The Clifton

Let’s put it this way, you aren’t going to go out of your way to go to The Clifton. There’s no tour bus that will take you there. Situated just off The Ladypool Road in Balsall Heath, The Clifton is what it is; an old school boozer untouched by modern society. It’s there for the locals and they couldn’t give a hoot about branching out to accommodate tourists or the ever growing metro population.
Run down on the outside but not as bad on the inside, it’s decorated with all of the usual items, fruit machine, jukebox, pool table, dark wood and brass and the ever present TV. I swear if I didn’t know smoking was banned I could almost smell the cigarettes coming from the bar.
The locals tend to keep themselves to themselves and while some might be a bit rough they are usually quite friendly. The drinks are cheap and there’s a decent variety but don’t expect to get a cosmopolitan or a tequila sunrise though.
Personally I love pubs like this and would much rather be here than in some chain pub in the city centre. It might not be the place to take the wife’s family when they are in town visiting, but it’s a great place to have a pint and be reminded of how Birmingham pubs used to be.

From the outside, The Clifton doesn’t look like anything special. In fact, being slightly run down and in need of a lick of paint, it looks a bit like the kind of place you should avoid — unfortunately those sort of places hold a strange fascination for me as I’m always wondering what’s happening on the other side of those walls.
So one day I did go inside and was pleasantly surprised. The décor is decidedly from the old school of pub decorating, dark but comfortable, decorated with brass and postcards from the regulars behind the bar. Though the television was on (always a bet hate of mine in pubs) there are several areas in which to sit and drink, so you can get away from the television. There’s also a pool table and a fruit machine for those who like those kinds of things.
Prices are fairly cheap and the atmosphere is relaxed. It’s not the kind of pub that I’d make a special effort to visit. However, if I was passing and I felt the urge, I’d definitely stop by for a pint or two.

The Clifton is a chameleon of a pub. Early evening the TV is on and the old fellas sup pints in silence in the lounge while watching Casualty. The bar’s a bit livelier with a pool table and jukebox.
Head there later on in the evening during the weekend and the pool table has moved and the DJ is pumping out old school reggae. Ladies flutter beer mats in front of their face like they are in the Caribbean and the fellas are dressed up dapper.
No matter what your tastes it’s a great people watching place whether quiet or busy and it’s generally friendly if not rough around the edges. Don’t expect any airs and graces from this place either but the drinks are decently priced and not a bad place to go to finish off your night after a curry on the Ladypool Road.