The persistent question hanging over one of Stirchley's most prominent empty venues has finally been answered. The former Wildcat Tap on Pershore Road will be reborn as The Cloak and Dagger, a new venture from the team behind the beloved local bar, Cork and Cage.
From Rumour to Reality: A Seven-Year Lease Secured
After The Wildcat Tap closed its doors in July 2025, speculation was rife about who would take on the site on what is considered one of Birmingham's coolest streets. The neighbourhood, often dubbed an 'Independent Republic', is famed for its small businesses.
Now, it's been confirmed that the employee-owned Cork and Cage, located just a few doors down, has signed a seven-year lease for the unit. The owners – Richard, Nick, Seb, and Nathan – stated the former watering hole 'meant too much to lose'.
In an announcement, they paid tribute to Liam Scallon, who ran The Wildcat Tap for nine years. 'Over almost a decade Liam created a much-loved community hub with some of the best-kept cask around,' their statement read.
Honouring Legacy with a Community-First Ethos
The new bar aims to blend the spirit of The Wildcat with the core values that have made Cork and Cage a success. The owners have pledged to maintain a focus on genuine staff wellbeing, real work-life balance, and 100% employee ownership, alongside fair pricing for customers.
Fans of Cork and Cage's famous 'cob weeks' – featuring Black Country-style sandwiches – will be pleased to know the tradition will continue. The statement cheekily confirmed: 'And yes, there will be cobs.'
The bar will also continue a popular trend of hosting visiting chefs for kitchen takeovers. One of the first will be Jonny Mills' Sael, serving food from January 27 to 29. Operations at the original Cork and Cage will continue as normal, with both bars running side-by-side.
Local Delight and an Aptly Named Future
The revelation has been met with joy from the Stirchley community. Local businesses and figures quickly shared their excitement on social media. Stirchley tattoo shop Bad Penny's called the team the 'Best lads!', while Stirchley Community Market simply said, 'How exciting!' Councillor Mary Locke added: 'Great news good luck.'
The intrigue had been building over the Christmas period when festive decorations appeared in the window of the vacant unit. Now the 'cloak and dagger' mystery is solved, the owners have promised that an opening date for the aptly named new bar will be revealed in due course.
