The Shakespeare (Summer Row) - A Birmingham Gem!

The Shakepeare is a public house on the corner of Summer Row and Lionel Street, at the gateway to the Jewellery Quarter. It was established in 1873.


Where is The Shakespeare?

The Shakespeare (now the Shakespeare Inn) is at Summer Row, Birmingham, B3 1JJ. It is on the corner of Lionel Street, near the Jewellery Quarter.

 

In brief

The Shakespeare was established at the corner of Summer Row and Lionel Street near the Jewellery Quarter in 1873. It is named after the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare.

The ShakespeareThe Shakespeare on Summer Row (July 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Shakespeare, Summer Row - history

The terrace at Summer Row was built during the 1870s.

This included the Shakespeare Tavern at the corner of Lionel Street which opened around 1873.

The ShakespeareThe Shakespeare on Summer Row (December 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

It was built of brick, with terracotta details and tiled roofs.

The ShakespeareThe Shakespeare on Summer Row (December 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The previous pub sign during the 2000s had a traditional looking image of William Shakespeare. This was replaced when Nicholson's took over the pub in 2011.

The ShakespeareThe old pub sign at The Shakespeare on Summer Row (December 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

On Lionel Street, there is a large image of the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon, William Shakespeare (1564-1616). The town is about 20 miles from Birmingham, and can be reached by train from the nearby Birmingham Snow Hill Station.

The ShakespeareThe Shakespeare on Summer Row (March 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

A traditional old fashioned Victorian red brick pub, not far from the Library of Birmingham.

Library of Birmingham The ShakespeareLibrary of Birmingham and The Shakespeare on Summer Row (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

It has been owned by Nicholson's like it's namesake on Lower Temple Street since 2011.

The ShakespeareNicholson's pub sign at The Shakespeare on Summer Row (March 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

It was previously refurbished in the mid 2010s, and is having another makeover in 2022.

The Shakespeare Summer RowThe Shakespeare on Summer Row closed for refurbishment (May 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Shakespeare on Summer Row reopened by June 2022.

The Shakespeare Summer RowThe Shakespeare on Summer Row (June 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

 

Plaque at The Shakespeare

There was a plaque at The Shakspeare on the corner of Summer Row and Lionel Street.

The Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born twenty miles from Birmingham in Stratford-upon-Avon. Despite developing his career in London, Shakespeare's family remained in Stratford and he made frequent retreats to his home town. The Shakespeare stands close to the centre of Birmingham's famous Jewellery Quarter where in 1773 Parliament granted the Hallmarking Act and the Birmingham Assay Office was created. The success of the Assay Office was due to it's pioneering use of steam-powered presses for hallmarking. Today it is the largest in the world and is responsible for hallmarking over 12 million items a year.

The ShakespearePlaque at The Shakespeare on Summer Row (July 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact details

The Shakespeare Inn

Summer Row

Birmingham

West Midlands

B3 1JJ

Tel: 0121 236 8702

Project dates

12 May 2022 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Food & drink, Classic Architecture

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com