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Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Saturday, 31st December 2022
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Detail Pages
The Craven Arms, Birmingham
Birmingham
B1 1JG
Served areas
Reviews of The Craven Arms (Average Rating: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Craven Arms
Hidden away in the Birmingham backstreets, yet only a 10 minute walk from New Street railway station, the Craven Arms is a Black Country Ales pub which I haven't been to for almost a decade.
The exterior of this corner pub has some wonderful and colourful tiling advertising Holder's Ales. Inside is a single carpeted room in the typical BCA style, presided over by an old school barman/landlord. Just a handful of customers were in on our Sunday lunchtime visit but there was a good selection of cask ales and traditional ciders. Some of the latter were on handpull, whilst others were being fetched from the cellar. The 3 regular cask ales from Black Country Ales are BFG, Fireside & Pig on the Wall. Also on were their Plum Pig & Jubilee IPA. Guests were Hobson's Pale, Parish Proper Charlie, Fixed Wheel Blackheath Stout, St Austell Proper Job & Byatt's Platinum Blonde. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie & Rosie's Pig Rhubarb, Thistly Cross Whisky Cask, Pulp Vintage, Gwynt y Ddraig Farmer's Pride & Purbeck Joe's Farmhouse Dry.
The beer (Hobson's Pale) and cider (Pulp Vintage) I tried were both in good condition. There's not many other decent pubs in this area. So, this is often one we neglect when visiting Birmingham city centre.
On 19th January 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3368 recommendations about 3366 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Craven Arms
Certainly not the top quality I remembered, with staff hiding in the rear room rather than being visible behind the bar. My BCA Pig was fine, if not fully box fresh (NBSS 3). Went for a cob and ended-up with an anaemic roll. Still has a reputation as the Ajax fans started to arrive ahead of the Villa game which given its location meant they didn’t find it by chance, and the pub itself is certainly very pleasant. But it’s fair to say that I left a bit underwhelmed and its previous status as a rare 10 on my score chart is sadly no more.
November 2014
Takes a bit of finding up a steep hill, the opposite side of the A38 that acts as a concrete barrier round that part of central Brum. Well-worth the effort though, this a lovely backstreet boozer recently taken over and re-invigorated by Black Country Ales who also run the legendary Welly and Post Office Vaults in town. First signs that this will be a good ‘un is the lovely heritage exterior with impressive colourful glazed tilework and nicely etched windows. The interior has obviously been whacked through at some stage but an effort has been made to reinstall some period fittings (eg the dark wood and mirrors and shell style bar back). Carpeted, with traditional banquette seating which always gets a vote from me. Warm, inclusive atmosphere inside aided by the friendly staff. No food but like the other BCA pubs you can bring your own and staff will rustle up crockery for you. A good selection of local ales available and my Clouded Minds Clouded Stout was in excellent form. All ales had handwritten tasting notes. A great little pub and a default stop for any serious drinker who has a few hours to spare in Britain’s second city; it was the best pub I sampled during a long day of crawling. Rated 10
On 24th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5964 recommendations about 5943 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Craven Arms
My last visit to the Craven Arms was in February 2019, so I decided it was about time I paid another visit. This is still the traditional old school pub that it was back in 2019 and was somewhat busier, giving the pub a bustling atmosphere just before 4pm on a weekday. A real fire was burning, which helped add to the atmosphere and feeling of tradition.
At the bar, 9 of 11 hand pulls were in operation, four of which were offering beers from Black Country Ales. There were also several keg options that I didn't take much notice of. My Pig On The Wall (mild) by Black Country Ales was very enjoyable.
Reasonably priced pub snacks are available from behind the bar - home made cobs, slice of pork pie, sausage rolls, scotch eggs and crisps, for example. No artisanal £6 scotch egg here, just good honest snacks ranging from £1.50 for a slice of pork pie (which I went for, and was very nice), sausage rolls and scotch eggs around the £2 mark, and if you wanted to push the boat out with a home made cob, that would set you back £2.50 with a variety of fillings including cheese and onion, cheese and tomato, and cheese and ham.
A handsome pub both inside and out, and one I would be happy to spend a bit more time in.
On 6th December 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 882 recommendations about 690 pubs]
View more reviews of The Craven Arms (32)
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- The Craven Arms page at the Black Country Ales site - www.blackcountryales.co.uk
- Twitter - The Craven Arms
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Craven Arms - whatpub.com
Five Ways, 0.62 miles, 11 min walk (show)
Birmingham Moor Street, 0.69 miles, 13 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Darts : No last updated 19 January 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Function Room : Yes last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : No - Bring your own and staff will sort crockery - last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 19 January 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 19 January 2026 by Blue Scrumpy
- WiFi : Yes last updated 24 April 2024 by Quinno _
