Beers from Castle Rock, Backyard, Kinver, at The Woodman Real Ale Pub bar, New Canal St, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK, B5 5LG

Broad selection of British cask ales is displayed across the polished wooden bar at The Woodman, a historic real ale pub in Birmingham city centre. Five ornate brass handpulls carry colourful pump clips for Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Castle Rock Black Gold, Backyard Jigger Stout, Purity UBU and Kinver Half Centurion. A freshly poured glass of golden beer stands at the right of the composition, while bottles, gilded mirrors, etched glass and dark wooden fittings create the traditional atmosphere of a richly decorated Victorian public house. The Woodman was purpose-built for Ansells Brewery in 1896–97 to designs by Birmingham architects James and Lister Lea. Its surviving interior includes Minton tiles, original bar fittings, engraved mirrors, a smoke room and separate drinking areas. The Grade II listed building is recognised by CAMRA as a nationally important historic pub interior and remains a destination for drinkers seeking well-kept cask beer in traditional surroundings. The pub closed in 2022 after disruption from the nearby HS2 Curzon Street station works, alongside wider pressures affecting the hospitality sector. It was subsequently taken over by Union Inns and reopened on 13 September 2024 following an investment of approximately £300, 000 and a sensitive restoration. The reopening returned a prominent historic Birmingham pub to use after more than two years without trade. The bar now has two beer engines carrying ten handpumps, with Draught Bass and a changing range of locally and regionally sourced cask ales. The pump clips shown demonstrate the variety available from breweries in Nottinghamshire, Birmingham, Warwickshire and Staffordshire. This image is relevant to real ale, British brewing, independent breweries, historic pubs, CAMRA heritage interiors, hospitality recovery and the effects of major infrastructure construction on local businesses. It also documents Birmingham’s continuing pub culture beside the emerging HS2 Curzon Street development.