City Centre pubs

[Godber]

If I drank “Up Town” as it were, it was usually after work on my way home. I worked in Hockley and later Digbeth so they tended to be pubs I passed on the way to getting a bus in the city centre. Some of these I only visited once and others fairly regularly. I recall the Brown Derby on Colmore Circus, Sara Moons and also The Costermonger in Dale End, and in Digbeth The Bull Ring Tavern (I thought my beer was so bad I couldn’t finish it) The Barrel Organ, The Fox and Grapes, the Spotted Dog on New Canal Street, The Old Wharf (lovely Banks’s Mild there), Billy’s Bar, The Forge Tavern and a pub whos name escapes me but is now called The Ruin on the corner of Floodgate Street and Little Ann Street. I used to love some of those old Digbeth pubs.

 

[Time Traveller 66]

If I drank “Up Town” as it were, it was usually after work on my way home. I worked in Hockley and later Digbeth so they tended to be pubs I passed on the way to getting a bus in the city centre. Some of these I only visited once and others fairly regularly. I recall the Brown Derby on Colmore Circus, Sara Moons and also The Costermonger in Dale End, and in Digbeth The Bull Ring Tavern (I thought my beer was so bad I couldn’t finish it) The Barrel Organ, The Fox and Grapes, the Spotted Dog on New Canal Street, The Old Wharf (lovely Banks’s Mild there), Billy’s Bar, The Forge Tavern and a pub whos name escapes me but is now called The Ruin on the corner of Floodgate Street and Little Ann Street. I used to love some of those old Digbeth pubs.

Happy times popping in for a pint or wo on the way home .

 

[brondrange]

Haven't seen this photograph before of The Ship Ashore. It became The Outrigger, anyone know when and the reason for the name change? Those stairs kept going up and up...

Used to be a part-time barman for a short time there in the seventies, with my more experienced part-time bar maid and girl friend, later wife. She was upstairs in the cocktail bar, I was just drawing pints in the down below bar.

 

[brondrange]

The Post Office Vaults, which the last time I was in Brum was a great real ale pub was around under another name when I frequented the city centre in the late 60s/early 70s. Layout wise it was still exactly the same, a classic "cellar pub". I just can't remember what it was called back in the day.

The pub used by many, many Post Office staff (including my father-in-law) was situated at the rear of the GPO on Hill St/Paradise St, the 'Golden Eagle', and partially sat over the nuclear war shelters/bunker complex which is located well below this area and for the use of surviving designated admin staff.

 

[JohnJames]

The pub used by many, many Post Office staff (including my father-in-law) was situated at the rear of the GPO on Hill St/Paradise St, the 'Golden Eagle', and partially sat over the nuclear war shelters/bunker complex which is located well below this area and for the use of surviving designated admin staff.View attachment 187283

I got to know this pub as a friend worked in the sorting office opposite. I'm amazed at what you say about a nuclear bunker underneath this area. I presume that it's still there but is sealed up?

 

[JohnJames]

If I drank “Up Town” as it were, it was usually after work on my way home. I worked in Hockley and later Digbeth so they tended to be pubs I passed on the way to getting a bus in the city centre. Some of these I only visited once and others fairly regularly. I recall the Brown Derby on Colmore Circus, Sara Moons and also The Costermonger in Dale End, and in Digbeth The Bull Ring Tavern (I thought my beer was so bad I couldn’t finish it) The Barrel Organ, The Fox and Grapes, the Spotted Dog on New Canal Street, The Old Wharf (lovely Banks’s Mild there), Billy’s Bar, The Forge Tavern and a pub whos name escapes me but is now called The Ruin on the corner of Floodgate Street and Little Ann Street. I used to love some of those old Digbeth pubs.

The Old Wharf brings back a few memories. Not exactly in town but we'll situated n a back street in Digneth. Often had a pint there when as a fifteen year old I and my mates wandered down from Small Heath. We were big for our age and were readily served. It seemed to be a local boozer then, although most of the area seemed to be made up of small factories. Every time I hear the song " Those were the days my friend" by

If I drank “Up Town” as it were, it was usually after work on my way home. I worked in Hockley and later Digbeth so they tended to be pubs I passed on the way to getting a bus in the city centre. Some of these I only visited once and others fairly regularly. I recall the Brown Derby on Colmore Circus, Sara Moons and also The Costermonger in Dale End, and in Digbeth The Bull Ring Tavern (I thought my beer was so bad I couldn’t finish it) The Barrel Organ, The Fox and Grapes, the Spotted Dog on New Canal Street, The Old Wharf (lovely Banks’s Mild there), Billy’s Bar, The Forge Tavern and a pub whos name escapes me but is now called The Ruin on the corner of Floodgate Street and Little Ann Street. I used to love some of those old Digbeth pubs.

