A historic public house in Birmingham, built before the advent of electricity, has been restored to its former glory and reopened to the public. The Anchor Digbeth, a fixture of Birmingham’s Irish Quarter since 1797, underwent a £100,000 restoration, thanks to new landlord Peter Connolly, that’s breathed new life into the Grade II listed building.
The Historic England-recognised, terracotta-fronted building was originally constructed to a design by James and Lister Lea—architects responsible for some of Birmingham’s most impressive Victorian-era public houses. It was owned by successive generations of the Keane family since the 1970s, but closed in June 2025.
“It’s a pleasure to finally reopen the doors to this wonderful building, following a renovation that took a little longer than expected – but good things come to those who wait,” said Peter Connolly, who also owns Norton’s in Digbeth. “This is a Birmingham institution, one that we’ve heard stories about going back generations.”
“The building is majestic from the outside, and so it was essential to ensure the interior matches the exterior. Key for me was to restore The Anchor Digbeth in a way that is synonymous with traditional Irish and British pubs… Now it’s about welcoming customers, old and new, and sharing this absolute gem of a pub with the world once again.”
What is The Anchor Digbeth like?
Many of The Anchor’s original features, including its mahogany and rosewood bar and bar back, Minton floor tiling, redwood and pine flooring, cast iron radiators, and stained-glass windows, were preserved, along with the original layout of the main bar, back room, and snug.
A section of the main bar, partitioned off by the original timber and stained-glass, has had its former name, The Midland Red Bar, restored in honour of the historic Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited depot site that once sat next door—it’s now occupied by Birmingham Coach Station.
Featuring upholstery in the same colour as the famous bus livery, as well as photographs and posters donated by National Express, The Midland Red Bar pays homage to the Anchor’s past as a haunt for bus drivers from 1929 to 1986. There’s even a screen dedicated to live arrivals and departures at the station.
With new decking, a stretch covering, bare brick walls, festoon lighting, and a new access point, The Anchor’s revamped intimate garden space has also undergone major works. There’s even a large garden mural playing on the 1928 Cadbury campaign, ‘There’s A Glass And A Half of Full Cream Milk’, adapted for Guinness fans.
Members of UB40, Professor Carl Chinn, the Mayor of the West Midlands, and Birmingham’s Irish business community helped relaunch The Anchor Digbeth on Friday, October 31—sampling six new cask lines for ales and cider, three keg lines for independently produced ales, and drinks from Church End Brewery and Spirit of Birmingham.
The Anchor Digbeth is open from midday to midnight, Mondays to Sundays.