Drum & Monkey

Okay pub. Lacking atmosphere and the bar person was a bit dour. If the three handles, two weren’t on only the ubiquitous and relatively strong Abbot Ale as the sole ale choice. Menu (s) were interesting with a few dishes not found on other pub’s menus. Didn’t see a children’s menu even though families seem catered for, a playground of sorts in the rundown garden and high chairs in the bar.
The pork wrap was unpleasant. The pulled pork mix very vinegary (?!). The steak in the steak ciabatta was liverish which tends to indicate that as the pub was a quiet on a Friday lunch (which tells a tale) that attention and care in the kitchen isn’t perhaps as strong as it should. The ciabatta itself was limp.
The waitress though was friendly and seemed to be quite efficient though isolated in her role.
A branded pub with strong potential but needs some strong and focused management.

awful service with food taking up to hour and half to arrive staff disinterested in any complaints real let down for the area

So, after working up a hunger WINNING a round of pitch ‘n putt at Tudor Grange Park, what better way to get some scran than driving a little way out of Solihull to The Drum & Monkey?
On the Bank Holiday Monday that we visited the pub was full of a mix of people: Families, couples and a group of booze fuelled and likeable lads by the bar.
The menu is extensive and there is something for everyone. If you are on a budget, you can choose from a set meal where you can pay for one, two, or three courses at £5.95, £7.95 and £8.95 respectively. Or choose from the specials board, which on the day included Sweet Potato Skewers on Moroccan Couscous, 16 oz T-​Bone Steak, and a huge mixed grill. And, hello, there are extremely well-​priced ales here at £2:80 for an IPA and £3.05 for a Speckled Hen.
When eating out in pubs I usually choose the lazy option of a burger, but now that I’m a Piscatorial vegetarian this has been replaced with fish and chips, so that’s what I order.
A reasonable amount of time later a huge piece of crisp lightly beer battered haddock arrives with just the right amount of chips, and Jeni has her burrito delivered to her. It looks as good as what you’d get from a Mexican restaurant, a soft tortilla of chilli with lines of salsa, sour cream and jalepenos adorning it, turning it into a three-​dimensional mouth-​watering flag. A portion of tasty rice to the side of it is flavoured with an ingredient that neither of us can quite put our finger on. A small dressed salad of rocket completes the plate.
As the pub is in a rural location, they’ve gone all out for designated drivers offering exciting soft drinks to tantalize the taste buds including Bottlegreen Elderflower Cordials, Belvoir presses, and Firefly Bramley Apple and Ginger. (Mind you, that one would also taste gorgeous with a whisky thrown in)
A word about the staff-​They are wonderful. Our waitress smiles, makes eye contact and is genuinely pleased when we say we are enjoying our meal. This kind of service guarantees a return visit.

This is a great family pub, and has a little conservatory at the back for large parties of people. I’ve come here many times for special occasions and special meals, and the food has always been cooked to perfection.
The is pub very popular, but even though it’s busy, you can always usually find a table. However, I have to admit, I find a lot of the seats in here a little uncomfortable. They’re a bit too small, and the backs don’t give much support really. (or maybe I’m just being picky!)
If you like Gin, the Drum & Monkey is a great find for you, because there’s a extensive list of flavoured gins, from cucumber and rose gin, to orange zest gins; they’re all really quite tasty!
The staff in here are exceptionally friendly, and they really go out of their way to help you. They will happily happy to chat with you too, which makes the whole dining experience a highly enjoyable one.

Went for lunch for my 84 yr. old mum and cousin on a reasonably quiet Tues.13^th December. Got there at 12.15 found a table ordered a drink. Ordered our food at around 12.30 inc. starter of some very soggy sharing bread. One of the meals, a mushroom pasta was unavailable. At around 1.30 I asked where our main courses were as people who ordered the same time as me had nearly finished their meals. I was told it would be about 5 mins after waiting a further 15 mins. we decided to leave as we were putting our coats
on they arrived. I told them it was too late and that the service was deplorable and no wonder they lose customers. I was there on the opening day of this establishment, as i live round the corner, and had looked forward to a fresh ‘local’ however whenever it changes hands the the standards of service let the place down and very often we’ve been and they don’t have the food we want. We shall never go again and will recommend other inns in the area as this one is doomed.

Not too far from the Solihull riding club and the Porshe garage lies the Drum and Monkey. With its big outdoor seating area and huge parking lot you expect a lot from this place but it fails to deliver. As a place to go have a quiet pint you really can’t go wrong — service is good and the beer is cold and tastes good.
The food lets this place down badly. 1. It takes for ever for it to come round 2. Usually does not taste too great.
Usually the pub is pretty empty and it feels quite strange walking in with no one there. If you fancy a pint, be my guest but as for food I recommend somewhere else.