The Trocadero

You'll spot the gorgeous Victorian facade long before you reach Temple Street - those intricate tiles and traditional pub frontage are exactly what drew you here in the first place. Inside, it's all dark wood, etched glass and the kind of ornate ceiling work that reminds you why Birmingham's pub heritage is worth defending. The crowd shifts brilliantly throughout the day: morning coffee drinkers spill over from the nearby courts and council offices, lunch sees proper pub classics flying out the kitchen, and by evening it's packed with a mix of after-work pints and pre-night-out crowds. The Sunday roasts are particularly sound, and they've got that rare knack of feeling authentically traditional without being stuffy about it.