The Bartons Arms

The Bartons Arms is a historic public house on High Street in the Aston area of Birmingham, England. The building stands at the junction of Newtown High Street and Park Lane and is an important surviving example of the elaborate late-Victorian and Edwardian pub architecture associated with Birmingham. Constructed in 1900–1901 for Mitchells & Butlers, it was designed by the architectural partnership of James and Lister Lea, whose work helped define the city’s distinctive tradition of highly decorated urban pubs. The pub is particularly notable for its richly preserved interior. Its design includes extensive Minton-Hollins tilework, carved wood, stained glass, wrought iron, Victorian lanterns, Dutch gables and a central clock tower. Historic social divisions within the building were expressed through its layout. Snob screens enabled middle-class customers to look into an adjoining bar used by working-class drinkers without being observed by them. The present public bar was originally divided into three areas, while the upstairs rooms were used for billiards, clubs and functions. These architectural and social features have made the building valuable not only as a hospitality venue but also as a document of British pub history. The Bartons Arms became a Grade II* listed building and was included on the Campaign for Real Ale’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. Its identity has therefore rested on both its commercial operation and its heritage significance. The venue has also been associated with Aston’s entertainment history. Laurel and Hardy stayed there in May 1954 while appearing at the nearby Aston Hippodrome, and photographs were taken of them serving beer behind the bar. Other performers reported to have visited include Marie Lloyd, Enrico Caruso and Charlie Chaplin. Ozzy Osbourne, who grew up in Aston, was also a former patron. After being out of use for approximately three years, the building was acquired by Oakham Ales in 2002 and restored before reopening in 2003. Under that operation it served Oakham beers and developed a food offer centred on Thai cuisine, giving the historic pub a broader contemporary proposition. The building later experienced a serious fire on 28 July 2006, reportedly caused by an electrical fault, but continued to operate as a landmark venue. The pub suffered significant damage during the 2011 England riots. It was looted, windows were smashed and fires were started inside, although the manager, Wichai Thumjaron, reportedly extinguished the fires quickly. Police attending the incident were fired upon with a nineteenth-century St Étienne revolver. Five men and a teenager were subsequently jailed following the investigation. The Bartons Arms also has a substantial cultural profile. It appeared in Atom Egoyan’s 1999 film Felicia’s Journey and in Ron Dawson’s 2006 novel The Last Viking: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Heist. It was featured by ATV Today in 1974, included in several Birmingham food and pub recommendations, and was recognised by The Guardian among notable British pubs. CAMRA included it in the Good Beer Guide 2019. The venue closed without prior notice on 31 January 2024, with the then leaseholder citing rising operating costs. It reopened under a new leaseholder in August 2024, but closed again in July 2025. Its future as an operating pub is therefore uncertain, while its listed building and historic interior remain the central assets of the Bartons Arms identity.

The Bartons Arms was built in 1900–1901 on High Street in Aston, Birmingham, for Mitchells & Butlers. Its architects were James and Lister Lea, a partnership associated with Birmingham’s richly decorated pub architecture. The building was conceived as a substantial urban public house and included a public bar, upstairs billiard and club rooms, and function spaces. Its interior became the defining feature of the venue. Wall-to-wall Minton-Hollins tiles, carved wood, stained glass, wrought iron, Victorian lanterns, Dutch gables and a central clock tower created an unusually elaborate environment. The interior also recorded the social organisation of the period. Snob screens allowed middle-class customers to observe an adjoining bar used by working-class customers without being seen by them. The public bar, now a single space, was originally divided into three sections. The pub developed a strong connection with Aston’s entertainment district because it stood close to the Aston Hippodrome. Laurel and Hardy stayed at the pub in May 1954 while performing at the theatre, and images of them serving beer behind the bar were taken there. Other performers associated with visits include Marie Lloyd, Enrico Caruso and Charlie Chaplin. Ozzy Osbourne, who grew up locally, was also a former customer. The Bartons Arms became a Grade II* listed building and was placed on the Campaign for Real Ale’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. In 2002, Oakham Ales acquired the building after it had been unused for roughly three years. The company restored the pub and reopened it in 2003, serving Oakham beers and Thai food. A fire on 28 July 2006, reportedly caused by an electrical fault, damaged the premises. During the 2011 England riots, the pub was looted, its windows were smashed and fires were started. Manager Wichai Thumjaron reportedly put out the fires quickly. Police attending the scene were fired upon with a nineteenth-century St Étienne revolver, and five men and a teenager were later imprisoned after the police investigation. The venue’s heritage profile was reinforced by media and cultural appearances. It featured in Atom Egoyan’s 1999 film Felicia’s Journey and in Ron Dawson’s 2006 novel The Last Viking: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Heist. ATV Today produced a feature about the pub in 1974. Later recognition included Guardian recommendations in 2015, 2016 and 2018, a Birmingham Mail feature on its Thai food, and inclusion in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2019. The pub closed on 31 January 2024, with the leaseholder citing rising costs. It reopened in August 2024 under new management but closed again in July 2025. The operating status of the pub after that closure is not established by the supplied sources.

