Birmingham Life

[icouldtelltheworld]

16 minutes ago, choffer said:

I think that's an important point and one I've seen discussed here before. I've now been away longer than I ever lived in Brum so see it with a bit of a distance but I can't think of many cities (or towns of a decent size) that people seem to be less proud of. I often find Brummies to be almost apologetic of where they are from. There's so much to celebrate in the city and it's history but unless your surname is Chinn nobody is doing it. 

Absolutely - I think we lack an identity to a certain extent. It's crazy that someone could visit Brum and leave with absolutely no idea that the city was the birthplace of heavy metal and the place where Lord of the Rings was written - with numerous landmarks still standing that Tolkien took inspiration from. Those are just two examples of Brum's heritage that could draw visitors from across the world if more was made of them.

One of the saddest things for me is the Crown pub outside New St station. Some of the biggest bands from Brum played their first ever gigs there, it's been abandoned for at least 5 years and was ear marked to be turned into apartments. In Liverpool or Manchester that would've been turned into a tourist attraction and would be attracting visitors all year round.

[Xela]

On 09/09/2020 at 17:26, icouldtelltheworld said:

One of the saddest things for me is the Crown pub outside New St station. Some of the biggest bands from Brum played their first ever gigs there, it's been abandoned for at least 5 years and was ear marked to be turned into apartments. In Liverpool or Manchester that would've been turned into a tourist attraction and would be attracting visitors all year round.

Absolutely. Its in a prime position but think it was sold to a far east development company that, like you said, had plans to turn into apartments. It should absolutely be re-opened to celebrate the bands that played there (first ever Sabbath performance I think?)

[Xela]

On 09/09/2020 at 17:07, choffer said:

I often find Brummies to be almost apologetic of where they are from. 

I think that is down the Brummie persona. Very self depreciating. Nothing like Mancs or Geordies who massively overstate how good their home cities are

[Wainy316]

There’s a page called the Manc on Facebook and people post nice shots of the city on the there.  The locals absolutely gush about how it’s the best city in the world and I think they genuinely believe it.  

[Xela]

29 minutes ago, Wainy316 said:

There’s a page called the Manc on Facebook and people post nice shots of the city on the there.  The locals absolutely gush about how it’s the best city in the world and I think they genuinely believe it.  

I used to work with a guy from Manchester and he was always waxing lyrical about it. I've been there plenty of times and its just like Brum... they're much of a muchness. Good points and bad points. 

Manchester has benefitted IMO massively from having 2 world class football teams. Helps the profile of the place. 

[bickster]

On 09/09/2020 at 17:26, icouldtelltheworld said:

One of the saddest things for me is the Crown pub outside New St station. Some of the biggest bands from Brum played their first ever gigs there, it's been abandoned for at least 5 years and was ear marked to be turned into apartments. In Liverpool or Manchester that would've been turned into a tourist attraction and would be attracting visitors all year round.

No it wouldn't

[Xela]

On 07/09/2020 at 22:37, jackbauer24 said:

It came up in another thread but probably deserves it's own thread... How safe do you find Birmingham? Is it a nice place? Is it better or worse than it used to be?

I was quite critical of Birmingham City Centre in another thread so thought I best answer this question. 

I've worked in Birmingham City Centre since 1997 with only a few months here and there out in the suburbs at the turn of the century. Personally, overall, I find the city far less nice to visit than 20 years ago. That is just my view and there may be a number of reasons for that, which I'll try and expand on. 

When I got my first job at 18, on Colmore Row, I absolutely loved coming into the city... who wouldn't? 18 years old, earning a wage and bang in the middle of the second city. I loved it. Discovering pubs with my new colleagues, spending my own money for the first time ever and in a city where I could while away my lunch hours flicking through CDs, videos (showing my age!) and books in a number of places I loved - Virgin Megastore on Bull Street, the huge HMV in the Pavilions (was it 5 or 6 floors high?!), Tower Records on Corporation Street (loved that place), WHSmith in Union Street, which was so big and seemed to span half of city centre! Plus Rackhams was a great shop back then as well. I'd never be bored. Plus the country was far more optimistic then... riding off the back of Cool Britannia and New Labour, which i think had a huge impact. The country seemed a more positive place. 

