please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This was my favourite of 7 new pubs in Birmingham on Saturday. It's a fairly old fashioned boozer that is much bigger than it initially seems. The front bar is reasonably impressive and at the rear are a couple more rooms and an outdoor courtyard. The tiling in the corridor is impressive. So was the ale range - 8 in all, plus 2 real ciders. The selection was Sharps Doom Bar, Holdens Bitter, Oakham Bishop's Farewell & Preacher, Purity Mad Goose, Titanic Plum Porter & Timothy Taylor Landlord & Boltmaker, along with Westons Old Rosie & Orchard Pig Explorer.
|
Plenty of ales here in a busy and very traditional pub ozzing with character. The outside bit is a little rusty maybe it's meant to be.
|
I am probably going to go against the grain with this report as I found the main bar drab and soul-less. It was dark and lacked atmosphere although no doubt when busier it livens up. Some nice wall tiling at the back where there are another couple of rooms. A fair range of beers but again not cheap. The two "house beers" come from Marstons but I wasn;t told which brews they actually were. They had the ubiquitous Doom Bar as well as Landlord; Tribute;Oakham and Purity and a couple of ciders.
Quality was fine but I will have to go back again - perhaps in the evening- to re-assess this pub as I'm sure it must get better than it was at 2pm on a Tuesday afternoon in November!!
|
Social centre and real ale pub as well as meeting point for young and old this pub is as others have said one of the best if not the best in Moseley.
|
Head and shoulders the best pub in Moseley. The management here have made sure there is something for everyone.
The public bar with 10 hand pulls retains much of its Victorian charm and the celler is well kept. The selection of beer is good but lacks the stronger brews or a regular dark beer, I do love my milds, stouts and porters. However, their fine selection of Belgian bottled beers makes up for this, mmmm yummy! They have weekly folk music sessions here wich always produce a great crowd with musicians traveling from far and wide to join in.
The beer garden is massive and well covered & heated (British summers). The recent introduction of the Motikki cocktail bar and extension of seating down the previously unused alley area has brought a much youger, livelier crowd in at the weekends - great fun! Moseley has always had a large student population and it appears that those with any sense are now drinking in here.
Table service at weekends has done away with the queuing problem at the bar.
There is now a wine cellar open at weekends with a fair selection of good quality wines and champagne. You can also have a hearty cheese plate for just �2 when you buy a bottle.
When not drinking beer I am a bit of a rum lover and can assure any reader that the selection of rums here is second to none. And they have at least a dozen malts on show, so good news for the lovers of good scotch. The landlord likes a cigar and has introduced a humidor so his customers can partake in some fine tobacco as they sip their rum.
|
On one of the few good summer days in 2011, the large outside area behind was absolutely crammed. Building is a traditional pub, with good original internal fittings such as ceramic tiles in corridor leading to garden.
Lots of real ales, well-kept (one that we ordered turned out to be 'off', but when we tasted the part-pint that had been poured before the message had reached the barman, it was much better than some of the beers that we'd paid good money for earlier in the afternoon at the 'Elzabeth of York'!).
A landlord that seems to pride himself in looking after his ales well. I believe he also specialises in having a good selection of rum as well - these contributing to the 'south seas' themed cocktail bar open in the garden in the summer.
|
Popped in here a couple of weeks ago. Really good selection of ales, very pleasant & knowledgeable bar staff and a menu of about 26 rums to complement a marvellous selection of single malts. Well worth a visit.
|
Think Stein`s just about summed it up. Has lost the spit and sawdust touch though which made this place strangely appealing and it`s just a bit too bright - sunglasses optional. Gets the thumbs up!
|
A long standing venue on the Moseley drinking scene, the PoW has undergone some odd personality changes in the last few years. It was refurbished a while ago and seemed to have ambitions of becoming a deli-dining-hog roasting pub - with limited success. The back room became a formal dining room and stood empty. Now refurbished and with an extended bar, it seems to have improved. A wide range of good beers on tap and a buzzing crowd, who may have jumped ship from the similar pub-not-pub The Fighting Cocks. Popular garden area out back with covered seating area. And serving staff who collect empties and bring refills. How continental. Shame about the prices, which are certainly above average. This might explain the lack of barflies, bums, red-nosed academics and dissolute old soaks that made it such an institution.
Stein - 15 Sep 2010 16:08 |
Called in here today, and very impressed. Good choice of real ale, TV on but not too loud, very pleasant landlord.
|
Having heard that this place had recently been refurbished I made my first visit there in over 6 months over the weekend, having considered the place a bit expensive, and with at least 8 other pubs within a 5 minutes walk, competition is keen in Moseley Village.
Well what has changed.
- A pint of Guinness plus a pint of standard lager cost �6.10, that evening, the same round cost �4.90 at The Village Inn and �5.40 in O'Neills.
