17/12/22 - The Lesser Heralded Pubs of Birmingham #1 - The Trocadero

With the Good Beer Guide pubs of Birmingham exhausted, I need to look further afield for new locations.  A chance to blog some of the lesser heralded pubs that still have a story tell. Who knows, I may even get as far as the Bull Ring Tavern. 

I'm starting with the Trocadero.

Hidden half way along Temple Street, it wears most of its beauty on the fine tiling outside.

Halfway along a rat run from New Street to Snow Hill Station

Side On

Outside of  'spoons, this is a place to get an early pint and/or breakfast. A rare 10am opener, making it a natural meeting place on Saturdays for pre-match football fans.

The Baggies heroes that braved a Monday night 8pm game in sub zero temperatures were regaling their more sensible TV watching mates on the unparalleled joy of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. And getting home at 4.20am.

Inside, it does little to hint at its history. You could be in any modern, soulless All Bar One.

But look closely, there are clues to its past

The stained window in the ceiling points to its former usage as a fire station. Its where the firemans pole used to me. Converted to a wine bar in 1912 by Henry Skinner, murdered on site in an argument about wages. Look to YouTube for the least scary haunting video of a door banging by what is said to be Henry's ghost.

First time visitors can claim a free pint by simply providing an email address and subscribing to their newsletter. A recent top 10 business apps twitter post showed me a website that creates unlimited short term email addresses. I have vowed to myself to not take the mick. Not necessarily for any altruistic reasons, more that the offer is limited to the core range, where Guinness wins out over Madri. A shame, as on the "premium" side of the pumps, there was a rarely seen draught Paulaner Oktoberfest. Alas, no cask.

My QR Code would only take me so far.

The cooked breakfasts are Irish, which is a novelty and available in small, medium or large. I went for the middle ground and my facebook breakfast friends admired the baked bean separation, even if achieved by a non-standard gravy boat. But what makes a breakfast Irish, I hear you ask?

White Pudding.

Where else can you get a gravy boat of baked beans?

Much thought into a pub rating system and having consulted many on-line guides, I've narrowed down my categories.

Category		Justification
Appearance	3/5	Mainly for the exterior
Drinks	2/5	Unusual German loopy juice will only carry you so far. Extra point for a keen pricing to those with an email address
Atmosphere	5/5	I was most at home with Christmas jumper wearing baggies fans, although I did worry for how their Adidas Sambas were going to stop their feet getting numb at the game.
Delightful Surprises	3/5	Not every pub has a resident ghost.  Or an opening for a fire man’s pole. White pudding not as good as black pudding.