The Old Contemptibles — Restaurant in Birmingham

I've been visiting The OCs for almost 20 years, pre and post refurb/Nicholson take over. It did used to be a great pub, but now, in my opinion, it is just OK. I used to be in there every day without fail, but there are near by pubs that I would now much rather frequent, for both atmosphere and price. I tend to visit of a lunch time only, as close to 5pm you can't move in there. Whilst The OCs is a very nice looking pub and has a nice selection of beer, I find the atmosphere pretty non existent at times and on more than one occasion of late, I have had to wait for staff to finish chatting before appearing at the bar to serve. I also find that frequently the bar staff are unaware of who is next to be served, which is the very least someone who works behind a bar should be able to do. I don't like to watch someone who arrived after me be served first and customers should not have to be relied upon to tell bar staff who is next. Also, if you take Hop House 13 for example, your price is significantly more expensive than the next closest pub. The food is also not as good as it used to be. On the last 3 occasions I have eaten there, there has been a problem. These problems were dealt with at the time, so no need to go into specifics here, but they have resulted in me no longer wanting to eat in The OCs, which is a shame as you used to do a great burger. A "great" Nicholsons pub is The Shakespeare on Summer Row, 5 minutes away. A very good Nicholsons pub is The Shakespeare near New St. I won't name none Nicholsons pubs here, but there are at least 4 “great" pubs within walking distance. The OCs is not bad, but in my opinion is is worthy of...

The food had its ups and downs. Portions were large.

I had the fish and chips. I enjoyed it. Few things missing though to make it better. Lemon piece was small, very small even for 3 pieces of fish.

Fries came without sauce. Can't imagine adding mayonnaise would inflict a terrible loss of profit so not sure why this wasn't added. This would not be acceptable in Belgium 😅

The mashed peas weren't brining much. Bit of a letdown to be fair. Just add salad then.

Service was a bit lacking. By the time the last people on our table got their food, the first people had already finished (polite waiting wasn't an option as it took so long). Apparently only one cook was present so they explained a lot. We were also offered some portions of fries to compensate.

Meat was cold in the end so that was really a letdown. We could understand an understaffed problem but meat arriving cold is unacceptable. The steaks were really bad. Again, we'd assume this was due to the missing cook but in the end this review is only for tonight and tonight simple was lacking.

Now to the good points. Portions were sizable. I had fish and chips and enjoyed it (apart from the peas). Home made tartar was good but again barely enough for three pieces of fish. I did enjoy my meal though.

Waiters were nice and quick to respond. Just annoying food didn't arrive at the table together.

The mandatory tipping of 10% after service received wasn't really acceptable either. We felt cheated afterwards.

I wouldn't recommend this place. The prices were too high for...

Absolutely! Here's a glowing five-star review you can leave for Alexa at the Nicholson’s pub in the OCs, Birmingham:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five-Star Review

I can’t say enough good things about Alexa — she is, hands down, the best waitress in the OCs, and honestly, probably the best I’ve ever had anywhere. From the moment I arrived, she was warm, welcoming, and incredibly attentive without ever being overbearing. She knew exactly when to check in and always had a genuine smile that made the whole experience feel personal and special.

Alexa has this amazing ability to make you feel like you’re her top priority, even when the pub is busy. She’s quick, professional, and totally on top of everything — but it’s her personality that really sets her apart. Friendly, funny, and just a joy to be around. You can tell she really cares about what she does and about the people she’s serving.

Honestly, Alexa puts everyone else to shame — she’s in a league of her own. The service she provided was flawless from start to finish, and thanks to her, I left the pub feeling 100% satisfied. If every server were like her, the hospitality industry would be unstoppable.

Massive thank you to Alexa — you’re an absolute star. Can’t wait to come back!

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