Scruffy Murphys

Ah, Scruffy Murphys, the pub I sadly had to lump for to do a review of, because The Market Tavern, Coster Mongers, The Royal George, B3 and The Old Railway all shut up shop long ago.
Reading through the reviews of Scruffys, you could be easily fooled into believing that it was/​is the only place to be if you are part of any ‘alternative’ scene… Scruffys was NEVER this. Scruffys had its day and that day was nearly ten years ago now. The honest truth is, once Costers shut its doors for the last time, metalheads, goths and rockers had nowhere. Its regulars made an half arsed attempt at making B3*, the ‘new’ costers, it failed tragically. The majority of metalheads that boozed at Costers all saw Scruffys as a student pub, which it was, therefore a no go place for the hardcore headbangers at Costers.
Costers aside, The Market Tavern was always the main hangout of choice for a Saturday night. The Royal George for a Friday, until eleven o’clock when everyone was chucked out, then on to B3 to booze away into the early hours of Saturday… and The Old Railway for great live bands and Smoking dope in the back room.
Scruffys was in way last place, if good music and meeting cool people was your thing, then it only took one visit to know it was a student pub. A student pub that played metal and rock, but a student pub non the less… That was of course up until all of the above mentioned shut down. That was the moment Scruffys really came into its own… I’m not sure if the crowd from Costers, that swore hardcore resilience in not drinking at Scruffys, that later went on to drink at Scruffys, saw it as giving in, crossing over or even taking over.
The last time I was in Scruffys was last summer on a Saturday night out with my partner and two of her sisters. At one point in the evening we were treated to a song, that garnered the response from me, «what the fuck is this?», while pointing at the ceiling. My partners younger girly girl sister informed me it was Pink… that was at around 9 p. m on a Saturday night in ‘Birmingham’s most popular rock pub’. This I should stress was in the top bar, if and when I did hang out in Scruffys, ‘back in the day’, usually after a gig at the Academy, it was always when the downstairs bar was open. In the downstairs bar you were guaranteed classic rock and metal, this particular Saturday we were told by the bar staff that the downstairs bar wouldn’t be open that night.
*B3 was a rough-​as-​fuck bar on Bull st, a short walk from Costers, now its a shisha lounge. One Friday night in B3 I saw an old guy get headbutted by the barman and hours later in a totally unrelated incident I watched someone get bottled… on the upside, it did still do £2 a double on Whiskey, Vodka and Gin way after every other pub in town had put an end to that excellent deal, something about alcohol related trouble, fucking pussies!

Probably Birmingham’s most popular rock/​metal pubs nowadays located in Dale End. It’s very heavy on the wood theme with wooden floors, tables, stools, benches, and walls.
When you’ve been to places like The Intrepid Fox and Slim Jim’s in London, this place just seems like a saloon bar themed pub which happens to play rock and metal along with the occasional curveball like Avril Lavigne and Kenny Loggins.
It’s not a bad place really, but I’ve been to many rock pubs and bars which look a lot better, and have much more of an atmosphere beyond people getting drunk.

Oh. So much of my student time (and loan) was spent in this mecca for Birmingham goths and rockers. I was probably here a good 2 — 3 times a week when I was a student, but sadly (come about ²⁰⁰⁷⁄₈) it ceased to be the place it once was.
Scruffy Murphy’s is a rock pub just on the corner of Dale End (practically opposite Aston University). As well as being a good place to meet alternative people, it has a gig room and additional bar downstairs. The clientele range between young and old, rocky and local but everyone seems to have an alternative spirit at heart.
I think this place started to really drop in my estimation when it started showing football regularly. That’s not to say that’s a bad thing for most people, I just always loved going in and listening to AC/​DC and a bit of Rob Zombie without people shouting various football chants when I was trying to have a decent conversation with my friends.
The sound in the gig room is surprisingly good though, so I have been back in more recent times to catch local talent and rising stars. The beer prices have gone up since I was a student, but it still seems pretty reasonable to me (who is now used to paying £3.20 upwards to a good pint).
This venue (despite being a bit shabby) was never filthy, which is something you have to get used to when you want an alternative night out. Yes, the floors and tables would sometimes be a bit sticky with spilt drinks, but the toilets were always kept fairly reasonable and you didn’t feel like you needed a shower as soon as you left the building (*cough* Costers *Cough).
The clientele (when the football isn’t on) is always mixed and normally pretty friendly. My favorite Birmingham Story was my first ever night out in Brum, ending up in Scruffies and being bought a pint by Napalm Death. Fact. That being said, I have met quite a few rock music celebrities in this venue over time (including «Lamb of God» and «Reverend and the Makers»).
If you’re a Brummie and into rock music, you should already know this place. If you haven’t been before — check it out!

