say the owners have accomplished something quite unusual here, hitting a mark higher than most City Centre bars and yet in a light-industrial/ �city flat living� type area which can feel quite dead after hours. A short walk from the Jewellery Quarter tram station, or just minutes from Birmingham on a busy bus route (16/74/79) it was a doddle to get to. We really hope it succeeds.
20 Jul 2008 13:30
Our first visit was an interesting experience. Expecting a classic Victorian Boozer, and certainly pretty externally, the d�cor felt very much 1970s. Brasses and plates on the wall, dusty ornaments, a clock like your parents used to have, it certainly felt like we were still in those days, and the 70s soundtracks playing when we arrived certainly added to that feeling!
Staff were friendly and attentive, there was a good selection of real ales and these were in good (but not in our opinion �best�) condition. The Ansells Mild was very drinkable, offerings from York and Leeds Breweries were likewise good, but the Taylor�s Landlord was bland whereas when �on form� it is a fantastic pint. With a number of Birmingham and Walsall pubs now rapidly turning over beers in near perfect condition, I think the bar has been raised in terms of what real ale devotees now expect.
Clientele on a Saturday night were mostly middle to older age. Plenty of food was being served in the many cosy little seating areas which surrounded the central bar, no doubt an economic necessity for boozers these days. Although we didn�t sample it, the food appeared basic pub grub tailored to the slightly older age group they seem to have. Our only criticism on this front was that it was being served throughout. This is only our personal opinion, but when drinking we don�t like to smell and watch other peoples dinners, but it was impossible to escape this in such a cosy little boozer.
Overall, a friendly little place with reasonable real ale, which put a smile on your face as much because of its quaintness as of anything else. A two minute straight-line walk from Soho (Benson Rd) tram station, this is easily accessible and we shall definitely return.
20 Jul 2008 12:52
The Cross Foxes, Shrewsbury
This is a clean pub! The tables and leather seating positively gleam, and the Landlord was out flicking his mop around each time a customer left. Beerwise, fairly standard offerings in good condition. A mature and pleasant clientele when we visited. Though not much to draw real ale lovers alone, we liked the pride suggested by the cleanliness and the comfortable ambience of the place, so we would definitely return.
12 Feb 2015 19:17