The Lamp Tavern, Birmingham

Found this pub for the first time while on a visit to Birmingham and what a place. Good choice of beer and a locals local. Made welcome and felt like I have been drinking all my life in this pub. A real gem.

This pub is now the tap for Rock & Roll brewery, and when we called there during our visit to Birmingham beer fewstival last month there were 3 of their beers on. We enjoyed E.F.F.O.F.F. , Equinox and Lamplight PA.

Tiny pub, in the industrial back streets going south of the City, it is walkwable from the Markets area and close enough to The Anchor as well, but not the most picturesque setting. Some seating available but limited (as is the standing!). There are various certifcates/awards hanging above the bar servery. Its a plain, small boozer but a fine example of such with excellent choice of ales, including Stanway's Stannie Bitter., making it a great place to pop in for a good real ale. Was popular on my early evening visit.

An unassuming exterior in an unappealing area disguises an intimate, friendly local within. The narrow front room has comfy red-covered wall seating along with some small tables and accompanying stools, with wood panelling above the bar – very 1950’s! There is a large back room used for live music and private functions, which was closed on my visit, making the front room rather ‘cosy’. Six pumps serving four ales were available during my visit, I recall seeing Stanway Bitter, Everards Tiger, a Beartown beer and an Acorn one, with one clip turned (Church End Mild, I think) – no complaints on the quality of mine. This is a comfy beer drinkers pub and worth popping into if in Digbeth – around 10 minutes walk from New Street as well.

A small back street pub forming the third and plainer boozer of a trio of well regarded pubs in Digbeth. It is small and corridor like with the counter down one side and seating down the other, there is a room for live music at the back apparently, plainly decorated with some nice pictures. Very quiet when I called in but the beer was in fine form, most coming from microbreweries and apart from the Everards and Wadworths none were familiar to me.

This is a cracking little pub. I hadn't been in for about 2 years until last week and the only thing that has changed is that there is a large roll down screen for the TV. Eddie says this is only used when it's quiet as he likes to watch the TV but his eyes are going so he couldn't see the small screen!! The front room has red covered seating around the wall with small tables, there are also some barstools. The alcove above the bar is full of trophies. There are 6 handpumps serving Stanway Stanney bitter and Churchend Gravediggers mild and up to 4 changing guests, these included Summer Wine brewery's Helios when I called which was excellent. There's a further room at the back that is used for functions, but I couldn't have a proper look as the local Morris Men were in there practising. It's a very good pub with a friendly landlord and locals, not to be missed whilst in Digbeth.

You've got to visit the Lamp, Eddie the Landlord is such a great chat and runs a brill pub. Great range of beers, good conversation with friendly locals. Really enjoyed the Stanway in particular. Can't wait to go again!