It is a popular post work venue having had a major refurbishment a few years ago following a long period of neglect, and given its' impressive selection of ales and world beers it is no surprise that it is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
When we arrived Shelley was delighted to see her beloved Aspall cider was available, and, after much deliberation, I chose a pint of Purity Ubu as my tipple. I'd best offer a word of warning about the OC's as it is affectionately known, the toilets are upstairs. If you think you can't make it there is a disabled toilet downstairs but DO NOT do as I once did and pull the string cord to turn on the light. The string cord is infact an emergency panic alarm, pull it and lights flash an alarm goes off and the bar staff rush to your assistance !!
Given that, thus far, the photos in this blog have mainly been solo shots of me, it was nice that a kind American gentlemen offered to take a photo of the two of us, beautifully capturing me in my new tee shirt (and short cropped hairstyle) and Shelley in her new mac, much needed that day due to weather described by the PM as being 'biblical'...
UPDATE 11th April
I meet up with my former manager Martin every few months and due to the proximity of the pub to where he works and his train station we always choose the OC's as the venue.
As the pub is based in the heart of Birmingham's Central Business District (crikey, I must have been listening during O level Geography!!) it was packed full of suits enjoying a Friday post work drink or two meaning that getting served was an absolute nightmare.
Being a frugal Scotsman Martin was late (unintentionally so he claimed) leaving me to get the first round in. I took a selfie to capture the evidence that his pint was waiting for his arrival, well actually I took two due to the first one like my pint of Nicholson's IPA was perched on my shoulder in the style of Long John Silver's parrot !!
Nights out with Martin are enjoyably predictable, the night starts off at a fairly sedate level, we exchange pleasantries, chat about work, families, holidays etc but as the night progresses and more alcohol is consumed the night always descends into an England v Scotland debate.
This particular night was no exception with the Scottish independence debate featuring as a lively topic for discussion.
I had originally intended on catching the 20.03 train home but I was having too much fun so caught the 21.03 after consuming a rapid seven pints !! As for the score in our personal battle between England and Scotland it was probably a dishonourable draw !!
UPDATE 11th September
The Old Contemptibles was the venue of a catch up between myself, former flat mate Neil, and our mate Ken. We've known each other since school and we would occasionally be spotted waiting outside the deputy headmaster's office ahead of our punishment. It wasn't punishment of the corporal kind, the deputy head used to sign the necessary forms that enabled us to buy season tickets to Birmingham City at children's prices even though we were over sixteen. A season down The Blues?!! Now that really is a punishment !!
I was first up the bar at the OC's, and, whilst there is always a great selection of continental lagers and real ales, both peasants requested Carling, being much more sophisticated I went for a pint of Nicholson's pale ale.
Unbeknown to me we were soon joined by Neil's mate Chris, another former school mate, well, I say school mate but I use the term very loosely, Chris is a v*lla fan so I never had much to do with him !! As well as being a v*lla fan another current painful affliction for Chris is with his sinuses so alcohol is currently off limits, his choice of orange juice and lemonade was only slightly worse than the drink selection of my two chums...
We were also joined by another school old boy Gary who I was informed was in the year above me but I have no recollection whatsoever of him from school, I must have been engrossed in my studies at the time.
The night went its' pleasingly predictable way, we gave us much abuse to Chris as we could about his team, as it was three onto one (Gary is a non football fan, actually come to think of it, so is Chris !!) it would probably be classed as bullying today if we were back at school. Chris did his best to fight his corner but the odds were stacked against him.
The beers were going down well which meant only one thing, a trip to the downstairs toilet, the first post for the pub recalls the time I set off the emergency alarm in the loo, I was extremely careful to ensure I did not mistake the red cord for the chain !!
Shelley had kindly agreed to give me a lift home, so I bid farewell to my chums, abused Chris about his team for one last time, and made my way home.
UPDATE 10th October
We rounded off the silver wedding celebrations for my brother Dave and sister in law Julie with a drink at The Old Contemptibles. It was lateish on Friday night so most of the office workers had long since gone giving a fairly subdued feel to the place.
The beer selection in The OC's is top notch and it more than merits its' selection in this year's Good Beer Guide. Dave and I were both on the Nicholson's Pale Ale. Spookily enough pale would be the word I'd use to describe the colour of Dave's face, it was drained of all colour having just generously treated us to a meal at The Mailbox. I guess I'll have to wait another twenty five years 'til the next one !! Check out his face in the photo, it's a look of a broken man...
Dave and Julie's carriage arrived in the form of eldest son Tom and his mate Craig who appeared to be the designated driver seeing as Tom was on Carling, Dave and I really must make more of an effort to get his first born drinking proper beer.
Shelley and I were stopping at Shelley's Mum's for the night, so, after sharing another drink in the bosom of my family, we said our farewells to them when they left and stopped for another couple of pints and a far from flattering selfie. Well, Shelley looks look but as for me?!!
UPDATE 25th November
One of the things that I mentioned in the prologue to this blog was the criteria of what should and should not be included and one of the things on the not included list is any visits to the annual Frankfurt Christmas market that is held in Birmingham city centre.
This event is a massive attraction and brings literally millions of people to the city every year. As popular as it is, old cynics like myself see it as a series of sheds selling overpriced tat to gullible Christmas shoppers. Nevertheless we (Shelley, Craig, Maria and myself) called in on our way from The Railway to The OC's at the start of our planned trip to the Jewellery Quarter. It was surprisingly empty mind you at £4.50 a pint it was little wunder !!!
Daytime drinking when folks are at work is great fun as it feels like you are doing something naughty. This effect was magnified on our way through Birmingham's financial district, it was early on Friday afternoon and we could see into the open plan offices, smartly dressed office workers were perched over computer screens while we were off to the pub, it felt like we were skiving school !!
The other good thing about drinking at a time when most people are at work is that the pubs are virtually deserted so whilst getting served in the OC's would have been a nightmare at 5.30 it was a breeze a few hours before the time that the office workers descended on the popular post work venue.
Shelley's brother Craig and sister in law Maria were both impressed with The Old Contemptibles, it's hard not to be, it's a worthy entry in The Good Beer Guide and always offers plenty of choice for all types of drinkers with myself and Craig on the marvellous Nicholson's Pale Ale and the girls on Mortimer's cider..
It's never good to break the seal early on during an all dayer but mine went early doors, i.e. in pub number two the OC's, what a nightmare !! Rather than risking another alarm setting off incident I wearily made my way up the stairs to the gents a journey made more hazardous by the fact that there was all manner of green Christmas trimmings (is it called garland?!) on the bannisters, never mind Santa coming down the chimney I feared that the first vertical descent of the festive period might be me tumbling down the stairs at the OC's !!
Thankfully I escaped without incident so it was time for the lengthy walk (well, about fifteen minutes) from The Old Contemptibles to next pub The Lord Clifden in the Jewellery Quarter.
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