The city of Birmingham is packed with vibrant daytime attractions and buzzing nightlife, but you didn’t need us to tell you that! But what about all the hidden venues, the ones that you won’t necessarily see in a list of the best Birmingham venues? Well, here are a few of our favourites.
Mecca Bingo and Slots Kingstanding
We’re starting with a big one, as it’s criminally underrated. Short of giving you free cash when you sign up, this location has it all. You can play jackpot bingo games for just a couple of quid and enjoy some great banter and entertainment in the process. There are slot machines, a bar, and lots of friendly locals.
Birmingham has its fair share of casinos and betting shops, but this is one of our personal favourites and can always be relied upon for a fun night in the town.
The Sunflower Lounge
Located in the centre of the city, this buzzing independent music venue stages regular live music events and has a capacity of 120.
Birmingham has been blessed with some of the world’s biggest music talents over the years—it’s the home of Black Sabbath, after all—and many have played at venues like this. It welcomes all kinds of new and interesting acts to the stage and also plays host to established artists doing more intimate gigs. Who knows, you could discover the next big Birmingham act!
Mama Roux’s
Mama Roux’s is an industrial music venue that showcases electronic music acts and regularly welcomes the city’s best DJs and performers. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a place where you can let your hair down, cut loose, and have some fun. There is a huge dance floor and if you visit on Sunday, you can join the Dirty Discotheque, partying into the small hours with live music and non-stop dancing.
The Wellington
The Wellington is a traditional British pub that serves 15 different ales on tap—perfect for the adventurous beer drinkers among you. It’s usually full at night-time and is a great space to meet up with friends or make a few new ones. Keep an eye out for the resident cats. These sweet little creatures roam freely throughout the pub—if you’re not making friends with any humans, at least you can get chummy with the felines!
Escape Live—Birmingham
Escape games are all the rage these days and Birmingham has its fair share. This is one of the highest-rated of these venues. It is open throughout the day and late into the night and accepts groups of between 2 and 6 people—a good option for friends, families and co-workers on team building exercises. It’s a fantastic way to spend an hour, with the only goal being to escape.
Work with your friends to answer riddles and solve clues. Make sure you escape before the time limit is up, or you’ll be trapped! Okay, not quite, but it adds to the tension.
Haunted Birmingham Outdoor Escape Game
Fancy something a little different and a lot spookier? Get yourself a cheap ticket for this unique escape game. It’s a smartphone-led game that takes you on a tour of the city, showcasing routes and attractions that you may have otherwise missed. You’ll hear ghost stories during your adventure, teaching you more about the city and its dark past.
It’s a fantastic group activity and tickets are available for less than £10, so it won’t cost the earth, either.
Birmingham Gangs Night-time Historical Walking Tour
A night-time walking tour that tells you all about the city’s history, shows you some interesting buildings and locations, and stops off at local bars—what’s not to love? The tour is led by Edward Shelby, a relative of the famous Peaky Blinders gang, and you’ll walk the same streets and follow the same routes taken by the city’s old gangsters.
As you might expect, this is not the only activity related to Peaky Blinders in the city, and the popularity of the TV show means they are everywhere now. But this is one of the better options. Where else can you sit down for a drink with a distant Peaky Blinders family member and hear some real-life gangster stories?
Matrix Virtual Reality
Step into the Matrix and explore the latest in virtual reality technology without investing in an expensive headset. Located within Digbeth’s Custard Factory, Matrix Virtual Reality will transport you and your friends to a fictional world using high-tech VR equipment. It’s the whole 9 yards, so it’s a significant step up from strapping on a Meta Quest helmet and slashing some invisible blocks while trying to avoid the coffee table.
Summary: Birmingham Off the Beaten Track
It’s not all about the big venues and highly publicised events. Sometimes, the best locations aren‘t listed in the guidebooks. So, explore a different side of Birmingham and be sure to check out the above venues the next time you hit the town.
Image by wonjong oh from Pixabay