BITE user comments - mattyboy
Comments by mattyboy
are you trying to apply from my description of the barstaff as being friendly enough that they found me "cute?" crikey. maybe i should go again.
13 Jul 2010 15:07
this place hasn't been called the Brown Lion for about 6 or so years. It became Nicoles and is currently closed last I heard,
9 Jun 2010 16:09
much, much, much improved. Great selection of ales with a "wellington" style digital display board. Friendly bar staff, well kept beer, even a pub cat. By far the most enjoyable pub to have a few pints in around Harborne.
27 Apr 2010 10:32
as nice as this pub is (and it is very nice, great beer, good food, nice garden) if i wanted to go to the Clifden, then i'd go to the Clifden. This pub is trying tso very hard to be like the CLiffo now is that it's somewhat unnerving. Great beer and food though.
27 Apr 2010 10:30
I have to agree that the service in here is very slow. I sometimes come here in my lunch break and i've only made the mistake of ordering food once as I had to leave before my food arrived - and i'd only ordered a sandwich. The service is just so incredibly slow, it's a common sight of a lunchtime to see three or four people behind the bar milling around and only one guy actual doing any serving, with a mass of people waiting to be served. the beer is fine and the food appears to be alright by the looks of things, but don't go if you have any kind of time constraint.
Saying that though The Boot in Studley makes this place look like a fast food restaurant.
17 Mar 2010 12:56
You may mock Lees latest entry in regards to the Lamp, however not so long ago I had cause to call Eddie on the telephone (he sometimes holds strange hours with regard to bank holidays) and was dismayed to find that the number rang out, i (probaby irrationaly) feared the worst. Luckily by the time i got to the Lamp all was well however I had by that point forgotten that I was phoning Eddie and didn't question him on the matter. I have now deleted the previous number from my mobile telephone and replaced with the correct one.
Anyway, as stated by many people The Lamp is one of the best pubs in Birmingham by a lnng way, a good changing range of well kept beer, a cosy small bar, a great atmosphere and a great welcome by Eddie or the new recruit (his grandson? i've never got round to asking) every time you call in?
14 Jan 2010 09:59
Great selection of ales (12 i think) featuring several of the usual suspects locally but also some rare finds. Rammed on a saturday afternoon about 4, which meant the only place to stand or sit was the room at the back which was full of cauliflowers, a warm damp room full of culiflowers, not the best aroma to enjoy a tasty ale with. if you're passing while on the meto or going to the Robin it's well worth a visit.
19 Nov 2009 10:18
a labyrtinth of a pub with rooms of varying sizes and smells. Only has one ale which is constantly changing (and i can't remember what was on when i was there but it was tasty enough and well kept) but it seems the main thing everyone comes for here is the indoor indian bbq, what a splendid idea! It seems like a cray notion but they manage to pull it off. Wasn't that busy but all of the locals that were in were friendly as wa the barman.
19 Nov 2009 10:15
The Great Western, Wolverhampton
Great pub hidden away in Wolverhampton. As everyone has already said the hot Pork Baps and the Bathams make it worth the journey alone, the friendly barstaff, open fire (which they invite you to toast your own crumpets on) just add to the experience. Great pub for a winter afternoon.
19 Nov 2009 10:11
Have recently started selling cask ale. On the few visits i've made since they started it's only been Brew XI but it's a start. The new manager seems keener than the past couple and the menu has improved. it's a standard sizzler menu but seems better now than a few months.ago. It's definatly improving.
18 Nov 2009 14:17
nicer than your average spoons, but seemingly with a lesser choice of the old ales. I've liked the layout of this place since it was Pat O'Connels before Oneills, if anyone remembers when it was Pat O'Connels it's more than that in decor now. It's more comfrtable than the square peg of figure of 8, but still feels very wetherspoonsy, although i imagine thats something to do with it being a wetherspoons. It's ok if you're passing on the way to somewhere good but don't make any great effort to go there.
31 Mar 2009 15:04
was a bit dubious about going in here as it looked a bit dodgy, however the punters and staff were all really friendly. there was some sort of karaoke thing on. It's a bit run down but nothing terrible, the only downside was the beer. there was no ale and the Guinness really wasn't nice when we went, i ended up leaving most of mine and heading down to the Lamp, which is where we were en route to. shame about the lack of ales and not too nice Guinness as otherwise i'd pop in again.