GASH. Droitwich dodgy promoter Oli Hunt of the extremely amateur and failed Heretic Promotions. Shut this joke hovel down.

Well I guess that although this is nowhere near where I live, I would probably call it my local. I’m not really a regular pub goer anymore, but if I do go out (and have a choice in where) it’s usually here.
In my younger and more promiscuous years, you could find me here pretty much every day. Which is actually quite worrying in itself. Anyway, what do you need to know about this place:
You would probably only appreciate it as much as I do if you’re a member of the metal/​alternative subculture, much like myself. Having said that, Scruffy’s and it’s patrons generally welcome people that fall outside of it. (The people that most people would probably refer to as normal)
If you do like your music heavy and dress to match, then you’ll feel right at home and it’s nice to be able to walk into a bar where nobody would stare at you for the way you look.
The DJs vary, some are not to my tastes, but you do get a good range dependent on the night, from old school rock to grunge, goth, death and the wide range of metal sub-​genres. Overall you won’t get a better variety in Birmingham and will certainly hear the more obscure and underground bands that you wouldn’t hear elsewhere.
There are gigs held downstairs very regularly. Sadly, a lot of them are poorly attended, but when you get a well attended gig down there (small capacity room) then the atmosphere is great. They are generally touring unsigned bands, but you do tend to get the odd bigger band do a one off show there. Also band members from large metal and alternative bands will tend to drink in there if they are on tour in Birmingham at the time.
The drink prices are good in comparison with regular pubs and they do have a range of offers on every week.
The toilets are exactly what you would expect in a rock bar! Apart from the fact that they are also incredibly tiny (I can only speak for the ladies). The cubicles are hard to get in and close the door. If you’re bigger than a size 10 — then it’s a squeeze!
I certainly feel a sense of loyalty to the place and there is a genuine feeling of community, particularly for regulars. I miss going as often as I used to, but I suppose we all have to grow up sometime — or do we?!

Oh yes, rock on! This pub reminds me my favourite rock bars in Brazil and if you fancy a bit of loud and good music, this is the place to be!
The fact its location is near the ballroom, the venue that brings some finest Heavy Metal band to the city, just helps a lot to keep a very faithful public in this establishment.
Drinking or enjoying some of plenty underground gigs there is just something to experience! The best rock pub of Birmingham has good prices for ciders and beers and it’s definitely a good warming up if you are up to some gig in the are or you just want to experience a very good bar in the area.

My first experience of Scruffy Murphys was playing appallingly attended gigs in the room downstairs nearly a decade ago, before I was a Birmingham resident. Years later, I saw Frank Turner do a show at the O2 Academy, and he mentioned that his first gig in Birmingham was to about 50 people in Scruffy’s. «50 people in Scruffy’s?» I thought to myself. «You did well».
However, there are many good things to say about the place. In an age when many of the biker/​rock bars have been turned into bland chain pubs for whom Coldplay is considered a bit too heavy, Scruffys continues to fly the flag for heavy metal in a city that spawned some of it’s greatest heroes. The bar selection and prices are well pitched and are probably a lot cheaper than many city centre pubs.
If you’re in anyway into heavy metal and rock music, then Scruffys ought to be a pub you pop into every now and again as it’s sure to charm you. Respect!

A proper renowned pub in the rocker circle of Brum, Scruffy’s has been going for over ten years and never fails to bring in some of the greatest local metal bands such as SALLY, as well as UK bands like Viking Skull.
The pub décor is what’s expected from a rock bar; a very old fashioned (almost Victorian) ‘dusty-​looking’ interior, which reflects the likes of Black Sabbath — and other greats — who’ve worked hard in establishing Brum as the birth place of metal. Most customers within the Scruffy’s crowd wear leather jackets or ‘Napalm Death’ T-​Shirts, in honour of their passion. So just be aware that you’ll probably feel a little out of place if your clothes are too brightly coloured.
If you like your metal music blasted at full wack, you certainly won’t be let down here. It drowns out all conversations and leaves the floor covered in head banging enthusiasts; and all this is before you even get to see any live performances. Going downstairs where gigs take place, you’ll feel your ears popping just by listening through the door, so I think you can imagine what inside will be like!
This is probably the best rock pub in Birmingham, and the crowd are always welcoming, even though they’ve established their own little culture. Price-​wise, drinks are about average, and jagerbombs will cost you £2.50 — people love their jäger here, the walls are covered in the famous reindeer logo.

