retiredmartin

August 2025. Birmingham.

Two nights in Birmingham at the reliable (and £45) B & B hotel across the A38 from the Victoria,

and with the Great British Beer Festival tomorrow Thursday was the day to explore Brum, unencumbered by GBG ticking.

I always reckon you need at least a dozen visits to get to the heart of an average UK town, and Birmingham deserves its annual trip.

Barring a gig at the Glee Club and a huge plate of Sweet and Sour Pork a decade ago I’d never really seen Chinatown, and wondered what awaited behind the exterior of Ming Moon.

Luckily, that very weekend the King of Walsall was visiting it for us;

I was recently at a joint stag & hen do at Ming Moon in Birmingham. Fabulous night, with great company food and singing.. Here's how it went. https://t.co/g7V7NoYjhY

— Lord Nargis (@EvoBoozySaddler) August 18, 2025

Sadly, Evo has less to say about St Philip’s Cathedral,

which is bright and interesting, like Brum.

I’m leading a hungry Mrs RM towards Snow Hill Station, pausing only to irritate her by pointing out the modernist art on Livery Street.

The GBG complete, I’ve turned my attention to reckless pub crawls the Bass directory, the Manchester Beer Book, and David Jesudason’s marvellous Desi Pubs.

Rather like Boak & Bailey’s 20th Century Pub, it’s a fascinating social history of the UK, but I’d struggled to actually make a start on visiting the Asian-run pubs.

Let’s kick off with the Indian Brewery, under the Snow Hill arches.

Too busy on my last visit, but 4:30 on a Thursday is clearly the time to visit.

Don’t say : “Looks like Bundobust“.

And, frankly, don’t order the Mango Juicy. There’s better choices.

But do order one of the chicken naans. I think this is Naughty Chicken.

Whatever, it’s tremendous, as good as anything I’ve had all year.