Britannia Hotel Birmingham

You're not coming here for the atmosphere, that's for certain. Tucked inside this sprawling hotel right on New Street, the bar serves its purpose as somewhere to grab a pint when absolutely everything else has shut - which, given Birmingham's improving late-night scene, shouldn't happen too often these days. The space feels exactly like what it is: a hotel bar designed by committee, with all the charm of a motorway service station. Still, there's something to be said for reliability, even if it's aggressively mediocre reliability. The drinks are overpriced but cold, the service ranges from indifferent to absent, and you'll mostly find yourself drinking alongside bewildered tourists and the occasional local who's made a serious error in judgement. If you're desperate for a drink at 4am and can't face the trek to Broad Street, it'll do. Just don't expect to remember it fondly.