please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
@ Mappiman - how much?? I think I was best not remembering. At least I got a full pint on my visit though.
|
RealAleRobUK - I can help you out with that - £4.30 for the Butty Bach.
Let that sink in. We are near Bearwood, not Mayfair.
To top it all, it wasn't even a full pint. With the only other entertainment people watching and working out want Halluomi was, I took my untapped App to record the event.
To be fair, I got a response later offering me a free pint. So decent service.
Packed to the rafters with diners.... I'm not really sure this is my type of place. Although to be fair, having come out of the Harborne Stores, I am probably confused as to what my sort of place is.
Some photos at bit.ly/1OLHiaR
|
Just to add... despite being so busy, I was served pretty quickly in fairness. I went for the Butty Bach in case you were interested. Can't remember the price.
|
Counted five hand pumps at the bar, offering Wye Valley Butty Bach, Rev James, and something by Ubu. Now this is a busy pub. Seriously busy. Even on a weekday evening. Plenty of people dining, bar crowded, outdoor area crowded. A bit too busy for me, found a corner outside to loiter in and then drank my pint rather quickly and left.
If you can catch it when it's quiet it is probably a very pleasant environment but this was just totally bonkers. They must be doing something right I guess.
One thing that didn't help is that the pumps didn't have the usual branded pump clips on, everything was hand written, making it that bit harder to see what is on offer especially when the bar is busy.
|
After finding the bar at the Midlands Arts Centre closed, we moved onto Harborne. The Plough was our first of 5 ports of call in this Birmingham suburb. It is more of a gastropub than anything. Although they do have an interesting array of ales. Cask ales on were Purity Pure Gold, Saddle Black & Mad Goose, Wye Valley Butty Bach & Warwickshire Lady Godiva. We also sampled the special burger, which was quite nice, albeit pricey. A popular place.
|
Another record set - popped in because the rest of our party wanted to , and paid �3.75 for a pint of admittedly excellent Butty Bach. Is this now the dearest pint in Harboprne?
|
My track record on BITE for reviewing trendy UAB-ish pubs such as this is to be rather sniffy in my summing up, unfairly at times perhaps, but usually done so out of irritation when a sound, inclusive boozer loses it's character through being in an area of gentrification and/or the self satisfied clientele that languidly populate it. Which is why it is such a shock to find myself saying that of all the pubs dotted around Harborne, this is by far my favourite.
You see we're a finally unassuming looking bunch, more Larry than George Lamb, yet each visit we are greeted by beautiful, immaculately attired and crucially attentive staff constantly checking that we are being served in a manner as far removed from perfunctory as you could reasonably expect from this type of establishment. Granted it's more than top dollar prices for the beer, yet it's of exceptional quality, and there's always a comfortable space to appreciate it (although probably not on Friday or Saturday nights).
So why does the Plough score over pubs such as the Lord Clifden for me? It has to be the atmosphere which is considerably more relaxed and natural: very few punters appear to be primarily concerned about being seen in this pub over just being sociable and agreeable. The recently upgraded pubs in the Jewelry Quarter exhibit unpleasant displays of status. The Plough, for all of it's affectations seems refreshingly free of this kind of attitude, at least it does on my visits. It achieves the right balance of smartness and accessibility, even to a crumpled, raggedy arsed real ale slacker like me.
So an approval from me, and a sober one at that.
|
Bouncers wouldn't let us in on Saturday saying they were closed, it was 10.30! Get the impression this place thinks its better than it is.
|
After forty years drinking in Harborne I've just broken a personal record and paid �3.50, check, �3.50, for a pint of very mediocre Dizzy Blonde in this place. O.K., so it's very trendy and cool and the majority of punters are happy to pay ridiculous prices for bottles of Eurofizz, but for the serious drinker, give this one a body swerve and head for the White Horse where there is a better selection of ales at considerably cheaper prices, and it's not populated by The Apprentice wannabees.
|
"students with silly hair who wear pumps without socks in all weather"
At least it'll keep their feet dry in the wet!
|
Populated in the main, by students with silly hair who wear pumps without socks in all weather. Good pint in here though, and when the sun finally does endevour to shine, the best beer garden in the area by a country mile.
|
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.
|
much improved. Good food, good beer.
