Lamp Tavern

Having grown up in the countryside (seriously, I had agriculture lessons on the school farm as a kid), I am a huge fan of the traditional «proper» pub. The Lamp Tavern is precisely one such pub, a rare treat indeed for Birmingham city centre.
The main bar area itself is by no means spacious, it doesn’t take that many people for the place to start feeling overcrowded. However there is a good size function room in the back that apparently hosts music nights (I’m yet to be there on such a night, but I’ve heard good things!). The décor itself is again very traditional in style, and with so many things on the walls to look at, you certainly wont be bored waiting for your friends to show up!
The drinks selection for a pub of this size is fantastic — there is a wide range of spirits available but its real strength is its real ales. 4 handpulls offer one permanent ale (Everards Tiger), and usually at least 2 offerings from the local Rock & Roll Brewhouse [Edit: By local I mean VERY local. As in, directly above the pub]. This isn’t a review of the drinks, but it’s clear that the ales are all kept in very good condition, and are very reasonably priced too.
In a pub where you’d expect strangers to be greeted with odd looks from the regulars, the welcome you get is surprisingly warm and pleasant from staff and public alike. Eddie (the landlord) and his team are passionate and knowledgeable, and more than happy to help you make your selection.
The location isn’t exactly superb, and you should have Google Maps to hand when you first go to visit, but once you’ve found it it’s an easy enough walk to New St Station via Hurst Street.
So if like me you’re a country moth drawn to the flame of the big city, be sure to give The Lamp Tavern a try some point soon!

This is my favouorite pub in Birmingham by a country mile!
Small, friendly and atmospheric it really is ‘a proper pub’.
The landlord, Eddie, is friendly and a font of knowledge about Birmingham, especially pubs and publican families of the city.
Plenty of choice behind the bar and a most excellent pub to sit and people watch and just pass the hours of the day.

Wonderful to enjoy some excellent real ale in a real ‘old school’ pub with a micro brewery … nothing corporate about the Lamp thank goodness!

This is my favourite pub in Birmingham because it’s one of the last of the proper pubs.
Great selection of real ales, ciders and whiskies with nary a cocktail in sight.
The bar is cozy and friendly, it’s like you’ve been here with your old friends for years.
In the back is a decent sized space with a second bar, in which bands, theatre and other events (including storytelling) frequently take place.
It’s worth the walk.

The Lamp Tavern is a very special pub indeed. Attempting to find it one evening we stumbled around the back streets of Digbeth until we finally found it. Not much to look at from the outside, and a little difficult to get into but well worth it.
We came to watch some live music but it was already fairly late by this point so we had to knock on the door and wait to be let in. We asked the chap behind the bar where the band was and if we’d missed them only to be told, «They’re not a band!» Luckily this was all part of the banter. Asking for 4 gin and tonics also produced a lot of comedy but this is just part of the warmth of the place.
Eventually we found said bands at the rear of the pub in a very small but great gig room, perfect for new bands cutting their teeth.

This tiny little pub is situated at the back of Digbeth, and has just started putting music events on in the very intimate back room.
There’s a large glass dome in the roof, which allows the music to resonate throughout the pub, naturally amplifying the sound.
I am especially fond of closeness at gigs, so this venue is perfect for me. I went there for a experimental jazz event, which saw Aphex Twin’s touring drummer going absolutely manic, bouncing sound from every wall and ceiling. The size of the venue definitely makes music performances become much more personal for me.
The pub doesn’t try to be anything, and has remained unique by doing exactly this. The large variety of alcohol is truly astonishing for such a tiny pub, and as a rum enthusiast, I was shocked to uncover a rum that even I hadn’t heard of called Bootlegger. There’s also a wide range of real ale and other spirits to suit everybody’s taste all at an affordable price.
So even if the music intimacy isn’t your thing, the Lamp Tavern is the perfect place to try out some new alcohol!

A cracking back street boozer. excellent choice of ales here with a friendly greeting from the gaffer — always dressed well with a shirt and tie. Well worth a visit to this charming pub.