31 Mar 2009 14:57
went in here briefly on a saturday afternoon. They had one real ale (speckled hen sadly, but itwas well kept enough) and it seemed alright, the barstaff were friendly enough and i seem to remember something about a Freddy Mercury tribute wall? is that really there or did i imagine it. Anyway, alright enough if you're passing,. It is a gay bar but it's not a militent gay bar such as Missing appears to be.
31 Mar 2009 14:55
The Vat and Fiddle, Nottingham
great pub. nothing i can really add that hasn't been said; great beers, good selection, friendly staff, friendly regulars and a great cat. I didn't have a cob but rumour has it they're ace. It's gret a to find a proper pub, especially one so close to the train station.
31 Mar 2009 14:50
not as bad as the exterior might make you think it is. It looks as rough as but everyone seems friendly enough inside. i think if you went looking for trouble you'd find it but if you go in with an ok attitude you'll be fine. No real ales but the Guinness was drinkable enough. Big screen for sports if you're into that sort of thing.
31 Mar 2009 14:47
The White House is where everyon who's been barred from the Cliffo / Church / Jewllers ends up, but saying that it's not actually that bad. The beer is drinkable, and you meet up with people you haven't seen for ages. It's worth doing as part of the JQ pub craawl if you're doing the complete unabridged version, but for hardcore JQers only.
10 Dec 2008 13:00
for me eez nosso nice. Admittidly i only nipped in once when the Clifden was closed for a refurb but I won't be going again. As mentioned by the previous reviewr no real ale, and nothing else worth braving the journey for. The staff were alright I suppose but there are so many other pubs i'd go to before going here that it isn't really worth thinking about.
10 Dec 2008 12:58
can't believe i've not reviewd this place before, maybe it's because nothing i can really add that hasn't been said before. It is a truly great pub with great beers and staff. The layout of the pub is how a pub should be. As people have said it's not the in the best area but all of my favourite pubs are in what many people class as dodgy areas, it's simply a greta pub and is worth travelling for. Once you're inside you'll be fine. Top pub!
10 Dec 2008 12:56
Nothing special but nothing overly bad either. The staff were efficiant while not being particually friendly nor noticably offish. If you're in the area you could do a lot worse than go here, but with a couple of minutes walking could do so much better.
3 Dec 2008 11:06
Much better now it's been taken over by the people from the Island bar. They have two ales (Wye Valley Bitter and Butty when i was in) but it appears to be new staff as the barman attempted to top up a half pint with the first pulled of a new barrel through a new line, once we explained to him why he shouldn't be doing that he was fine, so hopefully it won't happen again. Nice to see they're trying, i'll be back.
3 Dec 2008 11:03
What a great pub this is. It looks from the outside like it's pub from Minder but inside it's ace. It's so very small but that really helps with the appeal of the place. Five bang on ales (no Pedigree here, proper decent intresting ales) an impressive back bar selection and the best gaffer i've met in a long time. Obviously MRLONDON hasn't been here or he would know that it is something special to go to Birmingham for, just to have a chat with Eddie would be worth the trip, how many pubs in lo*ndon is it worth going to that hole for.
This pub ticks all the boxes, good beer, friendly gaffer, friendly locals... and the other boxes, whatever they are. This is my new favourite pub. I thought I'd been to the best pub in Digbeth with the Anchor, but next time i'm in Digbeth i'm heading for the Lamp. I know for sure i'll be in Digbeth a lot more in the future than i have in the past.
3 Dec 2008 11:01
Very poor. I went on monday afternoon and i had a bad time. There were no ales on and the Guinness was poor, tried the food and was very dissapointed. even for a chain pub the food was poor, very dry. The whole place was in need of a bit of a clean and it was cold in there, so cold! Won't be visiting again, next time i'm in the area i'll stick to Alrewas, or the Swan at Fradley Junction. Not worth stopping your car for.
3 Dec 2008 10:55
nice to have a pint by the cut in the summer. don't bother with the food but the great.
