The Black Horse (JD Wetherspoon), Birmingham

An absolute theme park of a pub - in a good way. Part of the "new pub build" movement in Victorian Birmingham which saw vice-laden drinking dens encouraged to be replaced with family friendly, wholesome pubs through financial incentive. Looks like a tudor manor house, but from 1929. Handily, the CAMRA Heritage book provides a map. Believe me, you'll need it. A rather small bar at the front but this provides access to former smoking and banqueting rooms. Although its obviously JDW, they look to have altered little. The more you look for, the more you see.... I've been counting the ways I loved it. Ornate woodwork, inside and out (check out the carved horses below the roofline) Real fires spacious, multi-roomed Interesting cask - all at £1.89 a pint A bowling green Downstairs Toilets My beer was a 5.6% Cainrgorm Bothy and in perfect condition. Taken in front of the roaring wood buring fire, I calcualted if I could make it last an hour of more, it would be cheaper than having the central heating on at home. Probaly more photos uploaded than will be accpeted.