The Queens Arms, Birmingham

Nice old style exterior. Central bar serves 6 real ales.

I've walked past this pub a few times and been impressed with the large Mitchells and Butler 'Gold Medal Ales' sign and Queens Arms stone above, but had never ventured inside. It turns out I was missing out on a smart, modernised pub with a strong commitment to real ale. You enter into the main bar area which has exposed floorboards and the servery along the back wall. The bar counter is dark wood with a brass hand rail and three tall lamps spaced along its length. The bar back has a Queens Arms mirror and an integral clock taking pride of place top centre. A row of high tables and stools and standard tables and chairs run underneath the modern obscured windows which have a crown motif on them. To the left of the bar there is a compact recess with a TV showing live Spanish football with the commentary turned on and several rows of chairs all pointing at the screen. I didn't get a good look here, as the match was proving popular, but I did note several portraits of the Queen on the walls. To the right there is a slightly larger area with standard, bench and curved banquette seating options, the latter displaying some bold striped upholstery that wasn't really to my taste. The walls are painted a deep shade of red and decorated with those annoying 'Keep Calm...' style posters that seem inexplicably popular these days. Two more TV screens were showing the same football match this side of the pub, but without the sound. I also noted a book swap and collection of board games on a shelving unit. The ale range was pretty interesting, comprising Barking Mad AOFB, Tickety Brew Table IPA, Wye Valley HPA, Purity Ubu, Tyne Bank Peloton Pale and Stancill Blonde - the latter costing £3.85 for a pint and being in excellent condition. Each handpull had its own handwritten tasting notes attached which I found very helpful when faced with a number of breweries I'd never previously encountered. A few people were eating when I arrived and I noticed a large mirror listing an extensive sausage menu on the right hand wall. This place promises a traditional street corner local on approach but delivers a popular, modern ale house which I think just about retains enough of its former self to please the traditionalist and was certainly pulling in a lot of younger drinkers and diners on a Saturday evening. I quite liked the place and it's well positioned for a drink if you're on your heading between the city centre and Jewellery Quarter, so I'm sure I'll be back.

I can't give you a detailed description of the interior - I got caught up in conversation with an ale enthusiast and the barmaid (it's mixed blessing, this pub visiting). What I can tell you is that the handpumps on the bar offer 4 ales and 2 ciders and at good quality, too, if my pint of Purity Ubu is anything to go by. At a high price, as well, though - I don't know what the locals make of beer at £3.70 a pint. Music was playing, but at the right volume (which is to say, background, not dominating the room). Food is also offered, at lunchtimes and evenings. A desire to see what else Birmingham had to offer dragged me away somewhat sooner than I'd have liked. The Queen's Arms justifies a longer visit, I think.

The Queens Arms is a nice looking pub that is situated midway between the city centre and jewellery quarter. I liked the look of the Old M&B signs on the corner. Once inside the pub has a single L shaped room,it is bare boarded and had a mix of tall tables and chairs and normal tables and chairs,i sat on the bench seating to the far right. There were six pumps on the bar,all in use,i had a drink of Holdens bitter which went down very well,but very expensive at £3.60 for a pint,the other beers i noted were Wye Valley HPA,Taylor Landlord,a lager from Growler brewery and two real ciders. There were two TVs showing BT Sports and there was a good selection of board games which i like to see in pubs. The pub was empty on my early Saturday dinner visit. I really liked this pub,this is the sort of pub i could settle in for a long session. Pub visited 17/8/2013