Pubs of 2014

Right, here we go...... The purpose of this blog is to log all the pubs that I have visited and consumed an alcoholic beverage in during 2014. The rules are quite simple, the establishment needs to be a public house, it sounds straightforward but it may get complicated for example things that wouldn't count are a visit to the bar at the cricket, a pre gig drink in a concert venue, a drink at the Birmingham German market etc. As judge and jury my decision is final, and if I'm in any doubt I won't count it.



My prediction as at the start of the year is that the final number will be somewhere around the 200 mark though I won't go to pubs just to get the numbers up, it will be a true reflection of my pub visting year.



My posts will include information about the pub, the ambience of the surroundings, the choice and quality of the beer, any interesting or amusing anecdotes about my visit and, where possible, photographic evidence.



I will try and keep the information as accurate as possible noting that alcohol consumption means that at times this may prove difficult !!



The format of the posts is simple, the first visit to the pub will be the blog entry and that post will be updated for any subsequent visit.



Hope you enjoy it...



Cheers

UPDATE January 2015

Right, that's it, it's finally finished, some 259 pubs later !! It's been hard work but it's nice being able to look back and relive the drinking experiences of 2014.

I am pleased with the final result and whilst I've been reviewing it, I have actually laughed a few times at my own jokes !!

A word of warning, it does start off a bit slow (some of my posts from Bath are a bit dull) but stick with it. In hindsight the format of posting repeat visits to a pub on the original post at times doesn't work very well when reading the blog in its' entirety but on the whole I'm pleased with it and I hope that you enjoy it.

I have stated this in the blog but I will say it again, thanks to anyone that I have had a beer with in 2014 and special thanks to Shelley for her patience !!







Wednesday, 10 December 2014

The Rose V*lla Tavern

Don't be put off by the dreadful name, this is a cracking pub. The RVT is another Jewellery Quarter pub that has benefitted from an expensive but very effective renovation. The pub was built in 1920 at a cost of £15,000 and although the place was refurbished in 2011 many of the original features remain including the fabulous tiling and stained glass windows, there is little wonder that it is a Grade II listed building. I just wish they'd do something about the name !!

The change of image meant that the drink choice had a complete overhaul, the owners in their words 'wanted to move away from the Carling taps, the bottled alco-pops and the crusty cobs'. They have certainly achieved this with a fine selection of real ale (I was on Sharps Doombar) global beers, over fifteen different wines and a large selection of cocktails including a Bounty (Koko Kanu and dark chocolate liqueur topped with cream and milk) which sounds good enough to eat and is available for just £4 (as are all nine of the rest of their cocktails) for most of the week. I'm not sure what goes into a Pornstar Martini mind you !!

Our Jewellery Quarter pub crawl with Craig and Maria was in full swing and all talk of food had long since disappeared though it is a bit of a shame that we didn't notice the Man v Food style challenge that was available in the pub as I'm sure we'd have been foolish enough to try it by that stage. 12 chicken wings fried in a sauce that is made with three of the world's hottest chillies. All 12 have to be eaten with no help or drink and then you need to be nil by mouth for five minutes afterwards, only then do you make it onto the pub's Wall of Flame !! Yikes !!

The pub is frequented by quite a young crowd and there were several easy on the eye females in there when we visited though none more so than the two beauties either side of me. I couldn't resist a request for them to 'call me'..



There are always plenty of forthcoming events advertised at the RVT including a Sing a Long The Muppets Christmas Carol in the pub on Dec 17th. I think I might give that one a miss as the only pig I want at Christmas is the one wrapped in a blanket that is a great accompaniment to turkey !!

We could have easily stayed in this fabulous pub longer but we'd got more of the Jewellery Quarter to explore....
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