The Bournbrook Inn, Birmingham

Still looks like a typical, large, suburban pub (which it certainly was), but not really what I expected at all inside. All refurbished, with the main area sub-divided into general seating, a small lounge and larger dining space, with a semi-traditional pub look in the first part, a modernised appearance the middle and a gastro-pub feel in the latter. Further seating is available in The Library off to one side and in a separate public bar beyond. Accommodation also offered. Standard keg beers served from three hooped founts, but three crafty offerings from the very local Attic Brewery - including the Intuition pale (£5.00) - were available from five keg taps on the bar-back.

This is a detached 1930s pub and eatery, with patio area, which replaced an earlier pub of the same name, on the same site. Indeed, it may have been a Victorian beerhouse that took its name from the two smithies that were adjacent. The pub is huge and has a lower frontage in brick, with the black beam and white Jacobean styled upper. The most interesting feature is what i think was the outdoor (now extended, and coloued blue) the adjoins the two parts of the building. The interior is just a large open plan space that encircles a lot of the serving bar. There are pool, darts and a punchbag machine, along with a multitude of TVs showing sport. There was no music. The decor is the generic style of red, green, cream and painted wood panel. A few prints are on the walls to brighten it up, along with a tiled fireplace. The service was fine and it was busy enough with a mixed group of locals. I didn't eat so can't comment on that. Beer; no real ale, just the general keg taps - I had a decent enough Guinness. Generic and dull, really. Nothing for the real ale fan.