Twelfth Man, Birmingham

Basic-looking shopping arcade-style Craft Union pub, set back from the main road by quite a distance. Despite the recent change of name, still typical sports bar furniture and decor in both the front lounge and larger rear bar with pool table, etc. Numerous TV screens, as you would expect, all showing a World Cup football match but oddly drowned out by a DJ / karaoke event early on a Thursday evening. No real ale of course, so a quick John Smith's (£3.00) before heading onwards.

Official site of Twelfth Man - www.craftunionpubs.com

Official site of Twelfth Man - www.craftunionpubs.com

Now called the Edgbaston Sports Bar.

Formerly Sir Harry's, this is a shopping arcade pub (built over the site of Ash Cottage). It is in brutal 60s style, however the former plain brick has been painted (light green, but it was dark!), with some dark green paintwork. The interior has a couple of rooms. The decor in both is pretty similar; red, white and patterned wallpapers, a mainly wood floor and both rooms have a few bits of bistro art on the walls. The one side is a bar, with a pool table, the other a foody room with rows of tables and chairs - although they had stopped serving by the time i visited. It also has a sound system in the corner. Both rooms had silent TVs with the news on and there is a jukebox. Not sure where the music was from, but it was charty and a touch to the loud for a misery like me. The service was fine and the place busy enough with mixed locals, a few of which said hello, so it seemed a friendly enough place. Beer; no real ale, no MILD, just the general keg taps. I had a shandy, which was fine. A happy enough stop, but nothing for the real ale fan.