14 of the last ‘proper’ old-school pubs still open in Birmingham
Traditional boozers with cheap drinks and proper characters - is your local on the list?
Birmingham has a wide choice of pubs to suit all tastes and pockets, but the ‘proper’ old-school boozers are sadly dying out.
Here at BirminghamWorld, we love to support these traditional pubs, which are often packed with interesting characters and serve cheaper pints than posher places that often feel more like restaurants than pubs.
Food is not always top of the list when it comes to proper drinking pubs, although if you’re lucky there will be a clingfilm-wrapped cheese and onion bap on the bar and a few packets of Scampi Fries or pickled onion-flavour Monster Munch to line the stomach.
These are timeless pubs where conversations often compete with live sports on TV or a game of pool or darts in the bar.
Here are nine of the last ‘proper’ Brummie pubs but we’d like to know about more so let us know which are your favourite boozers and we’ll check them out.
1. The Old Contemptibles, city centre
Real ales are on tap in this grand Victorian street-corner boozer with high-ceilinged bar and oak panelling. The pub also has a great atmosphere throughout the week
2. The Roost, Small Heath
The Roost pub in Small Heath is located on Cattell Road and is loved by Blues fans. The boozer also attracted Ed Sheeran and Jaykae when the pair paid a shock visit to the pub in April 2022.
3. The Fighting Cocks, Moseley
Loved by locals and embodying the friendly vibe of its Moseley neighbourhood, the Fighting Cocks brings the best in British hospitality to the suburb
4. The Victoria, city centre
The city centre pub is great for live music and locally brewed ales from the likes of Wye Valley, Purity, Attic Brewery and Burning Soul as well as a range of craft beers