The Plough Round Up - 15/05/2013

Looks like it’s going to be a classic British summer! Lovely, warm and sunny one minute; cold, wet and gloomy the next, no surprises there then. 

However, bank holiday weekend was fantastic, for those of you who couldn’t join us check out the shots from our beer garden. Fingers crossed for a few more of those glorious sunny days!

Plough coffee blend

Last week our Plough baristas visited ‘Has bean’, our coffee supplier to check out what’s been roasting and to make sure our espressos are the best in town. After tasting numerous samples of coffee we think we’ve almost perfected our Plough blend, we’ll keep you posted. www.hasbean.co.uk

What’s On Tap

This week we have Twisted Spire 3.6%, a light ale from Hobsons Brewery www.hobsons-brewery.co.uk and UBU 4.5%, a dark, full flavoured ale from Purity with a slightly sweet finish. www.puritybrewing.com

What’s Behind The Bar

Our whisky collection continues to grow! From Japan we welcome Nikka Pure Malt Black, made from Yochi malt. It’s well balanced and flavoured and really good to drink at any time for any reason, try one and see.

What’s on the hi-fi

Bill Withers - Lovely Day. Towards the end of the song, Withers holds a note for 18 seconds. This is believed to be the second-longest note in UK chart history, behind Morten Harket of A Ha’s 20-second note in Summer Moved On. #fact

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYi7uEvEEmk

Please tweet us anymore classics you want to hear being played over the summer.

Did You Know?

If you stacked the burger buns that we sell each week on top of each other, you could reach the height of Birmingham airport’s air traffic control tower!

Meet The Team

This week we chat to our very lovely Hattie Partington.

Hi Hattie

HP. Hello,

What’s your story then?

HP. Well I’m Hattie Jay. I’m 21 from Oxford. I moved to Brum last September… so let’s see, I’ve been here for 6 months and i’m loving it!

Really?

HP. Yes… having a smashing time (giggle)!

What’s with the giggle?

HP. Well I’m a bit clumsy and have a habit of dropping stuff. So if you here a smash behind the bar followed by a chorus of “Haaattie…” that’s because a glass has smashed, but it’s not always me… I promise.

What would you recommend from the menu?

HP. Fave thing on menu is the Plough burger, because i’m nuts about gherkins.

What is your drink of choice?

HP. Spiced rum & ginger beer because i’m spicy!!!

And last of all but not least please tell us two truths and one untruth about your good self?

1. I have sung twice at the Royal Albert Hall
2. I made my parents wedding cake
3. I was born on the side of Mt. Vesuvius

Please tweet if you think you know the answer.

The Plough Round Up - 24/04/2013

Hi guys sorry for the lack of action over the last month but we’ve had so much going on with people coming and going. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to Will Betts last week who’s moved to the Lake District. We wish him all the best. However, we’ve had some new members join are team so please pop in and say hello.

New Summer Menu

We have our new summer menu starting this week. Check out our new range of burgers. Don’t forget it’s still two for the price of one all day Tuesdays. Or why not have something different and try the baked Italian sausage with puy lentils and smoked paprika cream.

What’s On Tap

Hobsons Town Crier 4.5%

What’s Behind The Bar

James has also recently been to France and brought back some Pastis. Try it served with a drop of water.

Album Of The Week

Goes to James Blake’s Overgrown, an impressive second album that is as varied as it is cohesive. This is proving to be quite popular.

And One From The Archives…

Booker T & the MG’s Green Onions. This is an instrumental R&B hit recorded in 1962. Green Onions is currently ranked as the 85th greatest song of all time, as well as the best song of 1962 by Acclaimed Music. Check this out for a classic riff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-7QSMyz5rg

Please tweet us anymore classics you want to hear being played over the summer.

Did You Know?

We use the smallest milk bottles in Birmingham at just 50 ml! You can find these with your pot of tea and jammy dodger or with your single origin filter coffee.

Meet The Team

This week we chat to Will Arnold known better to himself (and maybe a couple of others) as the Prince of Harborne. He is the eldest of the Arnold clan (did you know there are three of them here at The Plough). 

Hi Will

WA. Hi

Where have you been these last few months?

WA. I’ve been off traveling around Thailand with my lovely girlfriend.

Happy to be back?

WA. Yes… really happy!

Any plans to return to Thailand?

WA. Hopefully yes. In between working here at The Plough I’m studying a Masters in Law, however, my life plan is to win the Euro Millions and maybe, just maybe I will take you all to Thailand with me!

What would you recommend from the menu?

