Game on at the 10 best sports bars in Birmingham for pints and plays
When it comes to casual things to do, watching a game with good food and even better company always hits the spot. Sports nights are simply more fun when the energy’s shared.
Sports bars in Birmingham bring all that together—loud cheers, giant screens, loaded fries, and no judgment for getting too into it. These venues let fans feel right at home.
It’s the perfect blend of hype and comfort, even if you’re all about the match or just there for the wings. Just make sure your team actually wins.
1. Hennessey’s Bar
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Website: https://hennesseysdigbeth.co.uk/
Location: 30-31 Allison St, B5 5TJ
Contact: +441216433436
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 12 PM – 12 AM
- Friday: 12 PM- 1 AM
- Saturday: 10 AM – 1 AM
- Sunday: 10 AM – 12 AM
Pricing: ££
Premier League nights at Hennessey’s are easily one of Birmingham’s most fan-friendly sports bars. You’ll always have a solid view, as it’s spread across three levels with a heated rooftop garden and more than 20 HD screens.
What sets this place apart is its ability to feel lively without turning chaotic, especially during derby matches. The crowd is always buzzing but well-managed, and the service doesn’t miss a beat.
The menu offers pub staples like wings, dirty fries, and burgers, but also caters to vegans and early risers. Yes, the full Irish breakfast is a hit during 12:30 PM games. Prices are reasonable too, with pints starting from £4.50 and meal deals running under £12.
Pro Tip:
During Six Nations and Champions League nights, Hennessey’s opens a side entrance near Milk Street that leads directly to the rooftop bar. Use it to skip the main entrance queue, especially after 6 PM when the front area gets congested.
2. The Distillery
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Website: https://thedistillerybirmingham.co.uk/
Location: 4 Sheepcote St, B16 8AE
Contact: +441212002223
Hours:
- Monday: 12 PM – 9:30 PM
- Tuesday: 12 PM- 10 PM
- Wednesday and Thursday: 12 PM – 10:30 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12 PM – 11 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 9 PM
Pricing: ££
Despite its sleek cocktail bar vibe, The Distillery takes sports coverage seriously, with screens inside the gin bar, main hall, and terrace.
Their pizza oven is a standout feature here. During the first half, we shared a buffalo mozzarella sourdough pizza and washed it down with house-distilled gin cocktails that weren’t ridiculously priced, around £8 each.
It’s not the kind of venue where people shout at the TV. Expect a more chilled, adult crowd who want good drinks with their football. We also liked that you could hear the commentary clearly without needing earplugs.
Being just a few steps from Brindleyplace and the ICC, it’s also a good pre-event stop. They’re open for brunch, so you can even make a day of it if there’s a Sunday fixture.
Pro Tip:
On game days, they often stop serving food from the pizza oven 30 minutes before kick-off. If you want to eat during the first half, please pre-order as soon as you’re seated to avoid a wait of 40 minutes or more.
3. Walkabout Birmingham
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Website: https://www.walkaboutbars.co.uk/birmingham
Location: Langley Buildings, Regency Wharf, B1 2DS
Contact: +441216325712
Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 12 PM – 2 AM
- Friday: 12 PM – 3 AM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 3 AM
- Sunday and Monday: 12 PM – 12 AM
Pricing: ££
There’s no subtlety at Walkabout, and we love that about it. When we watched an England World Cup game here, it felt like half of Birmingham had the same idea.
The screen setup is intense: a wall-sized projector, more than a dozen side screens, and sound that practically shakes your pint. If you’re into that high-energy, jump-and-cheer kind of night, this is the place.
You’ll find wings, loaded fries, nachos, and even Aussie-style parmas; most plates hover around £8 to £12. Ordering via their app is a lifesaver, as the bar queues can get ridiculous during halftime.
Once the match ends, don’t rush out. They flip the venue into a full-on club. If you’re already out on Broad Street anyway, you might as well keep the party going.
