A historic pub vacant for almost two decades is poised to reopen this summer as a new bar launched by the owners of The Pickled Piglet.
Called The Pig & Tail, it will be housed in the Grade II listed former George and Dragon in Albion Street and will sell craft beer, small dishes and sharing plates.
The Pickled Piglet, in Gas Street, is run by husband and wife team Mark and Chrissy Rafferty who are now looking to branch out with their second venue.
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Mr Rafferty said he was attracted to the building's historic feel and the fact it could offer so much character.
"If I'm honest, we are just suckers for buildings that have original features. While looking for a new venue, we saw a lot of modern projects but they had nothing to them," he said.
"It's been a bit of a battle regarding the planning side of it but, when it's done, it's these features which are already there which will create the character.
"Initially, I wasn't sure about the Jewellery Quarter but there seems to be so much investment in this part of Birmingham so, as long as we put the same passion and drive into this new place, we will be successful."
The Post first when city property consultant Gurbinder Sandhu spoke about his desire to bring the old hostelry back to life.
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In addition to the ground floor restaurant, three one-bedroom apartments are being built on the floors above while Mr Rafferty said he might look to utilise the cellar area in a couple of years' time.
Historical records indicate there has been a pub on the site since 1851 after which it has undergone several extensions and additions, although the most recent of these was in the 1920s and designed by renowned Birmingham architects James and Lister Lea.
It also housed a brewery before operating solely as a pub, latterly by Birmingham-based pub group M&B before its eventual closure in the late 1990s.
The George and Dragon was also immortalised in the books of Kathleen Dayus who was born in 1903 in Hockley and died just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
A small public square in front of the pub now bears her name
Mr Rafferty is now in talks with two West Midlands breweries with a view to selling their drinks and possibly launching new beer brands.
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He said around £100,000 was being invested into the opening of The Pig & Tail which would initially create ten full- and part-time jobs.
"I will set up the kitchen to begin with and then we'll hire a head chef in due course," he added.
"The two venues will be very different. There's a lot of passion out there at the moment for craft beers and it's all about British produce.
"We'll be selling sharing plates, small bites and cured meats rather than a sit-down, three-course menu. Working with the breweries, we will also look to create our own beer in the future as well."