Birmingham - The City That Never Sleeps (Pubs / Bars in Birmingham in general)

Member Name: Pompeii1986

Product:	Pubs / Bars in Birmingham in general
Date:	16/06/07 (90 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Huge choice; Cheap food and drinks; Good policing

Disadvantages: Taxi drivers try to rip you off;

Birmingham, home of the infamous Broad Street. Of course this long road is famous for the endless bars, clubs and pubs along it, as it the nearby Arcadian (to a lesser extent). Having been at University for 3 years I have had numerous experiences at going out for the night.

First of all, the policing is quite good. Friends have told me horror stories about seeing people covered in blood, or possible stab victims but for the most part Birminghams night life is quite safe. The bigger clubs and bars employ numerous well-trained and sharp bouncers to stop the trouble before it can start (although some are there purely to ruin your fun) and when it comes to closing time there are a number of uniformed police patrolling. This is mostly true of Broad Street, although other areas in Birmingham are well-guarded. Selly Oak, for instance (student central) usually has police visible and on stand-by.

Right, now you know that you're going to be safe from muggings you need to know how much money to withdraw. Most clubs charge an entry fee, although that can be avoided if you arrive early. Getting there early means that you have to wait around for hours for the atmosphere to build up though. Most bars tend to be free and all pubs (that I know of) are. You will need photo ID as there is no way you're getting in otherwise. There has been a strict crackdown on underage drinking in the Birmingham area (fortunately not put into place until after I was 18). So, including taxi fare, entry fee and then a few drinks you will probably be looking at about £30, or £20 on a student night. Pretty average value on the whole, although many bars and clubs offer cheap drinks promotions (Reflex will give you a pint for £1.50, Risa will give you a double vodka and redbull for £2.00 on a student night).

Competition in Selly Oak brings the prices right down - it is an ideal place to go for a few drinks or to start the night off. Five pub/bars along a 500 metre street means that pints are consistently less than £2.00, and spirits with mixers are also cheap. Good food can be found at reasonable prices too. The Gun Barrells (Bristol Road, Selly Oak) offers a pint of Carling, a burger and chips for £3.50 - great value.

So how good is the nightlife? The clubs are excellent and among the biggest in the county. The pubs have a good atmosphere although it can be difficult to find one which is nice and quiet - you will have to pay extra for peace. Taxis regularly patrol the streets looking for fares, but be warned: if they think you are drunk they will try to rip you off. Persuasive negotiation can usually get the price down a couple of pounds though, so make sure at least one of you is sober!

In all, the pubs and bars in Birmingham are among the best that I have been to. In terms of price alone they come out trumps (unless you end up at some of the more swanky bars such as Zinc, where you will be paying upwards of £3 for a bottle of cheap beer), and each bar/club/pub offers a great atmosphere without too many seedy locals. Unfortunately for some, there are an abundance of students in Birmingham (with 2 big Universities located close to Broad Street), which means drunkeness, loudness and occasional unpleasantness. Of course, students are not the only ones guilty of this, but it is because of their abundance that it seems more prominent.

I would recommend Birmingham as a stop on a cross-country tour for a big night out, or even for a quiet drink during the day if you are passing through. Those of you going to University in Birmingham next year, you are going to have a great time. I hope everyone else enjoys Brum as much as I have

Summary: A fun and atmospheric city to go out in - more bars than you could name