One Of The UK’s Most Affordable Cosy Pubs Has Been Named In Birmingham

The nights are growing longer, days colder, and all I want is to pass through this winter without too much doom and gloom. Which is why, like many others, we’ll be on the lookout for the perfect winter pub in Birmingham. Somewhere cosy, friendly and, most importantly, affordable.

You can’t just be a good pub these days, in the cost-of-living crisis, you have to be good value too. There’s been a 22% increase in searches for “What is the average cost of a pint in the UK?” recently. So the team at Moneyboat has created a ranking of the top 10 most affordable cosy pubs in the UK.

Based on several factors, including Total TripAdvisor rating, TripAdvisor value rating, and Number of 5* TripAdvisor reviews mentioning ‘cosy’, the top 10 best-value cosy pubs in the UK were decided based on a total score out of 100. The top spot went to The Queens Arms in Edinburgh, but Birmingham’s The Old Contemptibles into tenth place overall.

With a TripAdvisor price rating of 4.3 and an average score of 4.5 for TripAdvisor ratings, the budget-friendly pub has that old-timey feel thanks to its wood-panelled interiors. You might think with its high ceilings and busy atmosphere (this Nicholsons’ pub is located very close to Snow Hill Station), that The Old Contemptibles couldn’t be considered ‘cosy’, but you’d be wrong.

Divided into distinct drinking areas, with a snug at the back, The Old Contemptibles has that old Victorian feel that’s readymade for wintertime. You won’t find a fireplace, but you will be able to get your hands on a rotating range of real ales, proper British pub grub – with a particular focus on heartwarming pies – and a charming, traditional boozer.

To learn more about The Old Contemptibles head here.

Top 10 most affordable cosy pubs in the UK

1. The Queens Arms, Edinburgh
2. The Old Smiddy, Glasgow
3. The Gwaelod y Garth Inn, Cardiff
4. Ma Boyle’s, Liverpool
5. The Old Bell Inn, Edinburgh
6. Fredriks, Liverpool
7. J.McGuffie & Co, Liverpool
8. The Crown Liquor Saloon, Belfast
9. Circus Tavern, Manchester
10. The Old Contemptibles, Birmingham