Redbeer'd bar in Birmingham - a year on

*All photographs were taken prior to lockdown restrictions.

It’s been almost 12 months since I visited the guys at Redbeer’d on Birmingham’s renowned Stirchley Beer Mile. Best friends Ant and Vicki, who had been in the trade for many years had decided to make the jump to create their own dream bar. Chatting to them over a casual interview accompanied by a pint from Fownes was awesome and probably one of the most relaxed interviews I’ve ever had but little did we know what was about to unfold… Within weeks, there would be a midst of confusion and panic in what now may well be one of the biggest global public health disasters known to mankind. Their first year of running their own place would be overshadowed by mixed government messages, false starts and lockdowns. One thing’s for sure, hospitality hasn’t been treated particularly well, with an estimated figure of around 660,000 job losses, something almost unimaginable 12 months ago. The more worrying part of this sad story is that Britain may well lose an integral part of its culture and tradition. Some may argue that pub closures were vital to save human life, arguing that it was one of the key drivers of the pandemic, however others disagree with skewed figures painting just one part of the picture leading the industry to become a scapegoat. Redbeer’d are still alive and kicking, relying on deliveries which they had just finished when I caught up with them for a (virtual) beer and Q&A over Zoom…

So guys, did you imagine that this year would turn out the way it did? 

Ant & Vicki combined: “NO!”

Ant: “We never had the purchase of milk bottles to use as growlers as part of our business plan! [Laughs] ...This is going to sound so generic but we’ve developed a cracking brand and built up a Redbeer’d community because of that. Do our customers desperately need a delivery? No, but they are purchasing from us to help us out.”

Vicki: “It’s so true, ultimately you don't want to be spending four or five quid for a pint you're just drinking at home on your sofa. But people are because they know it's helping to keep us going, which is just so lovely of them!”

“So trying to find the positives, the community has been really working together, helping each other out, local bars who can’t sell stock locally, selling it to us for a nice price to other local bars which has been quite sweet.”

Ant: It's been a bitch of a first year and one hell of a ride but I'm just really proud that we utilised the first lockdown, getting all the work done that we needed to do getting a permanent bar sorted with the equipment and having a bit of a refurb. I’m trying to find the positives because I'm just sick of negativity. Also a lot of people have been absolutely wonderful during this period, as helpful as they can be, especially breweries letting us take stock and pay later. So trying to find the positives, the community has been really working together, helping each other out, local bars who can’t sell stock locally, selling it to us for a nice price to other local bars which has been quite sweet.”

Vicki: “I think everyone is just trying to get through this together, with a real community feel amongst all the bars, with everyone pulling together.”

What has been the biggest challenge?

Ant: “Keeping going to establish ourselves.”

Vicki: “Yeah. Jumping through the hoops as well, especially just before they stopped pubs opening. Some of the rules were absolutely ridiculous with one household per table, which is completely unpoliceable. Also at one point we were turning people away when we had 13 people in the entire place, despite the capacity being double that... we couldn't have any more people in because we had one person on each table.”

“Ironically with the initial load capacity drop, I think we accidentally stumbled across our ideal layout. We really like our setup now.”

Ant: “We did everything we could but between the two lockdowns, one week you'd think right we’ve got everything in place, we know how many people we can have in and know what's going on but then suddenly the goalposts would be moved again. Ironically with the initial load capacity drop, I think we accidentally stumbled across our ideal layout. We really like our setup now.”

Vicky: “It was a nightmare with table service only when we have just as many people upstairs as downstairs. We must have run up and down those stairs hundreds of times and the card machine didn't work upstairs very well at all!”

What support have you guys had from the government or the council?

Vicki: “So first lockdown, they were actually really good. They were really hot on the grant which we got really quickly. But as it’s gone on the help has got less, applying for the money to help us through the tier system from November was actually really quite complicated, with loads of reference numbers from previous emails required.”

Ant: “It's just frustrating when you're told dates of when the money is coming in and they’re not followed through. We’re owed money from the government and once the money comes in, it's gone on deferred rents and bills. Not that we can complain because other people have got it worse than us. Also a one grand grant was an insult for us and we're tiny… how far do you think that one grand would go in a big pub like The Wellington!?” 

“It just shows how little they understand about the importance of December to hospitality.”

Vicki: “I think they didn’t take into account that wet-led bars were losing all of their December trade. I know that free money is free money but in comparison to what we could have been making in December, it's such a trivial amount. It just shows how little they understand about the importance of December to hospitality.”

Ant: “There also seems to have been an unprecedented level of blame put on the hospitality sector as a whole by the government. But really we were one of the most well policed sectors, using the track and trace system effectively.”

What are your hopes for 2021?

Vicki: “Have someone sat in a chair in front of our bar!”

Ant: “Yeah, someone to be able to come to the bar, order their drink and take it to their table.”

What will be the first place that you hit up for a beer once lockdown is lifted?

Ant: “I miss my local The Midland on Bearwood High Street and I’ll be enjoying a nice session pale on cask.”

Vicki: “The Welly, it’s my default where I’d go and enjoy a good beer with my mates and play board games before the quiz.”

Cheers for chatting to me guys, it’s great that you are still pushing the beer out via deliveries - to order from Redbeer’d locally just click here for more info. I’m looking forward to catching Ant & Vicki for a REAL pub meet up soon!