The UK’s second city, Birmingham is also one of its most exciting. Its LGBTQI+ scene is thriving, with its famous gay club nights and Birmingham Pride - the UK’s largest two-day LGBTQI+ festival. Explore our guide to LGBTQI+ Birmingham for the rundown of the best neighbourhoods, hotels and events in the city.
DAYTIME DIVERSIONS
Birmingham is renowned for its shopping. The Bullring, in the heart of the city, was the UK’s first indoor city-centre shopping complex when it opened in the 1960s. Completely rebuilt in 2000, the shimmering The Bullring & Grand Central is one of Britain’s biggest shopping malls. With more than 200 retailers and more than 460 restaurants and cafés, there’s plenty for discerning shoppers.
Just north of the city centre, the Jewellery Quarter has Europe’s largest concentration of jewellery traders, producing 40% of all jewellery made in the UK – making this an ideal place for anyone planning a romantic gesture on their trip (wink wink).
A little-known fact, Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice - just over 35 miles compared to Venice’s 26 miles. The life-blood of Victorian Birmingham, today these canals and towpaths provide a fascinating route for walkers and joggers. The bustling hub of the canal network, Gas Street Basin, has colourful narrowboats and busy cafés, restaurants and bars in set in revamped warehouses under a mile from the Gay Village.
OUT & ABOUT
On the city’s south side, Birmingham’s LGBTQI+ scene focuses on Hurst Street, just minutes from the Hippodrome theatre, the Bullring and the Chinese Quarter. As well as pagodas and oriental-influenced architecture, you can see gay street art - look out for a sparkly, rhinestone-encrusted rhinoceros on the roof of Wynner House.
To mingle with Birmingham’s stylish 30-something crowd, head to The Loft, a plush bar with velvet couches, chandeliers and exposed brickwork. Missing is a lively gay party bar with events and DJs or if you’re after cocktails, contemporary lesbian bar The Fox is a popular choice. A former car showroom, Sidewalk retains its huge plate-glass windows and warehouse-style décor and is popular with a predominantly younger mixed crowd.
STYLISH STAYS
Occupying the 23rd and 24th floors of the distinct Cube building, the bedrooms of four-star Hotel Indigo maximize their elevated status with private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows and are located just under a mile from the Gay Village. Guests have access to the club and spa, thermal pools, treatment rooms and even a Champagne Nail Bar for luxury manicures and Laurent Perrier champagne. The cherry on the cake is the top floor MPW Steakhouse Bar & Grill, a Birmingham hotspot from celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.
Staying Cool offers serviced apartments on the top four floors of a Birmingham landmark, the Rotunda building. Available in four configurations, from studios to two-bed penthouses, this funky self-catering option is a great choice for a chic, centrally-located stay.
A budget choice that doesn’t compromise on style, BLOC Hotel describes itself as pared-down chic. The 73 rooms are stylishly efficient with the things you want, like powerful drench showers, comfortable beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, super-fast Wi-Fi and HD TVs, all just over a mile from the party atmosphere of Hurst Street.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Championing queer arts and culture, SHOUT produce a number of annual events to showcase LGBTQ+ film, visual art, music, theatre and literature. Annual events include the SHOUT Film Festival, but look out for other events via their website.
24 - 25 September 2022 | Birmingham Pride
The UK’s largest two-day LGBTQI+ festival, Birmingham Pride. The streets of Birmingham’s Gay Village pulsate with a carnival parade, live music, cabaret stage, women’s arena and a community village.
GETTING HERE
Birmingham is situated in the Midlands, 120 miles northwest of London. Regular trains connect Birmingham to London in one-and-a-half hours. Birmingham Airport is 10 minutes by train from the city centre and is served by flights from Europe, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, North America and the Caribbean.
The UK’s largest two-day LGBTQI+ festival, Birmingham Pride. The streets of Birmingham’s Gay Village pulsate with a carnival parade, live music, cabaret stage, women’s arena and a community village.
Birmingham is situated in the Midlands, 120 miles northwest of London. Regular trains connect Birmingham to London in one-and-a-half hours. Birmingham Airport is 10 minutes by train from the city centre and is served by flights from Europe, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, North America and the Caribbean.
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