Now, there’s actually a bit of debate around this in Belfast. McHugh’s, near the Albert Clock, boasts of being the oldest pub as it opened in 1711.
Me and Karen Strunks had a peek whilst we were there and to be honest, the funky interior makes it pretty hard to tell its old age until you look at the walls.
However, the more traditionally decked-out White’s Tavern lays claim to being ‘Belfast’s Oldest Tavern’, proudly sporting the date 1630.
Photo by mikemuryn1
Not nearly as old, but lovely all the same, is National Trust owned Crown Liquor Saloon, which opened in 1885. Me and Karen had lunch in one of their famous snugs and sank a pint or three of Guinness. Here’s my bad photos, which don’t really do the gorgeous interior justice:
The Crown is next door but one to Robinson’s Saloon, established in 1845, which my Uncle Ernie seems to spend every possible waking hour in, so I’m guessing it’s good.
Of course, Birmingham has its fair share of old pubs too. By far the oldest is The Old Crown in Digbeth, which claims to date back to 1368. However, there are worrying rumours that The Old Crown isn’t as old as it says it is.
But even if it isn’t quite as ancient as it purports to be, The Old Crown is still a ripe old age having opened in the late 1400’s, and older than any of the pubs in Belfast.
In this video clip Ben Waddington talks about the vast array of old Digbeth pubs, some of which still remain – like The Spotted Dog, Big Bulls Head, The Anchor, The Lamp Tavern and The White Swan.
So the pub telling little porkies wins it for Birmingham. It’s not that old, but it’s still bloody old.
Custard Factory staff attending a party at The Spotted Dog this evening were met with a disturbing sight. Seamus McPingu (which I’m told is his full name) has cracked and is protesting his plight on the pub’s roof.
A sunny Friday afternoon meant drinks at The Spotted Dog with John Tighe playing 78’s on his growing collection of vintage record players. Here he is dressed to match his current favourite. If the sun holds out for tomorrow afternoon, make your way there for a charity All You Can Eat For £5 barbeque.
Whilst I was ordering my Pimm’s a band walked in to be told they’d got the wrong Spotted Dog and were playing at the one in Bordesley Street. Yes, that’s right, the one I wrote was closing on 6 July following Barnard’s announcement. A barmaid told me they had held a ‘last party’, only to open their doors for a gig the following week. Are independent pubs catching on to the current rallying to their cause and holding their equivalent of Moseley Moneywise’s decade-long Closing Down Sale? Everydrink Must Go!
I also had the joy of meeting Adam Crossley, the Abacus tenant behind the spoof Stella ad made for The Spotted Dog’s noise abatement order struggle. He has something very special planned for Digbeth on 21 September which he begged me not to blog about until next week, so even though I’m busting to write more I’ll just say there’s some seriously silly sports in store. Put it in your diaries, it’ll be good.
There’s a private view at the Ikon Eastside later at 7pm of Mexican collective Tercerunquinto’s I Am What I Am, a new work that reacts to the gallery’s shifting surroundings. Stick around until 9pm to catch the Ikon bus to He An’s artwork in the Moat Lane Car Park.
Last Week of Flux-Fest at VIVID If you’re feeling creatively peckish go to FluxFeast 7.30pm at VIVID tomorrow, a Fluxfood event in seven acts by SharedTable. Tickets are £25, booking essential.
At 2pm on Saturday watch some FLUXFILMS: Anthologies at VIVID, featuring a compilation of 37 films produced 1963 to 1970. SharedTable are serving up again with afternoon tea and ‘subversive’ cakes.
The Flux-Fest art exhibition stays on display in VIVID’s gallery on Heath Mill Lane until Sunday.
Strange Ways Cheapside Show
On display at The Edge until their Landing Party this Saturday night from 6pm, when Helen Grundy and Angel Stripe’s sugar mice will finally be set free for eating. I went to see the exhibition earlier today and it’s a lovely reaction to the regeneration of Digbeth, reminding new locals like me that the area existed before our luxury flats were built by drawing on its colourful history and culture.
Capsule’s Supersonic Festival at The Custard Factory all weekend
I’ve only just started going to Capsule gigs. They didn’t appeal to me before because I never knew who any of the acts were. Having been to a couple, I now know that that’s the whole bloody point and am kind of kicking myself. So take a leap of faith with the Capsule girls and buy a weekend ticket before they sell out. Your trust in Jenny and Lisa will not be misplaced. Watch Frankie’s interview with them on Created in Birmingham if you need some persuading.
Seems 4.30pm Friday afternoons is Pimms o’clock for landlord John Tighe at The Spotted Dog. Join him to wind down after a hard working week with drinks, buns and music. Hopefully the sun will hold out long enough for you to enjoy ‘the delightful courtyard setting’.
Here’s what’s going on down Digbeth way for the first half of this week:
On Monday pop into The Spotted Dog, Alcester Street from 7.30pm if you fancy free tea and buns with a friendly crowd who enjoy chatting about Irish culture, literature and filum. Stick around and you never know, there might be something special on the goggle-box.
Tuesday sees the launch of Strange Ways’ Cheapside Show at The Edge, Cheapside from 6.00pm. As a member of Cheapside’s new residential community the show is responding to, I’ll be very interested to see this.
As this Wednesday is the first of the month, it’s The Irish Heritage Group’s meeting in The Irish Club at 7.00pm. This month Birmingham artist Sima Gonsai presents Cycle Dialogues in Ireland, covering her cycled trip of the coast of Ireland. Amazingly, she didn’t get one puncture!
