The Kings Head, Hagley Road, Harborne The King's Head pub on the Hagley Road has long been a landmark on the gateway into Birmingham.

Now thanks to a stunning £1.5 million makeover this historic pub has been transformed to its former glory.

The new-look 150-seater restaurant and bar combines Victorian decadence with contemporary style - from the crystal chandeliers and original tiles to the elegant, private booths and solid oak staircase.

This venue has much to boast about - there is a balcony-style terrace with patio heating plus a 200-capacity lounge bar which offers fine wines, traditional ales, bar meals and top-notch service.

But you should book in to the restaurant to truly experience all the culinary expertise The King's Head has to offer. The extensive menu provides a mouthwatering choice of English and continental dishes. And there is an extensive wine menu and impressive connoisseurs collection. For discerning drinkers with fat wallets only, this collection includes a bottle of Château Mouton-Rothschild, 1997, for £420 a bottle!

To start I opted for the warm tomato, olive, feta & basil salad (£4.95) which was light, summery and more-ish. My partner went for broke and chose the substantial camembert fondue (£6.50) which arrived on top of a burner. The delightfully gooey, garlicy cheese was perfectly accompanied by a generous assortment of crisp crostini and soft, freshly baked breads.

For the main event, I chose the Mediterranean vegetable and ricotta lasagne (£8.95). This was no ordinary vegetable lasagne as the fresh pasta sheets were stuffed to the gills with chargrilled courgettes and aubergines and surrounded by a wonderfully fresh tomato and oregano sauce. I also chose a mixed salad (£1.80) which was lightly dressed and delicious.

My partner said the pan-fried sea bass with crushed new potatoes (£14.95) was a great combination. The fish was set on a bed of spinach and accompanied by a tasty sauce vierge. His eyes being larger than his stomach, he also ordered a side portion of brick chips (£2.00) which were fluffy yet crispy and reminiscent of roast potatoes.

After a short break we decided we could make room for dessert and I plumped for the lemon baked cheesecake (£4.95). This home-baked delight topped with blackberries and served with vanilla ice-cream was the perfect end to the meal.

My partner's vanilla & raspberry crème brûlée (£4.95) was also a big hit - with it's smooth, runny texture perfectly complemented by the crunchy almond biscotti on the side for dunking.

The King's Head's high quality food is already good value but early bird diners can enjoy pizzas and a bottle of wine for a fraction of the normal price from Monday to Saturday. Eat for £5 between noon and 5pm, for £6 between 5pm and 6pm or for £7 from 6pm until 7pm - and you can wash it all down with a bottle of house wine for the same price.

After all that indulgence, why not chill out upstairs in the Music Room which hosts live entertainment until 3am. You can listen to live music and DJs in comfort at this exciting new venue.

Forthcoming events include nu-jazz session keyboarder Andre Bassing on Saturday May 17 and singer songwriter Tara Chinn, daughter of historian Carl, who will perform a selection of her own eclectic material on Friday May 23.

So why bother traipsing all the way into the city for a night out when this gem is just a stone's throw away?

For more information visit www.thekingsheadbirmingham.com or call 0121 277 4130.