The Old Crown, Birmingham

Official site of The Old Crown - www.theoldcrown.com

This pub claims to date from 1368, and it certainly has a fine half-timbered façade. However, the story is very different inside the 'L'-shaped bar which has lost almost any character over the years. Things are a bit better in the multi-room lounge / dining areas with rustic furniture set amongst some old timbers, brickwork and floor tiling. Coffee shop to one side with its own entrance (but temporarily closed for refurbishment when we visited). Patio / decking beer garden including some covered booths. Three handpumps in operation, dispensing Marstons Fever Pitch, Pedigree New World and Jennings Cumberland. Overall, a mixed bag...

Official site of The Old Crown - www.theoldcrown.com

A fantastic building from the outside, especially considering its in Birmingham, as historic as it gets. Its a bit tavern-like inside, and just needs that je ne sais quoi? Could be a lot better, as review below, but gets probaly 2 extra marks from me purely for the exterior. It just seems somebody is possibly just playing with the historic theme? The beer is truely aweful (1363)

Oh! my Lord. The Banks's MILD was pretty poor and the place full of ladies exhuding a narcissim far more potent than the beer. The oldest building in Birmingham of course actually means a few roof beams from the old school, if indeed, anything. It is twee and souless, as they have surgically removed any historic charm I am sure more will be attracted to the plastic tot, than be upset by the loss of historic charm