|
Is a top pub. Feels like a piece of Moseley has just been transported into Harbourne. Top quality beer garden and have been lucky with the weather on the last couple of visits. Great beer selection, wye valley butty bach and hpa on and on top form. 8/10
|
neatest pub in harborne,looks really trendy ,decor very nice ,dig those half circle wall lights above the fireplace every pub should have these .leather seating look cool .atmosphere very friendly,made most welcome by all staff and most of all Adam, who I didnt even know was the owner,whoever designed this place has an excellent imagination , I hope other pubs ,hotels and food establishments take a look, they would soon be wanting a new facelift, Adam your pub will never be short of nice customers
|
Top venue with well kept beers. Clean and fresh. The new King of Harbourne. Long live the King.
|
Had Sunday lunch there yesterday and it was really great. New interior has a really nice feel to it and the food was really well presented
|
Having just had a fantastic refurbishment, we are now open for business as usual.
Serving a great food menu all throughout the week, from 11am and a brunch menu from 10am every Saturday & Sunday.
Come in for our great stonebaked pizza's, traditional homemade pies or our infamous Fishfinger sandwich!
We have added new fresh continental lagers including Sagres and Heineken, as well as stocking some great traditional ales. We are also serving fantatstic wines, classic cocktails and smoothies.
So feel free to come and have a gander at The Plough, we are sure you won't be disappointed!
|
We went to The Plough on Saturday night and wow what a change. We had a really friendly welcome and the DJ was playing some rocking tunes. It has just been refurbished and looks really cool. A very unique blend of lodge meets old skool retro with quirky details everywhere. There is even a sweet shop behind the bar! I have not seen anything like it before and the atmosphere was buzzing. More importantly there is a much bigger selection of beers/ales now as we all used to whinge before about the lack of choice. To my huge relief, the gents have all been retiled and look great. I believe you ladies have had the same treatment too!
I went back there the following day with the family and folks as they do really good freshly cooked food (not that common in pubs now!) Try the burger - it's impressive or stone baked pizza. Even though it was then during the day, the place still felt really homely and comfortable and we stayed there all afternoon.
I know I have banged on about this place but we just had a great weekend there and wish that there were more places like this with the character and freindliness that The Plough has achieved. Thanks guys.
|
Currently closed, but looks like it's being re-furbished.
|
A neo-bourgeois nightmare, bland beyond belief and so far up its own arse you can smell the shit from across the road.
|
I disagree with many of the comments about this pub - the beer garden is brilliant in the summer - modern and spacious, and i think there is a good atmosphere in this pub Friday and Saturday nights!
Ami39 - 30 Oct 2007 14:11 |
Yep, it's not the pub it used to be. Probably pronounced "The Pluff" these days!
|
Pretentious and expensive.
anonymous - 21 Oct 2005 22:13 |
The place is quite pretentious in my eyes and the atmosphere makes it feel like everyone else in the pub thinks they are better than you. Including the staff.
The beer is ok but quite expensive, the beer garden is the highlight of the pub but this closes at a certain time in the evening due to it being close to local residential housing.
Cramped and hot and not the most confortable of places when the beer garden is closed, but worth a visit on a nice warm afternoon/evening for a few when you can sit outside.
anonymous - 28 Sep 2005 04:12 |
A plastic palace and not a real pub.
If that's your cuppa anyway go up the road to the Varsity where the drinks are far cheaper and there are far less poseurs.
|
Moronic door staff. Appalling place. Go over the Road to the White Horse. Far better.
|
Great pub... Best by far in Harborne
Jo - 10 Aug 2004 16:24 |
A mediocre range and quality of drinks, although too expensive. The clientele, decor, bar staff, and general ambience do not quite fit. It's obvious young professionals are the target market, but with this has come a degree of arrogance. On the plus side, the pub boasts an excellent, spacious, beer garden (with bottle bar). However, this is only applicable in summer. During the less fortunate months, the bar area can become cramped, and unaccomodating.
Mr. Jones - 9 Mar 2004 12:00 |
Newest (re)addition to this part of Birmingham. Is seriously overhalled from the den of vice and dogs on strings that it was previously.
The inside is "pub-modern" (i.e. kind of like a bar in design, but a pub in layout) and the beer is so-so, and a little pricey. Its reall strong point is the BEST beer garden in Birmingham. Large, sheltered and with a DJ playing a good range of tunes.
8/10 (as long as the weather holds), 4/10 after that......
Ticey - 13 Aug 2003 13:50 |
