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Detail Pages
The Anchor, Birmingham
Digbeth
Postal town: Birmingham
B5 6ET
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Anchor
A multi-roomed Victorian boozer in a ‘terracotta’ style with etched/stained windows, ornate tiling and a green/red-infused interior which is around ten minutes walk from Brum city centre. This is a CAMRA national inventory pub so is worthy of a trip on that basis alone. The beer is also a draw, with a good number of pumps (six?) serving up brews from micro and regional breweries, along with various Germanic-looking kegs and some interesting bottled stuff. The beers I tried on my visit were all fine but I’m told it can be a little hit-and-miss during the week. Basic but hearty good value cobs are available; I enjoyed mine as much I enjoyed the beer. Well-worth a visit if this one-off stop is anything to go by.
On 12th November 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Anchor
I would just add that I have just had probably the best pint of beer I have had in Birmingham here! Full marks for choice and quality.
5 minutes walk from the Bull Ring and behind the newly improved coach station.
Revisit 13/08/2010 - subject to a forthcoming visit visit to the Barton Arms, still the best pint of beer in Birmingham.
On 17th August 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Anchor
Another CAMRA national inventory pub a few doors down from the tiled White Swan, this one is a nice piece of Art Nouveau with stained and etched glass, lots of good carved wood and all the features of a classic multi roomed pub. The pool table does kind of dominate its surroundings. An excellent range of well kept beers all, I think, from micros far and wide, I had a Cornish beer (not Sharps either!)
On 22nd June 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Anchor
I have already visited this pub a few times this year and had some super beers. The pub is one to visit for its superb old fashioned rooms, but it is the beer that draws the attention as there is a board up with numerous beers listed from micro breweries. Gerry is brilliant at sourcing new breweries and unusual beers so I always find something new when I visit. Lots of handpumps round the bar and in the snug area which used to be the no smoking room long before every pub had to ban it. Good cobs and reasonable priced food too.
Had a brilliant session yesterday for St Patrick's Day. The place was full, and we had to use the back room to get seated at a table.
Great Irish music and a lot of Irish beeers on from Franciscan Well from Co Cork, Messrs Maguire from Dublin, White Gypsy Brewery from Co Tipperay.
We stayed with the English breweries, and had superb ales from Mallinsons, Coastal, Blackwater brewed at Salopian, and Church End.
The Church End beer called Irish Coffee on the clip and Gaelic Coffee on the board was lovely. Said to be dark luscious and velvety made using a whole bottle of Jamesons. Beer of the day certainly. Had a great time as the atmosphere was first class.
On 18th March 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Anchor
A corner Victorian terracotta pub, with small smoking patio at the back
The pub is traditional, with etched windowns and tiles - it has a nesting of rooms, the main bar, small ante-room partitioned off from the bar, lounge and i think another room off the corridor leading to the loos. The decor is mainly red, mint green and white, with a pool table. There is various art and historical stuff on the walls. The lounge has large screen TV (retractable). Clientele is mixed and it is often busy as it it a real ale haven. Service on the last visit was good. Over the last year or so, i felt this place was declining, living on its own myth really, but i am pleased to say the last visit saw it return to the form i would have expected.
Beer; tap stuff with Continental lagers, with 20+ real ales on, chalked up on a board by the entrance. Sadly, the Hobson's MILD wasn't on at the last visit, but had Titanic Snuff it, a fruity beer not to my taste and Northumberland Fog on the Tyne, which was very good.
I am pleased that the Anchor seemed to be back to the form i knew, however, i have always preferred the White Swan, as it is more homely, equally impressive as a building and the real ale more consistent, though far less choice.
Please do not get me wrong - You HAVE to visit this place!
On 14th December 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
William Harrison left this review about The Anchor
Gerry always seems to find an excuse for a beer festival. Regularly rotating stock, a blackboard in the corner shows what's available (asterisked) and what's to come. Lots of choice for lager drinkers too. Could probably do with a wipe down, but a bit of dust never hurt anyone. The ale is the main thing, and that's always first class here. An ale drinker's institution.
On 28th October 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 29 recommendations about 29 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Horton left this review about The Anchor
Regularly wins 'Best Real Ale Pub' in Birmingham. Normally stocks several brews, including some from Belgium & Germany, which are usually well kept. A simple, basic boozer. Certainly not a ladies pub. Within walking distance of the Bull Ring. Only on street parking available. Down marked because it has a noisy juke-box & a pool table. I go about 3 times a year to meet mates that live in Birmingham. Now has stiff competition for best pub from a real ale pub in the city centre.
On 13th July 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 148 recommendations about 148 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Andy Ven left this review about The Anchor
Recently refurbed but kept its traditional boozer appeal. Went in yesterday and thought that it was a very welcoming place and much cleaner than on our last visit last year. Choice of 4 cask ales and a fab juke box to sing along to once you've warmed up.
On 22nd December 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 244 recommendations about 240 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Carl Baker left this review about The Anchor
A good old fashioned backstreet pub with a good selection of real ales, close to Digbeth coach station.
On 16th June 2007
- rating: 6
[User has posted 86 recommendations about 86 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve Thorpe left this review about The Anchor
A pretty filty pub with a load a real ales on sale which normally taste the same. Not a great fan of this place
On 31st October 2006
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 130 recommendations about 126 pubs]