The Crown Inn, Birmingham

Official site of The Crown Inn - thecrowninnalvechurch.co.uk

Official site of The Crown Inn - thecrowninnalvechurch.co.uk

Old-school pub in the small hamlet of Withybed Green, close by the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Retains a two-bar layout, with a basic public bar to the right of the central entrance and a larger 'L'-shaped lounge (with traditional, if plain furniture and decor) on the left-hand side. Despite at least eight handpumps on different parts of the counter, the sorry sight of reversed clips meant that not a single real ale was available (with two supposedly having gone off in the last hour, but with nothing ready to replace them, and a very disinterested member of staff). Had two resort to the M&B keg mild, with the slight consolidation of this only costing £2.80. Looks appealing, and probably usually is, but rated as I found it...

This is a detached canalside pub, with patio area. It is a former set of cottages and stables for the boatmen, built around the time of the canal (early 19th cent). It became a beerhouse. It is predominantly in undressed brick, with some red paintwork and consistes of multiple buildings. The interior has two rooms that form an L-shape to the pub. The decor to these rooms is predominantly white. I went into the bar, to the left. It has a couple of fireplaces (brick and stone) and lots of mirrors on the walls (sport and beer related). Traditional jugs and brasses also decorate the pub. There was a TV, but it wasn't on and the music was general and at a decent level. They do food, but I didn't eat, so can't comment. The service was fine and the place very quiet - just a few walkers outside. Beer; usual tap stuff, with Abbot, Thwaites Wainwright and a decent ateman's Yella Belly on handpull. A nice canalside, country pub - another i would return to. Worth popping into for one.