The best pubs in Birmingham
Twenty-nine handpumps on Bennetts Hill, a blue-tiled local behind the Mailbox, a three-star Victorian pub by Curzon Street and a Moseley garden with its own bar. Birmingham's best pubs, and what to order in each.
By Only Birmingham Editorial
The best pub in Birmingham is The Wellington on Bennetts Hill, 300 metres from Snow Hill, with 29 handpumps over two floors and no kitchen. Behind it comes a run of city-centre locals that would be the pride of any city, and a second string in Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley that is worth the bus fare. Here is where we drink, and the pint to ask for.
The Wellington, 37 Bennetts Hill
The Wellington is a Black Country Ales house that has had the same landlord for more than twenty years, and it shows in the cellar. There are 29 handpumps across two floors, a live beer board, and a roof terrace most people never find. Food is cobs and nothing else, so bring your own; they will give you a plate. It opens at 10am every day, there is £1 off a pint of Bradley's Finest Golden or Pig on the Wall until 1pm, and it is over 18s only. The upstairs bar takes cash.
Craven Arms, 47 Upper Gough Street
Walk round the back of the Mailbox and the Craven Arms appears in full blue glazed tiles. Black Country Ales restored it in 2022 and kept it as one cosy room, with the handpumps lined up along the bar: Fireside, Pig on the Wall and Bradley's Finest Golden, plus changing beers from Birmingham and the West Midlands and three craft kegs for anyone who insists. Order a Fireside and a pork pie. Children are welcome until 9pm.
Prince of Wales, 84 Cambridge Street
The third Black Country Ales pub on this list, and the one for before the Rep or after a gig at Centenary Square. It is a single room, refurbished in 2022, with old views of Birmingham on the walls, the three house regulars plus seven changing beers and two real ciders. Cobs and pasties if you are hungry. Bingo on Mondays.
The Woodman, 1 Curzon Street
Opposite the old Curzon Street station, The Woodman is a late Victorian pub with a three-star interior that reopened in 2024 after a careful restoration. Draught Bass and Hobsons Champion Mild are permanent, seven more beers change, and the food runs to pies, pizzas and cheese boards. Find the library at the back with the real fire. Quiz on Mondays.
The Old Joint Stock, 4 Temple Row West
A Victorian bank of 1862 opposite the cathedral, now a Fuller's pub. The Old Joint Stock is all high ceiling, domed skylight and a carved island bar with a four-sided clock on top. London Pride, ESB and Gales HSB are on the pumps, there is a studio theatre upstairs, and it is card only. It closes at 6pm on Sundays.
The Victoria, 48 John Bright Street
The Victoria sits beside the stage door of the Alexandra Theatre, which tells you the crowd. Purity Mad Goose is the regular cask, with one guest. Comedy on Mondays, a quiz on Wednesdays and live music on Thursdays, and it stays open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.
The Anchor, 308 Bradford Street
Digbeth's best local. The Anchor was built in 1902 and keeps its timber and glass screen and Art Nouveau windows, with up to four cask ales and a key keg on. It fills up when Blues are at home, and CAMRA members get 25p off a pint of cask.
Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley
- Prince of Wales, 118 Alcester Road, Moseley. A Victorian pub refurbished in 2023, with leaded glass, real fires in all three rooms and an extensive beer garden with its own bar. Timothy Taylor Landlord and Oakham Bishops Farewell on cask. Moseley Village station is a few minutes' walk.
- Hare & Hounds, 106 High Street, Kings Heath. A 1907 pub with Maw & Co tiles on the stairs and a music room upstairs where UB40 played their first gig. Purity on cask, gigs most nights.
- British Oak, 1364 Pershore Road, Stirchley. A 1920s roadhouse with five intact rooms and a bowling green, Landlord on cask and burgers from Original Patty Men. Live music most weekends.
A city-centre crawl
- Start: The Wellington, before 1pm for the earlybird pint.
- Then: across Colmore Row to the Old Joint Stock for a look at the ceiling.
- Then: down to the Craven Arms behind the Mailbox.
- Finish: the Prince of Wales on Cambridge Street, across town by Centenary Square.
That is four pubs, three of them Black Country Ales houses, all walkable, and not a bad pint between them.
