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Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with Mobyduck
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The Wellington, Birmingham
Birmingham
B2 5SN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Wellington
What is there left to say about the "Wellie"? Possibly my favourite city centre pub in Birmingham and I call in quite often. Always a good choice of ales and always in good condition. A must do for me - if you haven't been in you really should!
On 24th September 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Wellington
A destination real ale pub of some note, plenty to choose from and my Oakham citra was as good as expected, however the pub didn't quite light my fire as much as I thought it might, I found the beer choice not quite as interesting as I found in the nearby Post Office Vaults, It certainly demands a visit though.
On 8th October 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Wellington
An absolute belter, if you visit the Old Joint Stock first for the architecture if not so much the beer, fall out the back door and straight into this gem of a pub. A meandering single room, carpeted and with seating at mostly green leather button backed banquettes although there are also small drinking ledges around a couple of columns. Flock style wallpaper reminiscent of 70s curry houses, framed photos of old Birmingham pubs and CAMRA awards in abundance. The dark red lower panelling is of interest being engraved in areas, on a warm day the fireplace was unused but I bet it gives good cheer, all the tools were stacked in a little stand. The dartboard at the back of the pub was a bit of a surprise in a place like this and was in a usable location for a change.
There are 16 handpumps and they list the changing beers on a series of monitors, I don't intend to list them all especially given the rotation policy but I confess to getting stuck in here for a couple instead of my customary one and move on, they were Black Country Fireside and Wye Valley HPA. Both were in superb nick.
Apparently if you get fed up with the 16 downstairs two or three more can be found in an upstairs bar which I failed to notice at the time.
Having entered via the back door I left from the front, the floral displays on the window cills were exceptionally good and well maintained. Another essential visit in town.
On 18th April 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Wellington
23/04/16
Glad to report, no change, still the best real ale pub in Birmingham.
25/07/12
The Wellington. What more can you say. IMHO the best real ale pub in Birmingham. Loads of choice, decent surroundings and a rear exit leading directly to The Old Joint Stock. Best of 8 pubs visited on my blast round Brum. Will certainly call again.
On 28th April 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Wellington
Back in Birmingham and able to make a long overdue visit to its premier real ale pub.
Suitably buzzing with life on our early Saturday evening visit and it did not disappoint in terms of beer quality and choice.
Wanting to focus on local beers between us we started with the Black Country Ales Fireside Bitter, BFG and Pig on the Wall, and the wonderfully named Froth Blowers Piffle Snonker before finishing by way of a contrast with the Chocolate Porter from the North Riding Brewery and Oakham Ales Citra, and all were kept in tip top condition.
A real destination pub and one that is very hard to leave.
On 8th March 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Wellington
A lovely pub with a dazzling 17 handpumps dispensing 15 ales plus a few others from a t-bar kinda thing. A TV on the wall tells you what's on and what type of beers they are. An excellent pub. The decor? Who cares? But if you must know, its fine.
On 23rd September 2015
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Wellington
This is arguably the most famous pub in Birmingham. Looking at all the preceding reviews made me wonder if I was the only person in the UK that had never visited it. From the outside it doesn't look much like a pub, it looks like it may have been a Victorian town house.
Unlike the JDW down the road I was the first customer. It is a large carpeted room with the bar on the right as you enter. I attempted to count all of the pumps on the bar and I made it seventeen but may have miscounted. At the back of the bar were another three with cider on. Beers were too numerous to list but I did spot a Tap East offering from my own manor and I got the impression that the guest beers were from just about anywhere.
On Saturday at least they do an Earlybird offer of any of the three Black Country Ales for £2.20 from 10:00 I think until 13:00 but it may have been 12:00. This undercuts the nearby Briar Rose. The normal prices ranged from £3.10 to £4.00 depending on strength but all three Black Country ales were the lowest price. I went for their Pig On the Wall which was in excellent condition and went down a treat.
This is another great Black Country Ales pub and well worth a visit.
On 16th March 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Wellington
Almost certainly the best pub in Birmingham. Always busy - there is a large downstairs bar, an upstairs bar and some new terracing. You may get somewhere comfortable, if you are lucky.
The beer is plentiful (usually around 14 hand pulled) and even if you have never heard of them, they are always in tip top condition. If you are undecided - a TV Screen has details on strength and colour to help you choose.
On 19th December 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Wellington
I have been back here a number of times since my original review, including yesterdays visit for a quick pint before heading home.
Since my review in 2010 they have added the upstairs bar, area to the street and the roof terrace. It has meant that there is an ease to the frustrations of the original design, adding more space and character. I specifically like the upstairs room to the street where the window can be opened and you can look down on the passing office workers rushing to New Street Station. Peaceful reflection.
Beer choice remains excellent and my pint of Toll End Black Bridge was local and served to perfection. Altoghether an excellent piece of work with the extension, a 9 1/2 now from a previous 8.
Original review 06/09/2010:
If this site was 'Beergalore' this place would be an very easy 10.
16 hand pumps and very good quality beer. As a real ale fan it provides an excellent centre for worshipping all things hoppy.
However, as a pub there are downsides. There is no food (though they do provide for you to bring your own. Its also not the largest pub and, although some small pubs are quirky and fastinating, I don't think this one is. The layout makes it appear claustophobic and its a victim of its own success, gets very busy making it awkward to find a space to drink. The bar is often clogged making it hard to get through. Its also a very standard interior.
For me personally, if this was a standard Marstons pub with 2 beers the pub would rate a 5, but with the beer here I give it an extra 3 points.
A little negative perhaps, but its not an all-rounder, but if you're a fan of real ale you will love this place, the sight of all those pumps makes your eyes light up in anticipation, wonderful!
On 1st May 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Wellington
ORIGINAL REVIEW July 2011
My first and most certainly not my last visit to this ale emporium .Over two nights the ale quality of all pints downed was top drawer and the variety of styles and strenghts was admirable.The interior was more interesting than I expected ,with a front section of traditional furniture opposite which is a wonderful trompe l'oeil in the form of a full length mirror set in a door frame which tempts you to visit this "other " section.The rear of the building is dominated by the long bar but there is a dart board at the far end ,where a game of arrows could prove fatal to by standers at peak times.The guv'nor is quite happy for drinkers to order into the pub takeaway meals and consume them while drinking if you get peckish late in the session.
My top pick among the pubs I have sampled in the City Centre and a must visit.
UPDATE
The trompe l'oeil full length mirror has now gone and been replaced by stairs to the first floor bar which is well worth visiting.The output from the 7 handpumps up there isn't included on the screens downstairs ,although several ales feature at both bars.On my trip there was an additional Titanic Plum Porter up here making the journey worthwhile.There is an outside terrace partially covered by a plastic awning and there is lift access to the first floor for the less mobile.A pleasant addition to this excellent pub where ale quality was as good as ever.
On 7th April 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2730 recommendations about 2730 pubs]