I’ve been going to The Vine for more than two decades.
I fondly remember countless work dos, friends’ get togethers and warming, freshly prepared dishes that have kept us all coming back for more. A lovely venue for home and away fans before and after a Baggies game, I’ve looked on proudly as owner Bharat has popped up on Match of the Day and, during the pandemic, shared his recipe for continued success with the BBC.
My involvement was a professional one too, as a publicist in the West Midlands, also writing about Suki’s — a former ‘sister’ restaurant where we held a surprise birthday party in the early 2000s for my friend Helen. I recall generous platters weighed down with shimmering meat and vegetarian starters, their smoky essence filling the room.
Plenty of places have adapted a Desi pub formula, but The Vine remains the original — and the best.
Owned and run by the same family since 1978, it’s one of the longest standing examples of how a Desi pub can prosper. Reviewers have long loved how it looks like a traditional corner pub from the outside, yet inside it’s a revelation: snugs, corridors, trestle tables and more seating than you’d think could fit. The atmosphere has always been warm and relaxed, with chatty, welcoming bar and serving staff.
South Asian hospitality blends with comfort of a traditional local, taking me back to the down to earth pubs I lived in as a child. A barbecue is at its heart, which is why perfectly charred chicken, fish and veggie starters have always been a favourite.
Chicken tikka has proved a big hit. I always go a little hotter with a madras, as friends laugh at the predictability of my choice. I’ve sampled other dishes, including clay pot lamb and mushroom balti, and haven’t been disappointed. But what can I say? I’m a creature of habit. The Vine’s familiar version is satisfying, rich, hot and full of flavour. Writing this is making me crave a madras right now… and it’s 9am.
Mixed grills are my partner’s go to. That doesn’t stop me smiling “wow, look at the size of that” each time one is served. They arrive sizzling, stacked with tikka, wings, chops, kebabs, and fish pakoras.
Business has grown over the years, but it’s never lost its ethos to treat customers well, with reasonable prices. And now there’s a dedicated car park too.
The Vine is part of a wider story of migration, community resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. When South Asian migrants arrived in Britain in the 1950s and 60s, many found local pubs weren’t always welcoming. So Punjabi and Gujarati landlords began taking over struggling establishments.
They evolved into what we now call Desi pubs: British boozers with South Asian landlords and menus fired by spice.
Today, Desi pubs are recognised as a crucial part of Britain’s food and drink culture. They’ve modernised, expanded and weathered economic storms that have closed other pubs.
The Vine is still one of my favourite places to eat. Unfussy, hearty, hitting the spot. I recommend it all the time. As my friend Helen used to take great pleasure in writing in press releases, there’s “naan better.”
Linda Aitchison
Details
Website: The Vine Indian Grill and Curry Pub
https://www.thevine.co.uk/
Address
152 Roebuck Street, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 6RD
Call us 0121 553 2866 –
Email info@thevine.co.uk