The Stable, Birmingham

Part of a small chain of bars that have opened around the South of England, this large modern venue becomes their northernmost bar so far. Located just a couple of minutes from New Street station, in an area with a number of trendy bars and restaurants, this place is set inside a very wide, but fairly shallow unit. You enter at the right hand end of the building, into a very long bare boarded room with large shop windows along the front wall. Canteen style bench seating runs in rows from front to back for the entire length of the pub, broken only by one or two shorter tables at the far left end. A few brick and half-tiled pillars break the space up to a degree, but the place still feels pretty big and chaotic, not helped by the music that was playing and the poor acoustics, which seemed to amplify the din within. There is an open kitchen on the rear wall close to the entrance and just beyond this you'll find a fairly short stretch of servery with unattractive wooden planks forming the counter and bar back. Various cider taps protrude from the bar back, which has a series of cubby holes built into it for storing boxes of cider. Décor is very minimal, with one neon sign on the end wall being the high point and lots of naked light bulbs and exposed wires running around the place. An area near the entrance was set up for live music, probably in the form of a solo performer rather than a full band, and there are a few benches out on the pavement from which you can admire the train station's new shiny façade. The focus of this chain is cider and according to the pub's promotional material, there are over 80 different varieties available here in draught, box or bottle form. Cider tasting boards, which allow you to sample 5 different ciders in third pint measures, seemed to be very popular, with lots of paddles full of murky thirds criss-crossing the room. The staff were very polite and seemed to be the font of all knowledge where cider tasting was concerned. Two ales can be found on handpull at the bar - these were Fullers Oliver's Island and Gales Seafarers on this particular visit. I'd had a bad experience trying the ale in their Bristol branch, but thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and try the Oliver's Island here, but I wish I hadn't, as it was pretty terrible - I'll try the cider next time. Food is available from a pizza and pie based menu. I quite like the idea behind this chain, but I've found the execution lacking somewhat in both venues I've now visited. I thought this place was lively enough, but devoid of any character and not helped by a really poor pint. Cider drinkers will no doubt love it, but for me it doesn't really work and with stronger options nearby, I can't see me returning.

Official site of The Stable - stablepizza.com

Official site of The Stable - stablepizza.com