The Roman god of wine lends his name to Bacchus Bar—which is hidden in the basement of the Burlington Arcade on New Street—so you can expect things to get a little weird down here. Dating back to 1398, this is one of the oldest pubs in Birmingham, but remains one of the city’s best-hidden gems.
Follow the spiral staircase down into a labyrinth of uniquely themed rooms filled with everything from Greek statues and a Sistine Chapel-style ceiling to Gothic archways and Medieval suits of armour. Grab a drink in the Egyptian-themed room or tuck in the French dining room; just make Bacchus proud!
“Our most famous space, the Egyptian room, is truly unmissable, with its golden tomb paintings,” said General Manager Mark Tanner. “Located beneath one of the city’s oldest streets, dating back to 1398, in the basement floor of the Burlington Arcade, we look forward to welcoming new and regular guests.”
A fantastical mish-mash of design, Bacchus Bar feels like it’s ripped straight from the pages of ‘Harry Potter’, but the atmospheric pub isn’t just worth visiting for the interiors alone. The Birmingham bar is just as beloved for its real ale options and selection of gins, while guests can also dine on an array of delicious pub classics.
The team behind Bacchus Bar, Nicholson’s pubs, also run some of Birmingham’s other iconic drinking holes—including one of the cosiest pubs in Birmingham, The Old Contemptibles—so you know you can expect the highest standards of hospitality on top of everything else when you head down for a drink.
