The Spotted Dog, Birmingham

A street corner local in a former industrial area which is now regenerating with some fancy flats opposite.However a proper boozer atmosphere prevails and the interior is very traditional.There is a warm welcome from behind the bar and the Irish family who run the pub are old school and chatty.Covid regulations are observed and we pitched down on the smaller side room with it's own bar access and three handpumps.There is a long bench opposite the bar,a warming lit fire and a few small tables and stools. The larger room is down a step and is L shaped but I couldn't drift around.There is however by the side entrance a sign to a "smoke room" which is infact a corridor with seating leading to a very extensive walled pub garden,partially covered at one end and proving popular. It's worth asking about the ale range ,as there is no chalk board and you may miss out.A MILD is always carried,on my visit Church End Gravediggers,while the other ale choices were Castle Rock Harvest Pale,Northern Whisper Offenchops and a very decent Salopian Light Fantastic.There is some craft keg including a Verdant beer and Siren Soundwave IPA,which finished the evening well.The pub isn't far from Birmingham City FC but the internal theme was much more Irish rugby.A decent soundtrack was playing at a sensible volume. Not far from the canal,well worth a visit for a relaxing ,chatty evening it was difficult to leave once settled in.

A three roomed pub which is passing itself off as an Irish bar. Lots of Irish bumpf dotted around and Gaelic footy on the telly. A number of real ales on but fairly bland selection was a disappointment. A locals sort of pub and I'll leave it to them.