Fletchers, Birmingham

A 'Bar + Eatery' according to the signage, but little sign of the latter aspect early on a Wednesday evening, but also a live music venue. Appears to have been created from two adjoining premises, with the main bar and seating areas to the right of the central entrance and a smaller room (presumably more for dining to the left). Relatively sparse furniture in the former and quirky décor in both parts. Slightly surprised to find three working handpumps on the counter, dispensing Wainwright Gold and a pair from Green Duck: Bostin' Bitter (£4.90) and Lost Patrol.

Fletchers appears to have expanded over 2 premises. Unlike most of the modern bars along York Road, it does offer cask ales. Marston's Wainwright is the regular beer. On my visit, guests were Wye Valley Butty Bach & Fixed Wheel Through and Off. Craft beers are still available though. These were Camden Pale & Attic Eclipse & Intuition. The bar has a lovely, relaxed feel. On an early evening visit (they don't open until 5pm), it felt really relaxed. But I gather that like the Hare & Hounds opposite, they offer live music, at which point I could imagine it to get fairly noisy and crowded. As mentioned before there is what looks to be a dining area in the separate but linked premises to the left, with the main bar on the right-hand side. There is also a shaded garden area to the rear, where the toilets can also be found. I quite liked this place and would certainly include it on any future crawls of Kings Heath, providing I was here on an evening.