Voinjama Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 It is very likely I will be moving to Birmingham in August. I have never lived there before but all my family come from Birmigham hence why I support the claret and blue army. What do you love about Birmingham, what do you hate about Birmigham, and has it got better or worse over time? I will be using the responses for my own benefit but I can imagine it will be entertaining to read also.
lapal_fan Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 I love the city centre, nice low skyline, you always feel like there's plenty of space and that's great when it's sunny. I don't like the outskirts much because a lot of it is run down industrial waste ground - I suppose it's what the city is built on, but it's a shame it's been left in such a mess. The thing I hate about the city centre is the trampy looking people who act like arseholes, but it's a city and you can't get away from that.
GarethRDR Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 ♥ The two retro computer games stalls in the market. ♥ Eating, pretty much anywhere. ♥ That indoor crazy golf course up at Star City. Star City in general, actually. ♥ Electric Cinema and that nearby comic/collectibles shop. ♥ Auto Assembly held there every year. ♥ The little waterfront area out the back of The Mailbox. ♥ Only two hours away on a direct train, loads of cheap hotels in the centre. ♥ Allegedly getting chatted up by some girl working at the Villa store in town. ♥ Geographical half-way point twixt me and my folks. The only thing I hate is how much I crap my pants at the height of the Bullring.
villa4europe Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 there is a fair bit to love, the food is the highlight by miles, selfridges, the mad mix of architecture, compared to bigger cities i love that its not full of school kids and tourists slowing everyone down, IMO brum is always busy but never too busy i hate the fact that to a huge part of the country it doesnt seem to exist, the number of bands that miss brum off thier tour list is criminal, drinking on broad street
A.J.Rimmer Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Other than trips to Villa Park, the last time I spent any real time in Brum was 1987, when my grandmother still lived there. Being something of a real ale snob, I found it appalling that nowhere, and I really mean nowhere, had any pump bitter... it was all Ansells fizzy stuff... drove me fecking crazy... and when I asked for pump ale they looked at me like I was nuts. Perhaps it's different now, but as a Londoner I thought all Brummies must be very primitive.
AVFC_Hitz Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Other than trips to Villa Park, the last time I spent any real time in Brum was 1987, when my grandmother still lived there. Being something of a real ale snob, I found it appalling that nowhere, and I really mean nowhere, had any pump bitter... it was all Ansells fizzy stuff... drove me fecking crazy... and when I asked for pump ale they looked at me like I was nuts. Perhaps it's different now, but as a Londoner I thought all Brummies must be very primitive. Well then nobody told you about the Lamp Tavern in Digbeth/Highgate.
gillett7 Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 The Malthouse for balcony Beers Sitting over the canal
A.J.Rimmer Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Well then nobody told you about the Lamp Tavern in Digbeth/Highgate. Obviously not... but was that the only place?
mjmooney Posted April 19, 2012 VT Supporter Posted April 19, 2012 Other than trips to Villa Park, the last time I spent any real time in Brum was 1987, when my grandmother still lived there. Being something of a real ale snob, I found it appalling that nowhere, and I really mean nowhere, had any pump bitter... it was all Ansells fizzy stuff... drove me fecking crazy... and when I asked for pump ale they looked at me like I was nuts. Perhaps it's different now, but as a Londoner I thought all Brummies must be very primitive.When I lived in Brum (I left in the early 70s) it was exactly like that - a beer drinker's nightmare. Nothing but keg Ansells and M&B. We used to have to drive out into the black country, where there was LOADS of great beer - Bathams, Holdens, Simpkiss, Banks's, etc., or southwest where you could find Greene King, Flowers, Wadworths and the like. From recent visits though, that's all changed. Plenty of good pubs with draught ale in (or JUST outside) the city centre. Ain't cheap, mind.
PauloBarnesi Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 New Street Station is possibly the worse introduction to any city I know in Europe. Its a loathsome place.
mjmooney Posted April 19, 2012 VT Supporter Posted April 19, 2012 New Street Station is possibly the worse introduction to any city I know in Europe. Its a loathsome place.Matched only by Brussels Central, IMO.
ender4 Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 New Street Station is possibly the worse introduction to any city I know in Europe. Its a loathsome place.Matched only by Brussels Central, IMO. isn't it being rebuilt soon?
ender4 Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 LOVE: the fact its a big city, but not too big. always something going on. HATE: the chavs (but thats in any city, not Bham specifically) no underground to get around.
PauloBarnesi Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 New Street Station is possibly the worse introduction to any city I know in Europe. Its a loathsome place.Matched only by Brussels Central, IMO. isn't it being rebuilt soon? I think they are talking about it. My other pet hate is how Birmingham (and the Midlands) fail to put forward its best foot forward. Look how Manchester has created a brand for itself. Has Birmingham?
GarethRDR Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 There is/was a lot of development going on in the Pallasades next to the New Street entrance.
The_Rev Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 New Street Station is possibly the worse introduction to any city I know in Europe. Its a loathsome place.Matched only by Brussels Central, IMO.isn't it being rebuilt soon?As we speak my friend. It will take another three years to finish though. (Words) (Video) Moor Street will still be nicer though.
mjmooney Posted April 19, 2012 VT Supporter Posted April 19, 2012 Well I haven't actually lived there for forty years, but I still consider myself a Brummie ("Adopted Yorkshireman"? ****, no!) What I love about it is simply that it's where I'm from, no other reasons. What I hate about it is, er, nothing. Sorry if that's a non-answer, but it reflects my feelings!
PauloBarnesi Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 New Street Station is possibly the worse introduction to any city I know in Europe. Its a loathsome place.Matched only by Brussels Central, IMO.isn't it being rebuilt soon?As we speak my friend. It will take another three years to finish though. (Words) (Video) Moor Street will still be nicer though. As BNS once was; glass and open The video suggests that the station platforms will still be underground; the feeling still of being in Mordor. Thats what needs to change. And yes Moor Street is miles nicer. Pity they ƒucked up big time and pulled down Snow Hill..
HolteEndRob Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Considering that Birmingham is the 2nd city, the nightlife scene is poor compared to alot of other cities in England. I know this can also be said about most other cities but I really can't stand all the little idiots that think that they own the place. Thinking about it, there are not that many things that I like about Birmingham. In general, it has definitely gone downhill in the last 10 years in my opinion.
Stevo985 Posted April 19, 2012 VT Supporter Posted April 19, 2012 Nightlife in Brum is really good to be honest. i think it is anyway. You just have to steer away from the awful places like (most of) Broad Street
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