M&B are probably responsible – aside from Wetherspoons of course, for most of the cask ale in Solihull.
Granted, that doesn’t give you a massive selection but both their Ember Inns and Sizzling Pub & Grill chains of boozers do actually provide a decent ale.
Solihull, as often reported on this blog, is not known for being a Mecca for beer tourists and the local authority don’t appear to have cottoned on to the idea of an ale trail just yet.
It is a Mecca for shopping though and has plenty of Costas, Slug & Lettuces and Walkabouts of course, which suit the Jack Wills/Crew Clothing Co brigade just fine.
However, it does have some better options in the surrounding areas with Knowle and Shirley both offering some boozers of repute and then there is that no man’s land area between Solihull and Shirley.
Monkspath has a decent Ember Inn – The Fieldhouse – but poor old Sharmans Cross has been completely forgotten about by CAMRA.
It hasn’t even got a picture of the pub, let alone any details so here is an exclusive ground breaking snap of 431 – Sharmans Cross B91 1HT
It may not be exclusive enough to get Jim White excited in the Sky News Transfer centre but it’s proof that estate style pubs exist even in the smart suburbs of Solihull.
It’s attached to a small shopping precinct with a Premier newsagents, an off licence and a hair salon so definitely has the right credentials, albeit surrounded by some expensive housing stock.
Sharmans Cross used to have a Secondary school back in the day but even that’s gone now although there are still rugby and football clubs nearby.
It was that post Sunday lull at around 4.30pm when I popped in for the first time in what must have been about 20 years and it definitely has the feel of a local about it.
A dart board and Madness cover bands are the sort of things that will get punters in this area into a boozer and chuck into the mix live sports and the mix is a winner.
There was a bloke with his better half who had clearly been on it for the afternoon and was oblivious to the Women’s World Cup Final as the USA set up camp in Holland’s penalty area.
There was another feller who was steadfastly refusing to watch the football and watching golf on Sky instead but the atmosphere was relaxed before the Sunday night squad appeared.
And this is where M&B have made a bit of a difference as I had an absolutely corking half pint of Tribute (St Austell).
Just over three quid for a pint and obviously more people than just me are drinking it as it was in great nick.
I reckon this place is similar to The Red House on the other side of Solihull – another pub I’ve not been to for over 20 years and is a decent solid local selling good beer with live music and sport on the box. What’s not to like?
Sharmans Cross. I remember it well!
Although news to me you can actually get a decent pint of Tribute anywhere north of Bristol these days! If you like that you should try there ‘Hicks’ proper Cornish ale. Very tasty!
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Not heard of Hicks….will seek it out! Yes The Sharmans was one of those boozers, like The Chequers, that was surprisingly pubby. Good to see it still going
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You always seem to beat me with your Solihull selections Beermat, although I’m sure I’ve got some photos of the Sharmans Cross squirreled away in my archives somewhere. Don’t think I’ll be hurrying across for a Sizzler experience anytime soon, but don’t mind calling in if I do happen to be in the area. Haven’t done the Red House either so might have to race you to see who can blog about it first!
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You’re on!!!! To be fair the Black Country has better local boozers for ale I reckon. More keg and lager in Solihull but nice to see some proper beer in The Sharmans
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Another pub that I’ve not been in…but I do have a connection. On a Tuesday night (tonight), whilst I’m presenting my quiz in the Bull’s Head, Hall Green B28 9EF, my friend Ian will be presenting the same quiz in the Sharman’s Cross and has been for the past 5 years (assuming there’s no football on in which case the quiz is cancelled or delayed).
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I am going to have to come and sample your quiz night Pete! Your mate happens to have a particularly good first name so I may also be tempted back to The Sharmans…No football tonight just the World Cup Cricket which will be an early finish if NZ carry on batting like they are.
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What a remarkably uninformative entry on WhatPub – “Large modern pub” indeed 🙄
Hicks Special Draught, aka High Speed Death, is to my taste the pick of the St Austell beers 😋
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High Speed Death sounds far more edgy!!! Yes, the what pub entry is a little uninspiring to say the least….They can happily nick my picture if they want.
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My ex-boss used to live in Sharmans, might still do for all I know, though I doubt he’d have darkened their door except to feed and water his minions.
And don’t call me Shirley! 😆
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He sounds like a laugh a minute! Always good to get a bit of Leslie Nielsen in there!!!
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“do actually provide (a decent) ale.”
(chuckle) – (cut and paste won’t include the strikeout)
“and then there is that no man’s land area between Solihull and Shirley.”
I shall take your word for it. I can’t read bugger all on that map.
“It’s attached to a small shopping precinct with a Premier newsagents, an off licence and a hair salon”
Stop in whilst shopping. Good idea. 🙂
“There was a bloke with his better half who had clearly been on it for the afternoon”
You’ve been that quite a bit lately.
“And this is where M&B have made a bit of a difference as I had an absolutely corking half pint of Tribute (St Austell).”
Good for them.
“What’s not to like?”
As you said, a decent solid local. That’s all many are looking for.
Cheers
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I see I am going to have to provide a map with a bigger font for certain sections of the readership Russ!!!!
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Well, I am creeping up on ‘old fart’ status. 🙂
Cheers!
PS – Minor disclosure. Sometimes I’ll say the map’s too small when I’m too lazy to pore over it. 😉
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