please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Fantastic, unspoilt urban pub. A good choice of well-kept ales. I enjoyed a Bedlam ale and Holden's Golden Glow. The food is homemade, wholesome and hearty and excellent value for money. A friendly welcome and relaxed atmosphere. A 'must visit'. 10/10.
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My first visit for a while and nothing's changed. The beer's as good as ever, the food's good, old-fashioned no-frills pub grub and the ser vice could be quicker but what the hell. It's a great place to pop in for a quick pint or a lengthy session, just like it always has been.
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My first visit for a while and nothing's changed. The beer's as good as ever, the food's good, old-fashioned no-frills pub grub and the ser vice could be quicker but what the hell. It's a great place to pop in for a quick pint or a lengthy session, just like it always has been.
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I am another who agrees with mcroyal's accurate description. A good range of ales from handpumps split between the two separate bars but fortunately a chalkboard lists what's available, ABV and price. I enjoyed a home-made very meaty steak pie and chips washed down by a pint of Holden's Golden Glow but a lack of time prevented me from staying longer. Nevertheless I am sure I will pay another visit when next in the area.
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An excellent local with 6 cask ales and decent, traditional pub food, both at reasonable prices. An unspoilt interior round the bar in the different rooms helps the homely and friendly feel.
I was staying in the city centre but really pleased I made the short and easy journey to the Black Eagle. 5 mins on the tram from Snow Hill to Soho Benson Road, then a less than 300m walk to the pub.
Highly recommended - surely the best pub in the Birmingham area?
alexw - 25 Jun 2013 20:12 |
Still much as mcroyal says. A really homely pub, typical in my experience of the pubs further west in the Black Country. Two or was it even three seperate bars add to the delight. 6 ales were on and when mine was found to be past its best it was changed without question for something else. Excellent place and so convenient for the tram. What a civilised way to get about.
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Do not, in any way, let the location of The Black Eagle put you off from visiting it - this is one of the best pubs around and every serious beer/pub lover should make a pilgrimage to enjoy its terrific beer and wonderful atmosphere. It always sells Batham's Bitter (one of my all-time favourites) plus ever-changing guest beers. There is cider and food (from pub snacks to meals). It has a smalll courtyard for smokers. It is always busy on WBA match days but there is absolutely no hassle and well-behaved away supporters are welcome. (Genuine fans who enjoy their ale - no lager louts here!!) The pub does close in the afternoons and doesn't open till 7pm on Saturdays. It is a couple of minutes walk down the road from Benson Road metro stop which is only a short hop from Birmingham City Centre so well worth the journey. This pub is one of a few which gets my highest recommendations.
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a great little pub has been for years top ales top food and a top landlord in tony a little gem.
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This is one of the few pubs I can honestly describe as perfect. Sometimes I wish it was closer to home, then I realise how much time and money I would spend in here if it was. On my last visit I had three types of well-kept beer and a very nice, unpretentious meal. There's nothing special about the place, no 'nites' or events, just good beer, good food and a friendly atmosphere. Anyone who complains that location, prices or the smoking ban are to blame for closing their own pub should visit here and see what they should have done.
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I do not visit often these days, but I do enjoy those odd visits. The beer is always of high standard so is the food.
If I did not have to travel I would turn into a regular customer.
Nick S Phillips
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Love everything about this place
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I can't rate this place highly enough. Been a few times this year, and when we got there , although food wasn't being served Tony provided us with a free plate of chips. Tp man. A few eeeks later we took some German friends, and they couldn't speak highly enough of the food, ale and service. Top marks for Tony!
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Great little back water accessed by us via the Metro. When we arrived it was due to close for the afternoon. Not obly did they stay open we had a plate of chips to help the beer go down. Top landlord.
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Friendly pub near one of the Midland Metro tram stops. Several real ales are served. Today they had Shenstone Evo, Marstons Pedigree, Oakham Inferno, Taylor Landlord, Cottage Planet Ale, Ansells Mild, Bathams Best and Slaters Queen Bee. The interior is very cosy. I sat in the snug to the rear which contained an old chest, horse pictures and a cabinet. The tiling around the bar is quite impressive. The two main bars are slightly bigger. Diners were eating in the bar to the right as you walk in, whilst there was a restaurant area beyond this. The bar to the left as you walk in had a fruit machine. Music was playing at an inoffensive volume. Overall a nice friendly locals pub with a good range of beers.
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This pub is always worth a visit.
The beer of a good standard, they also serve very good food.
If I lived in the area I would visit often.
Nick S Phillips.
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Agreed the Black Eagle has no immediate competition, but the management has not succumbed to complacency. I concur with most previous posters that this is a nice pub, with a relaxed sociable atmosphere. The ales are nearly always on fine form, although it's not a cheap place to drink, or eat for that matter. This is a food dominated pub, famous for it in fact, and on occasion I have felt slightly self-conscious when popping in for a drink only. Also a warning to the uninitiated, check the opening times before you make a special journey as the Eagle appears to close for the afternoon during the weekends.
