It's lovely to be back and to chat to so many old friends!
It's lovely to be back and to chat to so many old friends!
Member since:05.09.2001
Reviews:92
Members who trust:109
This is one of my favourite pubs in the whole world. It nestles in the centre of Birmingham, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of city life with the canal lapping beside it.
I live in Hampshire, so this isn’t exactly my local! For the past two years I have had need to make fairly regular trips to Birmingham. My daughter was studying music at the Conservatoire and introduced me to this pub.
Now this is a real musicians pub in every sense of the word! It has live music each night. The music is varied and some nights will be jazz or a bit of skittle and on others there might be a folk band. On one ocassion we arrived to find a salsa lesson in full swing. The girls and I were far too timid to have a go. We did watch though, and it looked such fun!
When you walk into the pub the first thing you notice is the vast array of musical instruments suspended from every conceivable surface. There are old violins and trombones, pretty much as you would expect, given the name of the pub! There are all manner of other instruments too, bits of old piano, flutes, oboes you name it it’s there!
If you are into a bag of pork scratchings and Limp Bizkit then this probably isn’t the place for you! It is a real Old Worlde pub with heaps of atmosphere.The walls are plain brick and the floor is also uncovered.The furniture is all pine
adding to the rustic feel.
Now why are the instruments all over the pub?
The Fiddle and Bone is owned by two musicians from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Trombonist Danny Longstaff and his partner Mark Robinson (a violinist, what a surprise!) had a dream of converting the then derelict old School house of Sheepcote Street into a pub and restaurant. It is situated in the area known as the Roundhouse. They wanted the restaurant to be a mixture of an old English pub with a European bar. They have succeeded well in this respect, I think.
In the 16th century King Edward the sixth gave land to found schools. This was one of them. When the industrial revolution came the canal was built alongside the School. At about this time the Roundhouse was built for stabling the barge horses. It is a horseshoe built building around a cobbled yard.
At the beginning of the twentieth century the School and roundhouse were being used as a Municipal Works depot. By 1990 it was disused and all but derelict.
The present owners saw potential and purchased the site from the King Edward’s foundation in 1996.
So, here we have it. A new pub in old (albeit done up) buildings. Many of the original features have been retained. There is a minstrels gallery, which overlooks the main bar and you can see narrow boats passing by on the canal. It is so lovely.
The Fiddle and Bone is built on three levels. The entrance level is the restaurant although there is also a bar. The middle level is mainly a bar although they will serve you bar food and this is where the bands play.There is a special place for them to be but it can sometimes be quite loud! It is quite a small bar and there is ample seating. On this level you can also buy Fiddle and Bone merchandise- tee shirts, umbrellas, pens etc. The upper level is the minstrel’s gallery.
This is a real ale pub and has been in the CAMRA good beer guide since 1999. They specialise in Martens and Theakstons and even have their own special brew (made by Theaksons) “Fiddler’s Pluck” (this is sometimes also called Fiddler’s Elbow. Well, as a violinist I had to give it a try. I also really love real ale. This was a winner before I had even tasted it- the barman started to pull and I noticed that the pump handle was a violin scroll and neck. Cheesy I know, but very effective. It was a very good pint, full of flavour and not too heavy. Ok, so I should have been lady like and had a half, but who ever said I was lady like!!I wasn't driving ,so it was ok!
The pub is open from 11-11 on Monday to Saturday and from 12-10 on Sunday.
The food there is to die for! The main restaurant is, as I said, downstairs. It is beautifully laid out with flowers, candles and napkins. Now, prepare to get your gastric juices going and I will tell you a bit about the menu:
The following are only a selection to give you a taste! The menu is very comprehensive.
STARTERS:
Sautéed king prawns with lime and coriander sauce or garlic butter. £5.95
Salmon en Croute £ 5.95
Cajun Mushrooms (for veggies) £4.95
MAIN COURSE:
Lemon Sole stuffed with smoked salmon, prawns, tarragon, white wine and cream £9.95
Fillet Bonnie Fiddler.. Medallions of beef flambéed to perfection in a sauce of onions,mushrooms, drambuie and cream. £13.95
Duck Rustique… Breast of duck pan fried with honey and cinnamon and served on rhubarb compote. £11.95
Lasagne Funghi(v) lasagne with oyster and shitake mushrooms served with garlic bread. £7.95
Swordfish Steak topped with home made Provencal sauce. £10.95
Mama’s Pasta (v) spinach and egg fettuccine swathed in home made basil and coriander pesto, served with garlic bread.
There is also a choice of grilled steak with delicious sauces if you like that sort of thing. An 8oz rump steak will set you back £9.95 and an extra £2 if you want a sauce.
Are you salivating yet? Now, as you see, this is not exactly cheap. It is quality, homemade food. This is a special meal out with time to indulge the senses!
If you are in need of something a bit more basic you could try the bar food which is also excellent. It is somewhat more affordable! It is still all home made and just as tasty just not as flash!
BAR FOOD
Bangers and mash.. 4 choice pork sausages with cheese and chive mash with onion gravy £5.95
Golly, can anyone eat four bangers?
Pie of the day £5.95
Mushroom and spinach lasagne £5.95
There is also a choice of filled jacket potatoes for about £3.45, baguettes for about £3.00 and salads which vary from £4.95- £6.25
How to find it!
The Fiddle and Bone is very near the centre of town. It is in walking distance if Symphony Hall (along the canal-ooh lovely!), the National Indoor Arena, the International Conference Centre and the Sealife Centre.
The pub is actually opposite the South entrance of the NIA carpark. I would suggest parking in here if you cannot get in their own carpark.
Driving into their own carpark is like taking a trip back through time. It is at the corner of Sheepcote Street and St Vincent’s Street. You drive through a lovely old cobbled archway and past the buildings of the Roundhouse. You will see the pub on your left. It has a mainly glazed frontage and looks very nice all lit up. Watch where you are going though, as if you drive past and through the other gate you will end up in the canal! This gate is for canal walkers. We like to walk on a lovely summers evening. You can sit out along the canal for your drink if the weather is nice!
If you have time and are there during the day, have a look around the Roundhouse. It has craft workshops, a gallery and a shop. Upstairs they have function rooms, which are used for functions and concerts. There is a wonderful sense of history looking round the pub and surrounding buildings and you can’t help wondering what it must have been like when it was a working canal and the horses stabled there! Perhaps I am a hopeless old romantic!
Do try it. The beer is great, the service very friendly and the food sublime. Add to that a live band and friendly company and what more could you want!!
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It sounds great. I must find it next time I go to BIrmingham. jameylidd
greeneggsandham 21.01.2002 11:26
This is one of my favourites too!
Barb 19.01.2002 15:51
It sounds wonderful and what a brilliant opinion, I could almost picture the pub and taste the food mmmmm, yummy! If I'm ever in Birmingham I'll be sure to go there. Thanks - Barbara.
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