Reviews & Features

Our reviews and ‘best of’ articles relating to music, food, art, shopping and more in and around Birmingham.

Heidi’s Bier Bar Review by Wallis Brown

Broad street has welcomed the UK’s second Heidi’s Bier Bar and it can boast to be the largest of the two. We were invited to the opening… Read more »

Trombone Shorty at O2 Academy2 review by Wallis Brown

Trombone Shorty at O2 Academy2 review by Wallis Brown

The sound of New Orleans was brought to Birmingham in the form of Trombone Shorty and his phenomenal band of talent; from the breath-taking vocals of two… Read more »

Birmingham Music Awards review

Birmingham Music Awards review

The Birmingham Music Awards VIP Reception at Millennium Point was an event that had an impact on me in a way I hadn’t expected it to. Being… Read more »

Flatpack ft Joe Lycett & Shaun Keaveny at the Town Hall review

Flatpack ft Joe Lycett & Shaun Keaveny at the Town Hall review

I had been eagerly awaiting comedian Joe Lycett at the Town Hall for the opening of The Flatpack Festival and was delighted at how laid back and… Read more »

The Best Gaming & Activity Bars in Birmingham!

With so many new exciting places to eat and drink in Birmingham, it is sometimes difficult to know where to go for that alternative experience. One option… Read more »

Albert’s Schloss Summer menu and Baby Grand Slam review

Albert’s Schloss Summer menu and Baby Grand Slam review

Myself and a good mate were invited to check out the new Cook Haus Summer Menu and Baby Grand Slam Wednesdays at Albert’s Schloss in Birmingham city… Read more »

SPINN at Deadwax review by Wallis Brown

SPINN at Deadwax review by Wallis Brown

It was another trip to Dead Wax Digbeth for a good night of live music and discovering talent that I feel sad to have not known sooner…. Read more »

Balou Bullring Clothing Brand Launch review

Balou Bullring Clothing Brand Launch review

Balou has just opened it’s doors in the Bullring, located top floor next to Selfridges right by the doors leading out to the Bull and it’s a… Read more »

Lost and Found – The Lost Hours review

Lost and Found – The Lost Hours review

Lost and Found are reviving after work drinks with “The Lost Hours” and invited us to the launch to get a taste of what’s on offer. The… Read more »

Blue Violet at The Sunflower Lounge review

Blue Violet played at the Sunflower Lounge and it was definitely a performance to remember. The band are a very charismatic and talented couple (Sam and Sarah… Read more »

Curbdawgz at Deadwax review

A lot of us love going to see live music, whether it is what you enjoy as a night out or because of how it gives you… Read more »

Bonehead chicken – re-launch review

Bonehead chicken – re-launch review

Last Thursday, I attended ‘chicken shack’ legends Bonehead’s re-launch opening night. It had been a while since I’d tried some decent fried chicken. I think, it was… Read more »

Louis Dunford review at The Sunflower Lounge

Louis Dunford review at The Sunflower Lounge

Louis Dunford is a North London singer songwriter that has the talent to bring you to tears with tortured but enlightening words. I cried in the crowd,… Read more »

Rachael Sage at Symphony Hall review

Rachael Sage at Symphony Hall review

I can’t say I have every really had the pleasure of watching an artist like Rachael Sage perform before and I am elated that I have had… Read more »

Bad Nerves at Deadwax Digbeth gig review

Bad Nerves at Deadwax Digbeth gig review

When it comes to music, any type of rock bands are an essential to me. I grew up with a dad who introduced me to some of… Read more »

Albert’s Schloss new Haus Breakfast review

Albert’s Schloss opened in Birmingham’s Paradise development last year. With its Bavarian style live music bar, and large array of drinks set across two rooms. The venue… Read more »

An Ode To The Tower Ballroom by Jim Simpson

The news that The Tower Ballroom in Edgbaston is about to be demolished must have provoked many a memory of Brum’s most popular 1960s dance hall. Here… Read more »

The Ultimate Brummie Gift Guide!

Birmingham: It’s Not Shit: 50 Things That Delight About Brum In this funny, revelatory and occasionally even nostalgic collection, the team behind Paradise Circus explore the places,… Read more »

Jersey Boys Review at The Alex Theatre

I love the theatre, and a great musical really is an exhilarating and magical experience from start to finish, Jersey Boys was absolutely electric & uplifted the… Read more »

A Christmas Tale – Birmingham’s first Ska Band, Trojan Records and Walt Disney!

The story of Rudi The Red-Nosed Reindeer began 53 years ago, in Birmingham with the first ska recording to hit in the UK. The band were The… Read more »

The Oyster Club review October 2021

The Oyster Club review October 2021

I had been meaning to try out The Oyster Club in Birmingham city centre for some time. I had heard mixed reports, my brother and also a… Read more »

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage

To my shame, I never watched the mega hit movie ‘Dirty Dancing’. This is probably because I was always told the film is a chick flick. I… Read more »

Rosa’s Thai Cafe review September 2021

Rosa’s Thai Cafe review September 2021

A few months ago, I was invited to review Rosa’s Thai Cafe, however life was pretty manic with work and some big DIY projects, so I had… Read more »

Bloc Hotel Review Sept 2021

Bloc Hotel Review Sept 2021

The last 18 months has been a pretty terrible time for travel enthusiasts, with so many lockdowns world-wide, the knock-on effect to hospitality has been unprecedented, and… Read more »

Beluga Martini Matchmaker Experience at The Grand Hotel Birmingham

Team Grapevine were invited to try out Beluga Vodka Martini Matchmaker experience ‘The Golden Hour’ cocktails with a brioche toast, to accompany the cocktail, at Madeleine Bar… Read more »

