The Hillyfields

If I came across the website I would think this would be an ideal pub for a summer drink in the beer garden with my family. I’d be in for a shock.
It’s never been a particularly friendly pub (I had one of my first beatings as a teenager for walking outside here!) but it seems they are at least trying to turn that around. I don’t know how easy that will be though, as the locals there are still of the cold shoulder variety, to put it mildly. I’m sure there are certain nights when it’s just the older gents in the house, then it might be alright.
At least the prices are fairly cheap but unless you are a local or friends with the locals, it might be best to try elsewhere.

We went here for lunch on a Friday afternoon and had to wait for around 30 minutes for our food to come which means we had to eat really quickly to get back to the office in time.
Once our food finally came, the waiter wasn’t overly apologetic. The food itself was pretty standard but for less than £10 it was a good filling meal.
Overall the wait for the food was ridiculous as they weren’t even busy but if you were to go at a time when you’re not in a rush you will be able to get yourself a good meal for under £10.

It has to be said that the Hillyfields is slightly tucked away — so if you don’t live near Quinton Road or the top end of Selly Oak (or travel around on the 29 bus which serves it) you’ve probably never heard of this pub. There’s probably a reason for that — whilst their website is a thing of beauty and promises a dazzling and cheap array of food and drink specials as well as sunny views from their patio it’s very much a locals pub with not a great deal to write home about. However, if you do live in Quinton Road and can’t be bothered to walk up to The Bell or like jumping on and off the 29 bus (which given how crowded it can sometimes get is a distinct possibility) then I guess it might be worth a visit. I’ve had mixed experiences here — some evenings when the older locals are in and playing cribbage and the teenies have been persuaded to put something decent on the (very loud) jukebox it can be a rather charming place — everyone seems friendly and they have a nice trophy cabinet that you can admire as you sip your very competitively priced Carling. However, other times — and this is why I’ve rated it so low — it can be a bit edgy. For starters — and I write this as a fairly committed smoker — you’ll have to navigate the entrance through a fug of fag smoke. Once you’ve managed that you’ll have to shout over the music to get served — generally whilst a bunch of older lads eye you with distrust. The last time I went — and again I write this as someone who had braved more than my fair share of rough boozers — the atmosphere was a tad reminiscent of one of the places featured in Britain’s roughest pubs and despite it being a freezing cold day I thought it best to head out to the back garden with the kids and blokes with dogs. So yes, by all means give it a go but maybe try it out in the week or at lunchtimes when it has a better feel.