Pubs No More

Some of the local pubs that are now just memories.

Images on this page include: Brewers Arms, Dog and Partridge, Eagle and Tun, Fox and Grapes, The Black Horse, The Eagle, The Forge Tavern, The Hen and Chickens, The Malt Shovel, The Wharf.

Cuba Bar, on the corner of Great Barr Street and Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham

Son Caney Bar (Cuba Bar) – This was The Forge Tavern, the Cuba Bar opened June 2021. On the corner of Great Barr Street and Fazeley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. Image Date: 20/07/2021

Bainsy's Bar, on Lower Dartmouth Street, opposite Witton Street, Bordesley, Birmingham

The Hen and Chickens - Eddie's Bar - The Beau Brummie Tavern - Bainsy's Bar [Still Trading as a Pub/Bar] - I don't know how many name changes it has had over the years, but it has been known as The Hen and Chickens, Eddie's Bar, The Beau Brummie Tavern, and now Bainsy's Bar. On Lower Dartmouth Street, opposite Witton Street, Bordesley, Birmingham. Image Date: 27/05/2012

The Eagle, now called Ruin ,on Floodgate Street, Digbeth, Birmingham

The Eagle [Re-named and Re-opened] - This is another pub that I've never used, and didn't know it existed until 2010, like some other pubs, it too has had name changes, the other names that I've found out are - The White Swan, The Floodgate Tavern, and Horan's Tavern, for a short time it opened as a coffee bar/café - it has re-opened as a pub again, now called Ruin. On the corner of Floodgate Street and Little Ann Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. Image Date: 24/07/2012

The Royal Oak pub, now called The Barn, located on Barn Street, Digbeth, Birmingham

Brewers Arms - The Royal Oak - The Barn [Re-named and Re-opened] - The Royal Oak pub closed sometime before August 1974 and then opened as a cafe in late 1974/early 1975. Up until a couple of years ago it was a cafe/restaurant called 'Barn Street Diner'. Located on Barn Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. Image Date: 06/03/2020

The Malt Shovel - now known as Backpackers, on the corner of Milk Street and Coventry Street, Digbeth, Birmingham

The Malt Shovel [Ceased Trading as a Pub/Bar] - In 1974 I started my first job in a factory just up the road from here, I used to use this pub to have a 'pie and a pint' for my lunch - the last time that I used it was in April 1975. The actor Paul Henry (Benny from Crossroads) took ownership and changed the name to 'Billys Bar', apparently Astro, Hassan, and a couple more from UB40 used to play pool there whilst taking a break from recording at Dep studios (located on the corner of Fazeley Street and Andover Street). At some point in time, this building became a hostel called Birmingham Central Backpackers - a hostel for backpackers/walkers. On the corner of Milk Street and Coventry Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. Image Date: 24/07/2012

The Wharf - now known as O'Rourkes, on the corner of Oxford Street and Coventry Street, Digbeth, Birmingham

The Wharf - O'Rourkes [Ceased Trading as a Pub/Bar] - I don't know much about this pub other than it was called The Wharf, it closed for a year or so, then re-opened as O'Rourkes. On the corner of Oxford Street and Coventry Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. Image Date: 23/09/2014

Eagle and Tun on the corner of New Canal Street and Banbury Street, Digbeth, Birmingham

Eagle and Tun [Ceased Trading as a Pub/Bar] - Built in 1900, it closed in 2008 due to the development of the area. It was a Grade 2 listed building. It did re-open in 2016 and closed again in January 2020, it was demolished in the first week of October 2020 to make way for HS2 (HS2 is a high-speed railway line). The Eagle and Tun was well known because of its links with the Birmingham based reggae group UB40 - their video for the song Red Red Wine was filmed there in 1983. Located on the corner of New Canal Street and Banbury Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. Image Date: 06/03/2020

Fox and Grapes, on the corner of Freeman Street and Park Street, Digbeth, Birmingham

Fox and Grapes [Ceased Trading as a Pub/Bar] - I don't know much about this pub, it closed, lay empty for a couple of years, then mysteriously caught fire. Apparently there was some form of preservation order/request to prevent it from being demolished (that was before the fire) - demolished over the weekend of 15/16th September 2018. On the corner of Freeman Street and Park Street, Digbeth (City Centre), Birmingham. Image Date 15/01/2015

Dog and Partridge, Ashted Row, Aston, Birmingham

Dog and Partridge [Ceased Trading as a Pub/Bar] - I don't know much about this pub; it probably had a longer life than expected since the building of a dual carriageway 50 years or so ago. The demolition of nearby houses, the demolition of some tower blocks that were built to replace those houses limited its prospects, and the now somewhat isolated location meant that it wouldn't get much passing trade either, it now appears to be Flats/Apartments. On the corner Windsor Street South and what was Ashted Row, Aston, Birmingham. Image Date: 13/06/2014

Black Horse, on the corner of Woodcock Street and Jennens Road, Aston, Birmingham

The Black Horse [Ceased Trading as a Pub/Bar] - Apparently this has only closed temporarily whilst building work is being carried out in the surrounding science park, and it will re-open once the work has finished. On the corner of Woodcock Street and Jennens Road, Aston, Birmingham. Image Date: 13/06/2014