Villa Tavern, Birmingham

A red brick and terracotta corner pub built in 1924-5 for Ansells Brewery by the Birmingham architect, Matthew J. Butcher. He had been responsible before the First World War for alterations to the previous pub on the site, which suffered a fire. The replacement is relatively plain outside and now stands alone; the terraced housing around it having been demolished. The interior retains much of the original work in three rooms; the off sales is now a kitchen. The public bar occupies the angle of the site and retains its counter and bar-back with round arches and mirror glass, good vestibule entrance; also good ceiling decoration. The lobby area between the bar and club room has very typical 1920s tiling. Behind the servery lies a small smoke room complete with fixed seating, bell-pushes, fireplace and ceiling decoration; the counter, however, is modern. The third 'Club Room' is accessed via a passage with inter-war tiled dado and retains some original seating. The original outside toilets remain, now accessed via a covered walkway. Unusually, there are letters on the door, rather than numbers which are a requirement of the licensing magistrates. Beware the sign outside saying 'Built 1897' - simply not true!