Katie O'Brien's Irish Tavern Birmingham

You'll find Katie O'Brien's tucked into Temple Street in the city centre, where it's been pulling pints and hosting sessions for years. It's the sort of place where you can sink a Guinness without anyone pretending it's ironic, where the bar staff actually know what they're doing, and where you're just as likely to catch live music as you are a group of mates having proper banter. The atmosphere swings depending on the night—quiet enough for a pint and a chat midweek, properly lively when there's a band on or a match playing. It's unpretentious in the best way: no craft cocktails trying too hard, just straightforward Irish hospitality done right.