- New look staff, in comedy uniforms, who don't seem very cheerful, tend to serve the person in front of them, rather than the customer who has been waiting longest.
.- A new bar and pastel painted walls certainly makes the place feel a lot cleaner and some of the down market clients seem to have abandoned the place.
- The famous moose head has vanished.
- The big telly has has been moved to a spot where it is harder for those sat down to watch, the old position was much better.
- The irritating "Trendy Ben" disco that used to drown out conversation has gone, a big plus point.
|
This is an excellant pub. The current Landlord has really improved the place. The selection of ails keeps getting better which is a real achievement as the pub is owned by Punch Taverns. The hog roast on a Saturday evening is great. Unfortunately the recent refurb was a little disappointing. Some of the character has been lost. The mooses head on the wall has gone. The barmaid was unsure if it was comming back. I hope it is.
|
A bit of a surprise really. As I worked my way past the eclectic mix of locals on my way to the bar, more and more pumps appeared until I had 9 to choose from. Had an Ubu Wild Goose and something by Titanic which were both very nice. My small critisism is that they were all a bit samey. Nothing with any real strength and no stout or mild come to think of it. Still worth going out of your way for.
|
Main street pub with a variety of rooms - a pretty lively front bar with 9 or 10 hand-pumps (range of beers improving but still a bit pedestrian) and the "dining-snug" off the corridor lined with upholstered benches and with an open fire and platefulls of hearty meals, as well as a relaxed place for a chat (either quietly with friend or more expansively with the welcoming and varied locals). Moseley has a good range of restaurants and the PoW is the ideal place for a pre- or most-dining drink - or, if you simply want to stoke up on reliable food with your beer, why go elsewhere to eat?
|
Ok, this is one of Favourite watering holes but there is a some good news for all us South Brummies The Prince is holding a Beer festival in Moseley 2nd July to 5th July 2009. Looking at the beer list REALLY worth a visit. Even have a 10% ABV from Burton Bridge Brewery that has got to be worth a try. I shan't miss it ! The Landlord may have to throw me out on the 6th if I haven't tried all the ales by that time.
H
|
The POW now does fantastic food as well (til 6pm) and one of the back rooms serves as a dining room (so there's somewhere to eat it if you don't want to be in the "smoking garden").
That room also has a new wide screen for sports, movies etc. Unfortunately its recently been used to show a rather dubious looking anti-Obama conspiracy theory film and this weekend a film about "state terrorism" the poster for which features one Adolf Hitler. Not the sort of thing you need in a pub really - might have something to do with the "guy with the cap" Stevane - he's known as Lee and is indeed annoying!
|
the biggest flaw of this pub is getting served from either the garden or the back two rooms...it involves queueing in a corridor.
the garden is what makes this pub. its immense and chock-full of characters - be it the beardy-weirdy real-ale types to the slutty goth chicks to the Balsall Heath geezers laughing loudly. It has definitely benefitted from the fighting cocks disappearing up its own a*se.
Good pub. Nice atmosphere. Good beer.
|
The problem with this pub is it's wrong side of the city, It nice to see a pub with a number small rooms.
The garden larger enough to hold a coach party and more.
Not able to remember the name of the ale ( Blonde ? ) but it was served well.
Would visit more often if I was local.
|
Hats off to the new owners - they've turned an average pub into a cracking one. Beer range is now much wider and better-quality, and they've now made the most of the large back garden with a big covered drinking area and food of a weekend.
|
Good choice of rotating real ales on about 8 or so taps. A bit more welcoming and accessible since the change of ownership, but without losing the charm.
|
what a hole and that guy with the cap wots he about, anoying or what!
|
Popped in here the other Friday night. Only intended to pop in for one but stayed until closing time.
A good crowd ranging from 18 to 50 from what I saw. Young lads that seemed to be enjoying themsleves without getting rowdy and hostile, and likewise older people who weren't the stuck up type. The friendly crowd resulted in a good atmosphere.
Service was good and the staff seemed friendly. Wouldn't hestitate to visit again.
|
Called in on a Monday early evening and enjoyed a Moorhouse and a Coach House beer. There was a good choice of beer, and the customers were friendly in the front bar. The rear rooms are lovely, but were quiet when I called, and there were quite a few enjoying the seating in the large area to the rear of the pub. Best one to visit when in Moseley.
|
Good craic, bit smelly despite the fags ban and the last couple of times I've been its been quite empty. But if you know what to expect it's probably the best place in Moseley - safe and sound and a good standard of weirdos to talk to when your pished on a few ales. And Martin Mullaney hovers about too, presumably thinking up his next crazy YouTube antics
|
This is the best pub in Moseley. It still has a 'proper pub feel to it. No chavs, young pissheads or pretend Hoxton Londoners unlike the places in Moseley.
