The Woodman

The Woodman reopened a year or so ago after a long period of abandonment. It is now a nice place to grab a drink if you’re in the Eastside area of Birmingham.
The pub retains many of it’s historic features, with a long main bar area and a smaller lounge at the back, which in the winter is a cosy place to grab an evening drink.
Drinks-​wise there’s plenty on offer, including a decent selection of craft beers and spirits.
One of the best things about the Woodman is its location. Situated opposite Millennium Point, in the middle of the new Eastside City Park, it’s a great place to have an al-​fresco drink in the summer.

I’m in two minds about this place. On the one hand I love that’s been restored without too many nods to fashion. On the other, despite great service, the beer and food isn’t quite there. The vibe and décor is definitely towards the ‘old man’s pub’ end of things, but there are none to be seen (at least on my visit), rather it’s occupied by a range of office types and hipsters of the distinctly non-​old variety.
I was in there around 3.45 on a Tuesday so you’d sort of expect the dead zone given location, but there were several people in and more enjoying the sun outside. I ordered fish and chips, with peas. Peas were mushy and not nice, fish decent enough but overtly greasy batter so clearly been fried more than once. Chips were perhaps the ‘best in brum’. Chips need to be made from proper spuds, hand or machine sliced, and fried to within a nip of brown. These were! The beer was nice enough — a good strong porter style, but not the bee’s danglies!
Overall, a decent mid-​range. I’d go in again because the prices are less gastro, more classic local, and it’s a nice enough place. There’re a couple of books showing photo’s of the place getting done up. It doesn’t seem like a huge amount was spent, more a slap and tickle, but I guess the originality is part of the charm!

A much needed addition to the Millennium point area.
Prior to The Woodman being open, there wasn’t really any (nice) pubs nearby, you’d have to head to Digbeth or back into the central city area.
Where this pub excels is it’s ales. Great selection on tap which changes regularly. I’m told the food is pretty decent, though I’m yet to try. I’ve had many a pint in their beer «garden», the pub is surrounded by Eastside City Park so you can stand outside, in the sun and not have cars going by a people rushing past with things to do. It’s a nice chilled atmosphere. Especially when the fountains are on. There is seating too which is great.
It works as a nice pitstop on your way to Digbeth or a watering hole pre/​post-​event at Millennium Point or BCU’s Parkside campus or on a sunny day when you head to the park and fancy a refreshing beer.

Another little gem of Birmingham. It’s a retro freehouse that serves funny fizzy things and awesome food. A burger and a pint will set you back less than a tenner so it’s a lovely little treat if you’re looking for somewhere for lunch. The bar staff were also able to accommodate my rather odd request of «can you do me a pint of diet coke, but put a rum in it please» — I’m here for the taste and the chat, not the fuzzy head, you know — so I would happily put this place back on my to-​do list the next time I need to escape the hubbub and step back 100 years or so.
Free wifi lets you be antisocial/​gets work done (delete as applicable) and the password is written on the huge blackboard as soon as you go in. Toilets are out the back.
In Millennium Point but can only find sugary cake and expensive coffee? Yep — this is where this place comes in nicely. Sit down with a pint of fruit lager and remind yourself how lucky you are to be in Birmingham.

Visited with some Unilocalers after a nearby event. I like the building and the signs but hadn’t been in previously.
The interior is a typical old fashioned pub, with beautiful windows and a long bar. They have a good selection of ciders and beers but I spotted some fruit wine hanging about and felt the need to work my way through several. The mead wine went down well and I liked the apricot wine too. Not what you usually find in a pub.
I like the building and the drink selection a lot. Staff were perfectly friendly. Would definitely go back if I was in the area.

The freelancer I’m working with put his tools down and declared time for lunch. The selection of eateries around where we are based are not worth it. Water bottle is £1.35! So I was really happy when he said lets go to the pub! I’m down with that!
It only took about 10 mins to walk over, food was prompt (pub wasn’t busy) and tasted delicious. I had a light lunch which for £4 did the job. Good selection of the usual and also some nice alternative editions of you don’t fancy pizza, burgers, hot dogs I. e pub grub.
I loved the fact the woman behind the counter knew what drink my co-​worker has! That’s a sign of good experience although he felt like a bit of an alchi!
This place is great as there’s a bit of free parking about and really clean. I’m not OCD but I do like to see clean areas and can safely report the toilet was spotless.
In aston I have the Barton Arms, over in Digbeth /​East sides I now have The Woodman. Good times!

The Woodman is recently refurbished, but still very ‘proper pub’ in look and feel, plus a good range of real ale and ciders. They have a ‘real ale of the week’ offer for £2.70 a pint. Yes, you heard that right.
So, the prices are really good. I popped in to sit by the fire and drink some tea whilst waiting for the other half to arrive. It was pretty quiet on a February lunchtime so I was totally unhurried. After that we ordered some food– you can eat well here for under £6, and the good is genuinely good. Very pub style in terms of hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and good sized salads. My crayfish salad was a good size, and I love that they went for crayfish over prawns– so much nicer.
They’re very kid friendly, with a colour-​in kids menu and crayons provided. That all went down very well with a four year old, and the staff couldn’t do enough. They were great.
It’s in a great location for Millennium Point, particularly as the area isn’t exactly crammed with eateries and pubs. It’s a good place to visit from ThinkTank– especially as ThinkTank provide wristbands, so you can leave it and come back in the same day.
I wouldn’t trek across town to come here, but I’ll definitely come again when in the area. Such great value and lovely people, just a shame that it’s sometimes a bit quiet.

I’m so pleased to see this dead pub bought back to life! The Woodman is a protected building near the new Eastside Park, Millenium Point and Parkside University building. It’s been boarded up for a long time, but I met a friend there last week for a check out and catch up.
Firstly, it’s been redecorated. Still in an «Old man pub style», but clean, fresh and light. The seats are wooden stools and tables and the beer pumps are shiny and brass. On our visit, I tried a beer that had been bought in as a guest ale from a local brewery. It was pleasing to see a choice of ¾ ales, as well as European Lagers and a full bar of spirits.
A pint, a half and a cola set me back £5.55. Not too bad, I thought! There seemed to be a mixed clientele of students, people who worked at the venues nearby and buisnessy people having meetings. The bar staff were really friendly and helpful, guiding us through the choices on offer and their new menu looks quite varied and good value.
Over summer, I imagine they will put out chairs onto Eastside Park, so it’ll be a lovely spot to sit and enjoy the evening sun. Over winter, it’s a cosy well stocked and reasonably priced bar. Worth checking out if you’re in the area, but not worth trekking through the whole city for a pint.