Pub du Vin, Birmingham

Now called The White Lion.

Cellar bar located underneath the Hotel du Vin but with its own entrance. Mix of lounge and table seating around small square central counter. Subdued lighting and decor, with various features of interest including several wine stores at the sides. Two of three handpumps in operation, with Kinver Light Railway and Silhill Blonde Star (£3.10, but not in the best condition) when I visited.

Subterranean dark bar with soft furnishings and tables and chairs, a slate floor and plain buff walls hung with old adverts, arty photos and inevitably I suppose wine adverts and cabinets of wine bottles. The three hand pumps serve local micro-brewers Kinver and Purity plus a guest, my Kinver Light Railway was excellent. There are also three standard keg fonts. As well as restaurant style food it also offers traditional pub snacks like Pork Pies, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls etc. There is a feeling of jumping on a real ale bandwagon but the beer is well kept so who cares, unless you dislike the decor, ambience or fellow punters, however it is very pleasant and civilised and I was asked if I was a CAMRA member so I could get my discount.

The Pub du Vin is a cellar bar in within the Hotel du Vin. The hotel is in fact a conversion from a Victorian building; the Birmingham & Midland Eye Hospital, which moved into these premises in the 1880s. The building is in red brick with moulded stone lintels and string courses. It is in a continental style with its Dutch dormer windows and there is a fantastic oriel window. The interior is effectively an open-plan area around a central island serving bar. The decor is yellow walls and ceiling with a stone flag floor. Being in a cellar, there are lots of alcoves and archways - it feels like you are in Morocco - I expected Beau Geste to be serving the beer! There is a side room, with an expose brick wall. High stools and tables, sofas, comfy chairs, arm chairs are juxtaposed with settles to give an eclectic mix; the same is true with the old photos, bistro art, mirrors and wine bottles used for decoration. There was a TV which had ESPN sports on and the background music was 60s based and at a decent level. The service was fine and there was a mixed and slightly maturer clientele. Beer; tap stuff with Freedom lagar, with a single handpull on on this visit, which was Two Towers Mott MILD, nice enough if a little flat. I place i pop into infrequently, as it is expensive and a lacks a little atmosphere - for me it is more a place to take the better half than to go with mates.