Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Navigation Inn (JD Wetherspoon), Birmingham
Kings Norton
Postal town: Birmingham
B30 3LT
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Navigation Inn (JD Wetherspoon)
Seeing that this was a new entry into the 2024 Good Beer Guide, I made a trip by bus to Kings Norton to check it out. This is a fairly large suburban Wetherspoon's that feels much more modern than most of the original branches. Of course, it is much newer than other branches and it actually manages to feel quite bright inside, despite the heavens opening outside.
Arriving at the bar, I found that people were forming orderly queues for service, which always presents me with the dilemma as to whether to follow the crowd or just wander up to the bar anywhere like I would in any normal pub. I chose to comply with the masses on this occasion, which in hindsight was probably the wrong choice!
The trio of doom were on, alongside two guests - Bowman Swift One & Byatt's Phoenix Gold. Ciders were Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon & Weston's Old Rosie. A kitchen is clearly visible to the left-hand side of the pub. Parking is available, if you register your car at the console at the bar.
On 29th September 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2454 recommendations about 2453 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Navigation Inn (JD Wetherspoon)
Newly opened - and much extended - 'spoons based around a former pub of the same name (although the canal is not exactly next door). Anyway, it has been given the semi-traditional treatment more characteristic of the earlier conversions with some dark-wood panelling and furniture. However, there is a mix of seating / dining areas and a patio beer garden, so plenty of space (although it was quite full on a Thursday evening). With eight clips on the two banks of six handpumps, I found (allowing for a couple of duplicates): Doom Bar and Abbot plus Wildcat from Cairngorm, Sambrook's Junction and the local Lobster from Printworks (£1.99).
On 5th February 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Navigation Inn
Now a Spoons!
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/west-midlands/the-navigation-inn
On 10th December 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Navigation Inn
The Navigation has been purchased by Wetherspoons with plans to open it in July.
On 6th January 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Navigation Inn
This is a detached pub with patio areas. It isn't a canalside pub, but takes its name for the nearby canal. It is, i think, mainly a c1900 pub, with had been altered and replaced an earlier pub of the same name on the site. The exterior is in cream render and red brick and has touches of the mock-Tudor to the Georgian - depending on which part of the building you look at. The interior now has one massive room, which encirlces the bar pretty much. One side of the bar is the 'bar' area - with a dart board and pool table - the other side is more dining - cheapy meals being the main market it seems. The decor has red, cream and so forth, but now looking a little tired. There were a few TVs with sport on and there was no music (was a jukebox though). The photos were canal based. The service was frindly and the place seemed frequented by locals. Beer; usual tap stuff with Morland Old Golden Hen and a more than decent Thwaites Wainwright. Whilst it looks a little run-down, this ended up as a more than happy visit - as my fellow reviewers say - better than what you expect. I would pop back for one.
On 10th February 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Navigation Inn
Can't really add a lot to what was said below. Good food choices at reasonable costs, and the Bombardier was better than I expected too. Caledonian Deuchers and Adnams Bitter had been on. They thought the next beer to go on was a Marstons, so they appear to have some freedom over beer choice. Friendly staff and pub atmosphere ok early evening while we were there. Separate dining room to one side of the bar area.
On 8th August 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Navigation Inn
Large roadside inn which appears to base itself on attracting custom with cheap food deals.
Slightly tatty inside, but not too bad, mixture of high stools/tables & lower seating. The main area fronting the bar with tv screens but, despite the emphasis on food it looks like there is a lot of area given over to standing as there are spaces without tables. Average/normal pub decor.
There is a smaller area to the right as you walk in for darts.
Ok for a foody roadside pub, just needs smartening up a bit.
One real ale - Bombadier - which was better than I expected.
On 14th February 2011
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]