Old Royal

Old Royal is ‘one of those pubs’ that looks like a pub, smells like a pub and greets you like a pub. Barkeep was friendly at the time of my visit, the drinks were easy to obtain, but my O/​H was disappointed that she couldn’t get a cup of tea (not sure if this is an unreasonable request or not).
It’s tidy and comfortable, looks like a old boozer that you got dragged into when your Dad wanted a pint and you were on his coat tails, and takes cash and card.
We didn’t try the food, but there’s a good selection of alcohol, so if you’re looking for somewhere that isn’t glass-​fronted, doesn’t have a cloakroom, doesn’t have an abundance of suits in it and is going to help you satisfy your requirements of «a pint of lager, please» then this is the place to go.

Fancying something other than I swanky bar to stand up in for an hour, me and my friends went to the Old Royal to have a cheap lunch.
The Old Royal was busy at a Friday lunch and we were able to get seating as there was a big upstairs. The table was messy from a previous meal but this was quickly cleaned when we were served at the table. I had steak while my friends had a wrap and chips and fish finger bap. I ordered my steak rare and I was really happy when it came on the griddle pan with a tomato and mushroom. Only issue I had considering it was a fiver it tasted weird, like some had cleaned the kitchen floor and then dropped my steak on it. As I’m new to my job I didn’t want to complain in front of new work collegues. As this is close to my work I hope I can go back and give it a better review as the staff were friendly and prompt in serving us our food.

Top little boozer
If you’re after a decent cheap pint and/​or food in a venue without loud music this is pretty good unless there is a ‘match game’ or something on. Even then on the weekend its quieter than other places. They show football. rugby and horse-​racing here and there. The place is a bit of a step back in time compared to the ‘trendy’ places nearby, and it’s nice if you just want something simple in an environment that’s easy to warm up to.
In the nearby JQ or Colemore business district most places have moved upmarket in their interior design and moved their prices up to match. It’s good to a place sticking to the basics and getting it right.
There is a function/​lunch room upstairs with booths and stuff you and hang about in if it’s open at a lunchtime, usually is though the week.
Oh and this is the place ol’ Queen Victoria stayed in when she resided in Birmingham… so if it’s good enough for a queen … ;)

Sports, cheap booze, cheap food and a quiz machine… what more do you want?
Dut to the lack of outdoor seating this is predominantly one of my winter pubs. I usually go in with some mates after work and it always seems I’m the only girl in the pub. I take a spot in the corner, which gives me a good view of the footy match or cricket game that’s on and I end up spending the night on the quizzer.
Based in an area surrounded by business blocks The Old Royal welcomes ‘suits’ at lunch times and after work ‘need a drink’ drinkers. The lager is cheap and cheerful and the ales on offer are well below the prices you’ll pay around the corner. The menu isn’t elaborate by any means but if you just want a baguette, some chips or a salad then they can’t and don’t get it wrong.
Yes, the atmosphere can get loud and boisterous at times, but it’s a pub! I wouldn’t expect anything less.
A definite pop in pub if you have a spare half hour.

A magnificent looking pub from the outside and on the inside if you’re into a rowdy atmosphere induced often by booze-​fuelled football viewing then this is a place you may want to visit.
It’s a spectator pub really — drink up, watch and shout. I quickly adjusted my expectations, cut out the small talk, and I commenced drinking and watching the football too. It’s nice not having the burden of saying anything to anyone for 90 minutes, it offers time for self-​expression through other mediums that aid in the release of suppressed emotions accrued after another week of life’s rich tapestry.
A pub full of grunting, shouting and bold characters — go here if you want a predominantly non-​verbal experience but nonetheless still one with a lot of self-​expression.

From the outside this is a gorgeous looking pub — sadly the inside doesn’t quite deliver the goods. Situated just off Colmore Row on your way to the Jewellery Quarter, this might be the place to pick up a cheap pint but if you’re after atmosphere or the ability to hold a decent conversation (the latter made difficult by the roar of the constant stream of football matches they show here) then I would advise you pop into the nearby Old Contemptibles instead. Despite this it attracts an interesting crowd — myself and a friend were once regaled here by a man who claimed to have wrestled with Big Daddy and I’m told the real ale isn’t bad. However, the smoking area is titchy and the food pretty average and it can sometimes attract a rather shouty crowd.

I’d had several people rave to me about how great this pub is, so I recently caved and made the trip. It’s situated in one of the posher business districts in Birmingham centre, so I expected I’d have to pay over the odds for lunch, but I was relieved to discover that everything there is very fairly priced.
The interior appears to be quite traditional, and there is plenty of seating to be had. This is just as well, given that the place is very popular with the local business suit brigade for a spot of light lunch or a quick drink. So far, so inoffensive.
Unfortunately for me, my food took over 30 minutes to arrive, but it was cold when it got there. The burger was about the only saving grace (once I’d picked out the salad I specifically asked them not to put on it), but I prodded at and mostly left the rest.
Huge disappointment considering the hype I’d heard. Will possibly give it another go if I’m in the area, but if it hasn’t improved, I’ll be asking for my money back.

We’re in Birmingham on business and the office we’re visiting is opposite the Old Royal. Our contact asked whether we’d like to go to a fancy bar with chrome fittings and the like, or whether an old man’s pub was more our scene, and we settled for the latter, realising we’d have the furthest distance to travel. We didn’t realise we’d also have a lunch and a pint for half the cost we’d expected though!
I had a fish finger sarnie with curly fries for £3.68 — bargain! If I’d settled for normal chips it would have been under £3 and that, dear reader, is ace. The service was a bit slow but the waiter explained the new menu had launched today and it was mega busym so we let him off. And while there were only 3 fish fingers in my snammich, the bread it was made with was soft and fresh and tasty and made up for it.
The décor’s a bit like an old-​fashioned Wetherspoons, but you know what? It’s all right. The loos could do with a facelift too, but the building’s absolutely stunning from the outside and it’s so cheap that I don’t care.

It’s unusual to find a pub this cheap and cheerful in the financial part of Birmingham. It’s a nice big pub with a large room upstairs catering for small and large parties. It’s best to book if you want lunch. The food is good value — lunch costs approx £3 and drinks are reasonable. It’s about £2.50 for a glass of wine or you can get a bottle for £5. There’s the added bonus that you don’t have to wait ages to be served. As you can imagine it gets really busy at lunchtimes and then again from 5pm. Nice food, drink, staff and atmosphere. Recommended