WA. It would have to be the Beef Chili. Not only does it taste great but is high in protein and low in carbs.

What is your drink of choice?

WA. Greygoose vodka with lots of ice and lime.

And last of all but not least please tell us two truths and one untruth about your good self?

1. I went to University in Newcastle
2. My hair is naturally straight
3. I have at least two sun beds a week

Please tweet if you think you know the answer.

The Plough Round Up - 1/3/13

Day trippers: This week our head chef and two sous chefs took a trip to London. Both for research and as a chance for them to look at service from the other side.  All of them were inspired by the Notting Hill’s ‘Electric Diner’. Take a look! http://www.electricdiner.com

Early Bird Catches The Worm: We’re pleased to announce that due to popular demand, our 2-4-1 brunch offer is back on for all of March & April. Also, be sure to pick up a loyalty card for your hot drinks and have a coffee on us!

Very Cherry: Check out the latest edition to the Fentimans soft drink range here at The Plough. Fentimans Cherry Tree Cola is a traditional soda that is botanically brewed to an original recipe! Great as a refreshing afternoon drink, or served over ice with a classic Bourbon!

Back Home: We’re pleased to have an old face back on the bar this week as Ellis has returned from his 5 month travels. “Elton’ as he’s known has spent time in South-East Asia, New Zealand as well as 5 weeks in Fiji teaching rugby! Plus, he’s picked up a winter tan so he wont be hard to miss amongst all of us!

Record Of The Week: Mikky Ekko - Hold Me Down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEvXzSXUEao

Plough Round Up - Burns Night Special

All you need to know is tonight we will have:

• Whiskey
• Haggis (original…and on the Plough’s special pizza)
• Neeps and Tatties
• Good times

So, get brushed up on old Rabbie’s ‘Address to Haggis’ and see you there:

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, 

Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race! 

Aboon them a’ ye tak your place, 

Painch, tripe, or thairm : 

Weel are ye wordy o’a grace 

As lang’s my arm. 

The groaning trencher there ye fill, 

Your hurdies like a distant hill, 

Your pin wad help to mend a mill 

In time o’need, 

While thro’ your pores the dews distil 

Like amber bead. 

His knife see rustic Labour dight, 

An’ cut you up wi’ ready sleight, 

Trenching your gushing entrails bright, 

Like ony ditch; 

And then, O what a glorious sight, 

Warm-reekin’, rich! 

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive: 

Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive, 

Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve 

Are bent like drums; 

Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, 

Bethankit! hums. 

Plough Round Up - 18th January

Purity Double Bill: We’ve got 2 Purity ales on tap this week, joining the regular favourite Mad Goose is the delicious UBU.

Breakfast Light Reading: Grab some food for thought off the sharing table, with daily newspapers and a selection of magazines including Wallpaper, GQ, Monocole, and World of Interiors.

Noodling Around Town: If you are looking for some Chinese food in the city centre and you think a bowl of noodles will tickle you, we can recommend Minmin on Bromsgrove Street. All fresh and the real deal.

Never Board of Coffee: Latest coffee blend is up on the peg board, with Has Bean supplying us with the limited edition ‘Hangover Cure’. So now we have all you need to see you well in the night and look after you the next morning too.

No Sleepy Sundays: Most people like to take it easy on the weekend, but we’ve decided to take things up a notch with local favourites Shampoo supplying the live music, playing all the classics from 6pm.

Winter Warmer:  By the time you’re reading this Birmingham may have been covered by a blank of crisp snow. While you may not want to venture into our garden, we’ll be cosy inside with a roaring fire. To get the feeling back in toes, resident Scottsman Laird Burns recommends a dram of Bruichladdich Infinity. An excellent and unique whiskey available on the bar.

Festival Spirit: Speaking of whiskey, we’re thoroughly looking forward to Birmingham’s Whiskey festival coming to town on the 2nd March.

Tweet Of The Week: From Jennifer Peel: “So difficult getting up on these dark winter mornings but thought of @PloughHarborne breakfast with @LDoddsie has helped massively”

Top 50 for Coffee: We’ve had a fantastic caffeinated fuelled start to the New Year, mainly driven by our listing in the Independent’s 50 Best Coffee Shops - including a flat white crafted in The Plough on the front cover.

Brewing Something Special: In order to celebrate this, along with the new year, we have got a little something in from our coffee roasters Has Bean, to kick start 2013 the right way and brush off the cobwebs and foggy heads caused by the indulgences of the festive period. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourself for Has Bean’s ‘Hangover Cure’.

