27 Jan 2024
James Cameron visits the popular city centre pub to sample its particular lunchtime offering…
A vowel can make the world of difference. We are not here to discuss American Indie rockers Beach House, unfortunately. Nor is this a second home overlooking the rolling dunes and majestic crashing waves. In fact, I’m not sure there are any beech trees in the vicinity either, but I am not an expert in such things. What we are actually here to discuss is the old faithful at the top of St Peter’s Street.
The Beech House is part of a small chain centred around the Home Counties, and also oddly Solihull, that sits somewhere between chain pub/restaurant and bar.
It has a nice and cosy feel to the interior, with wood panelling (beech, possibly?), and an eclectic range of knick-knacks. We visited on a Thursday lunchtime when the population was minimal without being sparse, but I know it does get a lot livelier in the evenings if that’s the way you like it.
The menu was so extensive as to be slightly worrying, you wonder how well-apportioned the kitchen must be to be able to assemble the 52 (!) different main menu items (excluding sides/desserts etc.). Luckily I was there for a rapid lunch so was restricted to a much more manageable four sandwich options. They are listed as ‘Panino’ which whilst more accurate than Panini is not going to win them any friends.
I went for the Spanish Chorizo Panino, and whilst both the bread and the sausage were very tasty in their own right that was all there was. Even a hotdog would throw in some ketchup and mustard. There was garlic mayonnaise listed on the menu but it did not seem in evidence on the plate. The rocket on the side, however, was very well dressed and made up for the dry sandwich.
My companion, a Beech House attendee of long-standing, went straight away for the Nourish Bowl. This is normally a vegan affair, roasted squash, cous cous, various hummuses, but not if you then add a substantial slab of chicken which is what they did.
This looked a lot more impressive than the name suggested, rather than a small but virtuous collection there were piles of the various elements, all colourful and inviting. Their only quibble was with the avocado, difficult to serve at just the right moment of ripeness, something that the Beech House had not achieved today.
Our visit to the Beech House served its function adequately, providing a suitable environment to meet up and enough choices that even the most narrow of tastes can be catered for.
It’s not cheap, though neither is it so expensive that you feel you have to make an occasion of your visit.
The service took longer than I was expecting, and this might let you down if you’re after a quick in and out visit, but generally the Beech House does everything that you need it to, and it does it with a smile on its face.
