Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Tap & Spile, Birmingham
Birmingham
B1 2JT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Graham Coombs left this review about Tap & Spile
A canalside building overlooking Gas Street basin, which has had various incarnations over the years but has settled down as an adequate Stonegate pub. It is on two levels, with the street level bar not always open but most of the action is at canal level, where there is a long row of tables along the towpath. There were three good cask ales on - two from Silhill and Thornbridge Twin Peaks, with no fewer than 8 in the 'coming soon' section. If this is a policy to serve a smaller number of brews while they are in good condition, I totally support it. I don't however support the appalling "dynamic pricing" rip-off which has been inflicted here, and would move elsewhere if I found it applied.
On 7th November 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Tap & Spile
Glad to see the Tap & Spile is back open. Trooper, Landlord, Broadside, Doom Bar, Abbot's, Dizzy Blonde and Goff's Cheltenham Gold on when we called. We went for the Gold which was fine.
On 23rd August 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Tap & Spile
Decent pub which is a welcome escape from the madness of Broad Street. As described below the street level area is the bar with the restaurant downstairs at canal level. 6 beers on including Wye Valley HPA, Old Peculiar and Landlord. The HPA was fine.
On 29th November 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Tap & Spile
Sadly only 4 of the handpumps were on today. Its seems a nice enough place but I was in hurry so didn't get to appreciate it too much.
On 30th September 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Tap & Spile
Canal side bar and restaurant. 9 real ales.
On 2nd August 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Tap & Spile
revisit 27/06/2014: Now rebranded Tap & Spile Restaurant it is still a bar at upper level & presumably the restaurant is at canal level in the disued bar area. Nothing really has changed here for the better & indeed half the hand pulls were turned around & there were 4 middle of the road safe choices & the rebranding did not go as far as a tin of paint for the interior walls. Beer quality was very average. Shame, as its a nice building.
10/09/2010: Reviews below are still relevant - its a nice split level old building, upper level at roadside, lower level canal side. You can still get in on canal level, via the entrance by the gents loos and there is still some seating downstairs, but where the bar used to be is shut off now. Upstairs there are some views of the canal, but not from the seating area.
It does seem to be going backward a bit & the potential not being exploited, however it is a nice old building & the staff very friendly & helpful.
Its quite close to the trendy drag of Broad Street, and a few years ago they used to have one of those gents in the toilets at weekend evening offering to spray you with perfume or wash your hands for small change, which was bizarre here as its basic loos! I think he has retired now though.
As with Rob Camra & Gill's reviews, this must have the undeniable most boring ratio of real ale choice to diversity - 8 real ales, for which they should be commended, but lacking variety. I had the Landlord (ooh, er!) which wasn't fantastic, but I find it seems notoriously difficult to keep well.
Despite the downsides I find its location and interior enough to revisit.
On 8th July 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Tap & Spile
Split-level traditional building with a main entrance off Gas Street and a lower door leading from the canal towpath. Rather empty on a Friday afternoon (not a good sign), with the barman cleaning the brass fittings on the nine handpumps. Unfortnately only four of these were on, with a dull selection of Pride, Bombardier, Theakston Old Peculier and TT Landlord (£2.80). Overall, having heard reasonable reports of the place, I found it to be something of a disappointment.
On 3rd June 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Tap & Spile
Quite an impressive range of beers - 8 on handpump, Bombadier, Landlord, Old Puculiar, London Pride, Cocker Hoop, Snecklifter, Greene King IPA and Hobgoblin. Early doors visit as gets busy late on and what with it being so narrow, it gets crowded. Beers kept well, chatty place with staff and customers alike. Will return.
On 30th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Tap & Spile
Called in as I was thirsty taking photos of closed pubs. It was quiet and I was the only customer as opposed to Canalside close by that had all tables outside full in the spring sunshine. TV on with sports channel, and 8 beers available, Snecklifter, Cockerhoop, Greene King IPA, Hobgoblin, Old Peculier, London Pride, Bomberdier and the Landlord which I had. It was in perfect condition and went down a treat. A bit dark inside with wooden floors and ceiling, but an intersting building. Old wooden tables, but very modern blue chairs that did not look in keeping with the place with a large "B" on the back of them.
On 12th April 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Tap & Spile
An old Victorian canalside brick built warehouse, with a reasonable interior on several different floors. Being miserable by choice, we opted for the canal level, which was quiet and ok.
The usual taps were joined by some basic ales, Greene King IPA, Spekky Hen and Fullers London Pride - all of course were avoided for the Timothy Taylor Landlord (which is springing up all over the place as well). The rarer beer was Thakston's Old Peculiar.
Found this a decent enough place during the day - but its proximity to Broad St would mean when the indefatigable chavs and trendies are hoarding in the twilight hours, one may wish to avoid it.
On 9th September 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]