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Detail Pages
The Shakespeare, Birmingham
Birmingham
B2 4JD
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Shakespeare
Old style Nicholson’s pub, with a M&B mosaic on the doorstep, there's a nice tiled wall and corbels with an Ars Nouveau feel but otherwise its been modernised backwards. The usual modern sort of raised area at the front is furnished with tables and chairs, the middle is mainly a vertical drinking area and there's a dining area with bench seating and stools at the back. The big screen is in a front corner, Gents go downstairs while ladies have a climb to the first floor. Eight handpulls serve a good range of micro -brewers products, as well as the usual keg stuff. It was busy when I called in on a warm Friday evening but the service was good and fairly quick and the Mad Goose on fair form. The front is separated off from the street during opening hours by canvas walls and was extremely popular. It's very handy pub for the new front door of New Street station and not a bad place to wait for a train or have a swift one before going on to other city centre delights.
On 10th July 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about Shakespeare
The easiest decent pub to get a beer in Birmingham when you only have 25 minutes to change trains. This standard Nicholsons boozer is just the same as all the others with a decent selection of ale on the bar. I had a pint of UBU, which went down well after a weekend of pale beers in Shrewsbury. Worth a visit but many better pubs a bit further from the station.
On 25th June 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Shakespeare
The Shakespeare is a Stone’s throw from the railway station and it was the first pub that I stumbled across after alighting the train on Friday morning last week. There is some seating out the front on the pedestrianized thoroughfare and a menu by the entrance lists some standard pub dishes that are available for around £9.
The interior of the pub is made up by a raised seating area to the right of the entrance by the front windows and a bar that runs along the right hand wall. There is more seating at the rear where all of the tables were set for some informal dining. I arrived just after 11am so the pub was empty, but I still found the toilets to be very stinky. In fact I had to drop off some excess baggage and I think they smelt better when I left than they did when I arrived.
The bar is stocked with standard/premium draught products and the eight hand pumps were drawing Sharp’s Doom Bar, Purity’s Ubu, Nicholson’s Pale Ale, Brewshed’s Junga, Thornbridge’s Lord Marples, Great Heck’s Angel, Weston’s Traditional Scrumpy and Old Rosie cider. I went for the Angel which wasn’t really to my taste and to my surprise the barman said that I could change it. I passed up the offer, knocked it back and put it down to experience.
I do like a good traditional feel Nicholson’s pub and I found the service to be very friendly and helpful. Next time I find myself in Birmingham I will certainly pop in here again due to the location.
On 10th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Shakespeare
This is a typical Nicholson's pub just off of New Street and a very short walk from New Street station. A relatively traditional interior with dark wood flooring and wall panels makes the place seem quite pleasant and welcoming. The front of the pub has a raised seating area that was full on my Saturday evening visit, whilst a number of high stools make up the seating options in the bar area. At the rear of the room there is a smart looking dining area, which was only half full, but it didn't look like you could just sit there with a drink, as the tables were all laid with candles and flowers and staff were waiting to seat people. I propped up the bar instead and admired the fine tiling that covers the left hand wall of the pub, following the stairs up towards the toilets. The walls were decorated with various old photos of Birmingham as well as numerous blackboards listing ales, wines, food etc...
There were eight handpulls on the bar, but only four of them were being used during my visit, serving Sharp's Doom Bar, Brains Rev James, Box Steam Tunnel Vision and Leeds Midnight Bell. For a Saturday night in a Nicholson’s pub, I thought that was quite a poor show, but my pint of Tunnel Vision was nice enough and I only had time for the one before my train back home. The staff seemed to know what they were doing and dealt with queues at the bar very quickly, although they didn't strike me as the friendliest.
This place felt like a solid if unspectacular sort of pub and I would have no problem returning, although there are far better options just a short walk away.
On 31st January 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roy Collins left this review about Shakespeare
Called in on Tuesday evening, nice busy atmosphere and pleasant surroundings. Four pumps were on. Tried Acorn IPA and Oakleaf IPA - both were superb quality.Much better pub since it was rebranded as a Nicholsons.
On 16th November 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 124 recommendations about 121 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Shakespeare
Another gem of a pub and well worth a visit. Very friendly staff and Colin the duty manager was very knomledgable when it came to chatting about cask ales. On handpump Jennings Cumberland, Sharps Doombar, York Ghost. I went fot Adnams Ghostship and St Austell Trelawny which were both fab. Will call again.
On 1st November 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Shakespeare
Dropped in here on a visit to Brum, not been in for a while but was pleasantly surprised. M&B rebranded it as a Nicholsons around Christmas 2010 and the number of handpumps doubled to 8. Looks like 3 regulars (Doom Bar, Rev James and UBU) 4 guests, albeit from the Nicholsons list I suspect, and a cider. Got chatting to one of the cellarmen and he's clearly passionate about ale. They had a couple of local beers, an interesting IPA and one of my favourites, York Ghost, on when I visited. Well worth a visit.
On 30th October 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Shakespeare
My first visit since it has become a Nicholson's house. The layout is the same - the dining is still at the back of the pub, with the bar/lounge at the front, including a raised bit. The decor is generally a grey colour, with a red moulded ceiling in the front area, as well as some patterned wallpaper. The tiling is still there. The old photographs of Birmingham still adorn the walls. There is a TV, which wasn't on and the music was general and at a decent level. The sevice was fine, the place rammed. The beer was the usual tap stuff, with Peroni and several real ale handpulls; Doombar, Pedigree, Ubu, Salopian Kashmir, a decent Rudgate IPA and a Rev James, which was a bit dead - but this was changed straight away. All in all a happy enough visit.
On 10th September 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Shakespeare
The refurb by Nicholson's has created a far more authentic interior and the green tiling around the stairs is attractive.In good weather there is a sizeable outdoor seating area,handy for smokers.An enterprising ale range on our trip would warrant a further trip any time while passing through New Street but a little more attention paid to some of the ale quality would have produced a higher rating.
On 18th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2737 recommendations about 2737 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Shakespeare
A Nicholson's boozer handily located for both New Street and the city centre.
Despite visiting early Friday evening, there was plenty of standing space in the bar area although it was reasonably busy. We were moved off from the dining area after our first pint as it was being given over to those eating but soon found another seat and service was friendly and prompt.
Seven beers were on: Doom Bar, Pedigree, Jaipur IPA, Nethergate Umbels ale and Ruby Mild, Purity UBU and Titanic Centenary. The Centenary and Jaipur were good but the UBU less than well kept. Nonetheless this is a fine range for a city centre chain pub.
Nicholsons are clearly making an effort with their ales here and I'd happily return.
On 18th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]