20 alternatives to your classic Selly pubs

Pubs in Selly are busier than ever, made worse by Boris’ 10pm curfew.

Bookings for evening drinks at The Goose and the S’Oak currently need to be made 10 days in advance and for the Bristol Pear, with four days’ notice.

If you haven’t been organised enough to book a table weeks ahead, here are 20 alternative watering holes within a 10 minute Uber of Selly.

Circo

RIP Circo Mondays 🙁 – we’re already missing the sweatiest night out in Selly. Drinks will have to serve as a next best alternative. Circo’s drinks deals have been voted some of the best for students in Birmingham and, with a live DJ on Friday nights, this is probably the nearest you’re going to get to an actual club night.

Joe’s Bar

Standard drinks at the Guild. Run by our very own Students’ Union. Chances are one of your mates probably works here. Ideally situated on campus to enable day drinking when socially distanced seminars are getting too much. Rumour has it there won’t be another Fab for five years…

Country Girl

The Country Girl sits at top of Raddlebarn Road, so still very local and usually quieter than the main Selly pubs.

Brook’s Sports Bar

Throwback to when we were actually allowed to socialise as a team. Many chaotic sports socials were held here pre-Covid. Still a good place to relax with (house) mates or to watch the football, rugby etc.

Selly Park Tavern

Has a cracking fireplace so would recommend after a day of freezing your tits off WFH in your student house.

The Bear and Staff

Walkable from Selly Retail park. Shopping and drinks = ideal weekend.

The Hazelwell

A little out of the way. Psychedelic carpets. Buttt… two cocktails for £6.50!!

Bournbrook Inn

Recently refurbished with a shabby chic decor. Service slightly chaotic but quirky menu and good food makes up for it. Brownie better than sex.

The Prince of Wales

Over 100 years old (shoutout to History). Front bar looks like it’s been taken straight out of Peaky Blinders. Also contains a Caribbean inspired cocktail bar – “Mo-tiki” and a VERY posh garden with cigar and wine sheds.

Brewer’s Social

Good range of drinks. Quieter and more low key than other Harborne pubs. Healthy pints for £3 Mon – Thurs.

The Plough

Very pricey drinks but you pay for the boujee interiors and beer garden. Your parents will love it here. Made it into the Good Pubs Guide. Roasts = 10/10 – would recommend.

Green Man

Classic Greene King local. Lots of outdoor seating so good if you’re anxious about being in enclosed spaces with lots of people.

Slug and Lettuce, Harborne

Porn Star Martini boomerang anyone? Cliché though Slug and Lettuce is, who can resist 2-for-1 cocktails? Once you’ve accepted that you’re a basic bitch for drinking here, you’ll likely have a good night out.

The Village, Moseley 

Gorgeously decorated with loads of seating inside and outside. Wide range of cocktails and happy hour 4 – 9pm. They also offer bottomless brunch on a Saturday.

White Horse

Unpretentious. The locals love it here. Some will say some outrageous things, so don’t attend if you’re easily offended, but you’ll have some memorable conversations.

The Paper Duck 

Hipster vibe. Specialises in craft beers. They’ve become iso-friendly with their new delivery service – why go to the pub when the pub can come to you?

The Red Lion

Cosy, country pub. Grand, Edwardian exterior may be misleading as drinks are very affordable.

The Junction

Classy aesthetic, and a good choice of food. Themed nights include Wednesday Pie Night and Thursday Burger Night.

Edgbaston Sports Bar

Ideal for football, rugby or cricket fans (and those in pursuit of rugby lads).

Couch Stirchley 

“One of the 20 bars in the world you need to visit” – The Telegraph. Peng cocktails inspired by music and films. Vibes = Immaculate. Expensive but worth it. Would recommend for birthday drinks. It would be difficult to find a review that does not rate this place highly and I would have to agree.

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