The Ivy Bush, Birmingham

Central bar with 3 bar areas around, a little worn in the front off-street area, the padded seats having seen better days. There is a games room to the right with pool and what looks like a sports tv area on the left. Its a little down market, not helped by its location away from the city centre on the very bust dual carriageway of the Hagley Road, but fair play, we have lost too many community type pus like this and I would support it if closer. No real ale.

Corner pub partly opened out to form a 'L'-shaped bar with a pool table at the far end. Another bar in darkness to the rear. Basic furniture, with decor including some football memorabilia. Music and sports TVs. No real ale, so had a quite pint of keg M&B Mild (£2.00) before moving on.

A large, corner pub. It is mid-Victorian, with the upper storeys being of brick with entablatured windows and the lower fontage in white, rusticated effect, with black paintwork. With its corner clock, it is a focal point, know all through Brum - it is plain and retains the old fashioned feel, while all about it have changed. The interior has a room around a centre island serving bar; with walls in brown, white and wood, with a white ceiling and patterned carpet. There are a couple of tiled fireplaces and a nice moulded cornice. The walls have mirrors, some footy memorabilia and old prints and pictures on them. There are TVs (a pull down one, too) which had the footy on and there is a jukebox, but the music was from elsewhere, general, and at a decent level. There is maily bench seating. There is a pool table, dart board and a punchbag machine. The service was friendly and it is clearly a locals pub. Beer; no real ale, jus basic taps with Ansells MILD - however this was pretty poor and i had to have it changed for a shandy - there was no fuss though. A real shame about the MILD, as i felt comfy here. If it were on, i would pop back for one.