I often drank in the Old Wharf. My mates and I came down from Small Heath as fourteen and fifteen year olds, as they were happy to serve us. We were big lads, by the way! It seemed to be a local's pub despite being in the middle of an area that was all small factories. It had a great juke box. However, when we went there the song most played was Mary Hopkin's "Those were the days my friends" There was some reggae and soul on the jukebox which cost us a few shillings. Locals didn't always approve.

 

[Time Traveller 66]

Used to be a part-time barman for a short time there in the seventies, with my more experienced part-time bar maid and girl friend, later wife. She was upstairs in the cocktail bar, I was just drawing pints in the down below bar.

Remember the Outrigger because of the Ship on the outside never went in though. Drank in the Cabin and the Boat a couple of times. Drank in the Railway Curzon Street and a couple of other pubs within a few hundred yards of each other i will have to jog my memory..

 

[Godber]

I got to know this pub as a friend worked in the sorting office opposite. I'm amazed at what you say about a nuclear bunker underneath this area. I presume that it's still there but is sealed up?If you search “Birmingham Anchor Exchange“ online you can find out more. I believe there were a handful of hardened

If you search “Birmingham Anchor Exchange“ online you can find out more. I believe it was one of a handful of hardened telephone exchanges built across Britain at the dawn of the Atomic Age but later more powerful weapons rendered them too vulnerable. It makes you wonder what other unknown, secret things lie below our towns, cities and countryside.

 

[brondrange]

I got to know this pub as a friend worked in the sorting office opposite. I'm amazed at what you say about a nuclear bunker underneath this area. I presume that it's still there but is sealed up?

Regarding the complex sitated under the GPO etc, this was related to me by my late uncle who was a sub-officer at Birmingham Central Fire Station, and he and other fire officers inspected and 'signed-off' the installed pipework and fire control etc required. Unfortunately I cannot expand on these conversations with my uncle, who died in 2017, as there was a big falling out at my mothers funeral (1983) and much of the large family did not, and do not, and cannot communicate, so any expansion on this from him or them is sadly gone. I'm sure that others will have knowledge regarding the installation.

 

[brondrange]

It was the Outrigger before it became the Ship Ashore. Opened around 1968/69 I believe. I went there a lot in 69/70. We always went into the lower bar that was called the Bilge. There were three bars in all over three floors. In the entrance atrium there was a mast complete with sails. One of my mates scaled it on Christmas Eve 1970.

I used to be a part-time barman with my fiance, also part-time, in the early seventies, saving up to buy a house.

 

[poker_pete82]

It was the pub in Pinfold Street wasn't it - I went in a few times years ago but couldn't remember the name however, I've found this on the Closed Pubs website....

Royal Mail, Birmingham

View attachment 187275

As already said this is the post office vaults. Great yet very small inside. Love on the now pic how you can still make out the white painted sign on the wall. If you zoom in on Google maps you can still just make out the 'No'.

 

[Dionysius//88]

As already said this is the post office vaults. Great yet very small inside. Love on the now pic how you can still make out the white painted sign on the wall. If you zoom in on Google maps you can still just make out the 'No'.View attachment 193777

Yes I used this pub a couple of times early 70's it was named The Royal Mail in those days

 

[1299]

If I drank “Up Town” as it were, it was usually after work on my way home. I worked in Hockley and later Digbeth so they tended to be pubs I passed on the way to getting a bus in the city centre. Some of these I only visited once and others fairly regularly. I recall the Brown Derby on Colmore Circus, Sara Moons and also The Costermonger in Dale End, and in Digbeth The Bull Ring Tavern (I thought my beer was so bad I couldn’t finish it) The Barrel Organ, The Fox and Grapes, the Spotted Dog on New Canal Street, The Old Wharf (lovely Banks’s Mild there), Billy’s Bar, The Forge Tavern and a pub whos name escapes me but is now called The Ruin on the corner of Floodgate Street and Little Ann Street. I used to love some of those old Digbeth pubs.

