BITE user comments - berkfromtrapdoor
Comments by berkfromtrapdoor
Just to clarify the below couple of comments - this pub is now closed !!
24 Aug 2010 18:22
Went in here for a leaving do a few months back.
Standard All Bar One. Full of trendies, suits and other stupid people people who were willing to pay �4 for a glass of wine, �3 for a pint, or �8 for a double and mixer. Bombardier was available, but ran out.
Friendly staff, and the food looked and smelled lovely, but where good beer is concerned, avoid.
24 Aug 2010 18:18
Went in here a couple of months ago. I didn't realise it was still open, and it's hard to see how it still is.
Friendly enough place (and it gets rammed on a Saturday when people are fed up trapsing round the market), but on my visit the only aletype thing on offer was Boddingtons, and it was very badly kept.
Worth a visit just to step back in time to 1970.
24 Aug 2010 18:15
The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham
See ChrisP87's review four below. Sums up this pub perfectly.
Went here a couple of weeks ago. Didn't see anything of the "greeter" mentioned below, so I'm not docking a mark for that! Standard Fullers pub. Their Discovery is probably my favourite pint in Birmingham city centre - always served cold, and tastes great. Pricey at �3.15 though. It is a Fullers, but we're NOT in London. Other standards include HSB and ESB, and a couple of rotating guests (which I didn't sample).
Full of suits no matter what time you seemingly go in there, so guaranteed a trouble-free night unless a stag do wanders in.
Well worth a visit if you fancy a nice pint.
24 Aug 2010 18:10
It pains me to say this, but this is probably the best pub in Birmingham's City Centre. Allow me to explain.
I first came here about 6 years ago, and was blown away. All the reviews below are completely accurate in that there are always 16 real ales to choose from. Trouble is, they're not as ever-changing as you may think. Wye Valley HPA is a standard, as are three Black Country ales and a Purity. Now I understand it's promoting local breweries, and for that, the pub should be applauded, but it does limit the amount of changing drinks on offer.
Aside from that, the other ten ales are sporadic at best. The quality has gone downhill over the years, which I suppose is only natural, as there's no competition to keep this pub on its toes. I've regularly been in groups of four or five, and we've all had to discard at least one of our ales during the session.
I suppose I'm being too harsh on this pub, but that's only because I expect the best. Don't get me wrong however - it's very good, but the ale is nowhere near as nice as a couple of years ago. It's perhaps the only pub I also know where the toilets smell a damn sight better than the pub itself.
Still, you can regularly get 16 different real ales, so let me stress that it is an excellent pub, and should be the last on any crawl to be able to sample as many as you can.
24 Aug 2010 18:04
I've only ever been in here once, as a pre-film meal at the annual Flatpack festival.
I ordered some kind of chilli noodles ("very hot!" the menu promised me), and a bottles of Japanese lager. The food, though tastyish was not hot and pretty stodgy, and the lager was mediocre. I think it cost me about twelve quid for these two items, and so I won't be going there again for dinner. Apparently the lunch menu is less pricey, which (according to the mate that dragged me there) is "much better".
Meh. Not great.
24 Aug 2010 17:51
It's Reflex. If you don't want to go to some god awful 80s-themed tacky bar and listen to 80s music (bad Culture Club type, not good Mike & The Mechanics type), then don't go. If you do want to have the above night out, then do.
In my opinion, it's awful.
24 Aug 2010 17:45
The pub itself is fairly run down and could do with a coat of paint, but aside from that, it's pretty good.
This is round the corner from Riley's, so I always get here half an hour early before going to play some pool. Always get a decent pint of ale. Last visit had something green on (the bloke next to me said it tasted lovely!), but instead I opted for something from Slaters brewery, which was quite sumptuous. Always at least two real ales on, always changing, and tend to be from microbreweries rather than anything generic or mainstream.
Worth a visit.
24 Aug 2010 17:42
This used to be O'Neills and used to great for a night out. But I've been here about ten times over the last year or two, and it's ALWAYS been empty.
Saying that, you still get exactly what you'd expect from a Wetherspoons.
24 Aug 2010 17:36
The Lost and Found, Birmingham
thatchrisdude has summed this pub up perfectly, two reviews below.
