Green Man, Birmingham

Comfortable Ember Inns pub with several drinking areas and a good selection of real ales.

Ember Inn with good selection of 6 real ales in good condition. Pleasant decor and furnishings. Reasonable prices eg £2.75 for pint of beer.

A single storey mock Tudor building with sandstone mullioned bay windows, dual Jacobean style gable ends either side of the entrance and dormer windows in the roof, the current pub was built in 1939 to replace a lovely Georgian pub on the same spot, it is now owned by Ember Inns. The interior has a fairly modern décor with various pastel colours and some fake traditional features such as exposed rustic brick walls and artificially weathered beams, the layout is generally open plan around a central island bar counter. On the left of the entrance is a small area with most of the beams, a basic coal grate in the back wall and leather bench seats. To the right of the entrance is a more spacious area with a large open fire place in the right hand wall and high booths with leather bench seating. In the back right corner of the building is another area with a contemporary tiled floor and a double sided fire place with brick chimney breast and a cast grate. There were a couple of large flat screen TV’s dotted around that were showing a boxing match in the early afternoon, which I thought was a bit of a strange time to be showing that kind of thing. Regular ales are currently M&B Brew XI and Purity Pure UBU with up to four changing guest beers, but on this occasion there was only two which were Double Maxim and Orkney Dark Island (GBG 2012 and Cask Marque). I tried both of the guest beers which were in good condition, it is the first time that I have had the chance to try the Double Maxim on hand pull and I’m pleased to say it did not disappoint. Like many of the other reviewers on this site I am not a huge fan of the Ember Inns brand simply because their pubs always feel at least a little fake and naff. Saying that the place is clean, I thought the beer was well kept and an interesting selection. Not the first pub I would revisit in the area but I would pop in for one again.

Large, comfortable, food biased large pub. It has a modern interior that is formula based as its an Ember Inn, but I found this more attractive than others I have been in, possibly because its a more traditional building, and I would prefer this one to something such as say a Toby, but you can't get away from the formula of a big chain. Beer quality was actually good, which I wasn't expecting, and they have a choice of 5 real ales, and they do a pint of Brew 11 for £1.99 - not bad for this area!

A large detached corner 30s looking brick build in mock Tudor style with crow stepped gables. It is an Ember Inn. There is a patio. The interior is like most Ember Inns but not to the same nauseating level. It is open plan with the familiar plain walls of differing colours; plum, clay and white etc. There were the usual vases and arty pictures, wood piles and such, but not so evident as other Embers and there were a few old photos of the pub to add some real interest. Sofas and high stools are present and there is a clear foody feel. There were open fires. The service was fine, the clientele mixed and it was busy. Beer; tap stuff, with no MILD. There were 7 real ale handpulls with; Brew XI, Harvestoun Bitter & Twisted, Titanic Iceberg, Wadsworth Henry's IPA, Purity Ubu, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Slater's Top Totty. Ember Inns are a partucular dislike personally, this is not the worst of them though. I just wouldn't return, not my thing.

Rather average Ember Inn pub. Real ales are off so is Mild. I opted for only alternative, Brew XI and sat down front biggest log fire I ever seen in any Ember Inn! I had bitter experience with Green Man, Barmaid walked over and gave me good telling off for wearing hat. Come on it was cold outside! It was pretty empty and soulless on my visit.

Poor to average beer in one of the worst pubs in Harborne. On very busy junction at the city end of the High St. Comfortable & well furnished. Large car park at the rear.

Poor to average beer in one of the worst pubs in Harborne. On very busy junction at the city end of the High St. Comfortable & well furnished. Large car park at the rear.