I used the Bull Ring Tavern quite a bit, it was run back then (90s) by Tony Murphy and his wife Maureen. Full of characters.
Billy's Bar was run by Paul Henry's wife, just around the corner from the old DEP recording studio. Members of UB40 would visit from time to time and play pool.
I believe that Bunny Johnson took over the Spotted Dog at some stage and seem to remember him behind the bar in there.

 

[1299]

From 1973 to 1976 I used to start at the Tavern in the Town (until the dreadful atrocity) and then go to Bogarts upstairs on Friday and Saturday nights (not the Bier Keller downstairs). We also used Mr Bills Bier Keller in Needless Alley. Sometimes managed to catch the last bus home (remember those days?) or often ended up walking home to Northfield. Happy times!

Bogarts - 50p for bottle of Newcastle Brown, Outrageous!!!

 

[Donbogen]

I used the Bull Ring Tavern quite a bit, it was run back then (90s) by Tony Murphy and his wife Maureen. Full of characters.
Billy's Bar was run by Paul Henry's wife, just around the corner from the old DEP recording studio. Members of UB40 would visit from time to time and play pool.
I believe that Bunny Johnson took over the Spotted Dog at some stage and seem to remember him behind the bar in there.

I used the Bull Ring Tavern quite a bit, it was run back then (90s) by Tony Murphy and his wife Maureen. Full of characters.
Billy's Bar was run by Paul Henry's wife, just around the corner from the old DEP recording studio. Members of UB40 would visit from time to time and play pool.
I believe that Bunny Johnson took over the Spotted Dog at some stage and seem to remember him behind the bar in there.

I did some work at Dep used Biilys Bar
UB40 had UBS ex Fannys which i fitted out UBS i mean

 

[Mickymoo]

I see the Bull Ring Tavern has been mentioned above..It was originally called "The Talbot" and opened in September 1959.I worked there from shortly after it opened until 1964....It was sold to Courage in 1974 and renamed Bull Ring Tavern then...

 

[Godber]

I used the Bull Ring Tavern quite a bit, it was run back then (90s) by Tony Murphy and his wife Maureen. Full of characters.
Billy's Bar was run by Paul Henry's wife, just around the corner from the old DEP recording studio. Members of UB40 would visit from time to time and play pool.
I believe that Bunny Johnson took over the Spotted Dog at some stage and seem to remember him behind the bar in there.

Now you mention it, I recall being told Billy’s had something to do with Paul Henry. Out of all the pubs I mentioned I liked the Old Wharf and the Spotted Dog on New Canal Street best. I remember there being a cockatoo (or parrot) at the Spotted Dog for a while. I’ve just looked at the pub on Google Earth…good grief, what a mess.

 

[B16girl]

Many thanks, this has helped. We had completely forgot about the Gilded Cage in Stevenson street and remember going into the Parasol a number of times on our way down to Samantha's. Also remember The Costermonger but cannot remember exactly where it was. Is there an address for it? The pubs we mainly went to seemed to be just off Corporation street, or below Corporation street in small underground shopping areas.

The Costermonger was in the concourse that led from Bull St .to The Oasis, it used to be a proper Rock pub and I went their for my cousins Hen do in the late 80s….

 

[B16girl]

The Mulberry Bush became The Rotunda after 1974 and The Tavern in the Town became The Yard of Ale I believe. The other pubs in town that I often used were the Windsor, Parasol, Parisian, Costermonger, Cabin, Old Contemptibles, Crown (Broad St), Ben Johnson and Turks Head. I used a few in the 70s/80's!

The OCs was my work pub ( used to work at 1 Colmore Row,) had a few rowdy nights there…..later when I worked in the Council House we always used to pile into the Old Joint Stock after meetings on a Monday/ Tuesday …

 

[B16girl]

Happy times popping in for a pint or wo on the way home .

The Fox and Grapes used to be run by a “friend of a friend’s” mum in the late 80s before they started all the demolition and redevelopment proper. It was a proper drinkers pub, you were lucky if you could get a bag of crisps as food behind the bar but the Guinness was really good,, I remember one night a tramp came in with blood gushing form his head, the landlady patched him up up, gave him a pint and nobody raised an eyebrow,, I was gutted that and Island House were demolished for not very much apart from HS2 works which are still dragging on…