Broad Street always seemed a buzzing place in the 'noughties' and the nightlife in general seemed better around the turn of the century, including proper club nights... Miss Moneypenny's, Godskitchen, Sundiessential, etc and the clubbers just seemed more friendly. I just generally preferred the place 15-20 years ago. There may be a reason for that though - I was younger! I think i'm generally jaded of the place. I feel like its more dangerous now but obviously thats just my perception. Probably not helped by 'always on' social media and everything being reported on now. My view has probably changed as I've got older and maybe I am more naturally cautious now than back then and more aware of danger? Murder stats across the UK will show that the country is a safer place now than 20-25 years ago, so my concerns are probably unfounded. I've just got older and don't enjoy the place as much anymore. All the places I used to love are pretty much long gone. 

I will concede the food scene is much better and there are a lot more 'nicer' pubs/bars now and some of the redevelopment has made the city look better in parts. Although I was around the Dale End area not so long ago and it was **** grim. Gangs of kids hanging around, people out of their tree on drugs and far more homeless than before. Businesses in the area have reported no end of trouble there.  This is part of a wider national problem though as I'm sure Manchester and London have the same issues in that regard. I do maintain that people aren't as friendly and polite as they used to be. I've had far more negative interactions with people in recent years, which I don't recall happening in the past. 

I realise this probably reads like me looking back wth rose tinted spectacles and that may be the truth. I'm more than likely just tired of the place as well combined with the society we live in today. 

In summary.. I'm getting older and don't like it as much!   

 

[tinker]

The problem with Birmingham is its marketing or lack of it. Look at music, where Manchester appears to hold all the cards until you take a closer look at the international music scene, Manchester barely has a band that registers, Oasis are virtually unheard of state side, who else is there? They have also have labeled themselves as the Heart of UK manufacturing which is a joke well beyond any of Simply Reds songs (top selling Manchester band). The Luna society changed the world, guess what city they called home? (Litchfield isn't a city) 

It doesnt help that the media has more or less abandoned Birmingham, film, radio and papers are sadly lacking and most are produced in Manchester and London then shown, listened to or read by us. Birmingham Council is also hopeless, inaffective and basically not fit for purpose, our mayor is great at business but poor in promoting our city.

Crime? Same as any city I have visited (New York is over policed, their on every corner). Plus The older you get the more vulnerable we are, thats a fact not lost on criminals. 

[Wainy316]

4 hours ago, Xela said:

I used to work with a guy from Manchester and he was always waxing lyrical about it. I've been there plenty of times and its just like Brum... they're much of a muchness. Good points and bad points. 

Manchester has benefitted IMO massively from having 2 world class football teams. Helps the profile of the place. 

Yup I lived there for 7 years and it’s a good city but the way the locals talk it up just turns me against it.  They think its some special god-sent utopia and the best city in the world.

It’s also another place that it’s quite easy to be assaulted just for minding your own business.

[AJ]

I spent the day there last year, and I was very impressed with Birmingham. Mind you, I didn't see all of it.

We went to the Villa Shop, and then killed the rest of the day in the Bull Ring. I though it was very nicely set up, and the food choices seemed a lot more appealing than they were in London. I tried chips and curry sauce for the first time, and thought it was brilliant. The people were quite friendly, and there was lots to check out and explore.

The only negs was that a guy begging for change saw all our Villa merch, and started slagging us off. He really needed to work on his PR, as he got zip. Another thing is, sorry, but you all need bloody subtitles.

[Mandy Lifeboats]

32 minutes ago, AJ said:

 Another thing is, sorry, but you all need bloody subtitles.

