Whilst waiting outside (public path) the store owner felt the need to challenge me by asking me…read morewhat I was doing and by telling me to move away. -Baring in mind I'm staying at the hotel next door and purchased an overpriced bong from him the night prior. He then threatened to tip a bucket of water on me from a window above (but pussied it) - before making his dog bark at me on command of "speak". Soft lad couldn't do nothing on his best day and knew it so he eventually shut up and backed off. If he had any sense he'd realise that his actions meant I actually stayed there longer than I would have and returned there whenever I wanted a smoke or waiting for a taxi hahaha Ps clean ya shop ya minger

Wine Lord in Hockley is the absolute GOD of off licenses!…read more When you walk into what appears to be a battered, old, derelict public house you are suddenly overwhelmed with floor to ceiling (and they are high ceilings!) shelves of every kind of booze imaginable. It's not a case of 'what do they have' but more a case of 'what haven't they got?!' Beers, ales, ciders of a zillion varieties, walls and walls of wine, Champagne, spirits, banned alcoholic energy drinks such as CRUNK JUCE and FOUR LOKO (they're allowed to sell off their current stock) - Wine Lord have it all. You can even satiate your late-night chocolate and ice cream cravings. This is a dangerous place! The store manager is a friendly guy of about 30 and he's really helpful. If you can't see what you want then just let him know and I'm sure he'll get it in stock for you. They always have great offers on and it's worth asking for recommendations. It's a great place to grab a few drinks for a sneaky summer picnic in St Paul's Square which is just round the corner. Put that Tesco Clubcard away and hit this little gem instead - you won't regret it. Wine Lord currently have a couple of Facebook pages. Make sure you add them both to get all the updates: https://www.facebook.com/#!/winelord https://www.facebook.com/#!/Winelord1

South Birmingham is spoiled at the moment for beer. Cotteridge Wines has been the Best Bottle Shop…read morein England for 4 years running and just down the road you have the second best, Stirchley Wines. You can see why when you walk in to Cotteridge Wines. Two long aisles rammed full of beer, bottles and cans from all over the world. There's apparently more than 1400 beers on site. They also have a taproom at the back of the shop with seating and a patio area for warmer days. I met some friends there before we headed on to Akram's for dinner. I had time for a couple of beers before we had to leave, and I had time to pick up a few more for the road too. In the taproom I tried Brew By Numbers 08|07 Stout Coffee & Milk and Magic Rock Brewing Sour Passion. Both of these beers were great in their own way. The BBNo beer was great for a cold evening. The Magic Rock could easily keep you going for a session sat in a hot beer garden during the summer and I could happily have sat there all night trying the remaining taps but we had to be off for our reservation at Akram's.

What does the word 'Beer' mean to you? If its 6 cans of Becks Vier for a fiver, you probably arent…read moregoing to be particularly plussed about Cotteridge Wines (though they will happily provide such tipples). If on the other hand beer means wierd, rare and wonderful brews from breweries around the world from Double IPAs to Saisons to Chocolate Imperial Stouts, then Cotteridge Wines will be your Nirvana. A choice of 12 cask ales to be taken home in your 'growler' (or sampled on site in their tasting room / speakeasy), a wall of american, belgian and scandinavian beers and a huge selection of british ales make this possibly the best off license in the UK. They stock beers from brewers such as The Kernel, Mikkeller, Evil Twin and Siren Craft, some of which are seriously difficult to track down in the UK. The beer here isn't cheap (limited quantities, import tax/costs, high quality ingredients, but the prices are very reasonable for what you get, they often beat many mail order companies on price, which is an impressive feat for a 'bricks and mortar' shop (they even sell bottles of certain Brewdog beers at lower costs than the brewery themselves!).

In search of a particular vermouth no longer distributed here in the U.S., I ordered a few bottles…read morefrom HTFW. They shipped the bottles safely and very quickly. They saved my martini--thanks for the help!

Likely England's best location. Knowledgeable staff with products you wont get at the supermarket…read more Prices are low and selection is high. Amazing place well worth the visit.