• 2025

  Second recent closure

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  The pub closed again in July.

• 2024

  Closure, reopening and media appearance

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  The pub closed in January, reopened under new management in August and appeared on Adam Richman Eats Football in December.

• 2019

  Included in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  The pub was included in the 2019 edition of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

• 2018

  Named among the United Kingdom’s notable pubs

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  The Guardian included The Bartons Arms in a list of the top 50 pubs in the United Kingdom.

• 2006

  Fire damages the building

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  A fire reportedly caused by an electrical fault damaged the pub on 28 July.

• 2003

  Reopening after restoration

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  The restored pub reopened, serving Oakham ales alongside Thai food.

• 2002

  Acquisition by Oakham Ales

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  Oakham Ales acquired the long-unused pub and began a restoration programme.

• 1974

  ATV Today feature

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  Local television programme ATV Today produced a feature about the pub; the film is held by the British Film Institute.

• 1901

  The pub is completed

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  The Bartons Arms opened as an ornate urban public house in Aston, Birmingham.

• 1900

  Construction begins

  [1]The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org

  Mitchells & Butlers commissioned the building, designed by the pub-architecture partnership of James and Lister Lea.

A heritage-focused Birmingham pub combining a nationally significant Victorian interior with traditional pub drinks, Thai food and cultural-tourism appeal.

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

  Pub beverages

  The Bartons Arms operated primarily as a traditional British pub, offering beer and other drinks. During the Oakham Ales period, Oakham beers were specifically associated with the venue and formed part of its craft-beer and heritage-pub positioning.

• Restaurant and pub food

  Thai food

  The venue complemented its historic pub offer with an in-house Thai restaurant. This food proposition broadened the business beyond drinks and was highlighted in local coverage as one of the pub’s distinctive comfort-food offerings.

• Hospitality and events

  Private functions

  Upstairs rooms were originally used for billiards and clubs and later supported functions. These spaces formed part of the building’s broader hospitality role and helped connect the venue to community, entertainment and event use.

• 2011

  Rioting and firearms incident

  During the 2011 England riots, The Bartons Arms was looted and damaged, fires were started inside and police responding to the incident were fired upon with a nineteenth-century revolver. Five men and a teenager were later jailed.

  Source

Read more

• 2024

  Close because of rising operating costsOther

  Background

  The leaseholder stated that rising costs had made continued operation commercially unviable.

  Action taken

  The pub closed on 31 January 2024 without prior notice.

  Aftermath

  A new leaseholder reopened the venue in August 2024, but the pub closed again in July 2025.

  Source

• 2002

  Acquire and restore a historic pubStrategy

  Background

  The building had been out of use for approximately three years and required restoration.

  Action taken

  Oakham Ales acquired the pub and restored it for a new operating phase.

  Aftermath

  The venue reopened in 2003 with Oakham ales and Thai food.

  Source

1. 1The Bartons Armsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Bartons Arms official websitethebartonsarms.com
3. 3The Bartons Arms, National Heritage List for England entry 1076341historicengland.org.uk