Situated a short walk from Aston station and Lichfield Road, easily accessible from the city centre. A splendid Victorian style pub, with intact bar, lounge and function room. Much original tiling and floors retained in the vestibule area. A traditonal community pub, well frequented by locals, and offering darts, pool and a regular quiz. Food is served every day except match days.
Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance
Listed status: II
A red-brick and terracotta corner pub built for Ansells in 1924-5 to designs by Matthew J Butcher.
The public bar occupies the angle of the site and retains its counter and bar-back, the latter with round arches an mirror glass. Typical 1920s dado tiling decorates the lobby area between bar and club room. Behind the servery, the small smoke room is complete with fixed seating, bell-pushes and old fireplace (but new bar counter). Some original seating clings on in the club room. The sign outside saying 'Built 1897' is simply wrong!
A red brick and terracotta corner pub built in 1924-5 for Ansells Brewery by the Birmingham architect, Matthew J. Butcher. He had been responsible before the First World War for alterations to the previous pub on the site, which suffered a fire. The replacement is relatively plain outside and now stands alone; the terraced housing around it having been demolished. The interior retains much of the original work in three rooms; the off sales is now a kitchen. The public bar occupies the angle of the site and retains its counter and bar-back with round arches and mirror glass, good vestibule entrance; also good ceiling decoration. The lobby area between the bar and club room has very typical 1920s tiling. Behind the servery lies a small smoke room complete with fixed seating, bell-pushes, fireplace and ceiling decoration; the counter, however, is modern. The third 'Club Room' is accessed via a passage with inter-war tiled dado and retains some original seating. The original outside toilets remain, now accessed via a covered walkway. Unusually, there are letters on the door, rather than numbers which are a requirement of the licensing magistrates. Beware the sign outside saying 'Built 1897' - simply not true!
Villa Tavern, Birmingham