Spoiler alert: The picture at the top of the post has absolutely nothing to with this blog but in the spirit of Christmas I thought I’d share some old classics with you!
I blame Russ…you left me in the last post waxing lyrical about Birmingham City and the joys of Brum pubs and I just knew it couldn’t last.
At the risk of turning this into too much of a blog about football… I turned up at St Andrew’s fully expecting us to cruise to victory against one of Essex’s leading Independent Schools who can count Frank Lampard and Stuart Robson (and Keith Allen, who is funnier but not as good at football) amongst their alumni as well as being the home of TOWIE.
Russ predicted a handsome Birmingham victory against Brentwood so I think it was pretty unfair that they pulled out of the fixture and sent across a team called BrentFORD instead.
Not only did we end up playing the wrong opposition but it was also a goalless draw which was about as entertaining as “an evening with Joey Essex,” so Russ has a lot to answer for and may be facing a PUB (Pub Union of Bloggers) ban from comments section across the board!
Luckily for Russ, I managed to console myself earlier in the week by visiting a new addition to the Brum pub scene 325- Pint Shop Brum B3 2AA.
(funky wall artwork)
It’s next to Brum real ale stalwart The Wellington on Bennetts Hill in a belting old building from the nineteenth century so it knows its market and it looks set to be an absolute winner.
There is one in Cambridge and Oxford so I reckon Martin will have popped into the Fenland version and if it’s anything like this one then, in a modern way, it’s spot on.
I was with a party of about ten on a busy Friday night before Christmas so it was no surprise to see it was absolutely heaving.
We were a mixed bag of drinkers with a couple of the lads Carling only so they found the Camden Town) Camden Hells Lager a bit flat – although one of them continually banged the top of it with my pint glass to increase the bubbles value!
I stuck with the Ghost Ship (Adnams) which was excellent and with its own beermats …
and a buzzing city centre atmosphere this place is clearly here to stay.
(only one place I’m going…)
An added fitness bonus is the toilets are up stairs so high that make Wetherspoons seem like a ground floor loo!
(one more flight to go…)
It was excellent and just warming up as we were leaving at around 7.30 for a prearranged date at the bistro bar of Birmingham City’s celebrity supporter.
Actually that’s not strictly true as we have Jasper Carrott (no restaurant, just the Jasper Carrott Suite at St Andrew’s), David Harewood (of Homelands fame) and the creator/writer of Peaky Blinders Stephen Knight putting their heads above the parapet.
Jeff Lynne (ELO) Ali Campbell, Astro and Norman (UB40), Simon Fowler and Andy Bennett (Ocean Colour Scene) along with Stereophonics Adam Zindani, The Streets’ Mike Skinner and Dalziel and Pascoe’s Colin Buchannan also support the blue half of the city.
(Cask is beating Keg in the Pint Shop League table)
Throw into the mix boxers such as Robert McCracken, Matthew Macklin, Wayne Elcock and Frankie Gavin and Blues almost sound glamorous!
However, Glyn Purnell is a Michelin star chef, which is still quite unusual for the Second City, owns his own place in Birmingham and regularly present Saturday kitchen.
Suffice to say, they sell beer either by the bottle or on draft, it’s decent and as the party had increased to about 16 at this time my notes became a little sketchy…
But, 326 – Ginger’s Bar B3 3NY is basically a restaurant with good food and lots of alcohol. The name, according to Whatpub is “is inspired by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire; “the decor and ambience is an acknowledgement to the glamour and style experienced in the 1930′s era”. While lovely food is prominent and their spirit range and cocktail list is impressive you are sure to find some local ale on sale.”
It’s not an ale drinkers paradise by any stretch but Mrs BB would be delighted to come here and I had a terrific hour and a half with good company, food and beer so it’s well worth a shout.
See, that was quite therapeutic and I have already forgotten about the Brentwood debacle….Happy New Year.
Life After Football 
A good point against Brentwood, warms you up for the Cup tie against West Wakering Town of the Essex Combination.
Effortlessly funny AND informative, but I know how much effort goes into these posts; thanks for them all and keep up the great work visiting scruffy boozers like, er, Pint Shop.
It looks similar to the ones in Cambridge and Oxford, both of which attract a more upmarket crowd than you see elsewhere (scotch eggs for £4). A Beer Guide cert for 2020
LikeLiked by 1 person
West Wakering should be good …be nice to come up against Liverpool Ramblers in next round….yes a couple of pukka places as an antidote to peaky blinders!!
LikeLike
“so Russ has a lot to answer for and may be facing a PUB (Pub Union of Bloggers) ban from comments section across the board!”
I’m also quietly putting off a UK pub crawl for a few more years to let the furor die down. (blush)
“(funky wall artwork)”
That’s a lot to take in.
“on a busy Friday night before Christmas so it was no surprise to see it was absolutely heaving.”
Black Eye Friday strikes again!
“although one of them continually banged the top of it with my pint glass to increase the bubbles value!”
Crikey, that takes me back. Many many years ago over here, when we drank beer straight out of the bottle, banging yours on top of someone else’s would invariable cause it to froth over!
“and the creator/writer of Peaky Blinders Stephen Knight putting their heads above the parapet.”
Cool. (thumbs up)
“also support the blue half of the city.”
Impressive.
“and as the party had increased to about 16 at this time my notes became a little sketchy…”
Good lord. Were all of you buying rounds?
” but Mrs BB would be delighted to come here and I had a terrific hour and a half with good company, food and beer so it’s well worth a shout.”
(nods)
“and I have already forgotten about the Brentwood debacle…”
But what about the actual Brentford debacle? (ducks!)
And a Happy New Year to you as well good sir. 🙂
Cheers
PS – I’ll stick up for myself one final time. I saw Brentford but on Wiki I saw Brentwood right below and got confused as they also have the nickname of the Blues. 😉
(oh, ok, I’ll cop to it – I completely buggered that up) 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha that hole is getting deeper 😉👍
LikeLike
To be fair to Russ, Brentwood town looks bigger on the map than Brentford. Odd that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That made me chuckle 😀😀
LikeLike
Top selection of beers, if they are all on form … shame about Jasper Carrott, he’s never achieved quite the same success in his second career as a Premier League referee …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who is Jasper’s lookalike?? Yes a fine selection and the one I had was good so a promising sign
LikeLike
Mike Dean – you’ve never seen him and Jasper in the same room have you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha that’s a very good point!!!👏👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve not been in the Pint Shop…in fact I don’t recall noticing it…but it will b eon the list for next time I’m in town.
Ginger’s Bar is a place I haven’t been to since the days when it was the Litten Tree…those premises have seen a lot of different establishments set up (and fail) over the years, but as part of Purnell’s it ought to have a good chance of a long life.
Your top picture is magnificent – I’ve been in most of those (all bar the Brown Derby, I think), but the one that got me thinking, “Whatever happened to that”, was Le Pub!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Littem Tree!!! I forgot about that…yes Le Pub…not sure unless it became the Windsor? Can’t place the Granville on broad Street either but who can forget the crusader!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Le Pub was, I think, The Parisian before then and was on the opposite side of the street to The Windsor.
The Granville is now O’Neill’s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course!! Great knowledge Pete 👍👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
A veritable who’s who of the Blues. Or should that be Story of the Blues? Least you got a point and a got a very good crowd in. How much was a pint in the Pint Shop? Think Martin had mentioned some eye-watering prices in the Cambridge branch. Great post.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cheers Duncan 🍻 I strategically ensured my round was in the square peg and not pint shop 😉 I would imagine northwards of £4.50 and £5? 🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person