retiredmartin

July 2025. Birmingham.

Back from the Black Country, with an hour to kill. A walk through the Jewellery Quarter’s weird art,

and then a big decision, huge.

Wellington or something else ?

I hadn’t been in the Colmore since it opened pre-Covid, before the international incident that saw BRAPA barred because he wasn’t a woman*.

Sheffield is getting one of these Thornbridge smart pubs soon, Mrs RM is thrilled.

I admire the Thornbridge style, and their flagship beer, though I’m less convinced by the publicity around resurrection of tradition.

And I’m a bit worried by the handpump count in the Colmore, even if it’s churlish to complain a range including North Riding, Anarchy, Vault City and Brew York.

All that choice, and I go with Jaipur. How does a £5.30 pint here compare with a £3 pint in the Spoons across the road ?

Well, it smashes it, a cool, crisp NBSS 4+. I only wish Mrs RM had been there.

Comfy seating, and a mix of custom from suits, couples and Sabbath fans in black denim.

Brum is a multicultural joy, and the Brum pizza reflects that.

“But, you’d only just had that cob, Retired Martin !”

Yes, time for a lie down.

That Ozzy exhibition in the reopened Art Gallery will have to wait.

*Emily Pankhurst died for equality. Think on that.