The Mug House Inn & Restaurant Review

The Mug House Inn & Restaurant Review

This evening we took a stroll through Bewdley, Worcestershire’s most picturesque small town, past Georgian terraced houses and along the verdant banks of the River Severn, until… Read more »

Bodega Cantina Review 2021

Bodega Cantina Review 2021

Bodega Cantina was one of the first independent bars and restaurants to open in Birmingham city centre during the city’s cuisine renaissance. The owners, Bitters N Twisted… Read more »

MeetspaceVR Gaming Arena Review

MeetspaceVR Gaming Arena Review

As a home computer gamer of the 1980s, i’ve seen a lot of change over the years, i was an avid C64 gamer and wasted way too… Read more »

The Best Burgers in Birmingham – And a Short History of The Hamburger

Birmingham’s culinary finesse has traveled a long way since Cliff Richard’s Brumburger Duet with Debbie Watling in 1973 on Take Me High – click here to watch)…. Read more »

Best Places To Go For Food and Drink in The Jewellery Quarter!

The Jewellery Quarter is home to over 700 jewellers and independent retailers, with a thriving food and drink scene the district has an incredible history, from the… Read more »

The Best Street Food Places in Birmingham

Birmingham’s street food has come a long way since Alex’s Pie Stand of the city’s 60s Brumbeat era. Let’s not forget that infamous Indian street food cuisine… Read more »

The Best Indian Restaurants and Balti Houses in Birmingham

Birmingham has its fair share of Indian Restaurants, Desi Pubs and Baltis. In fact, it’s claimed the humble Balti was invented here, or at least made popular… Read more »

The Delights of Digbeth – a Big Brummie Night Out!

The delights of Digbeth have been covered in just about every national news paper around the globe – however, it’s hard to keep up with all the… Read more »

The Best Beer Gardens in Birmingham

British summers can be unpredictable at the best of times but all the more reason to know the best sun traps and where to dart when the… Read more »

Accelerating the West Midlands’ tech revolution in professional services

Generating £27.8 billion gross value added annually, and employing more than 360,000 people, the West Midlands is the UK’s largest centre for business, professional and financial services… Read more »

Locked Up In Lockdown by Adam (kjw) Kyron

“Locked up in lock down” is a journey we will go on and look into the effects of the quarantine / lockdown from a different perspective. The… Read more »

Outdoors at The Kingsway – Q & A with Eddie OCallaghan

As a Christmas Special, we decided to catch up with local groover and shaker Eddie OCallaghan for a quick interview on his recent hotspot creation down at… Read more »

Louise Woodley of The Actress & Bishop Wing Walk for Charity Interview

Louise Woodley of The Actress & Bishop Wing Walk for Charity Interview

Hello Louise, I understand you have recently completed a wing walk for charity which involved being tossed around attached to the outside of a light aircraft hundreds… Read more »

10 of The Best New Restaurants in Birmingham

It’s been a difficult year for the hospitality industry, with many businesses closing their doors so it’s especially exciting to hear of new restaurants opening and doing… Read more »

Flamin’ Patties Ladypool Rd Review Sept 2020

Flamin’ Patties Ladypool Rd Review Sept 2020

Brum is home to some of the best burgers in the UK, that is a fact no one can argue with. From Original Patty Men to Indico‘s… Read more »

Dishoom Birmingham full review

Dishoom Birmingham full review

Dishoom arrived in Birmingham with terrible timing, just as lockdown was taking place, the grand launch had to be postponed. In fact, some were questioning whether the… Read more »

Digbeth Dining Club Take-Over Digbeth Arena August Bank Holiday 2020 review

Digbeth Dining Club Take-Over Digbeth Arena August Bank Holiday 2020 review

Last August Bank Holiday, myself and three guests made a bee-line for the Digbeth Dining Club take-over of Digbeth Arena. Digbeth Dining Club started out life in… Read more »

The Floodgate Digbeth Review

The Floodgate Digbeth Review

I’d been looking forward to checking out The Floodgate in Digbeth for quite some time, so the August Bank Holiday seemed a perfect opportunity to do just… Read more »

Letter to Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden

Dear Secretary of State, UK live music has been one of the UK’s biggest social, cultural, and economic successes of the past decade. From world-famous festivals to… Read more »

RIP George Floyd – A Message From Henry’s Blueshouse

Out of deference and respect to the memory of George Floyd and to share in the horror and disgust of all right-minded people, we’ve decided to join with… Read more »

How A Couple Of Brummies Gave Birth To The World Wide Web!

Birmingham has been the birthplace of some pretty incredible inventions, from the first cotton spinning mill, to perfection and advancement of the steam engine, to the invention… Read more »

From 49’ers, West End Bar & Notes to The Night Owl, Hare & Hounds & Attic Brew Co. – A Vinyl Journey by Jools Belgium

From 49’ers, West End Bar & Notes to The Night Owl, Hare & Hounds & Attic Brew Co. – A Vinyl Journey by Jools Belgium

Jools Belgium, better known to friends and family as Steve, has been milling around on the Brum music scene since the 1970s. We asked Steve to take… Read more »

Willie’s Cult to Jimmy Powell – A Brumbeat Short Story

After a brief email exchange with local musician Alan Shepherd regarding our article ‘Birmingham’s Oldest Recording Studios Rock On‘ (Hollick & Taylor), Alan has kindly reminisced in… Read more »

Top 10 Comedies to watch on Netflix by Emilia Antoniadou

1.STEPBROTHERS (2008) Directed By: Adam McKay Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn. Brennan Huff and Dale Doback just became… Read more »

Local Breweries Hop To It With New Web Shops

For those who are lamenting the closure of Brum’s best pubs, hope is only a hop away. Two of the city’s finest breweries, Dig Brew Co. of… Read more »