Went here a few weeks ago, and had a rather nice pint of a Wychwood seasonal ale. Three other ales on, including Hobgoblin.
Of a nighttime, this pub seems to be okay, and only attracts those that seem to like it. I prefer this, but unfortunately, the pub suffers, as it is often empty. Of an early evening or daytime, it's often full of suits, which is better than chavs, but still annoying.
Decent enough pub, but not the cheapest.
24 Aug 2010 17:34
Regularly go in here for pre-gig meals, or pre-football-trip breakfasts. Cheap, but never cheerful, although there are always some cracking-looking barmaids on.
Overall, it's a Wetherspoons. Nuff sed.
24 Aug 2010 17:29
The Sun on the Hill, Birmingham
Recently changed to The Sun On The Hill, but same ol' problems when it comes to the drinks.
Went here on a Friday night, and had a pint of Bombardier (the only ale on), which was average, but I couldn't have any more, as they ran out. I think they may have had a wheat beer on draught, but I didn't sample it.
Aside from the drinks, it's bright and there's always loud music blaring from its doors towards chucking out time, but in a good Beatles kind of way, rather than dancey. DJs on when I went in, and even got one of them to play Creedence Clearwater Revival, which seemed to go down well (with me anyway).
Nothing special mind, and not really worth seeking out.
24 Aug 2010 17:25
It's a shame that this pub has died a bit of a death over the years. Used to be very vibrant, with arguably the best jukebox in the city centre (before the days of digital jukeboxes having every song ever), but now falls into the non-descript mediocrity of many other pubs in its proximity.
My last visit here was for the Germany-Argentina game in the World Cup. Two real ales were on (Landlord and Bombardier), and both were well-kept and served cold. Not a lot else on offer by way of unique drinks, though the food is always of a slightly-above average standard.
The toilets have gone up in recent years, with two lockable cubicles, and a clean floor, with working taps and hand dryers and everything!
Overall, nothing special, but nothing bad.
24 Aug 2010 17:19
A bit like the trendy nearby Sunflower Lounge. Always guaranteed to see scarves indoors here.
Good range of drinks. They always have at least two real ales on, and a good draught cider in Stowford Press. Fairly pricey though - not uncommon for a �3 pint.
Loads of events on as per the reviews below, but unfortunately, went here a few Tuesdays ago for their Sound & Vision quiz, alas alas, they'd stopped it until October for "when all the students come back" - immediately tells you the type of its usual clientele.
There's a stunning barmaid that regularly works here; picture Thandie Newton, but a bit taller.
Overall, a decent pub, and getting better.
24 Aug 2010 17:14
As per Ispy's review below.
I went in there recently on a Monday night, and had a great steak meal deal. Only problem was the loud music (that'd more be suited for Broad Street on a Friday night) belting out the speakers. Oh, but out of the five pumps on display, there were no ales on. Not a good visit.
And the toilets are always messed up - two cubicles: one has a lock, but no lock holder, the other has a lock holder, but no lock! Nip round the corner to McDonalds if you need a dump!
Poor pub, but very cheap for the city centre.
24 Aug 2010 17:09
This has turned into a gay pub.
Went in here for a couple while waiting for a film at the nearby Electric Cinema the other week. Two hand pumps on offer (enter pun here), though none were working. Barely anything on (apparently their delivery had been messed up), so I had to go for a pint of Carling! In this day and age! It wasn't badly kept, but I went for a Magners after that. Fairly cheap.
Quite a drab, grim decor inside, as the pub has clearly had no work on it in many a year. Kareoke posters were up, which could prove a laugh if the drag queens that were at the bar had any part in it.
Me and my mate ended up playing some pool. Old, knackered table, but was pleasant enough, until somebody came over and asked us if we wanted to play doubles - I wouldn't have minded, but he'd been sitting there for half an hour not showing any interest in pool. My mate played him, and lost as he was clearly a regular who kept his own pool behind the bar. Don't get hustled!
Oh, and don't go to this very below average pub.
24 Aug 2010 17:04
The Shakespeare Inn, Birmingham
Can't really add much to the review below.
