The Little Owl, Birmingham

This must once have been a quiet country farmhouse, but it's now beside a Holiday Inn Express at the northern edge of the creeping sprawl between the airport / NEC complex and Chelmsley Wood. Extended and given the Vintage Inns treatment throughout the various seating and dining areas. Also has a patio garden area at the front with a fine view of the car park. I found Doom Bar, Purity's Mad Goose (£4.70) and a pair of flavoured Rosie's Pig ciders (Rhubarb and Tropical) offered from four of the five handpumps.

The Little Owl sits under the gaze of the adjacent Holiday Inn in an area dominated by roads, car parks and exhibition halls. Staying at the Premier Inn up the road this pub was the only option within walking distance, so I visited two nights on the trot with my unadventurous aged work colleagues. A patio area with furniture is found along the front of this pub that looks as though it was two buildings that were knocked through. Once inside this building work is not obvious as the pub flows through from the bar area with seating to the right to a much larger exposed brick dining section to the left. In the left rear is another seating area which can be closed off to create a function room. The toilets are located on the first floor, although there is a disabled toilet at the bottom of the stairs. The television in the bar area was airing muted rolling news and there is no live sport or music here. A premium keg range was available from the U-shaped bar that supports five hand pumps. During my first visit here on a recent Tuesday evening these were drawing Sharp’s Doom Bar (x2), Project Biodiversity’ Golden Turtle, Weston’s Rosie’s Pig cider and St Austell’s Proper Job was coming soon. The following evening the Proper Job was on and the Golden Turtle had been replaced by Fullers London Pride. Pub favourites are available from the food menu and the mains are mostly priced between £10 and £15. On my first visit I had calamary (excellent, but not enough) and a bacon cheeseburger (very tasty, not enough chips) and a lemon meringue pie (yummy). Second visit I went for the fish and chips which was excellent. The service was also excellent from the bar staff and waitress.

Official pages of the Little Owl, contains menus and cask ale details - www.vintageinn.co.uk

Official pages of the Little Owl, contains menus and cask ale details - www.vintageinn.co.uk

Interesting pub this one. Now on the periphery of the NEC complex it has that feel from the outside and has been drawn into it. There is a strong commercial centre feel here even though it could be classed as the country. On a new(ish) dual carriageway feeding the NEC, there is a Holiday Inn next door and the access from adjoining smaller road has been closed. The car park has a barrier warning you only get 30 minutes free, though I believe the pub can stamp yopur ticket after this time to get you out. The Birmingham Business Park sits at the back, you can hear the nearby M42 and the local landfill is obvious to the nose. HOWEVER, once inside things are very different for me. Its a Vintage Inn and I must admit to having a soft spot for their interiors. Large, different areas, lots of exposed brick, smell of a real fire. Very comfortable, there is an obvious preference to food but also comfortable just for a beer, of which there were three different real ales, not bad for this group. Prices could be a lot worse, I had a very pleasant pint of Harvistoun Bitter & Twisted sitting on the sofa. Contrasts evident here between in and out, I would definately return.