27 Nov 2008 14:02
nice to have a pint by the cut in the summer. don't bother with the food but the great.
27 Nov 2008 14:02
since it changed hands it's lost the atmosphere it once had. The food is nicer now but much more expensive, the beers still good, if not better than it was before but it just feels very sterile in there now. If only the food and beer was this good before!
27 Nov 2008 14:01
Closed at the moment. Hasn't altered the atmosphere in there though.
24 Nov 2008 10:33
finally got here on friday night and i've got to say it's brilliant. It's worthy of all the praise it gets. with the lareg amount of ales available it's inevitable that comparisons are made to the wellington, and it's got to be said that this place is much better. As i was saying on friday, the welly is a great place but at the end of the day it's a building that sells beer, the Anchor is a proper pub, and a bloody good one at that. Top marks all round, can't believe it's taken me so long to get here, but it won't be long before i'm back.
24 Nov 2008 10:32
is there such a thing as a good ember inns? If there is this isn't it.
as for high chairs, i wouldn't let my 9 month old anywhere near an ember inns, if i did i'd feel like i had to hand myself in to social services for child abuse!
29 Oct 2008 13:47
The Red Lion, Hockley,jewellry quarter
Great pub. Still feels like a proper pub, but with Grahams twist on it. The beer is great as you'd imagine, haven't had the food yet but in time i shall, oh yes I shal. I can't help but compare it to the Cliffo but I can't decide which I prefer. The Cliffo will always hold a special place in my heart, but if i''m honesti think i actually prefer the Lion. Although the toilets aren't as fancy, but I don't drink in the toilets... not often anyway. Really friendly staff again, I don't know what else to say. Keep up the good work lads.
29 Oct 2008 13:31
I was well impressed with this place, especially considering what it used to be like and the fact tha it's yet another chain pub. It's a chain i've never been to before (cornerstone) and i've got to say that of all the chains this seems to be the best. The beers were great and the food was ace, which shocked me considering it's an M&B chain. The barstaff and gaffers were friendly, it's nicely decorated, still feels like a proper pub. Well impressed. The people in charge of Ember Inns in th M&B chain could do with visiting this place to see how to get a chain right.
4 Oct 2008 10:03
It's an Ember Inns but BE WARNED... it's worse than even a normal Ember Inns. I had the worst cottage pie I have ever eaten in here. I would say they know how to use a microwave in here but they didn't even get that right, they nuked the icelands own microwaveable cottage pie to death, i couldn't eat it. My friend had the "seafood platter" which must have taken then moments to prepare, it involved the opening of a tin of tuna, a tin of salmon and defrosting some frozen king prawns in the microwave. my beer was awful but i may have just made a bad decision there as usually Embers can be counted on for decent beer. I can't warn you enough abut the food in this place, it should be reported... to the FBI.
4 Oct 2008 09:59
It's yet another Ember inn, everyone knows what to expect, alright beer, awful food and clone barstaff. To everyone whittering on about the time they kick you out; what the f*uck are you doing in this hole are that time of night, surely there's somewhere better you could be? The Junction, The Bell, home, in a ditch....
4 Oct 2008 09:42
The few times I've been the barstaff have been really friendly. Suprisingly children are allowed in until 8 o'clock. Real ale comes in handled jugs, always a bonus. Nice selection of ales and more intresting lagers, good back bar selection. The food thinks it's something fancy but is very smal portions and not particually great. If i'm in Harborne I head either here or the Bell.
4 Oct 2008 09:37
In my previous review I stated that they always have a decent ale on, however every visit since july has seen a pump with a Timmy T's Best badge on it but no beer in the barrel. maybe i've just happened to be unlucky on my visits (although i've been in a fair few times) but it does seem like beer is off the menu now. Still a nice enough plae though, although a cheap pint is no longer an option.
4 Oct 2008 09:30
They're startted doing real ale again, but it's still a hole.
4 Oct 2008 09:28
Great pub. Beautifully kept beer, good range, friendly barstaff, friendly locals. Seems to be the only place in Kings Heath that you won't get mugged / stabbed / beaten up or not up it's own arse. the only thig that makes me want to go to kings hetah.
Top marks all round! apart from the toilets, they're a bit grim.
