Pub of the Moment - St George's Day - 23rd April 2012

On the Coventry Road, Birmingham, is a public house called the Redhill Tavern. It has a relevant inscription carved around the building.

"Saint George he was for England and before he slew the Dragon

He drank a pint of foaming ale from out a British flagon"

(Slightly altered lines from GK Chesterton's "The Englishman")

St GEORGE'S DAY - Birmingham 24 Apr 2010

Saturday 24th of April. Both the Birmingham History Forum and Birmingham itself are celebrating St George's day and I want to be at both :(

1st stop, the Stag's Head, Summer lane to meet the Birmingham History Forum members who are enjoying a well organized party with buffet and raffle.

 I leave the Stag's Head for an appointment with the city centre.

 Back into town, and the Jockey Morris Men are performing in the grounds of St Philips Cathedral in the city centre. Various other entertainments are taking place in Victoria and Chamberlain Squares.

 The musicians.

 Audience participation.

 "You WILL join in!"

The dancers pose at the rear of the open-top bus which will take us on it's (free!) inaugural one-hour trip around some of the scenic parts of Birmingham. It is possible to get photographs of buildings normally hidden behind rows of traffic.. if you are sitting on the correct side.. and the sun is not in front of you... and the bus slows down a bit. But seriously, the tour visited some interesting places and was accompanied by an informed commentary. For more information on this tour and themed tours see HERE.

 "Go to work on a leg!"

Conductors-eye view of the top deck. The next six photographs are all taken from the top of the bus.

 A view of the crowds celebrating St George's Day in Victoria Square.

 Warstone Lane cemetery.

 The Lodge at Warstone Lane Cemetery.

 Stratford House, built in 1601.

 The Old Crown, a clear view from the top of the bus.

 The approach along Moat Lane as we return to the city centre.

Meanwhile, back in the city centre, I think George has slain his horse by mistake. Should have gone to Spec-savers!

... and I ended up here - The Jewellers Arms - for a pint.

A close-up of the splendid emblem (who needs a road-side pub-sign anyway?).

The recently closed Ring o' Bells has now been partially incinerated, which seems to be the inn-thing these days (see the Wagon and Horses and the Tilt Hammer for examples.

... the Spicebuffet pub and restaurant. In my youth The Good Companions public house stood here, that made way for a Harry Ramsden's fish and chip restaurant which in turn was demolished and replaced by the Shooting Star pub, and now the Spicebuffet. You can't beat a good English chippie!!

The Three Horseshoes.

The Crane and Dragon on Cranes Park Road. Formerly the Sheldon.

When I first moved into the area in 1992 it was what I called a "real" pub with a public bar, lounge and snug (remember snugs?). Then it turned into a Mr Qs, a diabolical open-plan Habitat style bar with TVs in every nook and cranny, probably in the bog too.
Very recently it has been re-invented as a Thai restaurant, also serving English food. This is a considerable improvement which, for me at least, is enhanced by having a seperate bar area serving guest real ales and a fine selection of malt whiskeys (Talisker 10 minutes walk from home... heaven!)
I like it. It is clean inside and the staff are polite. Whether it takes off or not remains to be seen, but I hope so.

Detail on the building.

A PUB-CRAWL - 20th May 2008

 I was asked to take a photograph of 24 Havelock Road by someone whose family were based there earlier in the last century. A good place to be based if it were open. It is/was part of the Havelock Tavern, the garage part to be precise. For the same pub in 2004 see here.
I decided as the weather was nice, a quick pub-crawl was in order.

Another view of the pub

This photograph is of a scene outside the Havelock Tavern, obviously busier in the 1950s. Thanks to Tom Brown who provided the photograph and who's father Thomas is on the far left.

From Havelock Road we head towards Alum Rock Road via what should be either Sycamore or Chestnut Cottages. The remainder of the houses were demolished to make way for the Rock Cinema which in turn was demolished to make way for a school and car-park.

 The other side of the lane.

 Now we are at The Tilt-Hammer on the corner of Adderley Road and Alum Rock Road. Time for a quick pint? No chance. A slightly improved view of the pub taken in 2004 can be seen here.

Travelling on the inner circle No 8 buz, we see The Gables Tavern, another ex-pub. Shame really, the concept of a taxi-cab firm operating from the upstairs of a pub could be a real winner.

This is The Nest on the corner of Muntz Street and Swanage Road. Sold by auction but I'm not sure if it will still be a pub. [I'll have to go back soon and check ;) ]

Finally, the Wagon and Horses on the Coventry Road, Sheldon taken from the No 60 bus. A photograph of the pub taken in 2006 is here.

 That must be the cheapest pub-crawl you've ever been on.

EASTSIDE MINI-TOUR - 2nd May 2008

A request by a friend of a friend to get some photographs of The Birmingham Gun-Barrel Proof House became a mini Eastside tour taking in part of the area of an earlier visit I made, and how things are beginning to change. (See the Fazeley Street Walkabout at http://bit.ly/KmNoxg )

I sometimes wish Birmingham would stop to take a breath so that it would be possible to tour the city without all the cranes and bulldozers spoiling the view.

Above are the Curzon Street Railway Terminal with The Woodman public house to the left.

 The sign to the right of the station is a sign of things to come.

 No comment.

 I seem to remember this as being one of the largest green areas in the city centre. 

 The Eagle & Tun on the corner of Banbury Street and New Canal Street.

 The entrance to the Birmingham Gun-Barrel Proof House, established 1813 to check the safety of all firearms, in particular the quality of the barrels. This photograph was taken from underneath the railway tunnel in Banbury Street.

 Detail above the gateway. The Latin inscription translates roughly as "Safety through caution".

 The main building which is still used for the proofing of weapons.

 A closer view of the door.

 The detail above the door.

 Approaching the Curzon Street Terminal along New Canal Street.

 A front view of the station.

 To the right of the station door a sign commemorating the 150th anniversary

 of the arrival of the first train.

 The Woodman, a working pub.

 Behind the pub some city centre development.

 This example of classical architecture which is Millennium Point...

... and just to the left of Millennium Point, even more development work.