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Chat about:
Disappointment of the week with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Andy Ven left this review about The Brown Lion
I was pleasantly surprised by the transformation of this pub. Hard wooden flooring and seating on both sides of the bar. Run by the former cellarman from the Wellington and, unlike the Welly, it serves food.
The house Two Towers Mott Street Mild was a fine smooth pint. It's a bit of a hike from the centre of town but worth including in a tour of Hockley. I'll be back next time I'm in that neck of the woods.
On 28th August 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 244 recommendations about 240 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Brown Lion
Called in Saturday lunchtime and found the pub quiet. Beers available were all from Two Towers brewery, and we had a few from the range all good. Friendly staff, and enjoyed chatting to another customer at the bar.
Liked the layout with the bar serving a main bar area and also a lounge area behind the bar.
Good variety of food available, and the Ploughmans with it's assortment of pickles on a plate went down well, as did the chicken and mushroom pie properly served on your plate with a gravy boat rather than microwaved to death in a pot. Brilliant.
Easily reached by number 16 bus from Upper Bull Street, or Jewllery Quarter stop on the metro.
On 8th August 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
General Staal left this review about The Brown Lion
Further to my previous visit. I get the feeling that the refurb is ongoing, even now the pub is open. Hence the pervasive smell of fresh paint.
The bar staff and customers are all extremely friendly. I came in here on Saturday 9 July at lunchtime and there was a nice jazz band on. I previously commented on the lack of a head on the beer in here. On this visit, I drank Mott St Mild, Mild and Brazen and Jewellery Porter, and they all kept their heads. So I was really impressed. The beers as ever were really nice.
I also had a Ploughman's Lunch which was delicious and filling, but didn't stop me drinking.
All in all, this is a pub I will keep coming back to. Brilliant!
On 13th July 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 142 recommendations about 125 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Brown Lion
Bit of a mixed bag for me this one. Its a traditional local kind of place recently refurbished, so recent there was a lingering paint smell around. The walls are totally white and gave the feel of a refurb done on the cheap and it didn't feel homely and sounded a bit cavernous. The wood floor in the right bar also had white footprints where the painters had been walking through and really needs attention already.
However, having said that, its clean and bright and despite the above felt comfortable, especially on the u-shaped seating at the back, though the tables are low. As detailed below, its kind of open plan-ish, but I liked that here. It was also very popular at 6.30 on a Saturday evening, I presume being used as a local by the many flats (sorry, apartments) in this area now.
Tied to the local Two Towers Brewery I would agree the potential for something different in Birmingham was there, but I was a bit worried about the beer after the reports below, as I like a beer with a head. However, the Hockley Gold I tried was superb, just right, so hopefully this is a good sign.
Overall I think there maybe a few initial teething problems perhaps, but I would agree another excellent addition to the pub circuit here.
On 28th June 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris Kilmister left this review about The Brown Lion
A Birmingham pub selling wonderful tasting Birmingham beer again. Good luck to Two Towers Brewery.
Yes Livery Street Mild does loose it's head but quite a few beers do. It's a beautiful drink so I can live with that.
Me and my brother had home made chips and buttered cob there, wonderful!
On 29th May 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 12 recommendations about 10 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
General Staal left this review about The Brown Lion
I have been looking forward to the Brown Lion re-opening for ages. Its the new Two Towers Brewery Tap House and Two Towers is currently my favourite brewer.
The Brown Lion is an old Victorian pub that has gone through a number of transformations over the years. It was most recently a wine bar called Nicole's. Two Towers have refurbed the pub, giving it a complete redecoration and employing a member of staff from the Wellington in Birmingham to manage the bar.
Due to the previous transformations, any sign of the old Victorian fixtures and fittings have long since gone. The interior is crisp and clean. It has two rooms set around a central bar. The place was buzzing on the Friday I came in.
As you would expect, there is an array of Two Towers Ales on and one guest, plus a real cider.
I had a pint of Livery Street Mild and Jewellery Porter. The drinks were, as I expected, delicious. There was only one drawback. After a third of the pint, the head was completely gone, making the drink look lifeless and flat. It wasn't, it just looked that way. When I have drunk Two Towers ales elsewhere, they've always had a good head. I could see that other people's beers were the same.
Having said this. Its exciting having the Brown Lion up and running. It will be superb when the kitchen is functioning and food is being served. That is due to open on 23 May.
This is a superb addition to the excellent pubs in the Jewellery Quarter.
On 22nd May 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 142 recommendations about 125 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
General Staal left this review about The Brown Lion
The pub has been taken over by the Two Towers Brewery and is due to reopen during the latter half of May.
On 9th May 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 142 recommendations about 125 pubs]