6 of the best Birmingham city centre pubs

With over 300 pubs to choose from in Birmingham, it’s a daunting task to pick one of the best. You could try them all, but this might end in a killer hangover. So, here are our local experts with a selection of some of their favourites... CHEERS!

The Botanist at Brindleyplace

Perhaps having boasting rights as the best outdoor drinking area in Birmingham, this stylish pub is situated in Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin on the canalside. Describing itself as a ‘Country-style tavern’, the building is set across two floors with an elevated balcony area and a large exterior seating area, with views of the moored canal barges in the basin.

Great for creative cocktails and ales alike, there is also a fab food menu – We recommend the Hanging Kebabs or Crispy Mushrooms - well, any of it to be honest – this one is fantastic for a summer’s eve, but equally as good for a cosy winter warmer, as they have a new Pergola covering the outdoor area.

The Victoria

If you’re after a venue with character, this may well be the pub for you. The Victoria is a charming theatre pub that dates to the end of the 19th century - it is situated next door to The Alexandra, one of Birmingham’s premier theatres, so good for a pre- or post-performance pint.

a large drinks selection is on offer, including quality handpicked wines, whiskies, cask ales and cocktails – and if it’s spirits that take your fancy, The Victoria is said to have a resident ghost.

By evening the venue plays hosts to DJs, comedy, live music and even burlesque.

The Rose Villa Tavern

Located in the historic Jewellery Quarter, this is another Birmingham pub that oozes charm. Its ornate interior provides a superb cosy atmosphere, especially when it is illuminated by some very impressive stained-glass windows.

A large array of drinks is on offer – over 100 vodkas, and a menu that could be described as saucy and spicy, including such delights as - wings, Mediterranean salads, tacos, ribs and burgers. Mmm, we might take a hiatus from this pub list and pay them a visit!

The Old Joint Stock Pub and Theatre

This Grade II listed building is a doozy of a boozer – from that last statement you might think we’ve just been, and truthfully, we wish we had.

As its name suggests this is a venue of two halves, with a theatre occupying the upper level. Its name also suggests that it was formally a Victorian Bank, and the interior is indeed grandiose; with an impressive island bar below a magnificent glass-domed roof – it's the kind of ceiling that you can imagine a SWAT team crashing through in an action film – well if you’ve had a few drinks you might.

The OJS is situated on Cathedral Square or if you're local, you probably know it as Pigeon Park.

Purecraft Bar & Kitchen

We ate the best Scotch Egg here we’ve ever had (do you get the impression we are hungry?).

Purecraft Bar & Kitchen is situated in Birmingham’s financial district on Waterloo Street and is operated in conjunction with Purity Brewing Co. We’d describe the interior as industrial, probably in recognition of the brewery – it looks great.

As you would expect, there is a fantastic range of beers and ales on tap – in fact this is the lowdown -
‘8 cask and 16 craft on draught spanning around 14 different beer styles plus around 60 different internationally renowned bottled craft beers’
- that’s some choice – we recommend you order a Scotch Egg and mull it over.

The Old Crown

The Old Crown lives up to its namesake as it is Birmingham’s oldest secular building – it’s been there since 1368! That’s some innings; it even survived the English Civil War and has seen 31 monarchs come and go!

This award-winning pub is one of our favourite haunts in Digbeth (it’s probably haunted too) – it has a great outdoor space for more clement times (although there are heaters) and the food is great – We recommend the Irish Stew and the Chicken Shawarma – although not together.

The pub is a hive of regular entertainment, hosting quizzes, live music, DJs and on occasion street food traders.

That’s just a quick round-up, or round - For even more great pubs see many more here – CHIN CHIN!

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