Went here last Sunday for a couple of pints while waiting for a train. Four real ales on offer - two Everards (Sunchaser and Tiger), and two Marstons (Pedigree and EPA). Ended up going for a Sunchaser, which though very tasty, was quite warm. Nothing else appealed so I had to throw down a Strongbow next and my mate had a Mickey Mouse.
There is a regular barmaid though, who is quite sublime. Worth going for one pint, in the hope that she's there.
24 Aug 2010 16:59
Can't really add much more than the review below - it has to be seen to be believed.
I regularly go here, as it seems to be a secret, so you can always get a seat, and get quick service at the bar. And what a bar. About 5 ales on in my last visit (which regularly change), and they offer you a proper handle pint glass or one without. Always go for the handle!
Good ale pub.
24 Aug 2010 16:53
It's a typical "local" boozer, but based in the City Centre.
Quite a number of screens dotted around the place for watching sport, but as it's in the basement, it's so hot in there that it, at times, becomes unbearable.
My last trip here a few months ago had me on some kind of IPA, which while well-kept, wasn't that cold. Two other ales were on, but weren't sampled. The toilets were horrendous - no toilet seat, no toilet paper, puddles on the floor (probably from the blocked trough urinal), no soap, and dodgy taps.
A couple of quiz machines fittered about makes it a decent pub, but it's nothing more than average.
24 Aug 2010 16:50
The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
It's your typical trendyesque bar. Picture people on their iPhones wearing a trilby and a scarf indoors, and you've almost got The Sunflower Lounge. Very poor selection of drinks (no ales), and expensive if you're looking for a drink.
If however, you're looking for a quiet place in the afternoon for an average drink and to listen to some top top music, this place is for you. One of my recent visits on a Friday afternoon had me bombarded with all kinds of classics ranging from The Beatles, to The Who, to Led Zep, Jimi Hendrix, The Small Faces and The Rolling Stones. I was in heaven....
....then I stayed there a little while longer, the music went louder and clubbier, and the clientele became more fashionable. Try and leave before this point. They do make an effort for a variety of evening activities in their defence. Nights include quizzes, films, live bands and DJs. They also promote Sky Sports, although the times I've been in there the sound is often off.
Overall, not a good pub, but a good music bar.
24 Aug 2010 16:45
This pub has recently had a new gaffer take over, and she's made improvements.
Ignore the "no baseball caps, no football tops" sign that welcomes you at the front door, and take a moment to study the large grand interior of this pub. Now bring yourself back to reality, and realise that awful stench is the men's toilets that is situated right by the front door. Not the best first impression, but we'll carry on.
It's a standard M&B pub serving cheap food (not sampled), and a nothing-special range of drinks. Two real ales were on in my visit - an average Pedigree, and a very nice well-kept cold EPA.
The trouble with this pub is that's it's situated right by the courts, so the clientele is often somewhat off-putting and vagabondish to say the least. I've seen the new gaffer throw a few people out in my trips here (since I started working down the road from it a few months ago), which is more than I ever saw beforehand.
The pub itself is inoffensively decorated, but is dirty and riffy through years of neglect, and I was itching and scratching due to the plethora of flies buzzing around. Okay, it was a hot summer's afternoon, but nevertheless, it was somewhat of a dampener. Overall though, not bad, but not good.
24 Aug 2010 16:36
The Bridge, Birmingham New Street station
The pub is nice enough inside, but it's way way waaaay too expensive.
It's quite a novelty hearing about platform alterations and other such train delay delights while supping your pint, but it's distinctly average, and not recommended.
My visit here a few days ago yielded no ales (there were three pumps, but all placards turned around), so I (stupidly!) went for a Magners, having just come in from the sunshine and had half an hour to kill thanks to a train delay. �4.40 later, I was not impressed. Ah well....
24 Aug 2010 16:25
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The Wellington, Birmingham
Went in here the other day at about 6pm to get away from the Christmas market. They had Harvest Pale on. They soon didn't. Only left as it was midnight and they'd stopped serving. All pints imbibed were in top condition, and my group of four barely made it home. You're always in for a treat at the Welly! Just make sure you take a nose peg, as it always smells of B.O. when it's busy. Which is always.
9 Dec 2011 22:23