It’s no secret that us Brummies love a curry and kebab every now and again, and where best to eat some of the best in town than at a Desi pub. Casual vibes, affordable beer (though, not always), and usually, live sports greet pub-goers, who just want to have a relaxing time with their mates.
Desi pubs started cropping up in the UK back in the 1970s when immigrants from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh moved to the UK, including the West Midlands. They wanted a taste of home away from home and the solution was these family-run Indian pubs that served affordable food for South Asian immigrants.
You can find great grills, curries, rice, naan, and also traditional British food at some of them. And, they are not specific to any single part of the city. Desi pubs can be found in several places in and around Birmingham, and they bring in people from all groups. For instance, on a visit to Hen and Chickens in Jewellery Quarter with South Asian friends, we found very few South Asian peopl at the pub.
The flavoursome curries and in some cases, Indo-Chinese cuisine, is difficult to resist for most Brummies in the city. Residents have their favourites and return to them again and again. So, without wanting to pit one against the other, we took a look at how they are ranked on Google.
Here are 12 beloved Desi pubs in and around Birmingham ranked, according to Google reviews:
9. New Bell, Great Barr
Located on Booths Farm road, this desi pub has 4.4 stars after 480 Google reviews. It offers a rich and varied cuisine which embraces dishes from both Northern and Southern India. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps
10. The Red Lion, West Bromwich
This pub serves Indian dishes and you can watch live sport on TV or play game of pool in a modern , red-brick venue with a large terrace. This desi pub has 4.4 stars after 1,834 Google reviews. (Photo - Google Maps) | google maps
11. The Queen’s Arms, Jewellery Quarter
Located on Newhall Street, this desi pub was taken over by the owner of Somewhere in Brum, who also runs Notty bites. It has 4.1 stars from 638 google reviews. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps
12. Red Cow, Smethwick
The Red Cow Pub & Grill is a landmark Black Country family run pub that has been open since 1930. It has 4.1 stars from 608 Google reviews. It is located on the High Street. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps