The Birmingham of the last few years is a great place to be if you know where to go, it’s improved so so much. I grew up in Birmingham, lived a bit in Manchester and moved back here about 7 years ago so can see how much the place has improved.
In terms of bars and pubs I always look at it in little clusters of areas to go out in.
City Centre
Tilt - great little bar with lots of old pinball machines and good selection of craft beers.
Wellington - lots (and I mean lots!) of mostly cask ales in this traditional old style pub, not my kind of thing but a nice place to drink.
Pint Shop - Next door to the Wellington, only opened last month I think, but big range of good beers on offer.
Pure Bar - just round the corner from both of these. This is the bar owned by local-ish brewery Purity and lots of theirs and guest ales on tap. Really good food too.
Old Joint Stock - I don’t go here too much but the building is amazing and I sometimes forget how nice this place is especially for visitors to the city.
Kongs - kind of retro games / table tennis craft beer bar that has newly opened just next to the Town Hall.
John Bright Street
This is still city centre, next to New Street Station but a nice little area that feels like it’s own town centre in a way.
The Victoria - old style Victorian pub with most of the old decor still in place, not the greatest range of drinks on offer but they do good cocktails if that’s your thing, always had good nights out in here.
Cherry Reds - cafe/bar with good beers, good food. Always super friendly staff and punters in here. I love this place.
Bonehead - newly opened and next door to Cherry Reds, food is amazing and good craft beers too. Music in here is always brilliant too.
Brewdog - over the road from here. Is what is is.
The Stables - next door to Brewdog, massive range of ciders and do good pizzas.
Jewellery Quarter
Rose Villa Tavern - traditional pub but all the old original decor, great glimpse into boozing in Birmingham in the early 1900’s
1000 Trades - just round the corner, big fan of this place…craft ale game is good here.
Rock and Roll Brewery - they have funny opening times so need to check beforehand (think they close at 9.00). This is a basement brew bar and feels like a secret hideout but the beers are good, they brew on site. Good friendly staff and awesome music.
Burning Soul - A brewery tap room that also has funny opening hours so need to check in advance. Its kind of on an industrial estate just tucked behind on of the back streets but the beers are amazing
Hen and Chickens - not the best range of beers but is owned by an indian family who make you the best baltis around. I love these guys, always make you feel super welcome.
The Wolf - over the road from Hen and Chickens, lots and lots of good craft beers. I saw an actual wolf in here once.
Digbeth
I love Digbeth so much.
Digbeth Dining Club - get here early from 5.00pm on Friday or Saturday, lots of little secret rooms and find youself a table… good range of street food here.
Ghetto Golf - have a nice beer and play a bit of crazy golf
Clink - then head here to this this bottle shop/bar nearby and try one of the Glasshouse beers.
The Old Crown - built in 1338, amazing old building and incredible its still standing as a pub. Awesome beer garden too.
The Ruin - more people need to know about this place because its amazing. Old school pub but only just opened about a year ago. The back room with all the old 80’s computers needs to be seen.
Digbrew - just next door is one of my favorite places, a superb taproom that do the best beers and really nice pizza’s. The staff are really good here and know their stuff.
There are also the other good areas outside the city centre like Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley that have a lot of good things happening there now…but I’ve rambled on for far too long now. I’ll save that for another post.
But Birmingham is a great place to live, it’s all about knowing the places to go to as it can be difficult as a visitor if you just wander round without knowing the little areas. Birmingham residents are used to people telling them how shit it is for so many years now that I think we are happy for those who knock the place leave us be, but at the same time its a very friendly and welcoming city so we’d always say ‘alruyt bab’ and offer you a pint.