Pro Tip:
Walkabout opens its upstairs mezzanine bar, offering extra seating for major events like England or UFC nights. However, it’s not listed online, so you’ll need to ask at the door for “Level 2” access to get in early and avoid the crowd.
4. O’Neill’s
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Website: https://www.oneills.co.uk/national-search/east-and-west-midlands/broad-street-in-birmingham
Location: Broad St, B1 2HG
Contact: +441216161623
Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday: 9 AM – 11 PM
- Thursday: 9 AM – 12 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 9 AM – 2 AM
Pricing: ££
O’Neill’s on Broad Street is one of those places where we always feel comfortable catching a match, no matter who’s playing. The staff are quick, the Guinness is poured properly, and they never hesitate to turn up the commentary.
This one stands out because it is reliable for both football and rugby. We’ve watched everything from Heineken Cup semis to international friendlies here, and they always deliver.
You’ve got a mix of locals, visiting stag parties, and the odd after-work group crowding around the central screen or sneaking into the back booths. On weekends, they often bring live bands after the final whistle, giving it more life than your typical sports bar.
The food is hearty: pub burgers, loaded mac and cheese, and shareable platters. Most mains range from £10 to £14, but if you time it right, you’ll find decent weekday deals.
Pro Tip:
This branch often broadcasts additional matches via a silent screen in the back-left booth area. If you’re following a secondary game, request a seat here and bring your earbuds to stream the commentary through their free WiFi.
5. The Bierkeller
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Website: https://thebierkeller.com/birmingham/
Location: 21, 22 Essex St, B5 4TR
Contact: +448000548179
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 2 PM – 12 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 12 PM – 1 AM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 11 PM
Pricing: ££
Bierkeller Birmingham offers a German-style sports bar experience, complete with long benches, beer steins, and Bundesliga games on the big screen. Located below Broad Street’s entertainment strip, it’s perfect for groups seeking sports with a rowdy atmosphere.
A huge central screen is perfect for Premier League and Six Nations viewing, and every table offers a good angle. Staff often wear traditional Bavarian outfits, especially on weekends, which adds to the themed vibe.
The menu features bratwursts, schnitzels, and pretzels, with combo platters starting at around £12. Beer lovers will appreciate the range of imported German lagers and the option to order two-pint steins.
Booth packages include food and drink deals for private events or matches with big turnouts. You’ll want to arrive early, though, as the space fills quickly on Friday and Saturday nights.
Pro Tip:
Book the last 90-minute bench slot, usually around 8:30 PM, if you plan to stay post-match. Staff often extend those reservations past closing time for groups, allowing you to stay for drinks while the next crowd clears.
6. Felson’s Birmingham
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Website: https://www.felsons.co.uk/felsons-birmingham
Location: Basement, 266 Broad St, B1 2DS
Contact: +441217263808
Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 5 PM – 12 AM
- Thursday: 5 PM – 1 AM
- Friday: 5 PM – 2 AM
- Saturday: 12 PM – 2 AM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 12 AM
Pricing: ££
Felson’s mixes retro sports aesthetics with casual gaming and boutique-style cocktails. You’ll find leather booths, amber lighting, and shuffleboard lanes—not your typical sports bar décor.
Screens are well distributed across the venue; the audio changes depending on where you’re sitting. This zoning makes it easy to choose between full focus and background viewing.
The venue offers themed “Game Day” drinks that rotate per sport, like spiced rum slushies for F1 or whisky sours for the Premier League. There’s also a full menu with sliders, wings, and sharing trays.
Pro Tip:
Felson’s hides extra bar seating behind the pool tables near the rear shuffleboard lane. These seats are often available even during sell-out matches and still face a mounted screen with direct sightlines and dedicated speaker zones.
7. Goose Selly Oak
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Website: https://www.thepeoplespub.co.uk/goose-selly-oak
Location: 561 Bristol Rd, Selly Oak, B29 6AF
Contact: +441214723186
Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 10 AM – 12 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 10 AM – 2 AM
Pricing: £
The Goose is known for its sheer size and affordability, especially among students and matchday regulars near Aston University. The open-plan layout includes a central mega-screen with multiple wall-mounted backups.
