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Rose Villa Tavern, Birmingham
Birmingham
B18 6JW
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
This Grade II listed pub in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter was built by Mitchells and Butler in 1920, yet retains a feel of the ornate Victorian pub-building era. The pub offers a number of distinctly different seating areas, although some sections have clearly been opened out in more recent times, whilst some somewhat incongruous modern décor detracts slightly from the original splendour in places. The main front bar has a terrazzo floor and an elegant curved bar counter opposite a series of banquette booths on the front wall. The dark wood servery boasts a decorative bar back with particularly impressive pillars and top, but the room's real star feature is the row of windows along the front wall, each a large arch shape with beautiful stained glass work depicting a ship motif. A disused door here also has some fine stained glass work worth checking out. Meanwhile, a modern wallpaper frieze runs around the room, with a deer pattern printed on it and there is also a tree trunk painted on the wall next to the bar with a real branch hung from it across the ceiling, from which little ornamental birds and the like hang. Equally odd and unnecessary is the red phone box in the front right corner, which was housing a pump clip display as far as I could tell. Some stunning glazed tile work can be found to the right, and also in the passageway to the side of the room, whilst over to the left there is a plainer section of tiling around a long U shaped banquette. Taking the corridor on the right hand side, you pass a number of cut glass mirrors before emerging in the rear snug - a fantastic little space with parquet flooring, armchair and bench seating lit by an impressive skylight and some light fittings made from antlers. A broad staircase to the right catches the eye initially, but it is the large inglenook fireplace on the rear wall, with a large stone arch and relief detail that is the real star of the show. A proper frieze runs around this room and there is a marvellous tile painting above the fireplace. There is plenty more excellent tiling here and a second arch to the left takes you into another parquet floored room in the rear left of the building, with curved banquette and low stool seating. Some nice stained windows aside, this is the least impressive room in the pub, displaying another of those weird tree branches, a modern tiled 'Way Out' sign, modern art prints and an annoying, buzzing air-con unit. This room had menus and tin cans full of cutlery on the tables, so is presumably favoured by diners. The circuit back to the main bar can be completed from here, passing through a small space with a decoratively tiled floor. Music played very quietly throughout my stay and several posters advertised the possibility of live music in the evenings.
There were three ales available on this visit - Black Sheep Bitter, Joules Slumbering Monk and Two Towers Baskerville Bitter - with three more hand pumps out of action. I tried the Baskerville Bitter, which I found decidedly average, but it was at least encouraging to see some local micro breweries being supported.
I really enjoyed exploring this pub, which offered up a series of pleasant architectural surprises that made the visit very worthwhile. I hope the owners continue to appreciate the building they have on their hands and ease off with their unnecessary decorative efforts because this is a pub well worth heading out of the city centre to appreciate.
On 3rd March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
Substantial building, with several large arched windows in an otherwise relatively plain-looking façade. However, once inside, you see that these windows contain decorative stained glass and there is a mix of plain and fancy tiling in the three surviving rooms distributed around the central bar area. Also has some quirky decor, including the old-fashioned red telephone box. A few wooden benches out front too. Three of six handpumps, offering Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Tower Jewellery Porter and Joule's Blonde (£3.40).
On 17th December 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9017 recommendations about 9017 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
As noted in the reviews, the Rose Villa is a pretty impressive-looking building both inside & out, featuring tiling, red banquette seating, a tree branch on the ceiling and that important element so often overlooked - a traditional phone box.
On the bar, 6 pumps offer 4 ales, although Hockley Gold turned out not to be neither terrifically gold, nor particularly good. It seemed a bit early in the day for Thornbridge Jaipur; Black Sheep and a.n.other completed the ale line-up. Kegged offerings included Estrella Dam.
Music was playing at louder than background volume to the few customers present and I got the impression that they were in the market for the student crowd. In the evening, I've no doubt it's more crowded; possibly too much for an old codger like me.
On 22nd October 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 620 recommendations about 576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
Architecturally the star of the Jewellery Quarter pubs, the kind of polished concrete that no-one can replicate these days, parquet and a pastiche of medieval tiles form the floor while the walls are tiled with panels in Greco-Romano designs with a papered frieze above. The windows are a display of stained glass with a Tudor ship motif there being a rose on its sails and repeated in the bottom corners and again at the top in stylised form. The counter is a simple carved design forming an island servery to the three rooms that make up the pub's ground floor. The barback is quite splendid incorporating barley twist columns in brass. Furnishing is all very traditional with red covered benches at light wooden tables, there's no room on the walls for pictures but there is the telephone box displaying wine bottles and the big twigs across the dark Lincrusta ceiling as described below, every table has either flowers in wine bottles or plants in metal buckets. The three rooms vary in size with two larger sitting rooms on the road facing sides, it's a corner pub, and a smaller magnificent snug like room with fine but heavy fireplace and more decorative tiling. The counter has 6 hand pulls but only three were in use, Titanic Stout, Magic Rock Curious and sadly the Two Towers had just run dry. My Magic Rock was good but would have been much better through a sparkler. A better than average keg choice is provided on a horseshoe fitting, there are no pulls on the counter facing Vyse St. Cocktails are available if you would like to wait while they're mixed and some 1960s pop music was playing gently in the background. The only quibble I have other than the beer choice being a touch limited and unsparkled was that the owners have hung bloody blackboards with food ad's over some of the tiled panels - philistines!
