10 Most Iconic Pubs in Birmingham

The Old Contemptibles is a classic pub and venerable Birmingham institution, located a stone’s throw from the city’s Snow Hill railway station in the heart of town. From the imposing facade to the high ceilings and the oak panelling throughout, it’s clear from the off that this is one of the most iconic pubs in Birmingham.

Besides serving everything from locally-produced ales to a great variety of international spirits, The Old Contemptibles also serves up classic British fare such as fish and chips, pies, and more. Packed with character, this is one of the places in the city centre where locals and tourists flock to for a taste and feel of traditional Birmingham.

The Woodman is a recently restored Victorian pub in the heart of Birmingham. This popular spot on New Canal Street is every inch the British boozer of yesteryear, with its original tiles, plenty of wood panelling, and a great selection of rare ales.

There is a twist, though. The Woodman is run with an eco-friendly ethos, meaning everything from the ales to the burgers is locally sourced where possible. What’s more, staff and customers alike are encouraged to do all they can to minimise their carbon footprint.

The Old Joint Stock is a lovingly renovated Victorian pub in the centre of Birmingham. A grandiose affair with soaring ceilings, the place has a huge island bar and features oak panelling throughout.

For years a fixture in Birmingham city centre, The Old Joint Stock is today an altogether trendier affair with homemade pies, craft ales, and even a theatre room. Showcasing local acts like comedians, musicians and much more, their schedule is busy throughout the year with headline shows taking place at weekends.

The Sutton Park is a traditional local pub and hotel in the town of Sutton Coldfield, which lies just north of Birmingham city centre. The pub offers a wide selection of beers from the local region and beyond, as well as cocktails and over a dozen freshly prepared selections from its gin parlour.

Established in the mid-19th century, the pub features an original facade that’s still largely intact, so it’s not short on character. Inside, things take on a slightly more modern look. Even so, the food menu, offering British classics like pie and mash or fish and chips, remains very much traditional.

The Old Crown is a traditional pub that lives up to its name as Birmingham’s oldest secular structure. Dating all the way back to 1368, most of the present-day pub was constructed in the early 16^th century, lending the whole place a distinctly Tudor aesthetic – it has a black-and-white timber exterior and low ceilings throughout.

Far from just a tourist attraction, the Grade II-listed building is a working, award-winning pub that offers a wide range of national and international drinks to a young and trendy clientele. The food here is a notch above standard pub fare, taking its cues from British classics that go perfectly with a locally brewed pint or cocktail.

The Victoria is a cool spot that blends classic English pub aesthetics with modern flair in Birmingham’s busiest central district. Even though its decor is embellished in colourful cartoon art and it attracts a young and trendy crowd, The Victoria remains faithful to the key aspects that make a great traditional pub.

Oak-panelled walls are decked out with tattoo designs here, while the cocktail menu is good enough to compete with any of the city’s swankier bars. Craft beers are plentiful both on draught and by the bottle while the food jumps on the luxe-junk bandwagon to great effect. Note that it usually gets packed on weekend evenings.

Shakespeare Inn sits in the Ladywood area just outside the centre of Birmingham and is very much walkable from the heart of the city. The first thing you notice about this pub is the imposing façade. It looks much the same as it did almost 2 centuries ago, with original brickwork and arched windows.

Inside, Shakespeare Inn remains a study in Victorian elegance, with oak-panelling throughout and many of the original features intact. The best way to soak up the ambience of this fine traditional Birmingham pub is at a cosy booth or table with a pick from their large selection of cask, draught, and bottled beers.

The Rose Villa Tavern is a trendy spot in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter that blends classic British pub aesthetics with something altogether more modern. Yes, there are original stained-glass windows and leather sofas throughout, yet they’re offset by hand-painted murals, Scandinavian-inspired furniture, and even a red telephone box.

With such quirky decor, it makes sense that the food and drink served at The Rose Villa Tavern should be equally unique. With their own takes on American classics – think dirty burgers, wings, and more – this Birmingham pub also serves a solid line of original and classic cocktails, as well as a selection of classic draught ales.

The Clifden is a lively and modern pub in Newtown, just north of the centre of Birmingham. From the modern, quirky signage out front, it’s immediately clear that this is far from the average Birmingham pub. The Clifden is a hangout for students, artsy types, and other creatives in Birmingham. Its fittings and windows feature music, film, and pop-culture-inspired decor.

As one of Birmingham’s best hipster hot spots, The Clifden serves up a slightly more unusual selection of beers, with Belgian favourites like Vedett on draught. The food is a refreshing take on classic British fare, with their Sunday roast reportedly among the very best in the city.

The Jekyll & Hyde takes the classic Victorian aesthetic beloved by so many of Birmingham’s traditional pubs and adds its own dash of magic. Original features like wood-panelling and exposed brick have been lovingly restored, while there’s plenty of quirky art on the walls and Alice in Wonderland-inspired nods throughout.

This city-centre pub, cocktail bar, and gin parlour serves an enormous range of gins in a near-endless variety of styles. Among the top selections is the Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger served with London Essence’s ginger ale or classic Indian tonic and garnished with cinnamon. There’s also the Mad Hatter’s Tea that serves 2, featuring the Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger served with Earl Grey, apple, lemon, and peach.