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Pub Of The Month - July 2026 with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Tap & Spile, Birmingham
Birmingham
B1 2JT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about Tap & Spile
Tap & Spile is a long and very thin Canalside pub with two-seater picnic style tables braced to the front of the pub for the length of the building. Inside are seating areas to the left and the right of a central raised bar with a serving counter that supports premium keg alongside Carling and three hand pumps that were drawing Sharp’s Sea Fury and Doom Bar as well as TT Landlord. There was some 80s music playing while Deal or No Deal played muted on the television to an almost empty pub. The service was friendly from the two barmen, but I saw nothing here that would have me rushing back.
On 18th June 2026
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6782 recommendations about 6744 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Tap & Spile
Attempted to visit on a Monday evening back in June but found the Tap & Spile to be shut, with lights off and seemingly nobody home. Web site was not in service and Facebook page didn't have any info about unexpected closure (published hours are from midday during the week).
Was passing by again on the Wednesday of the same week and found it open so thought I would give it a try - this time from the canal side. Three hand pulls visible at the bar but none were clipped. I asked if there was any cask on, was told they had Jesters 5% but couldn't offer any more information such as the brewery etc! They were also just in the process of putting TT Landlord on.
My pint of Jesters was nice enough and a good setting next to the canal, but they could do with some pump clips and a bit more information about what they are actually serving!
On 9th August 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 914 recommendations about 707 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Tap & Spile
A canalside building overlooking Gas Street basin, which has had various incarnations over the years but has settled down as an adequate Stonegate pub. It is on two levels, with the street level bar not always open but most of the action is at canal level, where there is a long row of tables along the towpath. There were three good cask ales on - two from Silhill and Thornbridge Twin Peaks, with no fewer than 8 in the 'coming soon' section. If this is a policy to serve a smaller number of brews while they are in good condition, I totally support it. I don't however support the appalling "dynamic pricing" rip-off which has been inflicted here, and would move elsewhere if I found it applied.
On 7th November 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4003 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Tap & Spile
Glad to see the Tap & Spile is back open. Trooper, Landlord, Broadside, Doom Bar, Abbot's, Dizzy Blonde and Goff's Cheltenham Gold on when we called. We went for the Gold which was fine.
On 23rd August 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1984 recommendations about 1832 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Tap & Spile
Decent pub which is a welcome escape from the madness of Broad Street. As described below the street level area is the bar with the restaurant downstairs at canal level. 6 beers on including Wye Valley HPA, Old Peculiar and Landlord. The HPA was fine.
On 29th November 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1984 recommendations about 1832 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Tap & Spile
Sadly only 4 of the handpumps were on today. Its seems a nice enough place but I was in hurry so didn't get to appreciate it too much.
On 30th September 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Tap & Spile
Canal side bar and restaurant. 9 real ales.
On 2nd August 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3063 recommendations about 2989 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Tap & Spile
revisit 27/06/2014: Now rebranded Tap & Spile Restaurant it is still a bar at upper level & presumably the restaurant is at canal level in the disued bar area. Nothing really has changed here for the better & indeed half the hand pulls were turned around & there were 4 middle of the road safe choices & the rebranding did not go as far as a tin of paint for the interior walls. Beer quality was very average. Shame, as its a nice building.
10/09/2010: Reviews below are still relevant - its a nice split level old building, upper level at roadside, lower level canal side. You can still get in on canal level, via the entrance by the gents loos and there is still some seating downstairs, but where the bar used to be is shut off now. Upstairs there are some views of the canal, but not from the seating area.
It does seem to be going backward a bit & the potential not being exploited, however it is a nice old building & the staff very friendly & helpful.
Its quite close to the trendy drag of Broad Street, and a few years ago they used to have one of those gents in the toilets at weekend evening offering to spray you with perfume or wash your hands for small change, which was bizarre here as its basic loos! I think he has retired now though.
As with Rob Camra & Gill's reviews, this must have the undeniable most boring ratio of real ale choice to diversity - 8 real ales, for which they should be commended, but lacking variety. I had the Landlord (ooh, er!) which wasn't fantastic, but I find it seems notoriously difficult to keep well.
Despite the downsides I find its location and interior enough to revisit.
On 8th July 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1616 recommendations about 1593 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Tap & Spile
Split-level traditional building with a main entrance off Gas Street and a lower door leading from the canal towpath. Rather empty on a Friday afternoon (not a good sign), with the barman cleaning the brass fittings on the nine handpumps. Unfortnately only four of these were on, with a dull selection of Pride, Bombardier, Theakston Old Peculier and TT Landlord (£2.80). Overall, having heard reasonable reports of the place, I found it to be something of a disappointment.
On 3rd June 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9210 recommendations about 9210 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Tap & Spile
Quite an impressive range of beers - 8 on handpump, Bombadier, Landlord, Old Puculiar, London Pride, Cocker Hoop, Snecklifter, Greene King IPA and Hobgoblin. Early doors visit as gets busy late on and what with it being so narrow, it gets crowded. Beers kept well, chatty place with staff and customers alike. Will return.
On 30th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3763 recommendations about 3763 pubs]