On 16th September 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3859 recommendations about 3526 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
The Rose Villa Tavern is a large victorian pub that stands next to the busy crossroads.
Once inside there was an oblong shaped room to the front,this room had red leater bench seating in bays which faced the bar,the ceiling was high and the staind glass windows looked very nice,there was a proper red telephone box to the right which had lots of wine bottles in it.
There were no twigs on tables but there was a large branch ccoming out of the wall behind the bar,this had lights and a few birds on it.
There was a smaller square shaped room to the rear which looked pretty poor compared to the front room.
There were six pumps on the bar,but dissapointingly four were unclipped,i had a drink of Two Towers Hockley Gold which was a very nice drink,the other beer was Black Sheep bitter.
There was some decent background music playing.
The pub was quite busy for an early Saturday dinner visit and the student types were having meals which looked very nice.
This is a pleasant enough pub to have a couple of drinks in.
Pub visited 17/8/2013
On 17th August 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
UPDATE: This place has had a complete re-vamp. The exterior remains the same. The arrangement of the interior also is the same, but the decor has changed. The small ante-room remains in green glazed tile, with its nice fireplace and Chesterfield chairs. The main room has lost the games, but the red telephone box remains - now used to display wine. There is some strange tree branch hoisted aloft with lights on - bizarre. The stained glass and mix of concrete and wood floors remain, as does the green tiling, but now there is some patterned wallpaper with stags on (black). The TV has gone and the music was general and at a decent level. The do cocktails and the side area has the 'menus' on the tables. The service was great, a cheery chap dressed like a Victorian iron-puddler greeted us and the clientele was mixed - it being quite busy (not including the Dungeon & Dragons group playing upstairs in the function area. Beer; usual tap stuff with Joule's Slumbering Monk, Doombar, Hardknott Continuum and a decent Titanic Chocolate and Vanilla Stout. Whilst there are some strange elements to this pub now, it is certainly worth a visit for a couple.
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A red brick detached Victorian pub, with some stonework around the doors and windows, with a small beer patio.
The main part of the interior is technically open plan but has two destinct areas, one with darts, pool and a red telephone box! The decor is mainly a French mustard kind of colour and green, with red ceiling, but there is also some nice green and red tiling in the ante-room and loos and mainly wood floor. There is a nice central wood bar, with coloured glass windows, a shame that a few of the seats were ripped. Lots of old photos adorn the walls and there is Sky TV. Service was ok, clientele mixed. Music was charty, but at an ok level.
Beer; all atap stuff really, with an up and down M&B MILD (over several visits) and a Greenall's MILD tap that has only once ever worked! Real ale is confined to one handpull, this time being Adnams Explorer- but i had the MILD which was OK on this visit.
Its a great building and is always worth a visit. A better choice of real ale and more consistent MILD wouldn't go amiss
On 14th May 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3113 recommendations about 3108 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
REVISIT 23/06/2012: - taken over and done up since my last visit by the same people as The Victoria and the Jekyll & Hyde in the City Centre. All the better for it, its still a bit basic and has some of their weird decoration, but suits its location in the heart of Jewellery Quarter. The boxing machine is gone and there are real ales. So much improved
AUG 2010 - 5/10 A large traditional pub right in the middle of the Jewellery shops.
There are some lovely parts to the interior here - some absolutely fantastic tiling in the 'den', and various different areas. However, it needs some love and attention and especially with its location someone with a little idea of what could be done here - I mean, why is there a boxing machine in the ornate 'den'?? Why no quality food and drink?? So much potential surely?
No real ale.
On 25th June 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1587 recommendations about 1564 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
A Grade II listed building situated in the centre of the jewellery quarter next to the Chamberlain Clock Tower. A very inviting looking pub especially when lit up in the evening. The interior is well worth a look in. Serves four cask ales 2 reg Doombar and Brakspear and two guest. I tried the Oxfordshire Ales Trick or Treat.
On 2nd November 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3733 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
General Staal left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
Reading Andy Ven's comment below, I agree about the beer. On my second visit in August with a walking group after a ramble, my pint was distinctly cloudy. On commenting on it to the barman, his reply was 'Well its the taste that counts.'
I did a second walk with another group a week later and I took them to the Red Lion down the road.
On 31st October 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 142 recommendations about 125 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Andy Ven left this review about Rose Villa Tavern
I note General Staal's comment that this is the sister pub of the Victoria and the Jekyll and Hyde. I like the Victoria for its traditional feel but I'm not so keen on the 'modern' interior of the Jekyl and Hyde. This place would be more aptly named Jekyll and Hyde, or maybe the Marmite pub, because I wasn't sure what it is trying to be - and you'll either love it or hate it.
The plus points are the fabulous stained glass windows, especially the one with the sailing ship, and the tiled interior. The service was friendly too and I like the three thirds for the price of a pint (£3.10) offer. I wasn't so keen on the tree branches on the ceiling with light bulbs wrapped around or the use of IKEA/nursery style use of bright colours on some of the furniture legs and the bar. Maybe it has been done to appeal to a younger crowd but it seems to have a confused identity.
The biggest disappointment was the ale. My Brakspear Bitter was OK but I wasn't sure if it was ever so slightly on the turn. My accomplice's Doom Bar was decidedly cloudy. Maybe I will go back and give it another go but based on this visit I wasn't overly struck.
On 16th October 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 244 recommendations about 240 pubs]