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Historic Pubs and Hidden Gems in Digbeth
A Friday evening exploring seven pubs around Digbeth, taking in everything from grand Victorian survivors to railway-arch bars and converted industrial buildings. I met up again with Neil from Neil’s Real Ale & Pub Page, starting at The Woodman before heading through Kilder, Nortons, The Anchor, The White Swan and The Spotted Dog, with The Ruin rounding off the evening. Every stop had something different to look at, from tiles, stained glass and carved woodwork to exposed brick, old factory spaces and colourful modern interiors.
Digbeth is one of Birmingham’s oldest areas, with its history closely tied to the River Rea and the old road through Deritend. Archaeology shows metalworking, tanning and other trades here from the medieval period, while industry grew rapidly in the centuries that followed. The Digbeth Branch Canal arrived in 1790 and factories and warehouses soon clustered around the waterways. Railways transformed the area again during the 19th century, with nearby Curzon Street becoming Birmingham’s first passenger station. Much of the old housing later disappeared as industry expanded, leaving the warehouses, works, viaducts and historic pubs that still give Digbeth so much of its character today.
Who I met
It was great meeting up again with Neil from Neil’s Real Ale & Pub Page for the evening, starting at The Woodman before working our way together through Digbeth.
Pubs on this trip
Jump straight to any stop:
The Woodman
Kilder
Nortons
The Anchor
The White Swan
The Spotted Dog
The Ruin
The Woodman
After arriving in Birmingham yesterday and meeting up with Neil’s Real Ale & Pub Page, our first visit of the evening was to The Woodman. The Woodman dates from 1896–97 and was built for Birmingham’s Ansell’s Brewery. It was designed by local architects James & Lister Lea, who became well known for their distinctive tiled and terracotta pubs. The present building replaced an earlier Woodman nearby, recorded on Duddeston Row by the 1860s. Standing opposite the old Curzon Street railway station, it would once have served local residents, railway workers and travellers. The pub survived major changes around it as nearby housing disappeared and industry moved in. Now Grade II listed, it remains a rare, well-preserved example of a late Victorian Birmingham corner pub.
Inside, The Woodman is packed with character, with dark wood, colourful tiled walls and plenty of lovely old details. The long polished bar is backed by carved woodwork, mirrors and decorative glass, while large arched windows bring plenty of light into the main room. Around the pub are several smaller areas, with red leather seating, wooden tables and traditional fireplaces. Warm hanging lights give everything a cosy glow, and the patterned tiled floors continue through the corridors. Frosted glass doors, old Bass signs and carefully detailed woodwork add even more interest, with something different to notice in almost every room.
There were an impressive 9 cask ales on the bar, alongside a still cider and a variety of keg options. I went for IPA by Springbanks Brewery, a 4.5% pale amber IPA with soft citrus and fruity flavours, a gentle bitterness and a smooth, easy-drinking finish.
Kilder
A short walk past Birmingham Moor Street railway station and back under the railway brought me to Kilder. Kilder sits beneath the railway arches at Shaw’s Passage, close to Birmingham Moor Street station. The team behind neighbouring Original Patty Men opened their permanent Digbeth restaurant here in December 2015 after building a following through Digbeth Dining Club. In June 2017, plans began to expand into the adjoining arch, with Kilder opening in 2018. The name comes from “kilderkin”, an old beer cask holding 18 gallons, with its curved shape also reflected in the bar’s branding and railway-arch setting. It is a good example of Digbeth’s railway spaces being given new life by independent food and drink businesses.
Inside, Kilder really makes the most of its railway arch setting, with the curved corrugated metal ceiling left fully on show. Soft green wall tiles, black metalwork and warm hanging lights give the main room plenty of character, while large windows bring in lots of natural light. There is a good mix of wooden tables, stools and comfortable tan seating around the edges. Outside beneath the railway arch is more seating with long wooden tables and benches, while a bright yellow staircase adds a splash of colour. Just beyond that is a cosy side room with glass doors, warm lighting, wood finishes and plenty of greenery.
There was a great line-up of craft beers and ciders to choose from. I went for Santiago by Two Flints, a 3.8% hazy pale ale with juicy peach, orange and mango flavours and a light, refreshing finish.
Nortons
Next was a short walk to Nortons Digbeth. Nortons sits inside a former industrial building on Meriden Street, right in the heart of Digbeth. Before becoming a pub, the site was home to Nortons Hydraulics, which gave the venue its name, and earlier to Ash & Lacey Metalworks, whose crest can still be seen on the building. Peter Connolly and his team took over the premises in October 2019, with friends and family helping turn the old factory into a pub and music venue. Nortons opened its doors on 13 December 2019, while its larger Back Room live music space officially launched at the end of January 2020.
Inside, Nortons mixes exposed brick and dark metalwork with plenty of warm wood and soft lighting. The front bar is finished with deep green tiles, a wooden top and dark stools, with hanging lights and framed pictures adding plenty of character. Further inside, the much larger Back Room opens out beneath a high ceiling, with exposed beams and columns, long tables, barrel tables, hanging greenery and strings of lights. At the far end is a large stage framed by colourful lighting. Outside, the beer garden has rows of wooden picnic tables, warm overhead lights, plenty of plants and a huge Guinness mural covering one wall.
