Birmingham Pubs and Food Landmarks for a Day Out
Birmingham's pub landmarks sit closer than you might think. The Wellington on Bennetts Hill is a couple of minutes from New Street station, while The Old Crown on High Street, Deritend, is a short walk down from the Bullring. Between them, the city centre and Digbeth cover most of the ground.
The standouts need no booking. The Wellington pours a rotating cask board and keg range including alcohol-free options, open 10:00 to midnight daily, though bank holidays and match days can shift times. The Old Crown, a black-and-white timber-framed survivor built as a guildhall before it became a pub, takes 20–30 minutes to see, then stay for a pint.
Ring ahead where there is doubt. The Bartons Arms in Newtown is Grade II* listed with Dutch gables and a tiled, mahogany interior, but it shut suddenly in early 2024 before reopening, so confirm hours before travelling. The Shakespeare Inn, a Victorian red-brick Nicholson's pub on Summer Row, has conflicting published hours — especially on Sundays. The Anchor in Digbeth is reported closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
A dry afternoon matters at the Church Inn in the Jewellery Quarter, where the rooftop terrace takes no bookings, alongside original stained glass. The Woodman on New Canal Street reopened in September 2024 after a £300,000 overhaul, with recovered period interiors, an upstairs room and a rear yard — expect building hoardings around it.
| Place | Time to allow | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Bartons Arms, Birmingham | about an hour, longer if eating | Newtown |
| The Wellington, Birmingham | 30-45 minutes to 2-3 hours | 37 Bennetts Hill, city centre |
| The Old Crown, Birmingham | 20-30 minutes | High Street, Deritend, Digbeth |
| The Woodman, Birmingham | 60 minutes to 3 hours | New Canal Street, Digbeth |
| The Anchor, Birmingham | 60-90 minutes | Bradford Street, Digbeth |
| Church Inn Birmingham | – | Great Hampton Street, Jewellery Quarter |
| Shakespeare Inn, Birmingham | – | Summer Row, B3 |
Birmingham pub and food landmark guides
Bartons Arms, Birmingham: A Victorian Pub Worth the Trip
A Grade II* listed Victorian pub in Newtown with Dutch gables, a clock tower and a tiled, mahogany interior few survivors can match. Ring ahead: it shut suddenly in early 2024 before reopening, so do not presume it is trading.
about an hour, longer if eating · Book ahead · Best for architecture and pub heritage fans
The Wellington, Birmingham: Real Ale Pub on Bennetts Hill
A back-street real ale pub a couple of minutes from New Street station, with a rotating cask board and a keg range including alcohol-free options. Come for the beer rather than a full evening out, and note it is over-18s only.
30-45 minutes to 2-3 hours · Best for cask ale fans and adult groups
The Old Crown, Birmingham: Digbeth's Tudor Pub Guide
A black-and-white timber-framed survivor on High Street, Deritend, built as a guildhall before it became a pub. Walk down from the Bullring to see the jettied upper floors and central gabled oriel, then stay for a pint.
20-30 minutes · Best for history lovers on a Digbeth wander
The Woodman, Birmingham: A Victorian Pub by Curzon Street
A restored Victorian pub on New Canal Street in Digbeth, reopened in 2024 after a £300,000 overhaul. Come for the recovered period interior, the upstairs room and the rear yard; expect building hoardings around it.
60 minutes to 3 hours · Best for pub buildings and real ale
The Anchor, Birmingham: Digbeth Pub Guide
A Grade II listed multi-room pub where the historic joinery and room divisions are the main draw, alongside up to four changing hand-pulled ales. It's reported closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so check before setting out.
60-90 minutes · Best for cask ale and old buildings
Church Inn Birmingham: The Jewellery Quarter Pub Guide
A Jewellery Quarter pub with original stained glass and a rooftop terrace that takes no bookings, so a dry afternoon matters more than any reservation. The menu runs from small plates to Sunday roasts.
Book ahead · Best for rooftop drinks and Sunday roasts
Shakespeare Inn, Birmingham: A Guide to the Summer Row Pub
A Victorian red-brick Nicholson's pub on an office street north of the city centre, useful for a pint and a sit-down meal before a train or show. Published opening hours conflict, so ring ahead — especially on Sundays.
Book ahead · Best for pre-train pints and meals
Where to ring ahead in Birmingham
The Bartons Arms is the one to confirm before setting out: it shut suddenly in early 2024 and was reported reopening that year, so do not presume it is trading. The Shakespeare Inn has conflicting published opening hours, so a phone call is wise, particularly on Sundays. The Anchor is reported closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Rain or shine: indoor pubs and rooftop plans
Rain makes the indoor stops easy: The Wellington, The Shakespeare Inn, The Bartons Arms and The Anchor all keep you inside. For a dry day, the Church Inn's rooftop terrace takes no bookings, so an afternoon matters more than any reservation. The Old Crown and The Woodman are mixed, so you can move between rooms and yards.