The Plough, Birmingham

A modern free house with a quirky coffee shop style to it. The interior has one room on two levels, as you enter the bar counter is immediately ahead in the centre of the room, the front of the room is on a lower level with brown leather bench seats, a modern gas fire in the left hand wall and a tiled floor. The bar counter is on the larger second level and has an orange ceramic tiled bar back with glass jars full of sweets on shelves, the left hand wall at the front has several mirrors of different shapes and sizes, the back left wall of the room is rough wood planks from floor to ceiling with an interesting chandelier made from deer antlers, this area gave me the impression of a stereotypical north American hunting lodge! At the back of the room are large patio doors which lead out to a partially covered beer patio with various types of modern furniture. Regular ales are Purity Mad Goose and Wye Valley Butty Bach with a single changing guest beer usually from a brewery in the West Midlands or neighbouring counties, on this visit it was Warwickshire Lady Godiva (Cask Marque and GBG 2011). I had a half of all three and they were well kept but a bit pricey in my opinion. This place is definitely aimed at young fashionable professionals, the exterior looks fairly standard but the décor is a real eclectic mix of styles. It was quite busy on my visit which shows that either there are a lot of locals with plenty of money or it’s good enough that its prices are not putting people off. I personally could not afford to be a regular at this pub but I would visit again if in the area as the beer was good.

Official site of the Plough, contains menu, wine list and beer details - www.theploughharborne.co.uk

If you're prepared to put up with the prices here it adds a great contrast to Harborne. Ultra modern refurb of a traditional pub, although it would be awful if all trad pubs ended up like this, I think it works. Excellent lighting, lots of clean wood lines overall its a nice feel, if not a little cosmopolitan. 2 real ales, but its very foody, and there is not a lot of room at the bar so it was hard to get served on a Friday lunchtime.

Official site of the Plough, contains menu, wine list and beer details - www.theploughharborne.co.uk

A detached corner brick build, with a light grey render and patio at the rear that has big red glowing pots, as this place, as Ian Taylor says, is very trendy now - the complete opposite to the Harborne Stores The interior is open plan around a central bar with Marmite jars for decoration. The main area is on two levels and is a mix, though leaning more to the foody feel. The decor is light grey, and goldy flowered wallpaper, with wood panel, various prints, paintings and other ephemera. There is Sky TV. The service was very friendly, the clientele had the younie professional feel - the students were in the Green Man! Beer; tap stuff with continenal lagers - no MILD funny enough! On handpull there was Butty Bach, Ubu Purity a nice Doombar and i had seen Enville Ale in on a previous visit. A nice touch was getting a half in the old tankard glass. My sympathies are with traditional places, so i struggle with the interior, but the beer choice and service meant that i coped with a little more ease than i nornally would - many will like this place, but it was the most expensive drink i had - more for half than a pint in the Stores - a sacrifice i could live with.

Very trendy bar and aimed at young drinkers. You will need large wad of cash to spend on drinks. I ordered half pint of Sharps Bitter which comes as £2.40! Food are incredibly expensive! I will not return.

Tredny Wine bar, expensive drinks.