Arco Lounge, Birmingham

Shop-unit chain bar / restaurant, and if you've been to any others you will know exactly what to expect. Although smaller than some, the walls are covered with the usual random paintings, prints and mirrors, and the tables are a mixed bunch as always. The menu and beer selection is the same as everywhere else too; likewise my default selection of Bath Ales Dark Side (£4.30).

Fairly typical member of the Loungers chain. You know what to expect if you have been in one before! There are better options nearby.

One of those Loungers places that pop up everywhere. Like all of them it stinks of coffee, is full of mothers and children of an afternoon, has daft lighting, the walls are covered in portrait paintings and there is no real ale. This one is a single room if you ordered a pint of Bath Ales stout you may as well order it, let them pour it and then visit all the other pubs along the high street and come back and, if you're lucky, you're glass might be full such was the speed the ale poured out of the pump.

A small, modern terraced cafe/bar. It has a brick upper, with a glass lower frontage. The interior is a straight room with the serving ara down to the far right. It is in yellowish walls, with white ceiling and wood floor. The seating is all wood tables and chairs. The walls are festooned with a mix of old black and white photos of different things. There is no TV and the music was varied and at a decent level. The service was very friendly and the clientele had more babies than adults it felt - make no mistake, this is a cafe that happens to do a real ale. Beer; a few taps, with a decent enough Bath Ales' Toga Man. I felt ver out of place here, as i was just having a beer - saying that, i certainly didn't resent going in. One to go to if you fancy a slice of cake at the same time.