Vicarage Wines was the stop off for the Friday night session over at me ole muckers place…read more What I like about Vicarage is the wide selection of beers on offer. And I believe it is the first place that I came across a banana beer. I know, a banana beer, what an idea. It's moments like that, when I stop and start to question just how far things have gone in the world of beer making. I mean i'm all for a wide range of beers, but what person in their right mind is going to sit and drink a beer made from bananas? Can you imagine, returning to your mates place with a couple of Banana beers? Imagine the looks you would get. Now, I know, if I was out and someone said, try this banana beer, I might say ooh, go on then, what's it taste like? Just for the sheer novelty of course, but you wouldn't want to get a name for that sort of thing. Granted, it's nice to have a choice when it comes to your bottled beers, but there is a line. Good job there are some more sensible beers on offer and I came away with a couple of tried and tested brews to keep the evening swinging.

The best thing about the stretch of shops along Vicarage Road is that you can get most of your…read moreessentials without having to go into the middle of madness that is often Kings Heath proper. There is also a large area of pavement outside the front of these shops that makes it easy to park off road without blocking the footpath for pedestrians. One such shop along this stretch specialises in one of life's more essential essentials....booze! If you're heading into Kings Heath for a curry, or to visit friends, then this is one of the best places you can stop off at to pick up some drinks. They have various deals on at all times, so you'll probably pick up a bargain if you are buying in anything like a quantity. Beyond that there is a good selection of wines, beers and spirits and all at fairly reasonable prices.

Beware of The Champagne Company and The Drinks Emporium, online wine companies that are taking…read morecustomer money but failing to supply goods or provide refunds. Both have done this to me recently.

I'm so glad this place opened - since it has, I've been there three times, and not just to purchase…read morea bottle from their vast array on offer but to tastings as well. Situated on the Aston Road near the A38 you could be forgiven for missing it, but don't! It would be a mistake not to go. There is parking available outside so there's not even a need to walk. You have to buzz for entry, but once inside you'll see why. There's a large selection of wines, champagnes, spirits and beers on offer. The décor is well laid out and there are seats should you feel the need to sit down just to take it all in! There is a huge amount of champagnes to cater for every taste ranging from Moet to Bollinger to Dom Perignon. Right in the back corner is a separate section for the more exclusive bottles - I suggest you go have a look at least. There's the normal range of spirits but there are loads of more distinct and different brands on offer. I managed to get hold of a flavoured bottle of Absolut that nowhere else had in stock. The staff are brilliant - when I went in looking for a bottle of rum for my boyfriend who loves the stuff, they showed me various ones similar to the ones he has already tried (by the way - the recommendation was amazing and my boyfriend loved it). I've been back several times to buy beer, spirits and wine. The prices are reasonable and similar to those you'd get online - I've always managed to find what I've wanted for a great price. As it has more speciality items, I know I'll be back to further sample the range.

I love the guys that run this place. They are so knowledgeable, but really friendly too. You don't…read morefeel stupid but not knowing much about wine and asking them questions. The shop is situated only a few minutes walk from the City Centre and worth the walk I think. They often have offers on their end of bin ranges, so you can get some really bargain on your favourites, or pick up a decent bottle for a present. -they sell gift tags and wine bags too which is helpful. It is also worth checking out some of the events they hold in the shop. I went to the Burns night special a few years ago, which was sold out and had a brilliant time. I think they regularly do cheese and wine nights, though I've not been yet!

