The Tamworth Arms

 Known affectionately by locals as the Bottom House not because it’s a nod to the anarchic tv programme of the same name nor in celebration of an aesthetically pleasing part of the female anatomy (seriously, is that deemed as sexist nowadays?!!) it gets its nickname from the fact it is at the bottom end of the town centre making it the first pub you reach as you approach from Lichfield. 

This was not a pub I used to use much, mainly due to its location and the fact that they used to have a picture of Marc Albrighton hung up in there when the played for villa….yes I really am that petty !! 

It’s all change now, new owner Ginni Singh took the place on in February 2020 however his timing was as bad as a Mark Dennis tackle as COVID restrictions commenced a month later. Delays with the refurbishment (the unofficial story in the town is that there was ‘structural arrangement’ done to some of the walls in this Grade II listed property which fell foul of building inspectors and had to be put right) meant that it was over two years later when the pub reopened but wow, the transformation is a stunning as that of Olivia Newton John in the film Grease when she went from the dowdy, frumpy, goody two shoes Sandra-de to the sexy vamp in skin tight pants Sandy !!

Ginni has chucked over half a million pounds at the place and it shows, him and his team have done a brilliant job. It’s decorated to a very high standard (I sound like one of those estate agents in Homes Under the Hammer) and it is a massive improvement from how it was. 

Both times we have been the place has been buzzing with a good mix of ages. A single cask offering (the uninspiring Doombar) is a bit disappointing but to criticise would be churlish as there’s plenty of keg beers including Madri if that particular cerveza does it for you. There are plenty of tv’s showing major sporting events scattered around the place so you can watch Birmingham City’s push for European dominance. Crikey, the Doombar must’ve been strong !!

One of the major plus points about the place is the food. It was the new owner’s wish for the menu to be an infused East meets West affair. An indication of how serious they are about this is the fact that they replaced the town coat of arms from the front of the pub (I took this picture at the front of the council building but go with it…)..

….and replaced it with the pub’s own crest complete with a balti dish and naan breads…

…now that’s a bold statement !!

My better half and myself had a large grill between us (yes okay the greedy git that writes this nonsense suggested one each) and I have to say it was excellent. The service couldn’t have been more attentive. We did feel guilty though, we didn’t eat all of the sauces that accompanied our poppadoms, and barely touched the red coloured one, unfortunately the waitress (am I allowed to use that term?!!) must’ve tripped on her way back to the kitchen spilling the unused sauce all over the floor and up the walls, it was like a scene from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre!! 

The en-suite rooms (I think there are 21) have been upgraded it is claimed to a boutique standard. There’s no shortage of confidence from these guys, their website claims when you book a room you are ‘guaranteed to have an unbelievable experience’. Rumours that Kelly Brook is hiding in the wardrobe is wide of the 

mark !! 

So, take it from me this is a really good place, the Bottom House is the tops !!