Woodman, Birmingham

One of the finest of the many Birmingham tiled and terracotta designed by James and Lister Lea. The interior sports many fine original features, the tiling and bar-back being especially notable.

Dating from 1896/7 for Ansells brewery, the Woodman was closed for many years but reopened in 2013 after restoration by sympathetic new owners. After shutting again in 2022, it reopened once more in September 2024 after a further (and exemplary) refurbishment. For many years, it stood in an urban wasteland but recent and future developments around it, including the new HS2 terminal, will help secure its future. The main bar, now one room, but once two split by a partition, is dominated by the splendid bar counter and even grander bar-back. The room has much excellent Minton tiling. To the right is a small drinking corridor, also sumptuously tiled. An angled door leads to the true marvel which is the smoke room, with more glorious wall tiling, a lovely marble fireplace, an old mirror set into the tiles, bench seating all round and a large hatch to the bar with glazed panel above. Returning to the main bar, and ahead of the corner entrance, a snug occupies what had been a plain back room, brought into pub use at a later date.