Anchor Inn named No.1 pub in Birmingham

Jan 18 2008

The Anchor Inn in Digbeth has been named the top pub in Birmingham for the fourth time.

The pub, located behind the soon-to-be-rebuilt coach station in Bradford Street, took the crown from the Wellington, on Bennett's Hill, which had narrowly pipped it to the title the year before.

The Birmingham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale said it had given the pub the top spot because of its constantly changing range of guest ales, good value food and the welcoming atmosphere.

Mr Keane and his family have run the pub in the city's Irish Quarter for more than 30 years. He said: "We're absolutely over the moon, I didn't expect to win it at all.

"I've been in charge here for 25 years now and there have been a lot of changes around here. Hopefully it's the selection and the quality of the ales here that attracted CAMRA.

"We get in a lot of different beers from all over the country, so we've got very brave and adventurous customers."

* A Gloucestershire beer - Station Porter, produced by the Wickwar Brewery - was named top Winter Beer of Britain by the National Winter Ales festival yesterday.