Swan & Mitre, Birmingham

Rebuilt by James & Lister Lea for Holt Brewery 1898. Fine brick and terracotta exterior with large arched stained and leaded windows, Dutch gables and corner cupola. The interior was refurbished in sympathetic style after vandalism in 1984. The main front bar is nicely restored with a good old bar counter and carved bar-back with etched glass; benches with mirrored panels above; decorated plaster ceiling; sloping floor. Not sure about the details of the refurbishment after 1984, but the fittings in the front bar do look quite authentic (maybe the bar-back is a very good copy?). The bar counter is truncated on the left: the bar-back and shelves extend beyond the end of the counter. Two front doors to the bar are now disused - the corner one has a surviving canopy to the former internal lobby. A lobby at the side, and the rear tiled hall is very good. Small rear smoke room is used for pool and has had most furniture removed; two Holt Brewery etched windows survive, however. There are three delicate stained glass windows in the rear hall and smoke room.
Listed desc. says:"Interior: The bars have Jacobean style wooden bar backs and bar fronts with fluted pilasters, arched mirrors and clocks above. The smoke-room has an imported wooden chimney-piece with bulbous colonnettes flanking the overmantel mirror. The passage and stairs have tiled walls and the staircase has turned newels and balusters. Note: Formerly known as The Swanpool Tavern."