Vote for the best in Brum !!

[Delboy20]

Why don't all you recent Brummie boozers have a vote for the best pub you visited ?

I know you can set up a poll on here but I haven't a clue how to - perhaps one of our more technically astute members could help out ??

I thought it might be interesting to see which pub you all thought was the best overall. I know it is hard to choose sometimes, it all depends on so many factors ( beer choice, atmosphere, architecture, price etc .. )

I go in all the pubs you visited fairly often so it would be nice to know which is the best.

Anybody up for it ?

[Andy Ven]

I'll start the ball rolling.

For choice you'd have to say one of the two main rivals for Birmingham CAMRA pub of the year, The Wellington and the Anchor.

For architecture and design, the Old Joint Stock is grand but the the Barton's Arms wins on that score.

For welcome, of all of the pubs we went to on Friday The White Swan is the one I could happily sit in and feel most relaxed.

That doesn't help really, does it?

[RogerB]

The great thing about the crawl is that they were for the most part a good mixed bag of pubs, all having something of interest in their own way whether it was beer, architecture or personality. If I could have the Welly's beers served by the Anchor's barmaid in the Barton I'd be a relatively happy bunny.

[Quinno]

The great thing about the crawl is that they were for the most part a good mixed bag of pubs, all having something of interest in their own way whether it was beer, architecture or personality. If I could have the Welly's beers served by the Anchor's barmaid in the Barton I'd be a relatively happy bunny.

LOL, I'm with Roger on this one!

[aleandhearty]

The great thing about the crawl is that they were for the most part a good mixed bag of pubs, all having something of interest in their own way..

Pretty much my take on the day.

I absolutely loved the interior of The Bartons Arms, it blew me away. Looking back, I can't believe I was initially hesitant about drifting too far away from the city centre. It would have been a crime to have missed it.

Obviously the beer at The Welly was fantastic, but to be fair, it was pretty good at all the pubs we went to. (The only memorably duff pint was the ABC Mild at the Bartons, however that was more the beer itself. The Oakham beers were excellent.) I just thought maybe The Welly lacked a bit of character?

All things considered, I think The Anchor was my favourite. It's the sort of place I could see myself settling down in and working across the pumps.

[Andy Ven]

I agree, the Welly is about the beer choice rather than the environment. As Conrad made the point in his account , it can get cramped and uncomfortable.

The Barton's Arms is grand but I tend to feel as if I have to keep an eye on what's going on around me and I wouldn't feel comfortable outside there at night. Maybe that's just me, based on out dated previous history.

[Conrad]

I think Roger pretty much nailed it for me, Bartons Arms was just incredible inside, without the benefit of local knowledge of the area

[oldboots]

The Old Joint Stock, The White Swan and obviously the Bartons Arms for interiors, good beer everywhere except the aforementioned one in the BA and the one in the Lamp I have fuzzy memories of the Old Fox, but I'm with the others saying the Anchor was the best all-round of the pubs we visited on the day. Birmingham Round 2 will have to take in the Old Contemptibles, Prince of Wales and the Bull among others not tried this time.

[General Staal]

I want to come to Birmingham Round 2.

Has anyone done Walsall? Always quality!

Friday afternoons are always out for me. Unless its a school holiday. But then, I might be on holiday!

I really missed going on a big pub crawl.

Of all the pubs you have mentioned - The White Swan is the friendliest, I can see the attractions of the Anchor, but I just don't like the pub. Did you get to the Spotted Dog in Digbeth? I know Soupy wasn't struck, but I quite like it.

The Bartons Arms is amazing! The Old Joint Stock is good, but pricey and I really like Bennetts, although others don't. Bacchus and the Old Contemptibles are also very good.

I don't suppose Soupy got you to the Bull Ring Tavern? No real ale but a really 'interesting' pub!

[Andy Ven]

Has anyone done Walsall? Always quality!

I should think I have! I don't go into Walsall very often of late but after the last home game in May I went to:

White Lion (one of the best in Walsall),
Wheatsheaf (popular with the CAMRA branch, I thought it was so-so but it's now under new managers)
Walsall Arms (I expected more than the one handpull that was on on the night so I was a bit disappointed)
Spring Cottage, Chuckery (friendly, reasonable Indian food but no real ale)
Fountain (a decent real ale pub)

Next time I go out in Walsall I must do the Black Country Arms (Walsall's version of the Wellington - I don't get there often enough); Lyndon House; Victoria, Butts Tavern; Pretty Bricks (if it's open and on form); maybe Arbor Lights