English Heritage reckon Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter is a "national treasure" because after 250 years of history, it's still home to hundreds of businesses turning out rings, jewellery and precision engineering tools - a proper Brummie mix of metal bashing and creativity. Beer drinkers will be inclined to agree. It's now eclipsed Digbeth as the city's best drinking quarter, thanks to a growing army of youthful residents drawn by the growing number of apartment blocks, often converted from old factories. For this pub crawl, I've chosen five boozers that reflect the indie/craft side of the pub trade - all very different, all top quality - but there's at least another five pubs worth your consideration within a short walking distance.
These pubs can be readily accessed from St Paul's or the Jewellery Quarter tram stops, but I started from Snow Hill Railway station; take a right and then your first right again down Livery Street (over a footbridge) to the recently expanded Indian Brewery home to Birmingham Lager, Bombay Honey and street food from the sub continent.
For food though, I'm recommending a right turn out of the front door, then right again under the railway arches at Lionel Street, before a left turn at Constitution Hill. It should be no more than a 10 minute walk up to the Hen & Chickens - an inner city survivor, and part of the Desi pub revolution. Usually a couple of cask ales on tap and some brilliant curries. Almost directly opposite stands The Wolf, big on pies, cheese and a wonderful range of ales on tap, and in bottles and cans.
Then up the hill and a right into Mott Street Industrial Estate and the Burning Soul Brewery, which brews on the premises and finally into the Jewellery Quarter proper and "possibly the the best pub in the universe" the Rock n'Roll Brewhouse -RocknRoll Brewhouse | Facebook). To find out why, you'll have to go and find out for yourself. Cheers. (NB Always check for opening hours).
These pubs can be readily accessed from St Paul's or the Jewellery Quarter tram stops, but I started from Snow Hill Railway station; take a right and then your first right again down Livery Street (over a footbridge) to the recently expanded Indian Brewery home to Birmingham Lager, Bombay Honey and street food from the sub continent.
For food though, I'm recommending a right turn out of the front door, then right again under the railway arches at Lionel Street, before a left turn at Constitution Hill. It should be no more than a 10 minute walk up to the Hen & Chickens - an inner city survivor, and part of the Desi pub revolution. Usually a couple of cask ales on tap and some brilliant curries. Almost directly opposite stands The Wolf, big on pies, cheese and a wonderful range of ales on tap, and in bottles and cans.
Then up the hill and a right into Mott Street Industrial Estate and the Burning Soul Brewery, which brews on the premises and finally into the Jewellery Quarter proper and "possibly the the best pub in the universe" the Rock n'Roll Brewhouse -RocknRoll Brewhouse | Facebook). To find out why, you'll have to go and find out for yourself. Cheers. (NB Always check for opening hours).