The Ruin

Why we love it

Hidden amongst the studios and industrial spaces a stone’s throw from the Custard Factory, you’ll find one of our favourite haunts - The Ruin. With its DIY-cum-dive bar aesthetic, The Ruin is a raucous little pub that never fails to deliver a buzzing atmosphere and plenty of pints.

After opening its doors in 2017, The Ruin has gained quite the reputation, not least because of the look and feel of the pub itself. Inspired by run-down bars in Budapest and Berlin, owner Richard has adorned the space in eclectic up-cycled furniture and photographs of his favourite musicians. Half painted walls and roughly sanded wood panelling deliberately gives The Ruin an edge, as if the space is close to collapsing. You get the sense that The Ruin has an “anything goes” attitude; it’s mix-matched decor gives it a bohemian atmosphere that attracts a wild bunch looking for a good time. With regular live music events, you’ll almost always find yourself right in the middle of the best party in town.

And in the courtyard area out back, The Ruin nods to Digbeth’s rich street art scene. The walls are lined in big pieces, spray painted to look like the very bricks in the wall have fallen through, exposing a new world beyond the confines of the space. Overheard, a web of fairy lights keep this outdoor area a lively hangout until well after the sun has set, and you’ll often find this space a hive of conversation.

When it comes to the bar itself, you’ll find plenty of your old favourites, from pints of Guinness and Satropramen to Blue Moon (served with a thick orange disc of course) and Vedett. Spirits aplenty line the back of the bar, and the fridge is always packed with white wines, a couple of bottles of beers and soft drinks.

The Ruin also dabbles in food too, but don’t expect the usual pub grub. The team here are doing things differently, with goulash, koftas and Hungarian meatballs making up part of their regular menu. On Mondays, they promote meat free eating as much as possible, with special dishes highlighting that a good eat doesn’t need to be based around meat.

Embodying everything a pub should be, you’re going to dig The Ruin as much as we do.