Boats, beers and boozers, 4.

You could say that the walk to the pub is the best bit about the pub featured in this blog. We have now dashed down to the centre of Birmingham. I love Brum. Maybe it is because it has enough of the north in it to be comfortable, but being the second city has so much going on for it, and then there is the BCN! We always try to moor up at Cambrian Wharf as a good spot for a visit. Failing that we will aim for the Oozells Loop close to the Old Turn Junction that is right by Brindley Place but has little foot fall past the boat.

The walk from there will take you through Bridley Place, over the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and through the middle of the Symphony Hall and International Conference Centre and out in front of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Centenary Square.

The bridge crossing the Worcster and Birmingham Canal between the Brindley Place area and the International Conference Centre. You pop out in front of the Symphony Hall

The Symphony Hall from Centenary Square with the Birmingham Rep. behind the camera.

Of course next to the Rep. is the new Central Library. If you haven't been inside you should go for a nosey as it good to have a neb about in there. Up a few floors to see the gardens and at the top is the Shakespeare Library  that is also worth a gander at. Just the building design, in and out, is worthwhile as it is a dramatic building.

The Birmingham Central Library on Centenary Square

For a change of mood I would also recommend a visit to the rotunda Hall of Memory that is also in Centenary Square. From there you walk through a tunnel under a derelict building that was the old Brutalist Central Library. It is awaiting the builders at the moment. I'm not sure if they will have to keep the tunnel as a public right of way through the building works but it is great to emerge on Chamberlain Square and look over the monument to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery next to the Town Hall.

Chamberlain Square L to R, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Chamberlain Memorial and the Town Hall. The Chamberlain Memorial was actually raised in 1880 to commemorate Joseph Chamberlain who was a Brummie through and through. A businessman, Councillor, Mayor and MP. Unusually he was actually at the opening ceremony as he didn't die until 1914! 

From Chamerlain Square you pass into Queen Victoria Square and the magnificence of the Birmingham Council house over looking the  steps and water falls down to New Street.

The whole walk from the canal is full of interest and real stand out buildings and something not to be rushed. Once on New Street you are into the shopping straight away, and of course there is the new New Street Station to have a look at too.

But before you head off to the shops, when at the foot of the steps from Victoria Square look for Pinfold Street leading down hill towards New Street Station. The pub of the blog is the Post Office Vaults. This has the distinction of having two entrances from two different streets. The main entry is from Pinfold Street but there is a staircase leading down from New Street. The bar is small but is well stocked with 8 beer pumps and at least 10 different ciders, and  200 different bottled beers from around the world. I don't really do bottled beer but you could have a cruise sitting in Birmingham. The  pub doesn't do food but you are welcome to bring a takeway in and they will lend you plates and crockery. We had a nice chat to the staff so it is a friendly place to pass the time. 

Post Office Vaults entrance from Pinfold Street.

When I was there last year I had a pint of Faith from the Leeds based Northern Monk Brewery. It was a beautiful hoppy American Pale ale with a light colour that just touched the spot. I scored it 4.5* out of 5. I am hoping that it wasn't just after a long day trailing round the Bull Ring etc. The second pint I tried was a LocAle. This is an initiative by CAMRA for pubs to serve at least one beer that comes from no more than 20 miles from the pub. This one comes from Erdington, just the other side of Spaghetti Junction and the Froth Blowers Brewery. The pint of 'Gollop with zest' was a light beer with a good hoppy taste. It wasn't quite as good as my first pint, but then again, as I say after a days shopping the first pint is always going to be hard to beat. However I did score it 3.5*.

Birmingham is full of nice pubs and I have entered this on for my blog for the location and the walk from the moorings. That with the fact that there are  8 hand pulled beers, 10 ciders and 200 bottled beers to choose from, plus no TV, duke box or other distractions, it is a great pub for a pint.