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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Shakespeare, Birmingham
Birmingham
B2 4QA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 2 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
James Past left this review about The Shakespeare
Oooooops. Wrong ! Having done a bit more research,it seems that The Shakespear will be no more.
But,the Pallasades shopping centre will be revamped and renamed Grand Central Birmingham and have " 15 new concept cafes and restaurants ".
On 29th April 2013
- rating: 2
[User has posted 85 recommendations about 79 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
James Past left this review about The Shakespeare
I have to agree with the previous comments,a poor advert for visitors to Birmingham. It has now closed down as - I assume - part of the station refurbishment. As the song goes," things can only get better ". !
On 29th April 2013
- rating: 2
[User has posted 85 recommendations about 79 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Shakespeare
Birmingham New Street Station's 'pub' located within the station itself. It has a wood and glass frontage and was formerly called The Bridge, as amazingly, it is on the bridge that gives access to the platforms - now called The Shakespeare, as William was obviously from Birmingham, the place should be called 'The Cess Pit', as when plans were first laid for the building of the station in 1846, Charles Shaw, a leading railway magnet had objected as New St had gone down hill.... it was a dangerous place... undesirable.... extra police were on duty.... lawbreakers around etc etc. I digress.
The interior is a single room in cream and wood panel, with wood floor - the bar faces you on entry. There are some old pics of traains and Brum on the walls and some nice light fittings. There is a TV, which had the Magic music channel on and a mix of comfy seats, high stools and sofas for seating. The place was quite busy, with passengersthat one assumes are not too fussy about beer, as there is no real ale and the old Anselles MILD tap has bit the dust from my last visit. Looking at the cost of the drinks and the ubiquitous choice, i left to await a proper beer elsewhere.
I am left feeling sad, in that is this the best we can offer visitors to Brum if changing trains etc? Hopefully, when they tear down the current station, they will put some real ale in and tone down the prices.
On 21st November 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Shakespeare
In its former incarnation as the Bridge Bar, it was a thoroughly charmless place for thirsty people waiting to go somewhere else. Unfortunately, a new name has done little - if anything - to improve things (and to show you how much they care, and the level of detail observed by the management, the till receipts still have the old name on them dispite the change being made some years ago). Apart from having no real ale, you also need to be aware of the differential pricing policy - for example, a pint of John Smiths is £3.20 but a half £1.80. Also, as it is a Select Service Partner outlet, you are more-or-less guaranteed to get the annoying "Would you like a packet of crisps or some nuts with that?" script when you purchase a drink but it does at least mean that you can get a 20% discout with a BITE card. Overall, it remains a thoroughly charmless place for thirsty people waiting to go somewhere else...
On 13th November 2010
- rating: 3
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Shakespeare
Definitely avoidable unless really desperate.
On 16th April 2010
- rating: 2
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Taylor left this review about The Shakespeare
Overpriced and undersized pub. Only way to visit the pub is purchase the train ticket and show the ticket man at barrier. Dont spend in pub all day otherwise you have to pay 20p in each visit to toilet. I only drinks in here if my train is late or cancelled.
On 4th February 2010
- rating: 2
[User has posted 75 recommendations about 75 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Horton left this review about The Shakespeare
Worked in New St Station for over 6 years & refused to drink here, it's that bad.
On 14th July 2008
- rating: 2
[User has posted 148 recommendations about 148 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Andy Ven left this review about The Shakespeare
Situated on the concourse above the station platforms (on the travellers' side of the ticket barriers) and previously called The Bridge. Nothing fancy - pretty much what you would expect of a station bar.
On 31st August 2007
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 244 recommendations about 240 pubs]