The Royal, Birmingham

A grand fontage to this pub, you may expect the elegance of some of its neighbours in the Professional Quarter, but its not the case. Its has more of a local feel than the grandeur of same the Old Contemptibles or the Joint Stock. There are less suits in here, more jeans and jumpers and there was racing on the tv rather than any background jazz. It does have some charm, like some of the glazing, the beer is ok, but the pub is best described, as review below, as 'solid'. Its worth a visit, but there are also other probably better pubs in the locality.

Used to call in here every time I stayed over in Birmingham, but I hadn't been in for over two years until last week. Nothing seeme to have changed at all. To me this place looks like a typical London pub, old wood, glass, mirrors etc. Nothing spectacular but generally decent looking. They were having a special 6 nations promotion with a beer on from each of the home nations so the cask ale was £2 a pint. Dirt cheap for Birmingham city centre where I regularly pay £2.80 - £3. They had Pedigree (England), Brains S.A. (Wales) and Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted (Scotland). No idea what happened to Ireland. It's still a decent place, I'll call in yet again when next in Brum

This pub actually ran out of real ale when I recently visited the place. In terms of beer - nil points. Decor was bog standard city centre - nil points. Service was poor with no alternative beverages offered - staff had little (if any) idea of the drinks on offer! - nil points. For some reason this is a popular house - beats me why!