please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Huge Wetherspoons pub, a Grade II* listed roadhouse pub built in 1929. Range of regular plus a few guest beers, Curry Club on Thursdays. Made a special visit on a day trip to Birmingham to see this and was not disappointed. Still a 'spoons though which means the front bar is full of old guys whistling.
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The Black Horse is a landmark building on a busy junction of the Bristol Road. It is impressive, both inside and out. Although it feels much smaller when inside, despite its grandeur from the roadside. It feels somewhat different from most Wetherspoons I've been in. Bouncers were on the door on our Saturday evening visit. Service at the bar was quick and there were plenty of tables for seating. Ales were Derventio Cleopatra, Elland Nettle Thrasher, White Horse Wayland Smithy, Titanic Route 10 IPA, Green Jack Waxwing, Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best, Sharps Doom Bar & Fullers London Pride. They also had Westons Country Perry & Orchard Pig Maverick. Nice place.
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All the reviews are pretty spot on in one way or another. Choose carefully where you sit to quaff though - some of the punters appear to have been whisked in from episodes of `Love thy neighbour` or `Please Sir` pretty grim in this day and age.
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The pub itself –
From the outside this is a very grand building. It is also has very spacious rooms/areas and has intriguing decor inside – as do many Wetherspoons, the outside is nice and spacious too. The staff are just “OK” with the odd one being polite and helpful – we thought this may be different for the purpose of party organising but I’m afraid that’s not so.
It does tend to have a bit of a “riff raff” clientele base (some might say) but that’s what we’re used to ourselves so by no means puts us off, but it might some.
As a party venue –
Having stumbled across the upstairs area a few years back (which is reserved for private functions) when we first visited the pub, we knew we’d hold a party here one day. And that was this weekend just gone, for our Engagement. And we are so glad we did; if you can handle staff being a little impolite it is so worth it – I guess you have to remember that it is a pub and not a hotel/party venue.
Value for money = top notch, you even get the DJ thrown in!!!
Space = you get the whole of the top floor which has a small entry room, the main room for the party which is very large, and a smaller conference-type room used for the food/buffet. It has its own well=kept toilets. Outside for smokers is downstairs in the main garden. There are big window sills to decorate with vases, fish bowls, candles etc – as long as the flame is contained you are allowed candles.
Buffet = we found it too pricey so we catered ourselves for a fraction of the cost – which they happily let you do providing you clear away your own food waste. There are no kitchen facilities but lots of space for a variety of smaller cold foods.
Bar = Standard Spoons prices which of course goes down well with guests, with 2 members of very efficient staff so there was never a long wait (we had around 70 – 80 guests)
Time = you have the room from the morning of that day to decorate/take food, until 1am of the evening. DJ starts at 8pm.
Atmosphere = Well this is all down to the guests, but the type of room is very cosy
Staff = as mentioned, a little rude at times in the planning process but it’s a pub and not a dedicated party venue. One lady was very hekpful however in getting over our playlist to the DJ they provided (and the DJ was great (and friendly!) too!!)
Belongings = they will put your belongings into a room for you to collect the next day providing you either put them there or give them a list.
All in all – fab!!! Would definitely recommend a party here and will be likely to do one again in the future!
Tip!!!!!! – Get the lights turned off after the buffet as it really sets the tone for the dancefloor (ours was announced at 9pm and the lights when off at 10pm)
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Lovely building but that's all it has going for it! Typical Wetherspoons - Young innatentive staff that would rather chat amongst themselves or their pals than serve. Ale not brilliant (and dearer than other Wetherspoon - despite being in a poor area). Seems to be plenty of ales called "available soon". Had a Christmas meal here with some pals a couple of years ago. It was a toss up which was colder, the food or the room we were sat in! Nice pub, crap staff and it IS in Northfield - nuff said
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lovely building, bar staff uninformed about the ales they stock and seem like they would rather have a chat than serve the public. That said its a Wetherspoons and as a result its a cheap pint, though not the seletion avaliable at other wetherspoons. You must visit the unpstairs just to see the building. Overall a nice boozer, shame its in northfield.