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Went in Saturday 21st November before West Brom v Bristol City. Packed with Albion and Bristol fans alike enjoying the excellent beer and food.
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just wanted to say thanks to tony for getting me a cask of skinners
keel over on for my birthday meal at the black eagle.once again the food and real ale was on top form.staff are a credit to the pub and as always tony came up trumps by getting me the skinners beer on as promised.unlike another landlord from a pub in the centre of birmingham who promised to get some skinners on back in march and now its september you know who you are!!!!back to the black eagle if ever you are in the area make this a must on your to do list for fine ale and great food.cheers tony you are a credit to the pub.
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A lovely little pub with good beer. Had some Bathams in excellent condition. Staff are very friendly and the food is excellent. I had some very tasty lamb chops (cutlets).
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I agree with Roy22's review, except food wasn't being served when I visited. The pub is a beacon in this area and contrasts to the grim Soho Tavern I had to walk past to get here. The beer is excellent with a good range of real ales. Check the opening times before you come. On Saturday, the pub closed at 3:00 and reopened at 7:00ish.
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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.
Roy22 - 20 Jul 2008 12:52 |
Ansells Mild at its very best. A quality, well maintained pub, which stands in stark contrast to the sad, neglected, Soho Tavern over the road. 'A Must' - can i say more?
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another once great Birmingham pub that has dropped off in quality recently. The beer is still of a decent standard but the food has definatly gone from great to poor over the last three years. It used ot be the best place around for food, but I've increasingly been dissapoibted with my meals here of late. Hopefull Tony will turn it around but i'll be waiting until one of my friends tells me it's improved before I return. Could (and used to) do better!
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Most consistent beer in Birmingham with some good back up in terms of the food. Check pub hours though as not as extensive as many these days. Near metro station which is also useful.
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I wholly recommend this pub for its charm atmosphere great beer and food, what else more do you want from a lunch time or evening night out.
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Just had Xmas dinner there for the 3rd Year running, so inexpensive, fantasist Victorian decorations.
Tim Taylors in top form, as was the Ansells Mild.
Only bug bear its that you have to book the next years dinner, before you leave, otherwise its take what is left.
But I have never had a poor meal, or a off pint.
Thanks to the Gaffer Tony ,and all the staff for such a friendly service, and good grub.
Birmingham best kept gem of a pub.
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Was here on Boxing Day before WBA V Bristol City. Again Timmy Taylor was on form (just like the Baggies!).
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This is, with the Barton's Arms, possibly the best pub in Birmingham. The food is usually spot on (and a very good choice), and the Ale (esp Landlord - Timmy Taylor) top notch. A great place to come before WBA home games, and even better in the week. Barstaff are usually friendly as is the Landlord (Tony?).
Rightly called a gem in an industrial backwater on Soho/Hockley near Benson Road tram stop.
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What a gem of a find in the deepest parts of Birmingham. Timothy Taylor Land lord Bitter was wassaling, the Ansell Mild spot on, and as for dinner. plain simply English fare, just what you want to when enjoying the ambiance of the pub. What you see is what you get, simply and honest ale and food.
Book me a place lam coming back for sure !
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i cant believe you had such a bad time at the black eagle.i was there for a family meal on saturday evening and as always the real ale,food and staff were brilliant.one of the best pubs in the west midlands.
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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?
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i can not believe the last comment left about this pub.this has to be one of the top 3 pubs in birmingham for real ale and the top pub for food.the mixed grill is excellent and the steak pie is wonderfull.on my last visit for a family meal on saturday evening the beer and food were as always top notch and fantastic value for money.And as alway the staff were very friendly and couldnt do enought for you.keep up the good work tony and all at the black eagle.you are a credit to birmingham.
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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.
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This is one of the better pubs around the area it is a real pub.
O n lunchtimes you get office workers rammed having lunch.
The ansells mild is well kept and so are all the guest ales.
If you want to come for a decent pint and a meal this is the place at moderate prices well run,not like some of the pubs in the area
anonymous - 26 Mar 2007 17:28 |
An Oaisis in a desert, this pub is well run, it has a wandering garden with many unusual varietys of plants slightly compact but nice, Extreemly good food, A true Homely pub with character, locals are a good bunch, 2 rooms with an open fire in the winter. Plus a long extension for a restruant.
Would definately take the wife and friends, would like more real ales here, but a proper CAMRA pub. a must visit.
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As stated previously - Great Pub and Food
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Great old fashioned style boozer, but nice and comfortable. Full of friendly and cheerful customers. The gaffer Tony is always a great host. The beer is some of the best kept bitters in all of Birmingham if not the country!
The restaurant hidden away on the back of the pub is often fully booked because of the great food they serve.
anonymous - 19 Nov 2005 13:38 |
Simply the best pub in Birmingham. Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Marston's Pedigree and about four other real beers in a real pub. Oh and the food is excellent too.
40069 - 13 Aug 2005 13:39 |
