It’s admittedly been a long time since we’ve posted – a new job, wedding planning and a pesky PhD thesis have kept us pretty busy! Luckily, Christmastime brought with it a bit of a break, and we were able to spend a couple of carefree days in Josh’s home city, catching our breath after a busy year and sharing a few pints in some of Birmingham’s world-class pubs. Below are a few of our recommendations, which we offer along with a promise to post more pub reviews and blog posts in 2024!
The Old Joint Stock, Temple Row West
Conveniently located a two-minute walk from New Street station, The Old Joint Stock is a firm favourite at Heritage Pub Tours – it’s the first pub to break 80 on our tried and tested pub rating system. Located in the city’s old stock exchange, its high ceilings and towering central bar can have a somewhat dazzling effect on first-time visitors. It is Victorian Brummie elegance at its zenith, packed with stained glass and dark wood. The bar has a decent (if uninspiring) selection of draught beers, but the real highlight at the Old Joint Stock is its menu. If it’s your first time at the OJS, you’ve got to go for their famous pies. We’d particularly recommend their pie flights, in which diners are served a selection of three mini pies, complete with roast veggies and gravy. When we visited over Christmas, we indulged in a tapas-style collection of small plates, including mushroom paté, Marmite roast potatoes, and a grilled cheese and caramelised onion sandwich, which did not disappoint! If theatricality, grand scale, and good food are your thing – the OJS is an absolute must! Overall score: 81.42
Canalside, Gas Street
Josh and I have spent considerable time discussing what our dream pub would look like. Ever the Brummie at heart, Josh’s vision usually centres around a typical Victorian city pub, with wooden wainscotting and smoke-stained ceilings. I, on the other hand, picture a cosy country pub with white-washed stone walls, which makes you feel like you’ve climbed into a small animal’s warren. Amazingly, Canalside manages to combine these two archetypes in one brilliant pub. It’s located – not surprisingly – alongside the canal, offering views of the dozens of docked houseboats from the patio. As a building, what Canalside lacks in depth it makes up for with length, creating a railroad effect with only just enough space to pass by the tables crammed by the windows. It may not have a wide beer or food selection, but it provides the perfect little hideaway to wait out the colder, darker months. Overall score: 77.14
The Prince of Wales, Alcester Road
Any visit to the Moseley area of Birmingham would be incomplete without a stop in the Prince of Wales, one of the absolute staples of Moseley’s up-and-coming high street. From Monday to Sunday, the Prince of Wales is always buzzing with atmosphere – largely owing to its status as a local institution. When we visited on a late December Saturday, we enjoyed huddling around a small table in the attractive front room, watching the late afternoon football scores fly in. Perhaps one of the bigger compliments I can give the Prince of Wales, however, is that the many screens dotted around do not diminish the pub’s aesthetic historicism and uniqueness. This is largely due to the gorgeous 1920s bar and interior décor, and the much larger back room, which retains the feel of a working-man’s club on a grander scale. Also, to note here, the beer selection is an ale-lovers dream – and we would recommend asking the bar staff about their selection of seasonal beers. Overall score: 64.29
The Fighting Cocks, St Mary’s Row
Not satisfied with a one-pub trip to Moseley, we made our way down the high street to visit the Fighting Cocks. From the outside this imposing old pub looks more like a city fire station or town hall than a boozer, but once inside, you’ll be amazed at the warmth of your welcome and the cosiness of the rooms inside. The Fighting Cocks is blessed with one of the most gorgeous wooden bars that I’ve ever seen, complete with period mirrors and timepiece. The beer selection is solid, and it’s served to you by some of the friendliest bar keepers I’ve come across in Birmingham, or anywhere. For maximum cosiness, we’d recommend seeking out the armchairs next to the fireplace in the pub’s impressive dining room – if there’s a more pleasant place to sink a pint of porter in the second city, I’m yet to find it. Also look out for the Fighting Cock’s impressive and creative menu of pub classics – infused with a streak of Mediterranean flair. Overall score: 67.86
To learn more about our pub rating system, click here.