There were 3 cask ales on the bar alongside a range of keg options. I went for Nortons Amber by Church End Brewery, a 4.2% amber ale with soft malty flavours, a little fruit and a smooth, easy-drinking finish.
The Anchor
Next up was The Anchor in Digbeth. The Anchor has been part of Digbeth since the 1790s, making it one of the area’s longest-standing pubs. The building you see today dates from 1901 and was designed by Birmingham architects James and Lister Lea for the Holt Brewery Company. Its handsome red-brick and terracotta frontage helped earn it Grade II listed status in 1991. The Keane family ran the pub for more than four decades before Julian Rose-Gibbs took over in 2016. After closing in June 2025, The Anchor was given a new lease of life by the team behind Nortons and reopened in late October that year.
Inside, The Anchor has a lovely old pub feel, with dark green walls, polished wood and plenty of decorative glass. The main room is full of character, with large stained and etched glass windows, a patterned ceiling and warm hanging lights. Dark green leather bench seating runs around the walls, with wooden tables, stools and exposed floorboards adding to the traditional look. The ornate dark woodwork behind the bar is especially eye-catching, with mirrors and detailed glass panels. At the back, the Dark Room has mustard-coloured walls, tan seating and an old fireplace, giving it a warmer, slightly different look.
There were 6 cask ales on the bar, alongside a cider and a range of keg options. I went for Bounty Bitter by Church End Brewery, a 4.3% light-coloured bitter with a clean, crisp taste, gentle hop flavours and a smooth, easy-drinking finish.
The White Swan
A very short walk away was The White Swan in Digbeth. The White Swan has stood on the corner of Bradford Street and Birchall Street since 1899–1900. It was designed by Birmingham architects James and Lister Lea for Ansells Brewery, using red brick and decorative terracotta. The pub is Grade II listed, with much of its Victorian character still surviving, including tiled passages, stained glass and traditional bar fittings. It was added to the national heritage list in 1991. After a period of closure and uncertainty, the building was refurbished in 2022 and reopened in May 2023. Today, it remains one of Digbeth’s finest surviving pubs and a local landmark.
Inside, The White Swan is packed with traditional character, with dark polished wood, colourful tiles and patterned ceilings throughout. The long curved bar dominates the main room, with high wooden fittings, mirrors and old-style glass panels around it. Red bench seating runs beneath the large stained-glass windows, alongside wooden tables and stools. The back room has a cosier look, with floral wallpaper, a fireplace, red seating and a patterned carpet. One of the best features is the long tiled corridor, with green and cream walls, decorative borders and a patterned floor. It all feels warm, detailed and wonderfully old-fashioned.
There were 2 cask ales on the bar alongside a range of keg choices. I went for Wainwright Gold, a 4.1% golden ale with light citrus, gentle sweet flavours and a smooth, refreshing finish. They also had some delicious traditional crusty cobs available, which went down very nicely with the pint.
The Spotted Dog
Onto The Spotted Dog next. The Spotted Dog on Warwick Street is a lovely survivor from Digbeth’s traditional pub scene. The present building dates from the 1930s and was built as a small corner pub, with several separate drinking rooms typical of the period. Over the years it became closely linked with Birmingham’s Irish community, a connection it still proudly carries today. The pub has been family-owned since 1985 and has kept much of its traditional character rather than being opened out completely. CAMRA now recognises its surviving historic interior as being of national importance, making The Spotted Dog a genuine piece of old Digbeth.
Inside, The Spotted Dog has a warm, traditional pub look, with dark wood, green seating and plenty of character. The polished wooden bar is surrounded by old pictures, mirrors, signs and little bits of decoration, while the stained-glass windows and heavy curtains add even more detail. Wooden tables and chairs are tucked around the different rooms, with a mix of carpet and wooden flooring giving each area its own look. Outside, there is a large covered patio with brick flooring, wooden tables, benches, plants and plenty of seating. It feels relaxed, welcoming and full of the sort of details that suit an old Birmingham pub.
There were 4 cask ales on the bar, alongside a great range of ciders and plenty of keg choices. I went for Glacier by Beartown Brewery, a 3.6% super-pale ale with a light, crisp taste and a clean, refreshing finish.
The Ruin
Last up in Digbeth was The Ruin. The Ruin has been part of Digbeth’s story for a very long time. Records suggest there has been a drinking place on this corner since around 1785, when the area was linked with Spring Gardens. By the late 1800s, it was known as the White Swan, and over the years the pub went through plenty of changes, with names including Horan’s Tavern, Alltorque, the Floodgate Tavern, Benny Blanco’s and The Eagle. After some time away from pub life, the building found its feet again as The Ruin in 2017, giving this well-loved Digbeth corner a fresh chapter while keeping plenty of character.
Inside, The Ruin has a colourful, quirky look with plenty to take in. Pink and dark green walls sit alongside worn timber, old windows, framed photos and unusual bits of decoration, while one ceiling is covered with records and album sleeves. Another room has old computer parts and circuit boards fixed around the walls, giving it a completely different look. Wooden tables, mixed chairs, bench seating and soft lighting keep things warm and relaxed. Outside, the upper level opens into several seating areas, with painted walls, murals, picnic benches, heaters and strings of lights creating a bright, lively space.
There was 1 cask ale on the bar, alongside a cider and a range of keg choices. I went for Pale by Hobsons Brewery, a 4% pale ale with light citrus flavours, a little floral character and a smooth, refreshing finish.
