Hennessey’s Bar

Well this is an unusual place in a fairly deserted Digbeth location. I needed a 30 minute stop over en-​route to a meeting and was directed this way from another ‘pub’ that didn’t do any food. Was starved and needed something, so I popped in.
Inside it’s pretty large and quite nicely laid out. There are plenty of ‘groups of friends’ type seating and single and multiple occupy tables, plus some bar stools. There’s lots of disco lights and a DJ desk. Sky Sports was on, which I see as a bonus, but with the sound off and text on screen instead. That’s OK. Something to watch.
So they have decent offers for lunch and a comprehensive, pretty much as you’d expect, pub style menu. I was after something quick and filling, so went for the ‘classic’ Gammon, egg, chips combo for £5. Service was very pleasant and smiley. The food arrived after, maybe 15 – 20 minutes so timing was just about OK. Usual mash potato style chips you get everywhere, so zero taste or texture. Good juicy Gammon and nice fried egg. All was fine, even the side salad. Checked out the drinks selection at the very long, well sorted bar and looked impressive.
So, despite being in a bit of an industrial wasteland, I had a good stop-​over. There were maybe a dozen people there at 1.30pm on a Wednesday, which to me indicates the place probably has a good batch of regulars. Mix of oldies, lunchies, and business meeting types. It’s a modern warehouse of a bar space, but in the right mood and at the right time I can imagine you’d have a good time, a good time, oh yeah!

The pub is quite spacious (even a little too much for my taste). I went there to meet with some friends because one of them was DJing at the night. It’s a strange venue, it felt like I was walking into a bar that was part of a holiday complex. It was a Friday night and the pub was pretty empty, I think it needs to be a pretty big party to fill that place. However, the staff were all nice, they have a fairly decent selection of drinks, accept credit card and have some incredible thrones to sit on… yes, I think you can only describe them as thrones.
It might just be suffering a little after moving venue so maybe it will pick up in the future, I hope so as they seem to have made a decent effort with the décor.

I rushed into Hennessey’s when finding myself stranded needing the loo one Saturday afternoon en-​route to the Custard Factory. Seemed like a nice place from the outside, where I could nip in, get a coke so I don’t feel too bad for just using them, and then carry on my way.
And it *was* fine. During the day, it felt a bit like there might be tumbleweed passing by any moment, but that also meant I could sit and enjoy my coke without feeling like anyone was watching me or likely to come and make small talk — so for my needs it was perfect.
Bar seemed large and stocked everything you could want, though I don’t remember them stocking anything particularly exotic which you might want for cocktails. Though in an Irish bar, you’re surely going to want Guinness or Whisky — right?

Digbeth is the home of Birmingham’s Irish quarter, probably best known for hosting the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and the following day long drinking bonanza. As you can imagine it is an area which has a lively quality, something most definitely embraced by one of its many Irish drinking holes, Hennessey’ Bar. This is a bar which certainly covers all the bases, they regularly screen live sports and there is live music every day from 9pm which is something not many bars can boast. They have a selection of real ales also and do some impressive pub grub from gorgeous steaks to handmade pies all of which get my seal of approval. Every weekend Hennessey’s Bar, transforms into a popular night spot where locals come to dance away the worries of the working week, staying open until four am and even offering free entry before midnight. This place certainly aims to provide a lot and I’m happy to say they seem to be doing an excellent job.