The Wellington, Birmingham

After another visit to the Colmore (which I reviewed earlier this year), we inevitably ended up mid afternoon in the Wellington. As always on a Saturday, it was busy. Service was quick however and we did manage to secure a table in the ground floor room. There is also an upstairs roof terrace where we have sat previously. The interior is fairly unadorned. It's a typical Black Country Ales house which specialises in beer, cider and good conversation. Black Country Ales BFG, Pig on the Wall & Fireside are regular ales, alongside Purity Mad Goose & Wye Valley HPA. Guests were Froth Blowers Piffle Snonker, Castle Rock Elsie Mo, Parkway Mumbo Jumbo, Salopian Kashmir, Sharp's Atlantic, Oakham Obsidian Order & Fixed Wheel Blackheath Stout. Ciders were Hogan's Hazy Ray's & Lilley's Bee Sting Perry & Mango Cider. Alongside the Post Office Vaults, this is still one of the 2 stand out pubs for real ale and cider drinkers in the city centre of Birmingham.

Visited 13.3.21, 15.4.21, 17.4.21 and 20.4.21. Had to go upstairs to the roof garden but there is a lift if needed.There is a one way system for covid. Up the stairs at the front to enter the garden, and down the fire escape at the rear to leave. All covid regs apply. You pass through the upstairs bar to reach the garden, so can see the beers available in passing. Orders taken at your table and payment by card or cash. Covered area and outside area with seating and brollies. All beer on all days in tip top condition. 7 beers available.

Called in again yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon and found it much busier than on my previous visit so I had no choice other than to prop up the bar. The young barman seemed particularly disinterested when serving me and rudely (in my opinion) dropped my change into my hand. I still like the pub and its beer selection is very impressive, but the service was much better on my first visit. My Blackheath Stout by Fixed Wheel was rather nice and set me back £2.10 or so for a half. They also had a black IPA by Sadlers (if I am remembering correctly) so was good to see a couple of dark beers available.

The Wellington was not initially on my radar and I found it by chance, but glad I did! 16 cask ales and my Killer Stout by Beowulf was lovely if bloody strong at 7.3% ABV. Fresh tasting and obviously well kept. This is a traditional feeling pub, a decent size, no music and no TV other than the one being used for the electronic beer board. Steps to the front but apparently there is step free access available at the rear if required. There may also have been three cider pumps on the back wall behind the bar but I can't be 100% sure. Glad I called in here and would definitely call again.

What is there left to say about the "Wellie"? Possibly my favourite city centre pub in Birmingham and I call in quite often. Always a good choice of ales and always in good condition. A must do for me - if you haven't been in you really should!

A destination real ale pub of some note, plenty to choose from and my Oakham citra was as good as expected, however the pub didn't quite light my fire as much as I thought it might, I found the beer choice not quite as interesting as I found in the nearby Post Office Vaults, It certainly demands a visit though.

An absolute belter, if you visit the Old Joint Stock first for the architecture if not so much the beer, fall out the back door and straight into this gem of a pub. A meandering single room, carpeted and with seating at mostly green leather button backed banquettes although there are also small drinking ledges around a couple of columns. Flock style wallpaper reminiscent of 70s curry houses, framed photos of old Birmingham pubs and CAMRA awards in abundance. The dark red lower panelling is of interest being engraved in areas, on a warm day the fireplace was unused but I bet it gives good cheer, all the tools were stacked in a little stand. The dartboard at the back of the pub was a bit of a surprise in a place like this and was in a usable location for a change. There are 16 handpumps and they list the changing beers on a series of monitors, I don't intend to list them all especially given the rotation policy but I confess to getting stuck in here for a couple instead of my customary one and move on, they were Black Country Fireside and Wye Valley HPA. Both were in superb nick. Apparently if you get fed up with the 16 downstairs two or three more can be found in an upstairs bar which I failed to notice at the time. Having entered via the back door I left from the front, the floral displays on the window cills were exceptionally good and well maintained. Another essential visit in town.