The Black Eagle, a historic Victorian pub in Handsworth, Birmingham, will serve its last drinks on May 10, 2026. The pub, which dates back to 1895, announced its closure via a chalkboard sign outside the venue.
Chalkboard message confirms closure
The sign reads: "Sorry to inform you the Black Eagle is closing on the 10th May 2026. This will be the last day open. Thanks to all customers who supported the pub over the years."
CAMRA calls it a 'huge loss'
Ash Corbett-Collins, chair of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), expressed disappointment, stating: "Any pub closure is a disappointment, but the imminent closure of the Black Eagle is a huge loss. The pub has a long history and is listed on CAMRA's register of historically important interiors as a rare and outstanding example of late nineteenth and early twentieth century features."
He added: "While for now the owners have only signalled their intention to close, we expect that before long there will be an application to change the pub to another use and lose this historic centre of the community for good. It's a clear example of where the government's proposed changes to weaken planning protection would fail pubgoers in future."
A step back in time
Last year, BirminghamLive visited the pub on Factory Road and described it as feeling like a step back in time. Reporter Robson McCallister said: "Taking in my surroundings between sips, if you enjoy old-school boozers, the Black Eagle is the pub for you. It was my first time here and whether it’s the carpets, the tables, the ornaments, the doors, the mirrors or the chairs, it looks like not much has changed in decades."
The closure of the Black Eagle marks the loss of another historic pub in Birmingham, joining a growing list of traditional boozers that have shut their doors in recent years.