It’s one of the few bars in the city that streams matches from the EFL, Scottish Premiership, and lower-league clubs without requiring a special request. Commentary is also always on, and the crowd stays engaged, even for smaller teams.
Live odds and statistics are sometimes displayed on side TVs during key fixtures. You’ll also find fan-poll posters on the walls, updated weekly based on customer votes. It hosts occasional “club night takeovers” post-match too.
Pro Tip:
If you’re arriving in a group, use the “Order to Table” function on the Greene King app before you enter. This Goose branch is often understaffed during match rushes, and pre-ordering guarantees food arrives before half-time.
8. The Brasshouse
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Website: https://www.thepeoplespub.co.uk/brasshouse-birmingham
Location: 44 Broad St, B1 2HP
Contact: +441216333383
Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday: 9 AM – 11 PM
- Wednesday: 9 AM – 12 AM
- Thursday: 9 AM – 1 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 9 AM – 2 AM
- Sunday: 9 AM – 10:30 PM
Pricing: £££
The Brasshouse caters to people who want to enjoy the game without being in a stadium.
Multiple zones exist for different sports: rugby in the back bar, football in the main space, and F1 or tennis by the window seating. It’s subtle, but intentional.
One of their best features is the table layout. There’s always a corner with good visibility and little foot traffic. The screens are large, crisp, and typically feature full commentary.
They also offer seasonal drink menus, including themed cocktails or regional beers for international matches. It’s not flashy, but it’s consistently dependable.
Pro Tip:
This venue tends to lower the sound for matches that don’t feature English teams. Ask to be seated in the “TV3 zone” near the main window to ensure full commentary is on, especially if you’re watching European or international fixtures.
9. The Actress & Bishop
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Website: https://theactressandbishop.co.uk/
Location: 36 Ludgate Hill, B3 1EH
Contact: +441212367426
Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 12 PM- 2 AM
- Friday and Saturday: 12 PM – 2:30 AM
Pricing: ££
In the Jewellery Quarter, The Actress & Bishop offers a boho-meets-sports-bar setup that works. Expect indie music decor, rustic furniture, and live Premier League on the big projector.
The screen quality is solid, but what makes it shine is the laid-back attitude of the staff and crowd. There’s space to breathe, chat, and still celebrate every goal.
Drinks include local ales, canned craft beers, and plenty of cider choices. Plus, there are bar snacks like Scotch eggs and loaded fries. Prices are mid-range, but portions are generous.
Post-match, they switch quickly into music mode with live bands or acoustic sets most nights. You can come for the game and stay for the tunes without changing venue.
Pro Tip:
Projector use is limited to Champions League and Sunday Premier League games, and only if more than 10 people are watching. Ring them ahead and ask them to reserve the screen use, as it may default to music mode even during kick-off.
10. The Shakespeare Inn (Summer Row)
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Location: 31 Summer Row, B3 1JJ
Contact: +441212368702
Hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 12 PM – 11 PM
- Friday: 12 PM – 12 AM
- Saturday: 10 AM – 12 AM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 8 PM
Pricing: ££
Just off the city centre, The Shakespeare Inn offers a pub-grub-and-screens combo that’s become popular with Aston Uni students and commuters.
The setup is simple but effective. There are no bells and whistles, just clear sports coverage on big TVs and a loyal crowd who know each other. That’s the charm: it’s low-key, affordable, and welcoming.
The standout feature here is the all-day match menu. You can grab a pint and burger bundle for under £10 or join their “Wings Wednesdays” during Champions League games. It’s a deal-focused venue without compromising on screen quality.
Live scores, goal alerts, and even lineup graphics are displayed on the TVs before and after kick-off. And yes, commentary plays at full volume.
Pro Tip:
They do not serve food after 8 PM, even on match days. If you want to eat during a late kickoff, please pre-order before 7:45 PM; otherwise, you may be left with only crisps or vending snacks.