4 Oct 2008 09:26
The Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath
What a truly awful pub this is. It should be in Moseley where it would fit in nicely as it's full of pretentious tossers. The ale in here is undrinkable, the Guinness wasn't much better. The barstaff don'#t seem able to keep track of who was at the bar first or just serve there mates before everyone else as twice we were at the bar for ages and served long after people who got to the bar after us, maybe we weren't wearing the proper uniform. Another thing that gets my goat about this pub is that the gigs (the only reason to go here, the gig room is good and some great bands play here) start really late. It's alright having a stage time of 10.30 on a weekend in the city centre where people can get home from but 10.30 on a wednesday night, in Kings Heath, with no public transport makes for a very expensive late trip home. Not everyone is a student or in a band living of mummy and daddys handouts you know, some people have jobs and have to be up before 6 in the morning meaning that getting home gone 1 isn't really an option.
This place makes my skin crawl, i just hope to God there are no more good bands playing here in the ner future, i'd rather travel to London to see a band than go here again.
4 Oct 2008 09:24
i've only been a couple of times of a lunchtime but it seems nice enough. The ale seems well kept, if not a particually intresting selection. They have a peacock and a cat, which is a nice addition. I don't know, it seems nice enough but nothing special, i feel like there's something missing which could turn it from a nice pub to a great pub, nothing you can put your finger on though sadly.
19 Sep 2008 15:38
Used to be good, about 12 years ago, then gradually declined. Shame as it's a really nice building inside and could be made into a great pub. Don't know why it's not been reopened, especially with the new flats opening.
4 Jul 2008 13:51
Great little pub, nice ale, nicely laid out and friendly staff. The cobs are also top notch!
4 Jul 2008 13:50
The only pub in Harborne to open at 10 in the am, which was the only reason i went in, no ale so a Guinness was in order, it was terrible. i left half a pint. There isn't a wetherspoons in harborne, if there was this place wouldn't have any customers.
4 Jul 2008 13:48
Nice pub, shame about the beer. Maybe it was because we were the first customers in there, but the beer was terrible. One of us was on the lager and it had that eggy smell that bad lager has, when my mate told the barman about this he said "that's how lager smells" The ale was cloudy, you could tell it was the first poured, but the chap just kept saying "it's how it's supposed to be" errr, no, no it isn't.
4 Jul 2008 13:47
The Charles Dickens, Broadstairs
Fairly cheap for Broadstairs, decent beer, the food is alright but nothing special. it's nothing amazing, but it's good for a pint or two. One to visit if you're at the 'stairs.
4 Jul 2008 10:26
The Tartar Frigate, Broadstairs
Expensive, but a lovely pub. Great beer, friendly bar staff when I was there. Lovely place to spend a few hours.
4 Jul 2008 10:25
. I went on the opening week (Mothers Day in fact) and must say it was (for a Beefeater) superb. The food was great, the service was incredible, i've never had better service at this kind of establishment. there were two hand pumps but no ale on yet, so i let them off being the first week and all. I was overall very impresses. HOWEVER I went again last weekend and must say it was awful. The food was very low quality and small portions, the service was appaling, we were there for three hours due to the lacklustre efforts of the waiting staff, and there was still on ale in the pumps, they must be for decoration only. After such a great experience on what must be one of the busiest days of the year for it to be so bad on a normal quiet sunday afternoon was just unacceptable. I won't be risking it again
4 Jul 2008 10:17
lovely building, shame about the bar staff. The staff used to be great around 8 years ago, but over the last 2 years when i've been in the service has been dreadul, as has the beer actually. Shame really as could be a cracking boozer.
4 Jul 2008 10:08
This place is just... wrong. Avoid at all costs. Don't even be tempted by the 99p breakfast. Just... don't.
4 Jul 2008 10:02
The Billiard Hall, West Bromwich
it's the cheapest spoons i've been into, and it's possibly the best. It actually has a bit of character about it, and the food is by far the best i've had in a spoons. The bar staff are good and the scary old men are actually friendly.
4 Jul 2008 10:00
Great pub! Skittle Alley, Real Ale, Friendly Bar Staff, Friendly Locals, Rock n Roll!
