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
Bacchus Bar, Birmingham
Birmingham
B2 4JH
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Bacchus Bar
One of a kind interior, well described elsewhere. Very tucked away in a quiet arcade, but worth finding just to gasp at the eccentricity of it all. Sadly Nicholsons seem to have gone markedly downhill on beer range and atmosphere, this one was full of rowdy groups and the modern pop music didn’t fit the surroundings at all. One off visit and probably not again.
On 9th April 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Bacchus Bar
Very curious Nicholson'spub housed in the cellars beneath the Burlington Hotel and arcade, with a theatrical mix of classical, medieval and gothic decor. Standard furniture in a variety of seating areas around the two-part bar counter. The 'house' Pale Ale, Doom Bar, Hobgoblin, Sharp's Sunset Red (£4.45) and Wild Beer Murmur available from five of six handpumps on the main counter (with the other bar closed for a private function) on this visit. Worth a visit to look around, though.
On 8th November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Bacchus Bar
Difficult-to-find underground bar (it's in the little gated cut-through that appears to only have steps and posh shops). Head down some stairs where the walls are decorated with scenes of Bacchanalian excess and enter to a wonderfully silly Nicholsons that has been done out as some sort of tour of the Ancient Classics drinking den (or, as put well below “the set of all the MGM historical epics of the 1950’s”). Beyond the ‘wow’ factor as you enter there's actually quite a bit to admire as it’s done very well and it holds a pretty good atmosphere too. Split into numerous sections and levels, each one seemingly zoned for a different time period; there are columns and arches, fake sandstone, paintings of Classical ladies with their boobs out, Renaissance library shelves, the whole works. Six ales at the bar with the usual Nicholsons stagers along with three guests. Went for a half of the Purity which logged in at well-over two quid though was in decent enough shape (NBSS 3). Worth doing this one for the novelty value and beer range, I liked it.
On 21st July 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Bacchus Bar
This one took a bit of finding from street level but persistence paid off. There were five real ales on the hand pulls, St Austell Summer Anthem, Hop Back Summer Lightning, Purity Ubu, Nicholson's Pale Ale and something else I neglected to note. This is a dark dimly lit place with no natural light, definitely an interesting experience with lots of different seating areas to break up the space.
My Summer Anthem was either £2.30 or £2.40 for a half, so a bit on the pricey side, but was otherwise OK.
There is a second bar not in use at the time of my visit yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, immediately to the left of the main bar. I don't think all the hand pulls were clipped but those that were had duplicates of those on the main bar.
On 20th June 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Bacchus Bar
One of the most bizarre pubs I've ever been in. The descriptions are elsewhere but this pub is a must. Nicholson's are having a beer festival at this visit and while half of the beers in here were duplicated in The Shakespeare around the corner there was still a good selection. I had my drink in the Egyptian room.
On 13th November 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Bacchus Bar
This is a Nicholson's bar worthy of a visit just yo wander round and see all the features and decor round the place. It was very busy when we went, but we did get seats but beer choice seemed limited with only 3 ales on, repeated in the other bar. No problem with the Siren Craft beer, Here Comes Johnny though.
On 24th October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Bacchus Bar
Interior as described below and it's certainly something different. Well worth a gander and it's handy for new street station. Usual Nicholson's real ale and food selection.
On 28th July 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about Bacchus Bar
Pub is exactly as described in the previous reviews all a bit mad , rammed on my Saturday afternoon visit and i mean rammed , the one bar was closed and the queue for the other was about six deep with people trying to get served , so we gave it a miss .
On 26th April 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Bacchus Bar
This Nicholsons pub has an interior so quirky you really must pay a visit when in the city centre.PSM nails the detail,it feels baronial and the different sections create a lot of interest so make sure you wander around pint in hand.The two bars at the far end were busy on my Friday evening visit with an under 30 crowd imbibing in the bacchalian atmosphere.There were 4 handpumps on the smaller bar and a further 5 on the other with only Doom Bar doubled up.Regulars ales will include Purity UBU and Nicholsons Pale while there was a decent mix of 4 rotating guests on my visit with only one handpump unused.My Orkney Dark Island was in decent shape.
This is a really fun place to visit,very unusual and worth including on any real ale tour of central Brum.
On 19th April 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Bacchus Bar
Hidden away in the basement of the Burlington Arcade and Hotel, this is an eccentric, atmospheric Nicholson's pub that merits a visit for the mad décor alone. A spiral staircase lined with painted scenes of Bacchanalian excess, leads down into a jumbled set of vaults, side rooms and snugs, lot of thick stone pillars, grand archways and imposing doorways. A long bare boarded vault acts as the spine of the pub, running from the entrance, past all sorts of strange items including various suits of armour, large paintings, busts, collections of earthenware, swords, flags and a fake sarcophagus before eventually reaching the servery at the rear of the room. There is a real mixed bag of seating options, with high tables and stools in the main vault, comfier options in a side room to the left which boasts some nice woodwork and a further collection of busts, and cosy booths to the right on a series of raised platforms. The servery is split in two, with the right hand section dominated by a huge statue of Bacchus which stares down through the pub from high on the bar back, whilst to the left there is a similarly sized stretch of counter with a small seating area opposite. To the left of this, a formal dining room emerges, which is set up to look a bit like a dusty old library. A final room to the rear right has an Egyptian theme and is hidden partly behind a curtained entrance overseen by a statue of Tutankhamun. Suffice to say, this description doesn't really do full justice to the madness within - it may all be a slightly tacky gimmick, but it still has a real 'wow-factor' when you first enter.
The ale range was typical of the Nicholson's chain, comprising Salopian Shropshire Gold, Nicholson's Pale Ale, Hop Back Winter Lightning and Purity Ubu with a lots more pumps out of action. A good keg range was also evident including a number of lesser seen brands. My pint of the Shropshire Gold was served far too cold, which was a shame as it was in decent enough condition.
This is a really fun place to enjoy a drink or two. It seems to not take itself too seriously and makes an interesting place to take unsuspecting friends, especially as a reasonable selection of beers is pretty much guaranteed. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to have a knees-up in the British museum, this is about as close as you're likely to get.
On 3rd March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]