The Good Intent, Birmingham

Found in the Great Western Arcade, the Good Intent looks inviting from the outside with curved left and right-hand front windows either side of a central entrance that opens into a bare boarded bar with a central column that has a beer shelf wrapped around for vertical drinking. Across the left-hand front window is a stool lined beer shelf and on the left wall is a staircase to the first floor. In the exposed brick rear is seating under a small skylight and the serving counter is found to the right where four of the six hand pumps were in use drawing three Craddock’s Brewery ales alongside Ossett’s Swally Rat. I went for half the Yankee that didn’t really taste of anything and was a bit short. This isn’t the biggest of places, so I decided to take a look upstairs where I found a thin curved strip of seating along a balcony that overlooks the arcade below, although the door was locked so access wasn’t possible. Looking at the height of the outside railings, I assumed this was a health and safety decision. At the end of this strip of seating are a reed organ and a chaise lounge that fit well with the surroundings. A less interesting space is a large open plan overflow seating area that is located above the shops to the left of the pub. Overall, I thought this place was interesting, but I didn’t settle so now that I’ve been I’ll probably not return.

In the very pretty Great Western Arcade with a very pretty façade to match. Modern inside (boo) but a fairly tidy conversion with a nice sunlight iron ceiling and exposed brick. Posh sarnies in the fridge for 4-5 sheets. Six pumps with four Craddocks and two guests. Not being a fan of Craddocks I thought I'd play safe with a Hobsons Twisted Spire but unfortunately I got a dishwasher half (NBSS 2) so the local CAMRAs are correct in not Guiding the place. So an interesting curio but the beer quality is lacking; in fact in the 15 mins I spent here I didn't see any others poured. Let’s say the place lives up to its name. 6.5