CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

WEST MIDLANDS - Birmingham, Digbeth, Anchor

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part One

308 Bradford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6ET

Tel: 0121 622 4516

Web site: www.the-anchor-inn.fsnet.co.uk

Public Transport: Railway Station: Birmingham New Street

Listed Status: Grade II

View this pub on a local map

A fine red brick and terracotta pub in the typical Birmingham tradition and built in 1901. Unlike the others, it retains a three-quarter-height timber and glass screen dividing the main public bar into two. It probably represents one of a pair: the other would have run parallel to it creating an offsales passage from a former doorway on Rea Street. The original counter and bar-back remain to form the L-shaped servery with mirror etched panels on the two sided bar back fitting. There is a vestibule corner entrance but the fixed seating looks modern. As with pubs of this date and style in Birmingham there is a good deal of tilework and Art Nouveau-style glass in the upper windows lights and the distinctively local geometrical coloured and patterned glass in the main parts of the windows.

Delightful small drinking area between the Rea Street entrance and the smoke room with a colourful quarry tiled floor, door with 'Smoke Room' etched panel and etched glass in side panels, and a hatch to the side of the servery which was the original off sales with a sliding panel. At the rear the Smoke Room has a another etched panel in the door, original fixed seating with baffles and bell pushes but the counrter was added in the 1960s and replaces a hatch. There is another door with 'Saloon Bar' etched panel in the lobby from Bradford Street and a hatch to the side of the servery. A small room at the rear left has been brought into use.