The Grove, Birmingham

Large corner 'Bar & Grill', with the former at street level and the latter slightly lower down. Apart from that, there is no separation between these two main areas, although there is a pool room on one side and a narrow lounge. As is often the case is such places, the food and drinks have to be ordered and paid for separately, but both parts were busy enough on a Thursday evening. No real ale, but I found M&B Mild (£3.30) among the keg taps.

This is a detached Victorian corner pub and eatery. The 1891 pub replaced an older one of the same name on the same site, it appears. It is in in brick, with a red pilastered frontage and a cream side extension. It is of curious design, looking a little higgledy-piggledy with its rounded upper frontage, but it adds character. The interior has a couple of rooms. The extension is in fact an Indian restaurant, with a servery at the back. It has modern, coffee and white walls, al laminate floor, and there is a pool table and a few TVs - showing sport. I didn't eat, so cant comment on that, but it cant be bad if the place was rammed with a real cosmopolitan clientele. The bar is a smaller, curving room, with a few TVs showing the footy, no music and Baggies shirts dotted about. The service was functional. Beer; usual tap stuff with a decent enough M&B MILD and there was Wentworth IPA on at another visit - also decent. A comfortable place to eat - a good feel - have popped in a few times for a swift half.

Formally grand brick Victorian local on roundabout. The date '1891' is enscribed outside. Now not so proud, but not altogether a bad one, there are still features here, including the painted black pillar in the middle of the room, high ceiling and the feature beams. It has a modern laminent floor, there are benches and round table, with stools that need a bit of restoration. Overall slightly tired but not too bad by any means. Tetley bitter on keg