We are all probably a little too obsessed with pop culture as it is; from TV shows to music to cinema, everyone consumes everything all of the time. In the so-called Age of The Internet, it’s hard not to. So the chance to get out of the house once in a while can become the perfect excuse to forget about what’s happening in the zeitgeist. That is unless you’re heading over to Couch in Stirchley.
The cocktail bar takes inspiration from a range of pop culture sources for its menus. Changing every six months, Couch’s previous themes have focused on matching cocktails to iconic women in music, such as Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox, and some of the nation’s favourite TV shows, like Blackadder, Ugly Betty or Dragonball Z. There’s usually a drink here for every type of fandom.
Don’t expect this to be some shallow naming convention, however. The Stirchley bar really does take influence from the sources it shakes into recipes. For example, on the TV menu, the use of clarified apricot yoghurt for Brooklyn Nine-Nine was an obvious nod to the yoghurt-loving Terry, while the lapsang tea gin for Eastenders can only be a callback to Dot’s infamous herbal mishap.
If you tried the movie-inspired menu, the Lost in Translation cocktail caught our eye. The Japanese influence is obvious from its use of Toki whiskey, plum, cherry blossom and toasted barley. Currently, Couch is serving a handcrafted cocktail menu inspired by its own greatest hits.
Called Now That’s What I Call Couch Vol.1, highlights include the movie-inspired A Nightmare on Elm Street and A Bronx Tale, or song-inspired Strawberry Letter 23 and Airmail Special. A select wine list and rotating special cocktails on draught are also available.
We’re not the only ones who think Couch makes a truly fine drink either. Despite only opening in 2019, it was voted 12th among the Top 50 Cocktail Bars earlier this year. (It broke into the list for the first time in 2022, coming in at 37.) In four years, Couch has established itself as one of the best cocktails bars in the West Midlands and beyond.
Even if you’re not caught up on the latest TV shows or coolest bands, don’t worry. You’re still bound to find something to your fancy at Couch. The pop culture theme ends at the menu, with a clean, spacious and stylish interior available for guests to relax in. Also, keep an eye out for special events that range from bar takeovers to food pairings. To learn more head here.
Couch in Stirchley is open every Tuesday to Sunday and only does walk-ins.