METTTTTAAAALLLLL!
((throws horns))
((headbangs))
((drinks shot, slams down glass, does death metal growl))
If the above behavior sounds stupid, immature and the kind of thing idiots do, Scruffy’s is not for you. Because this kind of thing happens on a regular basis. Scruffy’s caters to the rock and roll element, and does so in fine style.
Like many rock bars it looks a bit like an Irish bar that went all metal about 10 years ago and never grew out of it. It’s got a fairly standard selection of drinks, everything your average rocker would need, lager to Jaigermeister and very little in between.
The staff are fantastically friendly, offering great advice to those unfamiliar to the city and are generally great fun. Service is damn quick, even at really busy times.
It’s not the cleanest place in the world, but it is a metal bar, so being clean could kind of ruin that — if you wanna rock the hell out you don’t really want to worry about damaging the expensive wallpaper.
There is a stage in the corner, and all the posters around the place suggest it puts on a great selection of local bands. Didn’t see any while I was there so can’t say anything about how it is as a venue, but judging by the number of shows coming up it can’t be bad.
The locals are lovely (the ones we met anyway) and we ended up drinking into the night and partying hard with people we’d only just met — great fun.
So, if you like your music loud, fast and kickass — drink here!

Love this pub, if you like your music heavy and loud and decent beer this place is for you

If your into metal/​rock or even other things like hardcore/​punk etc you’ll love this place, loud music, decent booze, full of locals and regulars but also caters for non regulars, friendly staff, everyones great there. NOTE if you aren’t into rock music AT ALL, don’t come to this bar, you’ll moan about the music, the type of people etc!

Scruffies, as it is more commonly known, is a perfect little getaway from the stress of modern city life for those who enjoy music of a heavier persuasion. The staff are straight-​talking, no-​nonsense types who, together with the fiercely loyal yet friendly customer base, ensure that there is rarely any kind of trouble at the venue.
The drink selection is pretty typical for a rock pub: lagers and ciders, a few alcopops and some more exotic spirits as well as cheap deals on mixers. They have been known to provide food in the form of simple rolls, but don’t go there expecting a spot of hot pub grub, you won’t find it!
Scruffies regularly plays host to live music, and I personally have seen bands play there who have gone on to be some of my favourite local acts. The basement that houses the PA is fairly compact, meaning you’re going to be up close and personal with both the band and the audience if more than 30 people show up.
Not cheap, but for rockers this is easily one of the best places to drink in town.

Hate this place! The music is soooo loud you cannot have a proper conversation at all! The music is heavy rock and metal, which is not my thing anyway bu is certainly not pleasant to listen to at the high volume that they play it!
It gets very busy here, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when people crash the pub before heading to the Carling Academy. It’s location is ideal for this purpose but it is definitely not an enjoyable place to relax and have a drink with friends.

I used to visit ‘Scruffy’s’ a lot in my younger days, but as I’ve grown older my need for a dirty rock pub has pretty much diminished. That’s effectively what this is! Situated right near to the Birmingham Academy, it’s a regular haunt for people going to rock gigs or Subculture rock club night at the Academy.
It’s quite a small venue, and this usually results in people hanging about outside. This is made all the worse because of the smoking ban — yu find yourself faced with a cloud of smoke before you even get in there. Surely the point of the ban was to prevent all this?
Drinks prices aren’t terrible, and the live bands room downstairs is a bonus and not many rock clubs are blessed with this addition!

Ok ok, so if you asked me I’d say Dirty little rock pub, but there is something about the place I do like the obligatory photo on the door (makes me feel fit!) and the atmosphere is one of fun and open mindedness

I adore Scruffys, and have been going there for years. It is by far the best value for money pub in Birmingham City Centre, and is ideal for either a daytime drink, or a ‘get-​dressed-​up’ big night out, pre-​club or to stay there all the night. The staff are fantastic and remember faces, so before long you will feel very comfortable and at home. The rock music (mostly metal and classic rockalthough the DJ does accept requests in related genres) is loud enough to dance drunk to, but quiet enough to talk over. You have to pick your way through the smokers to get inside, but that’s part of the fun.

A black tie affair (yeah right), claiming to be Birmingham’s premier rock pub, there’s no need to worry about a dress code even at the weekend. Despite the name, don’t expect any leprechaun paraphernalia to leap out and put a logo in your foam. A mix of league of gentlemen ‘local’ types and students taking advantage of the drinks offers. A 2 minute walk from Birmingham Academy it’s worth stopping by before a gig. If you want to get down and dirty, this is the place to be, basically anything goes.