Henman & Cooper, Birmingham

Insipid. No real ale and considering what's nearby not worth the visit. But tick it off by all means.

Very high ceilinged small former office building in Professional/Business Quarter. It has a different feel to the other pubs around the area, more London/Edinborough type bar. Its modern, seating is mainly made for large parties, all ok I guess but the beer choice is extremely boring and ordinary considering its central location. The big TV screens don't really go or work here. No real ale

Housed in a fine stone building (Aberdeen granite, apparently), the interior of this bar / restaurant is distinctly modern. Has a high ceiling and tall windows so light at the front. Darker further back, with some screened booths facing the counter and a further seating area with a lower ceiling beyond. Has another bar in the basement (not visited) and plans to expand into the floors above too. Background music with relaxing jazz at a sensible volume. Let down by having no real ale; with only Peroni, Pilsner Urquell and Kozel on tap. However, it does have some bottled ales from Purity plus Profanity Stout from Williams Bros (7% at £2.90 for 33 cl).

This is pub and eatery, the former Bar One Ten. It is an Edwardian building, originally home to the Scottich Union and National Insurance Co. It is built in stone, with red joining. There are two flanking bays (one is the entrance, the other on a half-basement level) with neo-classic lower and Mediterranean-style upper. The central bay has a large tripartite window above a half basement level, with an oriel window above. The interior is a single room, which is in two-tone marble effect, with wood floor. There are a few TVs showing silent news, as well as having mixed music at a decent level. The place does food, but i didn't eat. General tables and chairs (with candles) mix with boothy areas and arty art is on the walls. The service was fine and it seemed busy enough with the office workers. There is a little DJ booth area. Beer; no real ale, no real ix of beers, just continental type lagers - Peroni and a decent enough Kozel for example. Not really my kind of place, but i had no problems in popping in.