Packhorse Hotel, Birmingham

This is a detached Sizzling chain pub and eatery, with a beer garden and patio area. The pub in its current for dates from at least the later Victorian period, but is likely a lot older, bring a once rural stopping point (and hotel) on the old turnpike road. The building is in white render, and has a touch of the Georgians about it. The strange skew-whiff upper windows are interseting and it now has an entablatured doorway. The interior has of course been murdered. It is now all open plan, as most places are. There is a bar area off to the left, which has a dart board and the more foody area is in the middle and to the right. The decor is a mustard colour, with some red and brick. The TV wasn't on and the music was mixed and at a decent level. A few cartoons were on the walls in the bar area and a kid's grabbing machine stood proudly unused. The service was OK and a few were in, just drinking. Beer; usual tap stuff with Banks's MILD - on handpull there were Greene King IPA and Wells' Bombardier - i had pop. Pretty dull - the historic photos on the internet make me wish i was Dr Who.