The cultural significance of The Mermaid is being re-examined by researchers and historians.

It is the iconic and often chaotic Birmingham pub that inspired a subgenre.

The Mermaid in Sparkhill helped launch Napalm Death, one of the the most influential metal bands of all time.

It also sparked the creation of Grindcore - a fusion of heavy metal and hardcore punk that emerged against a 1980s backdrop of miners’ strikes and the Cold War

The venue’s cultural significance is now being examined as part of a project funded by Historic England and run by Home of Metal, a Midlands-based music heritage project.