When I went there must have been 8-9 ales on, and the beer is superbly kept. It has a vibrant, friendly atmosphere and is great fro a good old social night out.
|
Updated review from me - just to note that, rather than the 3 real ales they used to sell, they now have 9 in the front bar and, apparently a couple in the small bar in the garden. They are generally well known beers rather than the micros, though they did have Bathams and Hobgoblin.
|
Virtually unchanged since I nervously sat in the backroom 25 years ago with my first date at the tender age of 16. I Love this old pub with its wonderful character, great friendly service and a good selection of beers.
|
I enjoyed my visit to this pub on a Tuesday night coming back from he Wellington in town. I heard that changes had been made and wanted to see them for myself. The beer range was good and enjoyed, and the staff and customers in the front bar were friendly. The rear rooms were virtually empty but a few were enjoying the evening in the garden where most changes have been made adding a wooden smoking area, a marquee and gazebo. Maybe a little too much for the summer, but probably welcome in the winter months.
|
Sorry lads, I just don't get the drinking in Moseley fetish. I'm willing to admit there's a lack on my part and my disdain is down to jealousy. More than likely it's down to trying to cram myself into this overpoweringly packed pub on the wrong nights. I enjoyed the beers right enough, but less than enamoured by the feeling that this is the place nay, the room to be seen in drinking in. Why else would anyone queue along the corridor for ten minutes to get served and then find the only standing space is in the bogs, listening to therapists and artists congratulate themselves for drinking in a 'real pub'? And travel all the way from Sutton Coldfield to do it? Actually I realise I might be making this pub sound quite attractive. Sorry for all this inverted snobbery, maybe it's cos I couldn't pull in here or summat. Or perhaps I should go on a Monday.
|
If only you could get the service of this place and the beers of The Fighting Cocks and you'd have the ultimate Moseley boozer. Good beer and service, not bad clientele. I get the impression a number of the ex-Fighting Cocks crowd come here now.
|
my home from home, easily the best pub in moseley, plus the only real one left, unfortunatly was leased out to a bloke that didnt have a clue and it was touch and go whether it was going to stay a nice pub, but its been leased out again now and its definitly back on its feet. a wide range of real ales, (always abbots, bombadier and adnams, and then 3 get changed every couple of weeks or so as guest ales)
3 rooms to choose from, unfortunatly a juke box has been installed in the back smoking room and is also played in the non smoking room but if you ask the bar staff to turn it up, down or off they are happy to oblige as long as there is no argument with the other customers, same goes for the wide screen tvs in the front bar. there is a huge beer garden out the back which is fantastic in the summer.
anonymous - 24 Apr 2007 09:20 |
Good pub for the first of the night. The locals all have their own regions so enjoy the no-mans land near the fruit machine. They must be getting Bombadier and Adnams cheap because they're always on. A great beer garden is a short bus ride at the back of the pub and there are two other rooms to keep you guessing where your mates are camped. There was a flash of fisticuffs in one of the backrooms last time I was there but no-one batted an eyelid. Excellent value for money too.
|
Called in after Moseley beer festival and wondered why I hadn't been before. What a delightful place. I enjoyed my Hobgoblin while looking round. Left the front bar area to a lovely tiled rear passage with both a smoking and anon smoking room off it. Great to see in these days of one room pubs. Another suprise was the outside seating area - on my visit this was a suntrap and I could have stayed all day. Will be back.
|
the nicest pub in Moseley and pretty much the only place for locals now the Fighting Cocks has been stolen from us. Good beer and friendly staff, although it can be a bit cliquey and you get stared at if you sit in a regulars seat!
|
Good pub. The only one left in Moseley that has not been too tempered with in terms of its inside or outside looks.Not a lot of real ales but the Abbot tastes great. The customers are friendly and very regular. A place with atmosphere but not kitted out with a great ventilation system in the bar, so if you don't smoke go to the non smoking room (very relaxing). The staff is very customer friendly and helpful. If you wish to philososophise that pub will be for you. Ditto if you are a football/rugby fan (flat screens in the bar). If you are passionate about cricket the North Moseley team and the South Moseley team share the bar equally.The landlord is Irish and easy going most of the time.
Le Marquis De La Phroggh - 25 May 2006 17:37 |
Frequented by the teenage JRR Tolkien and little changed since then. Sadly no more Burton Ale, but still a fair selection.
|
Traditional pub serving real ales in reasonable order. Usally Bombardier, Adnams and Abbot. Gets very busy. Eclectic bunch of caracters in front bar. The place has a really good vibe - very friendly and good for conversation.
|
The best pub for conversations in Moseley. (ie no music, comfy chairs.) Bar, 2 lounges, (one is non-smoking) and a big beer garden. Good ales, great bar staff. A favourite of mine since 1989. In fact while writing this review I fancy popping in for one later today. The sun is shining, and spring is great! The only drawback can be overhearing the blandest conversations between wooly teachers/social workers talking shop.
|