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prob the most impressive exterior compared to all the other west midlands spoons,the front long bar was busy but service quick and the ale cheap,sad round the corner in the quieter "garden room" would definately recommend 8/10
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First visit since the revamp and on first impressions an improvement on the old place. Fair range of real ales although not as good as the best 'Spoons'. Had breakfast which as usual was very good value. Service incredibly slow, not enough bar staff on and those that were on were spending too much time making hot drinks. Please employ someone to cater for the grannies and someone else to cater for beer drinkers!!! Car park is now patrolled which is a change for the worse. Appears to have got rid of the scum of old due to no tv's / sport however as with all spoons the low prices do attract a certain element. Will visit again if the ale range improves and the staff are reminded that they don't work for Starbucks!!
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Tried it just after it opened.
An ignorant barmaid nearly ruined the session as she knew nothing about CAMRA vouchers, how to pour a pint and threw a moody when I told her the beer was off but the manager sorted me out, agreed the beer was off, gave me a CAMRA discount and a fresh pint of something else whilst closing down the other pump - while she just scowled at me in the background.
Common as muck and someone who should just be sacked.
It is a good refurb but its Northfield - and an air of menace and drunken wino's already prevail. Despite only being open for about 2 weeks the place had already begun to look tatty.
The Golden Cross in Bromsgrove seems posh by contrast !
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If your a member of C.A.M.A.R.A show the gaffer your card, he will knock 40 -50p a pint of the real ale selection - Cheers.
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Back open. Wetherspoons have done a great job in refurbishing the place. Went last night, the first Saturday of its new guise. The place was rammed and there was a bit of an air of menace about the place. however there were loads of bouncers in the place including Robocam the human CCTV camera, so I didn't see any actual trouble. The staff were doing their best on a very busy night. The beer garden is great and spoons have restored the bowling green and intend to re-establish the bowling club. The beer was fine as well
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Yippy.......... Contractors in florescent jackets,white hard hats, and workspace units have arrived on site Wednesday 5th May 2010.
Sanderson Contractors sign up of the safety fence, we are on our way at last !
6th May 2010
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No sign of any building activity for months now, scaffolding still up, but no skips, or any building work ? Changed date of opening was June 2010 ?
Hearing locally that the scheduled building company has gone bust. Awaiting new contractor I hope!
19th April 2010
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I only hope it works out. It was a shit hole.
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The scaffolds up. The skips are in. Works are in place.
What a brilliant Christmas for Northfield, the communities getting a pub after 30 years ,we are finally get a pub that's coming up, rather than run down, or bulldozed.
Opens February 2010 - J.D.Witherspoon's
The Blackhorse is finally getting its respect back, that is befitting a wonderful architecturally designed 1930s' mock coach house.
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Finally closed it's god forgiving scum hole doors Thursday 12th November 2009.
Northfield will now be alive with chavs, the unwashed and local scum looking for a pint, and a "bit for the weekend sir ?" on the side.
Good news that Spoon's have started to revamp this wonderful building back to its glory days, look forward to drinking in this pub again after 30 years.
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What can you say about this pub? At the end of the day 3 users have rated it, this is the first comment and thats only bcus im enjoying filling in some blank spaces on BITE.On the plus side its got beer at decent prices and they sell Newcy Brown Ale, and the spirits are good value. Now i cant put the whole bad side in but the clientele(regulars to u and me) are shady, the facilities etc are in shite condition, and the booze is not well kept. I have been in ere enuf and on nights(chavtastic) etc to have this opinion. I meet my mate ere b4 we go town as his close to where he gets off the bus and 5 mins from my house. But we agree its a deffo 1 pinter. Now my review hasd gone on a bit longer than expected, sorry bout that. 5/10
Chapter 2
I really am bored
The end
Promise
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