The Black Horse (JD Wetherspoon), Birmingham

Visited on 12.4.21 but only in the garden. Had to walk through the pub to get to the garden area at the back and wow. Massive space with plenty of tables alongside the bowling green at the back too. All current regulations for Covid19 applied. Beers were ordered and paid for via their app, although only 2 beers available. Greene King Abbot was not in good condition, but the Ruddles Best was fine.

Hugely imposing brewer's Tudor roadhouse with one of the longest pub facades in Britain. Whilst given the Wetherspoon treatment inside, there is plenty of interest retained here too, including a fine feature fireplace. The elongated main bar mainly serves those just having a drink, but there is a further larger seating / dining area in a rear room and more tables hidden away behind the bar. Function room with another small bar (not in use) upstairs. Given the size of the building, there must be a good deal more unused space too, and there is also a rear patio area. Reasonable selection of real ales from seven of ten handpumps (allowing for duplicates), with the Backyard January Sale (£2.49) proving to be in good form.

As mentioned below this is a huge original roadside pub that also gives its name to the busy A38 road junction where it stands. As also noted below it was a Davenport's house and did appear in the GBG under that guise. It's something of a labyrinth inside with a central bar area containing tall tables and chairs, a dining room off to the left, two further areas to the right and a narrow area with white tiles alongside the doors leading to the patio. Despite this being an expensive Spoons for the Midlands (standard guest ales £2.49) there was something of a daytime brigade contingent as well as an ignorant chavvy mother who was happy to allow her two kids to use the left side of the pub as a playground. The bar has two sets of five hand pumps which on my visit had the JDW Trio Of Doom, one unused, London Pride, Prescott Grand Prix, Banks's Alpha 5 Pale, Brewster's Rutterkin, Ringwood Razor Back and Inveralmond Schiehallion. I had time to try the Grand Prix & Rutterkin (£2.65) which were in really good nick. Overall I thought this was a good Spoons.

A Spoon's pub/eatery with patio areas, bowling green and a car park (unusually for them). Built in 1929 due to the housing explosion in the area, it is irregular in shape and in a mock-Todor style - the white and beam look rather than stone. The interior has a plethora of old rooms (some now open plan) and function rooms uptairs. The main public bar faces you on entry, with a massive serving bar. Behind this is the old Assembly Room, now a more dining area. Off to the right are the old mixed, and behind this, the gent's smoke room. The decor has a mix of colours, with wood panel and some nice collared truss roof beams. Theusual mix of old photos and info boards are on the walls. There was no music and the silent TVs were showing Sky News. The service was fine and the usual mix of Spoons' clientele was in. Beer; usual taps and set real ales - 10 handpulls overall - and my Beowulf Dark Raven was very good, again emphasising to me that their consistency is getting better. Although at the end of the day, it is still a Spoons, i would return here.