Although don't tell the landlasy that Elvis is better than the Big O. She won't like that. Actually do tell her, as it's the truth!
4 Jul 2008 09:55
The Bottle of Sack, Sutton Coldfield
Horrible horrible place. Even by spoons standards it's awful. Yes they have ales that are alright and cheap, but for f*ucks sake. This has the worst atmosphere of any spoons i've ever been to and it's just so... soul destroying. Avoid!
4 Jul 2008 09:48
A Nice pint, but not really a nice pub. It's worth popping in for one on your way to the Duke, but it's not a stopping all night pub, oh no siree.
4 Jul 2008 09:47
Good little pub. Always has a decent couple of ales on, the staff are friendly enough. Probably the best pub in Sutton.
4 Jul 2008 09:44
one of the better Wetherspoons, not really your snormal spoons crowd in here, but the food is the same as every spoons. At leats they usually have some decent ales.
4 Jul 2008 09:41
The Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield
It's a Sizzler, and all Sizzlers are pretty much the same. If i were to rate it as a Sizzler I'd say it's the best one i've been to, but that's not really saying too much is it? Rarely has real ale, but the Guinness is cheap and drinkable.
4 Jul 2008 09:39
The Newt and Cucumber, Birmingham
Awful place, truly horrible. A few years ago it was one to include on your saturday morning vity centre pub crawl, but now it's just so.... soulless.
3 Jul 2008 12:23
nice wine selection, only one ale on, but the serving ladies were very nice and my food was alright. A bit pricey but the surroundings make up for it.
3 Jul 2008 12:21
somehow i'd forgotten what this pub was called (don't know how) but it's ace! I'm glad i noticed it on the list as i can now reccomend it to a mate who's going to be in the area soon. Hopefully it's still as good as it was last summer!
3 Jul 2008 11:20
CLOSED. For better or worse. Shame in a way as When I saw David Devant & His Spirit Wife here it was one of the 10 best gigs i've ever seen.
1 Jul 2008 16:58
The Railwaymans Arms, Bridgnorth
If you see someone say that someone is safe. Which is as much as we can hope for when the wolves are running.
30 Jun 2008 11:45
Very good for a pub so close to a train station, albeit pricey as you'd expect for such a pub. Very nice guest ale last night, friendly landlord, nicely laid out bar, an enjoyable half hour spent whilst waiting for my train. Tonight i'm getting the later train and stopping fo ra couple.
27 Jun 2008 09:12
At the moment i'd say Atticus is the best place in Bearwood. They always have a decent ale on (usually Landlord or Ubu) and stock a fair whack of bottled ales. The also do a mighty fine mojito for �4.50. It's nice in the day (albeit a bit cold) for an afternoon drink with a chip butty, but the range of food doesn't really strecth to a meal, it's just sort of snacky type things, although the chip butties are great. It's a bit of a modern bar but not overly poncey. I've only seen it truly busy once, on a saturday night with a band on, normally it's fairly quiet. The gaffer seems alright enough, and the barstaff are friendly, although one is very pushy. They allow well behaved children in the day. All in all, if you'r after a pint in Bearwood these days Atticus is the best place to go.
12 Jun 2008 14:58
Now rebuilt as a Beefeater. I went on the opening week (Mothers Day in fact) and must say it was (for a Beefeater) superb. The food was great, the service was incredible, i've never had better service at this kind of establishment. there were two hand pumps but no ale on yet, so i let them off being the first week and all. I was overall very impresses. HOWEVER I went again last weekend and must say it was awful. The food was very low quality and small portions, the service was appaling, we were there for three hours due to the lacklustre efforts of the waiting staff, and there was still on ale in the pumps, they must be for decoration only. After such a great experience on what must be one of the busiest days of the year for it to be so bad on a normal quiet sunday afternoon was just unacceptable. I won't be risking it again.
9 Jun 2008 14:35
sadly closed as I saw some brilliant gigs here (Bob Log III being the best, good grief he's good live) and it was always good for an upbeat few pints of a saturday. Shame it's gone really.
26 Mar 2008 16:37
The James Brindley, Birmingham
not bad. Nice location etc, as said below no ale so a Guinness was in order, which went down a treat. Staff were friendly enough, it's nothing spectacular but if you're in that part of town it's not one to avoid.
