Lad in the Lane, Birmingham

The Lad In The Lane is on the up with new management Donna and Frank. The Lad has now got Real ale with the promise of a further 2. Donna and Frank are serving bar food and Sunday lunch, pre ordered. The pub has now got a warm welcoming feel about it.

This is a detached pub with rear patio area. Formerly the Old Green Man. The timbers of the pub date to 1400, when it was a timber and daub build and the brick infilling is of later date. Apparently altered considerably in the 20th century. The pub is a winged-corridor type with a gable end on one side and an extended range on the other. The central corridor has dormer windos and a porch. The whole pub is in beam and white painted brick. The interior has three areas, all of which had white and beam, or wood panelled walls. The area to the right on entry has a brick fireplace, bench seating and a dresser with plates and brasses on. That to the left, in darkness, appeared to be in wood panel - it was too dark to see. The main are is the middle portion of the building. It had an open ceiling, with exposed truss frames - which look great, as well as bench and booth seating areas and prints on the walls. The walls and ceiling also had general Halloween stuff on, as well as England and Irish flags, along with Villa and Blues banners. There was no music, although there is a jukebox and the TV had the footy on (there seems to be a pull-down screen, too). The service was friendly enough and the few people in were locals, who also said hello. Beer; no real ale despite 2 handpulls, one of which had a reversed clip. Usual tap stuff with Murphys and Theakston Dark Smooth, which was decent enough. A nice pub, albeit a bit tired, which lacks a real ale for my personal taste.

Not doing food anymore. I love this pub but as Danny O'Reevey says It needs lots of TLC.No real ales but the Theakston mild is very good. I hate the Discos but I suppose the gaffer needs to get the punters in

Beautiful old building, like an olde English manor house. Strange place to find one of Birmingham's oldest pubs. There are beams everywhere, fire places, lead windows, a really lovely building. However (why is there always a however) there is a real contrast with the modern world, or at least how it is here - the droning music, modern bar, all the steps have 'police' warning tape over them & it looks like it isn't quite being cared for as maybe it should. No doubt an old building brings its own problems, especially when times are hard. Also, there is no real beer here, just very cold keg. Needs some care and attention, or at least a bit of a hug, then this place could be very special indeed. A 7 rating, but it would be a 4 without the lovely structure.