The 6 best desi pubs in Birmingham

A bit of a wild card, this micro-brewery-cum-restaurant is more of a hipster joint than a desi pub. But don’t let that put you off. Grab a pint of their very own Birmingham Lager and work your way through a menu of street-food inspired classics. With an interior that’s part Bollywood, part industrial chic, this is what the future of desi pubs might look like.

This handsome Victorian pub is considered something of a gem among desi aficionados. It serves traditional home-style curries, from rogan josh to keema mutter. People come to watch football on the big screens, but it’s the towering mixed grills that steal the show. Great value too.

Formerly the Gough Arms, this city centre pub was saved from the wrecking ball by its transformation into a desi destination. The mixed grill is a small hillock of chicken wings, lamb shaami kebabs and more. While the veg platter offers samosas, spring rolls, bhajis and even some nice tandoori tofu.

Nestled in the industrial heartlands, the Soho Tavern was a weary old boozer given the full desi treatment. Where once all you’d find to eat was a bag of scratchings and a knuckle sandwich, now you’ll find a warm welcome and an extensive menu. The décor is modern and functional, but the landlord won’t mind if you nip over the road to the cosier Black Eagle for an ale (he owns that too).

This is the West Brom institution that lit the coals beneath the desi pub revolution. What looks like a small traditional corner pub is in fact home to an open grill that fills a large dining area with glorious aromas of tandoori spice. The Hawthorns is just down the road, so it’s a much-loved spot for a pre-and-post-match pint and bite.

Local artist Steven Cartwright created the pub’s stained-glass windows to tell the story of landlord Jeet’s journey to the Black Country. The Red Lion has been a haven for many migrants over the years with its warm atmosphere and hot grub.