There is nowhere in Birmingham better to spend a night out than Digbeth. With a mix of music venues, clubs, and bars, it has everything you need to start the night out right and end it even better. The Custard Factory houses many alternative and independent activities and venues, and the close proximity to the coach and train stations make it easy to access for locals and out of towners alike. Although you could spend a full weekend in Digbeth and still not scratch the surface of things to do, here are the best places to go for a night on the town.
Start the Night with a Cocktail
Before the night begins, start out right with a drink or two. If you love a fancy cocktail and a beach-party atmosphere, you have to stop by Birdies Bar in the Custard Factory. With a resort style bar, it feels like you’re on holiday in Spain (despite being as far as you can be from the sea). Come winter time, the place becomes a Christmas paradise with twinkly lights and pine trees, so it’s a great location all year round. The cocktails themselves are signatures of the bar, with the likes of Kiss From the Orient, The Brummie Bird, and Zazu Zombie adorning the drinks menu. If you can’t wait for the party to start, then they have you covered, with resident DJs playing music for you while you enjoy your drink, so it’s a great place to wait for the sun to go down.
…or Sink a Classic Pint
If you’re more of a traditionalist when it comes to drinks, there are a number of pubs in the Digbeth area to grab a pint and relax before the fun begins. A newbie on the scene is Dead Wax on Adderley Street. Their appeal is summed up pretty well by the sign above the door: “BEER, VINYL, PIZZA”. They have rotating craft beers on tap from breweries near and far, with a few staples for good measure. The soundtrack to your drink comes from a vinyl collection of over 4000, and they even do live music if the rain comes in and you don’t fancy leaving one place all night. And of course, there is pizza, so you can fuel up for your night out. If even that is too much excitement, The Old Crown on the High Street is for you. Built in 1368, this pub is housed in the oldest secular building in Birmingham. If you think “traditional British pub”, this is what you imagine. Busy but relaxed, this is perfect for those who are not as lively as they used to be, but still want to enjoy good night.
Play a Few Games
It may not be typical for most people, but if there is one way to spend the night in Birmingham, it’s with a game or two. And it is frankly impossible for you not to be catered for in Digbeth. Do you like arcade games? Then try out NQ64 at the Custard Factory or Ball Park on Floodgate Street (who also have table tennis, pool, and a giant adult ball pit). Not enough? Well then swing by Heath Mill Lane and visit DropShot or Roxy ball Room for activities such as ping pong, shuffleboard, pool, bowling, or basketball. The golfers among you will love Golf Fang in the Custard Factory, and all the crazy neon décor it entails. But if you really want to work up a sweat, then you have to try The Floodgate on Floodgate Street. They have pit pat table golf, curling, and the only baseball batting cages you can find in Birmingham. It might sound like a strange way to spend your evening, but with Digbeth being the home of the independent and alternative in the city, how could you expect anything else?
Watch some Live Music
You want music? Digbeth has you covered. Walking down Lower Trinity Street on a Saturday night, you will hear beats coming from every other building you pass. Walking from the Custard Factory, you’ll first see Mama Roux’s, the preferred spot of every indie and alternative music fan in the city. They have been host to many of those “you wouldn’t know them, but they’re my favourite band” acts over the years, and even have a weekly cabaret and discos if you’re that way inclined. A couple of buildings over and you’ll see The Night Owl, for fans of the oldies. They are THE northern soul and retro venue, with UB40 tribute acts and other classics playing ‘til 4am. Finally, you’ll come across The Mill, who welcome acts of all genres, including big names like Emeli Sande and Goldie Lookin’ Chain. Whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Dance the Night Away
It’s 11pm, you’ve been drinking, golfing, and rocking out for the past 5 hours, but you aren’t slowing down now. As you sing “Sweet Caroline” on your way through Digbeth, try to stumble yourself to Trent Street, where you will find your final destination for the night: Lab11. From the outside, it just looks like another warehouse, but when you enter, you will see why this award-winning nightclub is one of the most well-known and well-loved in Birmingham. It is made up of 5 rooms, a rooftop terrace, and an outdoor area under the railway bridge called the Arches. The rooms include the Basement (for intimate, late night sounds), the Loft (a smaller, lesser known area), the Greenhouse (which has plants dangling from the ceiling and home to the AFTA DARK afterparty), the Terrace (the largest room in the club), and the Warehouse (the original club venue). This is the place to go if you want to throw all inhibitions out the window and go full-on rave mode. The dress code is casual, the music is loud, and the people love every second of their time here. Where else could you possibly want to end the night?
