[Closed] Brummies I need you...

I've always liked Bank in Brindley Place. Not far from your hotel.

[url= http://www.individualrestaurants.com/bank/birmingham/ ]http://www.individualrestaurants.com/bank/birmingham/[/url]

Excellent cocktails and food.

Purnells is my favourite restaurant and only a short walk from The Old Contemptible's which is a fairly straightforward pub - not a bar. You'll generally need to book ahead for Purnells.

Pretty average food can be had in the 'lively' Chameleon, which is a bar with food more than a restaurant. In the mailbox Penny Blacks has ok burgers etc and Aluna has reasonable cocktails and food IIRC.

Rodizio Rico in The Cube for me. A purely meat night is awesome every now and then. The Mrs can visit the salad bar if she likes.

Jekyll and Hyde is a favourite at the moment, been to the Quaff and Nosh couple of time too which is good.

For pub/bars I'd head to John Bright St from Malmaison and try these - The Victoria, Cherry Reds, Brewdog. All within a 100m or so of each other.

Quite like Brewdog. The Vic is okay, thinks it is 'too cool for school' but in fact tries a bit too hard IMHO. Wellington or PO Vaults both great for ale.

Oh yes, my favourite subject, strap yourselves in, this may take a while. All the below I have visited in the last 6 or so months, are independently owned, are reasonably close to Malmaison and are all bloody brilliant...
Food:
Expensive - Purnell's or Adam's. Both Michelin starred, both truly brilliant, both not at all cheap and both need 3 months notice to get a table. Worth it though.
Less Expensive - Annexe (French) or Pickled Piglet (British). Both very, very good food, all home cooked, all good service and both well worth a visit. Or try Anderson's bar and grill for some damn fine steak.
Cheaper still - Le Truc (French) or Chung Ying Central (Chinese). Simple, well made food from their country of origin that offer great value and a nice line in cocktails too. Le Truc is my "go to" Brum restaurant, consistently good and lively too.
Cheapest - Nosh & Quaff or Bodega. The former is a laid back place that does a fine line in ribs, lobster and burgers along with some good craft beer too, the latter is a south American place that does great value food and good cocktails. Both very lively.

Drink:
Pubs - The Victoria (trendy place that does good beer and bar food too), The Old Contemptible's (A Brummy institution), The PO Vaults (400, yes 400 different beers in a dive bar type setting), Bacchus (underground and an odd place but well worth a visit).
Bars - Gingers (the finest cocktails in Brum, owned by Glynn Purnell and my favourite bar in Brum). Bureau (the 2nd best cocktails on Brum and has a roof terrace too). Pure Bar (craft beer, loads of draft too and a nice place to spend a few hours).

After hours:
Snobs - Cheap beer, great music, legendary.
Island Bar - Bit rough round the edges but the music is good, the drinks are cheap and the atmosphere is brilliant.

If none of those tickle your fancy either post back here or have a glance at [url=independent-birmingham.co.uk]independent-birmingham.co.uk[/url]. There's plenty more to choose from in the area and more still if you want to go further afield.

Thanks all.
I think someone should delete the internet and just leave STW.
All the information anyone needs on any subject is here.
Great suggestions.

Is it me though, or does The Old PO mostly smell of piss?

In brum Saturday night, off the train at snow hill, jekyll and Hyde, then fumo, old jointstock followed by a couple in brewdog then some curried goat in turtle bay.
Brum is great these days but what pissies me off is the last train back to stourbridge is the 20 past eleven train.

what pissies me off is the last train back to stourbridge is the 20 past eleven train.

A final suggestion, if you're there on a Friday night, Digbeth Dining Club is a big street food event and is simply awesome, well worth sniffing out. And yes, PO Vaults does have a certain aroma, as much to do with the clientele as the toilets though I suspect. Good beer though, try the smoked German stuff, it's oddly brilliant.

I'd be going to Nosh and Quaff, foods good and laid back atmosphere is good. Tables are a touch close together though so don't be shy.

There is also Andersons in St Pauls Square if you're after something a bit more intimate. A bit out of the city but a nice place and plenty of bars in that area to drink in after the meal too.

Harborne is pretty good for a night out these days, loads of pubs, bars and restaurants.

Oops. overenthusiastic Send finger

I'll add my standard suggestion of the warehouse cafe. Great veggie food for good prices, but more the fact that it's such a lovely place and feels like you've found a secret gem (despite everyone knowing about it)

+ Another grumble about stourbridge train times

Taking huge issues with this I'm now staving oh and +1 for j+h and warehouse
Brum not so grim anymore.

Oh and stay away from that we'll know restaurant that's pukka

just giving this thread a "tick" so I have some ideas...

Harbourne High Street is great - plenty of places to eat including some nice pubs from the New Inn at the top, Junction then down to the Plough at the bottom, although the latter will be very busy and you'll have to book. White Horse worth a visit as your old fashioned boozer 😀

Shit, we weren't coming, but now we have, everywhere is booked!
Going for a wander but any more suggestions welcome. I'll check later.
Ta

Joint Stock, up by the Cathedral.
Nice pies, & some lovely ales.