The UK’s Best Canalside Pub For An Affordable Pint Is Only 20 Miles Outside Of Birmingham

The sun is shining, and all I want is a drink down by the water. The first thing I’m going to do when I clock off from Secret Birmingham later is head straight to the canals. From The Botanist and Distillery to the Malt House and Tap & Spile, there are plenty of great canalside spots to choose from. But the UK’s best canalside pub is about 20 miles east.

The narrowboat travel agency, Roam And Roost Canal Boat Holidays, has recently revealed its list for the UK’s best canalside pubs. Looking at Google and Tripadvisor reviews, mixed in with its own opinion, it’s determined the best pubs in the UK for an affordable canalside pint—and two of the top five are here in Birmingham, Pitcher & Piano and The Flapper.

Two very different vibes, but both very Birmingham, Pitcher & Piano has perfected the art of bottomless brunches and 2-4-1 cocktails, while The Flapper is one of Birmingham’s most iconic alternative music venues. Finishing second and fourth, respectively, neither was able to take the crown from a lesser-known pub on the edge of Coventry.

The Greyhound Inn is a traditional, early 1800s boozer, described on Google as having “a higgledy-piggledy interior and buzzy atmosphere.” Serving pub classics—pies, burgers, ploughmans—as well as everything from a balti to a lasagne, you’ll find a hearty meal to pair well with your cheap ale and canalside views.

While some may find this cosy Grade II-listed building a touch old-fashioned, its local charm, welcoming atmosphere and scenic sights cannot be denied. Its large outside space makes it perfect on hot days like these, too, while being located next to the Oxford Canal and Coventry Canal provides plenty of walking options.

The UK’s best canalside pubs:

1. The Greyhound Inn (Coventry)
2. Pitcher And Piano (Birmingham)
3. The Black Star (Stourport On Severn)
4. The Flapper (Birmingham)
5. Bridge Inn (Burton upon Trent)
6. Telfords Warehouse (Chester)
7. Hand & Dagger (Salwick)
8. Canalhouse Bar and Restaurant (Nottingham)
9. The Perky Peacock (York)
10. Queens Head (Stoke Pound)

To see the complete list of the UK’s best canalside pubs head here.