The Crown, Birmingham

The Crown is a decent looking corner pub that is quite close to the south entrance to New Street station. Once inside there was a large single room with the bar facing,the room was carpeted and the seating was mainly normal tables and chairs with a few pew type seats. There were no real ales on the bar and the keg choice was Tetley Smooth crap or M&B mild,i had a drink of M&B mild which was not that bad a drink. There was some very loud music playing and the pub was very busy on my early Saturday evening visit. The pub is pretty basic with the custom to match,this was the last pub on my Birmingham crawl as it was a short stagger back to New Street station. Pub visited 17/8/2013

Eye-catching pub with a prominent corner position which looks interesting as you approach from either Hill Street or Station Street. Doubts start to arise as you approach the tatty signage either side of the impressive full-height glazed main entrance lobby, and once inside the large bar - which must once have been grand - the sad neglect becomes very clear. Darts and jukebox. No real ale, and only a limited choice from the keg and lager taps, so I made do with a pint of Tetleys Smooth (£2.60) and pondered the now almost totally faded glory. Somebody like Nicholsons could really make something of this place, so hopefully it will keep going into the regeneration starts around the back of New Street station.

Lovely pub from the outside, this pub suffers from its location, at the arse end of the city centre. However, with New street Station being modernised things could pick up here as its on the direct route from the station to the popular Chinese and gay quarters. The review below touches on exactly what I think, its a little shabby inside and needs a lot more love but it has something about it, a high ceiling, little features here and there, and its imposing exterior. Its an unusual pub for Birmingham. I think this pub has the potential to become one of the best in Birmingham if someone with a little vision and an eye for tradition took it on. And with the development of the station in a few years I believe if somebody away from a national chain were to do that, I will be on here saying 'told you so' and it could be fantastic. As for now it remains a place you wouldn't make a journey to visit. And as for the beer, one real ale - Abbot - and very poorly kept. If only I had a little money!

A very large corner pub that despite its faults still retains a charm, not least for its architecture. The location of the pub often sees us visit for the final drink prior to catching the train home. If i didnt use the train, i would use the pub less. Open plan, with a dance floor area. Yes the pub is a little shabby. Yes, you have to fight your way through the smokers that hang around the entrance like vultures around a corpse. Yes, the clientele is a mix of ALL kinds of Brummies. Yes, you need the artistry of Lionel Blair to dodge some of the 'puddles' in the gents and yes, the M&B MILD is a bit hit and miss, but i have a little soft spot for it.