I SPENT Sunday afternoon driving around listening to the growing excitement of the Blues v Arsenal game on the radio.

But in a sweep around Hockley, Winson Green and Ladywood, we failed to find a pub where you’d want to enjoy a late Sunday afternoon family lunch with young children.

Even the fabled Black Eagle had put up the shutters in mid-afteroon and a bar we tried in St Paul’s Square had also stopped serving food.

So much for the idea that we live in a 24-hour society.

Time, then, for Plan B.

A weekday rendezvous with a contact in a city centre eatery.

Surely then there could be no problems.

Meeting my friend Michael in Brindleyplace, it still took us a good five minutes to make our minds up where to eat.

My flusher Restaurant Spy colleague Paul Fulford leaves heavy footprints in these parts.

And it never does any harm to have somewhere fresh up your sleeve where you can take your children during the warmer months.

In the end, we plumped for All Bar One – a place I can only recall having been inside once before.

Judging by our meal this time, I won’t be leaving it quite so long in future.