If you think that - never venture 15 miles from Brum into the Black Country.  It's where I was born  and raised.  It's like purgatory but with pork scratchings.

Con yow kik a bawl genst t wall then yed it an bost it?  

[Mandy Lifeboats]

I mentioned earlier in the thread that I moved away from Brum (Selly Oak) nearly 20 years ago and neither miss it nor have any strong negative feelings. 

My first memories of Birmingham was going there from Wolverhampton by train with my nan. That seemed like a big day out to a young kid.  Visiting the Science Museum....looking at the mummy in the Art Gallery/Museum....looking up at the Telecom Tower and visiting the massive toy departments.  I watched the video that Kojak made when he went there.  Birmingham was just amazing.  I thought so and so did Kojak.  

I am now 50 but still visit Brum.  I saw Penn & Teller and booked a suite at the Radisson.  I saw Ricky Gervais and had a really good sushi meal somewhere I can't remember. I've booked a suite and spent an evening on the Roulette Tables of the Genting at Resorts World.  I've pressed every button at the Think Tank.  I do my Christmas shopping at the Bull Ring about this time of year. All really good experiences. 

But as an adult I notice things that I didn't notice as a child.  I notice the bad bits.  I describe Birmingham in exactly the same way I describe London.  Great to visit but not somewhere I would want to live or work. 

I wonder what Kojak thinks?  He must have retired from the Police Force by now.  Maybe he's got an apartment at the Mail Box? 

 

[Wainy316]

So I checked out this Kojak video you mentioned and I just had to share it...

Myyyy kinda town

[Mandy Lifeboats]

I once saw Hutch from Starsky & Hutch at New Street Station. I assume he was going to see Kojak about a big case. 

Ps My spill chicken just changed "Hutch" to "Gurch".  Wow.  So wrong. 

[bielesibub]

7 minutes ago, Mandy Lifeboats said:

I once saw Hutch from Starsky & Hutch at New Street Station. I assume he was going to see Kojak about a big case. 

Ps My spill chicken just changed "Hutch" to "Gurch".  Wow.  So wrong. 

Starsky & Murch, now that might have been worth watching.

Dare I ask how your smell checker discovered Gurch?

[chrisp65]

Birmingham is a very typical big city, it’s great if you have money and progressively worse the less money you have.

But it definitely does not get bigged up by a ‘proud’ portion of its residents and diaspora like other towns do. No stereotype works completely, but we never ever get the positive feedback from work in Birmingham that we do from other places.

Liverpool, what do you think of your new building?: ‘it’s great, better access, old ladies can get in now’

Bristol, what d’you think of your new shop?: ‘sales are up 15%, customers like it’

Birmingham, what d’you think of the new office?: ‘I don’t really like the New Street development, the streets have been dug up for too long’.

Birmingham, yes, but your new office building specifically, good or bad?: ‘the boss used to do free coffee but now there’s a franchise’.

 

!*&£%@$ ! Every damn time.

[Mandy Lifeboats]

41 minutes ago, bielesibub said:

Dare I ask how your smell checker discovered Gurch?

There's 3 possibilities. 

1. I've corresponded with someone called Gurchan in a friendly manner.  Very possible. 

2. I've discovered a bizarre type of pornography. 

3. My spill chicken software is absolutely antelope. 

 

[bickster]

9 hours ago, tinker said:

(Litchfield isn't a city) 

You are correct, it isn't even a place

Lichfield however is a city, it has a Cathedral and has had the status of city conferred on it by the monarchy

[bickster]

14 hours ago, Xela said:

I used to work with a guy from Manchester and he was always waxing lyrical about it. I've been there plenty of times and its just like Brum... they're much of a muchness. Good points and bad points. 

Manchester has benefitted IMO massively from having 2 world class football teams. Helps the profile of the place. 

The two teams is only a very recent phenomena, the rise of Citeh has feck all to do with anything

[Xela]