The Bear & Staff, Birmingham

Large suburban Marston's roadhouse, set back from the road a bit, with a patio terrace at the front and a bit of brewer's Tudor on the façade. The interior has been opened out somewhat, but there are still a variety of seating areas around the bar and the popular pool table. Refurbished with semi-modern furniture and b&w local history photographs on the walls. Initially appears to have no real ale, but a fair-enough pint of Banks's Bitter (£2.40) turned out to be available from one of three handpumps tucked away at the far end of the counter.

A detached, modern Marston's pub and eatery, with patio area. The pub is recently built and has a lot of character considering what usually passes for modern builds - this has a nod to the winged-corridor Jacobean houses and is predominantly in yellow. The interior had more than the one open plan room i fleetingly visited. The room was in white and wood panel, and had a pool table. Mixed art was on the walls and there was a tiled fireplace. The service was fine and the place very busy with mixed locals. The music was charty, but at a decent level. Beer; usual tap stuff with Mansfield Dark, and a decent enough Banks's Bitter on handpull. I didnt get to give this place the time it deserved - a solid enough foody place it seemed.

Comfortable pub that I never find to full. Medium sized car park and reasonable wheelchair access.Everything is on the one level. Patio out the front for those sunny days or car number collectors. Limited real ales but drinks and food are cheap.