26 Mar 2008 13:39
I really wanted to like this place as it's a nice location and well layed out pub. Sadly the ale was poor when i went and it took for ages to get served, even though there was hardly anyone in.
26 Mar 2008 13:37
I've only been in here during the day but for a pint of Guinness on an afternoon it#s not bad really. Better than a lot of Oneills, not as "Oirish" as a lot of them, although still pretty forced. The G is alright, i've had better, but for a pub on Broad Street it's not bad. I would'nt venture in her of an eving though, ooooh no.
26 Mar 2008 13:36
until a year or so ago this pub was great, albeit very smoky. However the last few visits have greatly reduced my appreciation of this pub. The beer doesn't appear to be kept as well as it was and the staff are now useless. It's a shame as for that part of town it was a great pub.
26 Mar 2008 13:33
Outrageously they've stopped serving Brandy Alexanders! They used to do magnificent 'zanders and it was the best thing about the place. Now they don't sell them it's really got nothing going for it. What would Aloysius say?
12 Mar 2008 14:00
Outrageously they've stopped serving Brandy Alexanders! They used to do magnificent 'zanders and it was the best thing about the place. Now they don't sell them it's really got nothing going for it. What would Aloysius say?
12 Mar 2008 14:00
The Figure of Eight, Birmingham
it's a wetherspoons in the centre of town, so you know what you're getting really. The ale is alright and well priced, the food is not great but cheap. Its alright in the afternoons but as it's Broad Street anyone with any sense steers well clear of an evening.
12 Mar 2008 13:59
The Canalside Cafe, Birmingham
The vegetable soup was fantastic, The ale from the pump was alright , but the bottled ales were too warm to be enjoyable. Nice little place for an afternoon couple of pints and maybe some cake, then some soup and garlic bread.
18 Jun 2007 09:58
A proper pub with decent enough beer. Not bad at all, especially for the cenre of town.
12 Jun 2007 10:53
Only been in on a Monday evening so can't really comment on the punters as there weren't any. No decent ale so I had to go for the Guinness, which was drinkable. The barman was friendly enough and it's a nice big room, it just seems like there is something lacking about the place. Not too pricey for St Pauls Square. not great, but better than some in the area.
12 Jun 2007 10:50
Horrible pub, possibly the worst in the Jewellery Quarter, rubbish beer, horrible food, dingy surroundings. The outside seating area facing the road doesn't exactly have the nicest views but at least you're not inside. I'd rather go to the woodman!
12 Jun 2007 10:48
it's an Ember Inns pub, does anything else really need to be said? Used to be good back in the day, sadly those days are long since gone.
12 Jun 2007 10:43
Maybe I went on a bad day but I promise you that the food and ale were awful. I apologise if i upset you but when i went it was horrificly bad. I feel like I should give it another go, but I'm afraid it'll be as bad the next time I go. Well, i suppose a cheeky pint can't hurt can it?
12 Jun 2007 10:34
Cracking beer garden, good rotation of ales, nice original interiors, the only downside is the food really, although the menu is supposed to be expanding with the outdoor kitchen thing. Great afternoon pub.
12 Jun 2007 10:30
The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
as previous reports have said, it's a good bar with decent music etc, just a shame about the punters really. Can't people just enjoy themselves without having to try so very hard to be uber indie?? the whole point of indie to begin with... oh, whats the point??
12 Jun 2007 10:26
The Actress and Bishop, Birmingham
Please clean the lines. Could be a fantastic pub if they just looked after the beer.
5 Jun 2007 10:43
The Tarnished Halo, Birmingham
Beingable to see into the ladies toilets from the bar may be a plus point for some people, but the terrible beer, lack of choice, high prices and barstaff who can't even make a Brandy Alexander surely aren't plus points for anybody. A very pretentious bar that should be avoided.
5 Jun 2007 10:32
It's had a lick of paint, but in truth it's worse than ever. The toilets don't make you vomit immediatly upon entry now, it takes a few seconds for the smell to kick in. The slight refurb has gotten rid of the slight bit of character that the Flapper still had, it's souless now, and the beer awful. Good only for going in and saying "they're stolen my youth from me" as you walk round looking at the walls.
