Birmingham's iconic Wetherspoon pubs: A historical journey
Right now we'll be taking a look at Birmingham's favourite Wetherspoon pubs. From converting old department stores to banks and warehouses, Wetherspoons has a knack for breathing new life into old buildings. Let's take a look at what makes these pubs stand out.
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00:00I think the one thing that Wetherspoons do is they take beautiful old buildings and rather
00:04than going into disrepair, they actually do, you know, make best use of them.
00:10We start our journey at the Square Peg, prominently located on Corporation Street. This bustling
00:16ground floor pub attracted a diverse crowd, especially on weekends. But for many, it remains
00:21synonymous with the iconic Lewis's department store that once graced the same spot.
00:27Wetherspoons transformed a segment of the building into the Square Peg, opening in January
00:311995. Despite the passing years, seasoned locals still refer to the Lewis's building
00:37when giving directions, highlighting the store's lasting impact on the city's collective memory.
00:43Beyond its transformation from a department store, the Square Peg retains a special ambience
00:48that harks back to its retail days. Many patrons appreciate the blend of its modern functionality
00:54as a pub and the historical undertones that remind them of Birmingham's past.
01:00Next we head to the Briar Rose on Bennetts Hill, opened by Wetherspoon in 2000. This
01:05pub derives its name from the artistry of Birmingham's own Sir Edmund Byrne Jones.
01:11Previously it served the community as an Abbey National Bank until it closed in 1997. With
01:17over ÂŁ1 million invested in its conversion, the pub retains fascinating remnants of its
01:22banking days, including old vaults and a chunky safe. The impressive façade of the
01:28Briar Rose remains a key feature with its classical stone architecture, standing as
01:33a testament to its past.
01:36Finally we visit the figure of eight here on Broad Street, one of two Wetherspoons on
01:41this popular nightlife stretch. Opened in June 1996, it followed the success of the
01:47Square Peg. Before its transformation, the building housed the Top Q clothing warehouse,
01:52which suffered significant damage in 1999 due to a fire. Wetherspoon's investment of
01:58over ÂŁ2 million turned it into one of their city centre gems. The pub's name pays homage
02:04to Birmingham's canal network, which forms a distinctive figure of eight, underscoring
02:09the city's industrial heritage and its significant waterways. There are of course mixed opinions
02:15of Wetherspoons as an institution, however it remains an incredibly popular meeting place
02:21for so many Brits.
02:23We go to Spoons a lot. I think it's cheap, they do good drinks.
02:29You go wherever you go, if there's Wetherspoons, you know what they sell I guess.
02:33Wetherspoons in general, I love Wetherspoons. It's cheap, it's cheerful, you get a free
02:39plate with your meal. It's absolutely amazing. I prefer Wetherspoons.
02:43Decent deals.
02:45Very affordable, very affordable, especially in this day and age.
02:50Wetherspoons isn't really for me to be honest. I'd rather go to somewhere that's a bit more
02:54local, personal, not a chain pub. So yeah, not really for me.