The Trocadero – A Birmingham Institution

As Love Island draws towards its conclusion then Mrs BB is glued to the TV so this means I can blog in peace and catch up on a few pubs that have been on my ‘to-do’ list for a while.

For me, watching Love Island is the equivalent of spending around ten hours locked in a room with Peter Mandelson and Theresa May listening to them talking about Brexit…purgatory!

However, in an era where pubs are looking to attract more punters in, I wonder if Love Island on the big screen might tempt more females into local boozers.

At the risk of sounding stereotypical, I reckon more females watch Love Island than males and maybe a live feed every night on a massive screen with the offer of cut price beer/gin could have them flocking?

I can see a world where chalk boards outside pubs are advertising “Love Island Tonight 8pm.”  Why stop there?  You could have Celebrity Big Brother live and people singing and chanting at the screen regards the eviction…it would be some kind of pub bloggers version of hell!!

Anyway one boozer that clearly doesn’t need any gimmicks to survive is 256 – The Trocadero B2 5BG.

This historic old Grade II listed boozer in central Birmingham is based on Temple Street just a stone’s throw from the entrance to New Street  Grand Central Station.

Apparently this used to be a fire station many moons ago but has been known as ‘The Troc’ for the past 106 years and it is a Birmingham institution.

I can remember going here on many an occasion before Birmingham became the cosmopolitan, international destination city it is these days.

Back in the days when there used to be a market in Brum and it was far more of a concrete jungle with the inner ring road then there were an incredible amount of ‘earthy boozers.’

The Troc might even have been seen as one of the more salubrious boozers back in the day but it has found its niche nicely in the 21^st Century and attracts all and sundry.

Love Island was not on the screens but The Open was as Sky Sports screens were dotted around but were definitely more ‘background’ than intrusive.

Martin and Mudgie are currently penning some excellent posts about their recent jaunt to the Digbeth part of Brum https://retiredmartin.com/2018/07/24/dig-the-new-breed-of-digbeth-pubs/

http://pubcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2018/07/heartland-heritage-part-2.html so I thought I’d join in with a longstanding city centre survivor.

I was in there at around 3.30 on a Friday and it was full with a good mix of blokes and girls along with a good amount of Hi Viz jackets as the ‘weekend millionaires’ spent a fair wedge of their cash!

It has a real crackling atmosphere and is a long narrow bar inside that just seems to keep on going.  The Trocadero ploughs its own furrow but has made it into #BrumBW18 due to the fact it is on the “Historic Pubs of Birmingham walking tour,” as opposed to being a funky bright young thing.

I had half a Citra (Oakham) that was on the turn and there was no problem at all even though it was busy as the barman offered me another option.  The Dizzy Blonde (Robinsons) was far better and at £1.65 for a half pint it was definitely not craft bar prices.

I liked the atmosphere in this place as it was lively and people can spill out onto Temple Street with the big front windows open but it is always fun.

Thankfully, there is no need for Love Island in pubs just yet…and long may that continue!