8 May 2007 15:05
The Prince of Wales, Birmingham
Great little pub. Good beer, friendly bar staff (I got ID'd and it cheered me up no end, being 29 I haven't been ID's in years, it was great)well priced, the food looked nice but annoying we went to the Black Eagle for food and wasted our time, money and tastbuds. I hadn't been here for years but I'll be going to the Prince of Wales again very soon.
8 May 2007 15:01
I was so very let down with this pub. Everything I'd heard made it out to be a lovely pub with friendly staff and locals with great beer and food. However upon my visit nothing lived up to the reputation. The bar staff were slow and incredibly grumpy (Tony the landlord was pleasent enough but he only floated past once) the beer was passable but the food was awful; a friend of mine had the mixed grill the type of which would have been rejected at any greasy spoon cafe around the country, nobodys food arrived at the same time even though it had all been ordered together. I will not be going to this pub ever again and will certainly be telling people to avoid it.
8 May 2007 14:55
Good food well priced, however the beer is pricey and i have trouble with the Guinness the next morning. Thankfully they always have at least one guest ale on to guide me away from Guinness. Most lively pub in the 'was and it deserves to be!
29 Mar 2007 12:14
It's back to being a pub again! About time. The gaffer seems ot know what he's doing but it will take a while to get it back on it's feet. When i went they'd only got a couple of beers on and it was a bit sparse but he's pretty much got to re-do the place while it's open. Should be good once everything is in place.
Development potential.
29 Mar 2007 12:11
Best pub in Bearwood. Nice food, well priced, decent enough pint and a nice and roomy feel to the pub. Friendly bar staff, which makes a change for Bearwood.
29 Mar 2007 09:11
Horrible and expensive pub. I think there are 'offers' on the usual Carling / wife beater / Tetleys but the Guinness was pricey and awful, I didn't even finish it, even at that price so I switched to Jack Daniels (atleast it comes from a bottle so you know it'll taste right) but that was wallet cripplingly expensive. Will benefit from the smoking ban immensly, although that will probably drive the prices up even higher (if thats possible)
Avoid this pub unless you want a crap night and to come out broke and smelling of fags, and with a little piece of your soul missing.
29 Mar 2007 09:10
The Old Contemptibles, Birmingham
Very run down on the outside and inside, not much of a selection of beer, pretty bad really. This pub could be good if a bit more care was taken with it. The locals are an alright bunch and it has character, it just needs doing up a bit.
27 Mar 2007 13:39
Best pub in Birmngham. Friendliest bar staff around, locals that talk to you (in a good way) amazing food (it should be what with the gaffer being an ex headchef at the national gallery) amazing beer garden with table tennis! The HPA is a truly great pint. I can't praise the Clifden highly enough!
22 Mar 2007 13:01
Good beer, miserable locals, mildly interesting jukebox. Very smoky pub. Thats about it for the Church.
22 Mar 2007 12:50
Brilliant pub for beer (which is what you go to pubs for really is it not?) The non smoking section is laughable but we've only got a few months to worry about that. The way you can take your own food is a stroke of genius, as is having a pub cat in a city centre pub. The beers are always well kept and the selection is outstanding. Nigel is a true gent and this pub deserves all the praise it gets. If you go remember to take some extra food for the cat.
22 Mar 2007 12:45
The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham
I agree with what everyone has said about the staff, longest faces in town. Also the last time i went there i ordered food which was thrown onto the table with such force it almost skidded past me. Sadly once i started eating the food it didn't outshine the service; of the three of us eating we all thought the food to be dry and tasteless. Two of the pies came without gravy and the one that did have gravy had such a minimal amount as to render it useless to moisten up anything more than two chips. Very very poor on the food front. This is a shame as the building is a grand affair and the beers appear to be kept well and tase very nice (if a little cold)The ESB being the finest beer available. Its a shame about the staff and food as it could be a great pub.
22 Mar 2007 12:42
The Bale of Hay, Bartley Green
Closed since Septemberish wiht no signs of reopenign any time soon.
1 Dec 2010 14:58