In our Birmingham podcast we vada the reviews for the bars and clubs of Birmingham’s gay village! We swish by The Village, The Fox, The Nightingale, Missing, Sidewalk and The Fountain Inn. Along the way we contemplate the gay diet, the M & S baby changing facilities and the absence of the flip flop ladies.
Fun Facts about Birmingham
Birmingham has been a settlement since 600 AD when the ingas of Birm built a hamlet. Britain’s second city, Birmingham has more green spaces than Paris and more canals than Venice. Balti curry was invented in Birmingham and many famous British brands started in Birmingham such as Birds Custard, Bournville and Cadbury Chocolate, HP Sauce and Typhoo Tea. Thomas the Tank Engine was also invented in Birmingham by Wilbert Vere Awdry and the world’s first ever ODEON cinema opened in Perry Barr in 1930. The name ODEON stands for Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation. The world’s longest running soap opera, The Archers, is recorded in Birmingham and famous bands from Birmingham include Duran Duran, UB40 and Dexy’s Midnight Runners.
The Birmingham Gay Scene
As far as the gay scene is concerned, the Design My Night website has this to say: Birmingham has so bustling a gay nightlife scene, that it even has its own district! Shimmy on down to the Gay Quarter near Birmingham’s Arcadian Centre to discover a vibrant hubbub of party activity and gay club promising top DJ’s, heaving dancefloors, rocking drinks deals and more. There’s drag nights and celebrity appearances too, so what are you waiting for?!
The Village
The Village, or The Village Inn, is in Hurst Street and is one of Birmingham’s oldest LGBTQ+ spaces. It’s open seven nights a week with very late licencing hours at the weekend (6am on a Saturday night and 8am on a Sunday!). They offer regular drag performances from some of the best in the business (Fatt Butcher, Lola Lasagne and Sandra have all graced the stage) as well as a lip sync competition on a Sunday for amateur acts. The bar’s motto is “What happens in the village, stays in the village”.
Website: https://villagebirmingham.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/villagebirmingham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevillagebrum
Address: 18 Kent St, Birmingham B5 6RD
The Fox
The Fox is in Lower Essex Street, just outside the main gay village. It’s been going for twenty-five years, originally a lesbian bar but now welcoming everyone on the LGBTQ+ spectrum; indeed, their tag line is “The little gay bar with the big gay heart”. It’s open Thursday to Sunday, boasts regular karaoke nights, has a pool room and a large covered beer garden with heaters and an outdoor stage.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefoxbar.co.uk
Address: 17 Lower Essex St, Birmingham B5 6SN
The Nightingale
The Nightingale is known as one of the UK’s largest gay super clubs, with a capacity for 2000 revellers. It began as a private members club in 1969 at its original location in Camp Hill and has had four venue changes since then and, in its 00s heyday, hosted big name pop stars such as Sophie Ellis Bextor, Little Mix and Alexandra Burke on its stage. It is now based in a three-floor venue in Kent Street, open Thursday, Friday and Saturday till 4 a.m.
Website: https://nightingaleclub.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenightingaleclub
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenightingaleclub
Address: 18 Kent St, Birmingham B5 6RD
Missing Bar
Time Out has this to say about Missing: Missing is here and glaringly queer, greeting revellers as the very first point of call upon entering gay town. Together with a larger-than-life statue of Marilyn Monroe, which has somehow found its way onto a rooftop ledge at the front of the building (how did they even get it up there?), a rainbow flag that spans the entire length of the venue and Hurst Street’s iconic lifesize glittery rhino just opposite, Missing certainly takes extravagant to the next level.
Website: https://www.missingbar.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourpartybar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missingbar
Address: 48 Bromsgrove St, Birmingham B5 6NU
Sidewalk
Time Out have this to say about Sidewalk: Originally a 1930s car showroom, Sidewalk became Laurie’s International Club in 1996, in time for Birmingham’s first-ever gay pride. Little do people know, this venue – now known as Sidewalk – is somewhat of a historical cornerstone. With glass panels from floor to ceiling, the bar was the first in the gay village to be opened up to street views, offending attitudes at a time when some still saw gay people as deviants.
Website: https://sidewalkbar.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sidewalkBirmingham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidewalkbarbirmingham
Address: 131 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 6SE
The Fountain
From The Fountain Inn: “Independent gay bar with modern letting rooms in the heart of Birmingham’s Gay Village – Wednesdays our Pool table is free to use for our customers – Fridays from 7pm there is a DJ playing upbeat funky sounds & taking your requests – Sundays you can come and take advantage of the cheeseboard & crackers we put out alongside some Bad Karaoke in the back lounge for those brave enough :)”
Website: https://www.thefountain.bar/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFountainDigbeth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fountainbirmingham
Address: 93 Cheapside, Deritend, Birmingham B12 0QH
Visit www.theonetofiveguide.com for our Gay Scene Guides to: Newcastle, Brighton, Leeds, Soho, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Glasgow, Belfast, London, Liverpool and the Regions. And finally, please remember that even if we are a little tongue in cheek in our podcast, we do love each and every venue on the scene, and we urge you all to get out there and support your local gay bars!