Connolly's has just been refurbished with a fresh new look and thus has earned itself an extra…read morestar... I have always loved Connolly's for it's ridiculous wine selection, great range of interesting spirits and helpful and informative staff; but the new layout, lick of paint and increased selection is just the cherry on the top. Connolly's is situated on Livery Street, over the Queensway from the Colmore Business District. It's quite easy to find (being a few minutes away from the entrance to the St Paul's tram stop), but it might be the kind of place that you have walked on by a few times without checking out the treasures within. Having bumped into Ed at Brewsmiths, I knew the refurb was underway. I had heard they were having a relaunch event from Mary Griffin - but hadn't had time to have a peruse. Yesterday (before an appointment), I had a few minutes to kill and was practically next door. I thought it would be worth a look to see if their new beer selection was as good as Ed has expressed to me when I had seen him... I can confirm the refit has made the business pretty much perfect. They haven't lost the "cave of wonders" feel of having crates of wine scattered around the place, but have extended the amount of storage and space significantly. You've now got a selection of spirits and bubbly to the left hand side (as you walk in), wine EVERYWHERE and a good selection of beers at the back of the store. I popped in and had a quick chat about the new additions to the line up before heading to the back to nose at the beer selection (as I was in the market for a couple of craft beers for "Yelp's Big Night In"). A good selection of both local and further reaching breweries are represented and the beer seems to be priced very reasonably. I picked up a bottle of Bellerose (a local one clocking in at 6.5 - described to me as a very interesting one by Ed), Brewdog "Hardcore IPA" (Which was a total BARGAIN), Sacre Blue "Quaker Cowboy" (mint, lime and coconut porter - can't wait to give this a go), Birds "Apocalypse" (from Bromsgrove - another local one) and a bottle of 3 Tigers "Curry Head" (a brand new one to me) for the princely sum of £11.63. Being a bit of a craft beer fan and having gotten used to paying £3+ a bottle for really interesting stuff, I thought this was more than fair. Obviously, I can't write about the ales yet - but I can commend Connolly's on the refurb and the wider selection. I would still always pop in here for guidance on wine (especially when looking for presents), but I now know I can get my Ale fix here too. I thoroughly recommend a trip to Connolly's to have a nose... I can't recommend your wallet will thank you though!

Looking for an excuse to feel like a sophisticated vintage connoisseur, without actually knowing…read moreanything about wine? Then Loki is the place to be. Hidden away in the charmingly historic Great Western Arcade in the centre of Birmingham, this spot is a gem--like a treasure chest full of wine, with little tasting notes as the map. The magic happens with the tasting machines, where you can try up to 40 wines by the glass--not all at once, you rascal! Want to sample a few without committing to a whole bottle? You can try sips for around £1. It's a great way to find your new favorite drop without the commitment anxiety. Plus, they have these super cool self-service Loki cards, or you can (as I did) trade your credit card for a temp. Get guidance from the lovely staff if you're overwhelmed by all the choices (I was). The selection is as diverse as it is vibrant, with wines from all over the world, and the best part? They're all served at the exact temperature the makers intended--no warm, sad wine here. Looking for sweet wines, my partner and I enjoyed an airy Gewürztraminer, a super fantastic vintage port from Warre, and a delightful coffee-noted port from Penfolds. I also sampled a yummy, peppery and full-bodied Shiraz. While I didn't try the food, the menu looks like it would be the perfect pairing with any glass you pick. Cheese boards, meat boards, olives, focaccia, you know the stuff. Whether you're an aficionado or a casual enthusiast (like me), Loki Wine is a great spot for a laid-back yet luxurious experience. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Brum.

Loki is a technically a wine shop but it has a few unique selling points…read more 1. Phil is super knowledgeable and approachable. If you have a question about wine or need a recommendation he will help you! 2. The beautiful location in Great Western Arcade. The store itself is exceptionally stylish too, all wood shelves, tables made from barrels and a lovely upstairs seating area. 3. It's not just a shop- you can try wines too. You can pick up a card, load it with money, pop the card into the amazing wine dispenser (!) select a small or large taster or a whole glass, and the wine is dispensed into the wine glass you have taken from the rack above. There's a variety of decent reds and whites available. These are good quality wines so a full bottle isn't a cheap option. So having the option to have a good sized sample for anything from 90p-£2 means you can feel more confident buying the whole bottle. So when you've picked a glass of wine you like, you can take it upstairs, sit on the seats, order a cheese or meat board (from Anderson and Hill across the way) and have a completely relaxing afternoon. Even the olive oil is amazing. Highly recommended.

I discovered this shop last week when searching for Crème de Cacao for a cocktail night I was…read morehosting. I was getting a little frustrated as no one seemed to stock it, other than online! I spotted the store while driving past on my way home and figured it was worth a shot. The first thing that I appreciated was that there was allocated parking outside. It is very annoying when you spot something while driving but can't find anywhere to park and have to keep going. The store itself is very large. The shelves are full of various wines, beers, ales, ciders, alcopops, and pretty much anything else you can think of. The spirits section behind the counter was huge and included pretty much any liquor you could think of, including both white and brown Crème de Cacao. The prices were very reasonable and I paid £11.99 for my bottle which is about the same as online retailers were charging. Now that I know where it is, I will be heading back to Michaels whenever I need to find an obscure liquor or just fancy a browse.