A full on punch in the face of an espresso, described by our suppliers as ‘ying and yang have a pub brawl in your mouth’ sounded too good to resist (not that we condone brawls in our establishment, only in our mugs.) This is a limited edition blend with only 1000 bags and we have 24 of them, and believe me, they’ll go quick.

Thank You to Early Risers: You may have noticed that we’re opening our doors for brunch from 8 am on weekdays now (with a 2 for 1 on breakfasts to tempt you in), but if you grab a hot beverage then we’ll be sure you give you a coffee reward card - 7 stamps on you’ll get a coffee of your choice on us.

Cheers to 2012: You were a great year! Thank you to our loyal customers for sticking with us while we made The Plough a better place. Now we’re open again in full swing and we couldn’t be more excited for 2013. We hope to see you soon and remember to let us know what you think.

Plough Round Up - End of Year Special

Holiday Closing: In case you missed it, here are the times we’ll be giving our staff a little rest over the Christmas period…

Christmas Eve - 11am until 12am (WE WILL STOP SERVING FOOD AT 5PM) 

Christmas day  - Closed for a well deserved break

Boxing day - 12pm until 11pm

Open as normal between Thursday 27th & Sunday 30th December

New Years Eve - 11am until 5pm 8pm until 2am tickets only

New Years Day - 12pm until 11pm

For more information head over to the website or just give us a call if you have any questions.

Party Countdown: Only a handful of tickets left for our New Years Speakeasy celebration. Word about Gray’s Road Whistling Stop is getting out. Get in on the secret before it’s too late.

No Better Present: If you’re still stuck for getting presents, then check out our Gift Cards that can brought online.

Morning Openings: As of Tuesday 8th January, we will be opening early for breakfasts and brunches from 8am in the morning Monday to Friday.  You’ll be able to drop in for your morning coffees or enjoy a pre-work eggs benedict. More details on that to come soon…

Plough Round Up 14/12/12

‘Tis The Season: Our halls are decked with festive adornments ready for Christmas, so pay a visit if you want to get in the spirit of the season.

Play It Loud: The Black Keys played Birmingham recently, a true Plough favourite.

Have A Nibble:  We like to put on a nice spread, so get cosy on the sharing table and have a nibble on our nuts available every evening for your pleasure.

Santa’s Special Brew: We have the festive and fruity Kris Kringle ale on tap, a limited local edition from Walsall ale masters Backyard Brewhouse.

Flexing Our Menu: We now have Mussels are now serve Mussels as part of our regular menu, but the sauce changes daily and can be found on the Specials menu. All mussels are served with fries, bread and garlic mayonaisse. Available as either a starter or a main.

Yuletide Sweettooth: During the day is a selection of Christmasy baked goods, including an impressively archticted, but oh so tempting, gingerbread house.

The Rumours Are Spreading: Whispers are spreading about our New Year’s Speakeasy Party. Tickets are running out, so get yours quickly before the secret is out.

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful: But inside the Plough is so delightful, especially when you can grab a table next to the fire - recommended accompaniment: hot chocolate.

Plough Round Up - Refurb Special

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to say the refurbishment is all finished. We invite you to now come on down and see The Plough like you never have before, adorned with extra seating, a new winter menu and great sharing table in front of our beautiful new coffee area.

Check out some of the shots above to get a sneak peek of the new additions to the pub. Highlights include the Pastrami and Swiss Cheese open sandwich, the return of the infamous ‘Adam’s Hotdogs’ sign,  new lighting with a theatrical twist as well as a number of new toys to join our encased Star Wars friends.

We’ve also added some festive touches, along with a plush evergreen out in the garden; but you wont be able to enjoy them unless you come down and see it.

All the best from your refurbished friendly neighbourhood pub.

Whats Changing: The Slayer is on the move this week, relocated to our new coffee area.

Guest Ale: Kinver Edge is on tap, a light hoppy beer from a local Stourbridge brewery.

Getting in the Spirit: We have a selection of vodkas and gins from the English Spirit Distillery. Variations include Colombian Coffee, Vanilla and Cucumber.

Tweet of the Week: “‘Coming to you live’ by Charles Earland on the playlist at @PloughHarborne Whoever picks the tunes knows good music.” by @mattybfly 

Big Thanks: We’ve been given the 2012 Diners’ Choice Award by toptable due to the reviews we’ve been receiving on our booking site. Thanks taking the time to share some kind words.

Update From The Garden: Windows are in and things are starting to take shape.

Festive Pop-Up: Number 22 is a based Christmas pop-up shop that has 12 Jewellery Quarter based jewellers and silversmiths displaying their works in a temporary setup at the Great Western Arcade.