Alfie Bird’s is a multi-storey temple to coolness, with a split-level personality and a great selection of drinks to choose from.
The bar is perfectly placed in the heart of Digbeth, once Birmingham’s manufacturing powerhouse and now the scene of a wholesale takeover by vintage shops and creative studios. At the heart of all this is The Custard Factory, the converted former headquarters of Bird’s Custard, whose current tenants include two art galleries and a 1950s beauty salon. Taking its name from the man who built the brand, Alfie Bird’s overlooks the pool at the centre of the courtyard.
Walk into the ground-floor space and things feel a bit like a hipster frathouse. There are luxury Chesterfields to lounge on, a foosball table and a red telephone box (in case your iPhone 6 dies, of course). They call this The Pizzeria, and the casual vibes go perfectly with the fantastic stone-baked pizza on offer.
Next level up is Libby’s Lounge, a wonderfully kitsch space that sends you straight back to the 1970s. Orange and brown flowers on the wall tread an extremely fine line between vintage and naff. Luckily, the cocktails pull it back from the edge. The Tom Collins (£6.50) is definitely a classic rather than an oldie; gin, lemon, sugar syrup and soda unite for a timeless and refreshing blend.
But the must-try here is Alfie’s vanilla custard martini (£7), a delicious nod to the guy who started it all back when the Custard Factory was just that - a custard factory.