The Briar Rose (JD Wetherspoon), Birmingham

I too rate this as the best of a pretty poor bunch of Wetherspoon branches in Birmingham. Having been in the Wellington the night before until rather late, I returned to the same street for a breakfast in the Briar Rose the following morning, having failed to get up in time for breakfast in the hotel! Nursing a minor hangover, I devoured the breakfast, which was typical of most 'spoon's breakfasts I've had - consistently good food, apart from a rock hard fried egg. The beer choice to go with it was Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best, Sharp's Doom Bar or Lymestone Cherry Stone, Stone The Crows & Tamaishi. Weston's Old Rosie was the cider. I opted for a pint of Stone The Crows to wash it down. Service was swift and efficient. High ceilings make it quite noisy in here, especially if there are some loud people about. There was one rather loud woman behind boasting about her holidays, which could be heard by most people inside. Nevertheless, the art deco theme does give this place a little character that other branches lack.

My pick of the Birmingham Spoons. I rather liked the art deco feel of the tiger print bar front and the chandeliers. Cairngorm Wild Cat ESB Bitter in perfect nick at £2.57 is a steal.

A Wetherspoons hotel,but with a very standard interior and not that huge.The plastic screens around the bar make it feel cramped and although it was popular with folk getting food,the pub itself is rather anonymous.The ale selection was doubled up on both sets of handpumps meaning on my trip regulars in GK Ruddles Best,Abbot and Doom Bar with just two guests Lymestone Abdominal Stoneman and Print Work Helvetica (NBSS 3). Functional but there are far better ale outlets very close by.