The Bell, Birmingham

It can often be a mistake to go back to old haunts, but my return visit to what became my favourite pub in Birmingham during the mid-1980s was thankfully a positive experience. Not much has changed inside or out, although a new side building has been added to provide some modern toilet facilities. The tiny bar is still in the corridor which separates the main lounge and the two smaller snug rooms (although the front one is currently not in public use). Only one of the two handpumps was working, but this produced a decent pint of Fraoch Heather Ale (£2.65). Overall, this place has the look and feel of a traditional, cozy village pub with its classic view of the church across the bowling green - all this right in the middle of the second largest built-up area in Britain! Well worth seeking out (but note that it is located some distance from Harborne's busy High Street).

A nice detached white rendered pub, with black paintwork, double pitched roof, patio and bowling green. Clearly an old building, next to the church. The interior has a couple of rooms, a main dining room/lounge and a smaller room. I went into the smaller room via a central passage, which was in white mainly, with big beams and wood panel. It had some old photos of the bowls teams and other thngs - the place just had a nice feel to it. The service was very good, the clientele more mature, taking advantage of £4 before 5pm dinner - which i also did having a better than functional fish n chips. Beer; tap stuff with M&B MILD and a single handpull, which had a decent Harvestoun Bitter & Twisted. I really liked this place - give it another real ale and i think it would be very homely. I will be back.