Pubs in Hockley Birmingham: Crawling through an evolving beer area
Hockley is an area of Birmingham just on the NW edge of the city centre, within the ring road. The beer scene there has been steadily improving for a few years now. Hockley has strong Birmingham provenance, and also includes the Jewellery Quarter. This pub crawl skirts the Jewellery Quarter, and only just dips in a little bit. The spine of this route is Great Hampton Street, and the period architecture along here is always missed. So this picks a few choice pubs in Hockley, Birmingham.
Before we start, we need to get there. The starting place is beneath the tram line as it comes out of Snow Hill northwards, so the best way of getting there is either across the footbridge over the Queensway, or using the stairs by the LIFT! (the lift hasn’t worked now for 2.6 yonks and thinking about it makes me sad)
If you don’t know, the LIFT is at the end of the Snow Hill tram platform, accessed by walking alongside the tram lines. Find this route by standing in front of Snow Hill Station, and looking ahead and to the right, down the steps. There’s a gap towards One Snow Hill. The route is on the map below, so that’ll help. Technically, it actually starts very slightly inside the Jewellery Quarter, but they are all very much part of the run. Another key fact is that Constitution Hill and Great Hampton Street are pretty much the same road. Aaaaaaand goooooo!
Map of the route
Arch 13 at Connolly’s, Livery Street
Technically, this is a cheese and wine bar, not a pub, but they now have 4 taps on. At the time of writing, one is a lager, one is a cider, one is a cherry beer and one is a session pale. The other very good beer fact here, is that Connolly’s, which sits in a cage within Arch 13, sells beer alongside the wine. This means that you can pick anything off the shelves and drink it in the bar. Whatever you do, don’t tell me, or I’ll never leave. Thanks in advance.
This is great place to meet, as its nice and relaxed, and if you wanted a nibble before you start, they do some great mini cheese plates and stuff like that. It’s one of my fave places in the whole of B Town, and it has different hats for different occasions. Oh, and it’s in the arches, so it’s a very space too. When you have all gathered, come out and turn right, towards and up the hill. Turn left at the BIG Indian Brewery, but go past it by 3 or 4 doors.
Somewhere In Brum, Mary Ann Street
Located in a fab basement space on the corner of St Paul’s Square, is an addition to the Birmingham beer scene thats been open for about 18 months, and it’s bedding in well. This is probably the deepest into the JQ this route goes.
You enter and go down the steps, and you’ll find a lovely vaulted space that’s big enough to have a huge party in. All keg here, but they always have a few interesting beers on, as we as a couple of the more mainstream options. A nice entry for the list of pubs in Hockley, Birmingham.
The food on is bought to you from the team behind Notty Bites, so you can also grab some vegan and vegetarian pan asian food if you fancy it too.
After one or two in here, come back out and tun left and go a few doors down, back to the huge Indian Brewery door. Try not to let the daylight disconcert you as you come out.
Indian Brewery, Mary Ann Street
So the brand spanking (and don’t we all love a brand spank) new Indian Brewery is absolutely gigantic. Not to be confused with the one two doors along from Arch 13, which has been an Indian Brewery bar for years. The critical difference, is that the established one is a food place that sells beer, but you want the new place. The beer place that sells food. This is important.
Set to open towards the end of September 2024, I’ve been in a few times to see the fit out progress, and you are all in for a big treat.
The new venue is a converted welding hall, and once you walk in through the 30 foot high doors, you’ll see huge girder cranes that are installed in the roof space from the previous use. Its fresh out of the packet, but the view is that the bar will be a mixture of some more hop forward beers, as well as collabs with other breweries. That’s the plan. There is a wall of LOADS of keg lines, and a bar full of hand pulls for cask. There’s the biggest TV screen in Birmingham (I’m told), the brewery itself and a fusion pizza kitchen. Fill your boots.
Come out of here and head back the way you came down the hill but turn left down Water Street.
Attic Barrel Store
Inside an arch within an arch, you’ll find the most recently opened Attic venue (Stirchley being Attic HQ). This is all mainly Attic beers, with a couple of guests on. Pizza on the menu here too, and you can enjoy your time here alongside the barrel aging along the wall. Attic has been on the march for a couple of years now, so expect to see some of their well-established beers on the menu.
This place has now become popular enough to have a great atmosphere, but not that well know enough to be too packed. It’s always a great space to pop to and enjoy a few jars. They also serve wine, cider, cocktails and mocktails. In case you have just stumbled on this page 😉
Come out of here and turn left until you get to the corner at the end of the road.
The Wolf, Constitution Hill
For me, The Wolf has been a contender for best craft beer bar in Birmingham for a number of years now. It’s always up there. A great line up of keg beers is complimented by the relatively new addition of a cask line, and the rock vibe makes for a laid back and fun experience. There’s food on here too, in the form of pie and mash, toasties and cheese boards. One of the best of the pubs in Hockley Birmingham.
The space itself is quite shallow, but the space extends for a huge portion of the ground floor. There’s always somewhere to sit, and its great for a larger gang.
Come out the main door here and turn left. Cross over the main road and follow the map.
Burning Soul Brewery and Tap
Another brewtap, and this one is in a more industrial area, just like some of the best brewtaps there are. Burning Soul brews here and on a Friday and Saturday, serves beers here too! In the summer, the roller shutters are open,
There’s a free pool table, and occasionally an honesty box of samosas if you are peckish. The rocky vibe here is mirrored in the garage style space, and helps crystalise Burning Soul into the Birmingham craft beer hall of fame. A great place to include on the list. Remember it only opens on Friday and Saturday, and closes at 8, so make sure you get there early enough in the day to catch it.
Come out of the car park and turn left, again, follow the map. The last place on the route is just round the corner.
The Church, Great Hampton Street
I’ve been coming to the Church for many years. Back in the day, it was just the front bar and it was locally famous for a HUGE mid week evening roast.
Nowadays, the whole back has opened up as a restaurant. If you know the Birmingham food and drink scene well enough, you may even know the sister companies. You’ll find a lovely pint of Everards on cask, as well as some other beers on the more regular draft taps. The original boozer is perfect to sit in for one on your way around the route, but if it’s a sunny day, be sure to check out the roof terrace upstairs. It’s a pretty big pub if you go back past the original boozer. It’s actually the only old school type Victorian boozer on the list of pubs in Hockley Birmingham.
Final Thoughts On The Hockley Beer Crawl
Hockley is finally starting to feel like a destination now, but it still has that organic, earthy feel. It’s been getting closer and closer for a few years, and with the arrival of the new Indian Brewery gaff, I’d say it’s cemented. With some strong Birmingham names on the list, its a fab little run. And you never know, you may bump into me there. 😉
This route of Pubs in Hockley Birmingham is one of a few you can do, and I’ve kept it to 7 as its manageable at that, but you can carve it up, work backwards…whatever you want. If you want to carry on beyond the list, there are always a few more pubs in the Jewellery Quarter proper. 1000 Trades and The Jewellers Arms and the Red Lion to name three. (I think the Jewellers is open until 11:30.) Have a great day, and drink responsibly. 😉
I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed drinking my way around Hockley!! If you want to read more, explore my website by clicking here and find new independent places in Birmingham to visit and support!
b town social
written by:
category:
Drop me a comment