Swan & Mitre, Birmingham

Now a detached pub, with patio area. This pub was known as the Swan Pool for much of its life - indeed, the current pub is a c1900 rebuild of an earlier and smaller pub on the site. The pub is in red brick, with red moulded stone. Nice features include the pedimented upper windows, large rounded lower ones that have coloured glass. Sadly, the elaborate corner entrance is now blocked; it is mounted by an oriel window and cupola. The interior has a couple of rooms, which are reached via a vestibules and passages that are lined with fantastic glazed tiles in yellow and pinkish pattern. The main room has lost its old internal walls. It is one long room in coffee and cream, with a brown carpet, perimeter seating and stools, as well as a moulded ceiling. The wood bar is stillmagnificant, although the serving bar itself has been plastered with paint. The TVs were not on, the music was 60s but at a decent level. There are no real pictures. The other room is smaller, with darts, pool, a games machine and a few prints on the walls. This had a serving hatch with coloured glass. The service was fine and a few mixed locals were in. Beer; no real ale, just the usual tap stuff with M&B MILD. I had a shandy. The best days of the pub are maybe behind it, but it still retains touches of class. Shame that it doesn't do real ale.