The Oldest Pub in Birmingham: The Old Crown, Digbeth
The Old Crown in Digbeth is Birmingham's oldest pub, with a timber-framed building dating from the 14th century. Here's what to expect and how to find it.
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The oldest pub in Birmingham is The Old Crown on High Street in Digbeth, an inn that has stood on the site since 1368. The building you see today is mostly early 16th-century timber frame, so the two dates are different things: the business is medieval, the fabric is Tudor. This guide explains what the pub is, how to reach it from the city centre and what to expect when you get there.
It is worth separating the claims before you go. The Old Crown is Grade II* listed and described as Birmingham's oldest secular building, and it keeps its black-and-white timber frame on a street where much around it has been rebuilt. The interior is a proper old pub rather than a museum, and there are rooms upstairs if you want to stay over.
What is the oldest pub in Birmingham?
The Old Crown, at 188 High Street in Digbeth, holds the title. The pub traces its origin to 1368, and the present building is largely early 16th century, which is why you will see the 1368 date and references to a Tudor building in the same breath. For a sense of how it sits among the city's other boozers, our guide to the best pubs in Birmingham puts it alongside the modern competition.
The two dates are not a contradiction, just a difference between the licence and the bricks. The inn has operated since the 14th century, while the timber frame you can see from the street is mostly early 16th century with later repairs. That mix is exactly what makes a pub like this interesting to visit.
Where is The Old Crown and how do you get there?
The pub is in Digbeth, on the edge of Deritend, about a 10-minute walk from Birmingham city centre. It is close enough to reach on foot from the centre, and the surrounding streets are part of Digbeth's creative quarter. For the named pubs and food stops with a guide of their own, see Birmingham pubs and food landmarks.
The approach on High Street has been cluttered by roadworks and fencing in recent years, with parts of the pavement and opposite side restricted. Treat that as a practical detail rather than a reason to skip it: scope out the pub's exact position on a map before you set off, and allow a few extra minutes if you are meeting people.
The building and its history
The Old Crown is Grade II* listed, and its black-and-white timber frame is the thing to look at from the street. It is described as Birmingham's oldest secular building and has been an inn since 1368, which means it has outlasted most of the city around it. Almost all of the present building is early 16th century, so the listed fabric you see is later than the inn's foundation date.
The pub's best-known historical claim is that Queen Elizabeth I lodged here in 1575 on her way home from Kenilworth Castle. It also came through the English Civil War, and the building has been added to and repaired over the centuries. Taken together, the story is a useful reminder that a pub this old is a collection of changes, not a single untouched room.
What it is like inside and out
Inside, The Old Crown is a sizeable pub with a restaurant and a mix of old features and modern service, so it works for a pint, a meal or a look around rather than only for a quick drink. Outside there is an events garden, which is the pub's main outdoor space. If you want a Sunday roast in Birmingham rather than a casual pint, our Sunday Roast in Birmingham guide covers the city's options more broadly.
The pub also has rooms, individually decorated with a mix of en-suite and shared bathrooms, plus televisions, tea and coffee, towels and free wifi, according to one account of the pub. That makes it one of the few places in the city where you can drink in a medieval pub and stay the night in the same building. Rates change by date, so check the room price before you travel.
What to order and what it costs
Expect city-centre, tourist-facing prices rather than cheap local rates. One visitor reported paying £5.50 for a lager shandy in 2023, which gives you a rough sense of the level rather than a current menu. A heritage building is no guarantee of cheap beer, so check the price board before ordering a round.
On the plate, this is pub food in a historic setting, so order for the room and the occasion rather than expecting a gastropub. If that is what you are after, our gastropubs in Birmingham guide is the better place to start. For a broader look at the city's beer, including breweries, our guide to breweries in Birmingham covers the local scene.
When it is busy and whether to book
The Old Crown fills up during heritage weekends and events, when exhibitions and anniversary celebrations draw a crowd and the interior can be packed and noisy. If you want to look at the old features properly, aim for a quieter weekday rather than a festival Saturday. For food, booking ahead is sensible at weekends and around events; ring or email the pub to check availability and kitchen times.
The events garden is a draw in good weather, so summer weekends are busier than winter ones. If you are coming for a specific event or a large group, ring first to check what is on and whether the room you want is available. That is the one call that saves the most disappointment.
Other historic pubs nearby
The Old Crown is the clear headline act, and the honest advice is to build the trip around it rather than chasing a ranked list of second-oldest pubs. Digbeth and the city centre have plenty of Victorian and interwar pubs with their own character, and the Best Pubs in Birmingham guide is the place to compare them by area and occasion.
If you want to make a day of it, pair the pub with a walk into Digbeth and the centre, and use our beer gardens in Birmingham guide when the weather is on your side.
Practical details before you go
The address is 188 High Street, Deritend, Birmingham, and the pub is a short walk from the city centre. Opening times, kitchen hours and booking policies change with the season and with events, so confirm them with the pub before you travel rather than relying on a listing. The same applies to room rates if you plan to stay over.
The Old Crown has a restaurant and rooms, and takes enquiries by phone and email, which is the quickest way to check a specific date. If you are coming for Sunday lunch, book rather than turning up, and ask what is on the menu that week.
Is The Old Crown worth the trip?
Yes, if you want to drink in Birmingham's oldest pub and see a Grade II* timber frame for yourself. Go on a weekday if you can, expect city-centre prices and check the roadworks on High Street before you set out. Book ahead for food at weekends and ring the pub to confirm times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Old Crown the oldest pub in Birmingham?
Yes. The Old Crown on High Street in Digbeth traces its origin to 1368 and is described as Birmingham's oldest pub and oldest secular building. The present timber-framed building is mostly early 16th century, so the inn is older than the fabric you see.
How old is the building at The Old Crown?
Almost all of the standing building dates from the early 16th century, with later repairs and additions, though some evidence points to 1492. The inn itself has operated since 1368, which is why you will see both dates used. It is Grade II* listed.
Can you stay overnight at The Old Crown?
Yes. The pub has rooms with a mix of en-suite and shared bathrooms, plus televisions, tea and coffee, towels and free wifi. Check room availability and the rate for your date before you travel, as prices vary.
Do you need to book a table at The Old Crown?
Booking is sensible at weekends and during events, when the pub fills up. Contact the pub by phone or email to check availability and confirm kitchen times, as these change with the season.
Sources
Notes on eating out in the UK
Optional updates when our city guides change.
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