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WEST MIDLANDS - Birmingham, Northfield, Black Horse National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part Two Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2QT Tel: 0121 477 1800 Opening Hours: 7am to 12 midnight (1am Fri) Public Transport: Railway Station: Northfield Listed Status: Grade II View this pub on a local map
A magnificent 1929 'Brewers Tudor' roadhouse, designed by Francis Goldsbrough of Batemans for Birmingham brewers Davenports. Its listed description states "The grandest of the post first world war "reformed pubs" built on a vast scale in a picturesque highly successful Vernacular Revival combining Midlands half-timbering and Cotswold stone, giving the impression, in its loose planning, of a gradual evolution from late medieval to Jacobean. The quality of detailing and materials embodies the best of the Birmingham Arts and Crafts tradition."
After a refurbishment the pub re-opened as a Wetherspoon's on 23 July 2010. It has a wonderful timbered exterior with gables, carved woodwork, leaded glass, an original carved projecting sign, fine stonework and chimneys. The lower south end includes the manager's house, half timbered on a Cotswold stone base. At the rear is a bowling green with original stone-built pavilion and pergolas. Other Britain's Real Heritage Pubs with active Bowling Greens are Travellers Rest, Alphrahan, Cheshire; Nursery, Heaton Norris, Greater Manchester; Wheatsheaf, Sutton Leach, St Helens, Merseyside; Margaret Catchpole, Ipswich, Suffolk; British Oak, Stirchley, Birmingham.
Over the years there has been a lot of change on the ground floor but the baronial hall-style bar (originally called the gents' smoke room) with notable timber ceiling at the rear is impressive. Although opened up, the original small rooms at the front still have original features such as the fireplace and panelling in the mixed smoke room on the right and notable Tudor-style stone fireplace on the left with a carving of a black horse above. The hall on the left has more panelling and decorative ceiling and to the rear is another large room.
Head upstairs for more fine architecture in the hallway at the top of the stairs and two more rooms. The Assembly Room, now the lounge bar which opens from 12 noon, is another baronial hall-style high ceilinged room with carved beams. Ask staff if you want to see the small committee room with its fine decorative plasterwork ceiling.
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