If you’ve never been on a night out in Birmingham, you’re missing out. With its young population and numerous universities, there are plenty of things to entertain you. There is something for everyone in this city, and its cultural richness is reflected by what’s on offer. There are offerings for families as well as the all-night boisterous club experiences.
With the COVID-19 pandemic well and truly behind us, we can escape from the habits we got used to, like only visiting a casino online, and try out some of Birmingham’s best evening hotspots. Take a look at what this fantastic city has to offer.
1. The Mailbox
Birmingham’s old central post office has become somewhat of a central hub for a range of folk. It contains the BBC television studios (although these will be moving to Digbeth in 2026), fashion boutiques, bars and high-end restaurants. You’ll find worldwide cuisine and delicious drinks, ensuring you can happily spend an entire evening there!
Some of the most popular bars here are Aluna and Bar Epernay. These two have great canal views that you can absorb while enjoying your drink. There are also popular restaurants, like the well-known Italian chain Zizzi, and Indico Street Kitchen, which aims to replicate the street food you’ll find in the heart of India. If you get there before 5 PM during the week, you can get a curry with rice or a naan for less than £10.
2. Arcadian
Similar to The Mailbox, Arcadian is comprised of multiple venues in one. This trendy courtyard is home to the Glee Club, a popular comedy venue, as well as restaurants, cocktail bars and pubs. You’ll fit in well here if you’re a young professional with a penchant for bar hopping.
This is an excellent place to spend a summer night as it has a great courtyard atmosphere. Popular bars here include Levana Bar and Sobar. Finally, if you fancy dancing to vocal house or funk, the dance club Bambu can be found just opposite.
3. Broad Street
Right in the city centre of Birmingham is Broad Street, a long street filled with clubs and bars. This is well known to be Birmingham’s nightlife centre. Though it does attract younger partygoers, there is something here for everyone, with Revolution, O’Neill’s and Pitcher & Piano, to name a few.
Broad Street also has lots of great Indian restaurants, many of which serve Balti curries, for which the city is famous. One of the best restaurants is Varanasi, which serves Indian food with a modern twist. If you’re wanting cocktails alongside your food, Pushkar is excellent.
4. Star City
If you don’t mind being out of the centre and are seeking a tamer evening of entertainment, Star City is a leisure complex that you can find just five miles away. It has the city’s best cinema, which is home to 25 screens and exclusive theatres. There are also lots of restaurants, as well as fun to be had playing mini golf over at Adventure Island or playing a game of 10-pin bowls. What’s more, there’s an escape room and laser tag too! Star City is not the sort of place you’d party all night but it’s great for a change of scenery or a family soirée.
5. Digbeth
Digbeth is also found outside the main city centre and is just a stroll away from the Bullring. It is a post-industrial area that attracts creative types. This neighbourhood springs to life at night, with an eclectic range of urban venues in renovated industrial units. There are also cafés and traditional pubs to make you reminisce about times gone by.
If you’re visiting here on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday evening, you’ll come across Digbeth Dining Club. This is a brilliant street food event that showcases around 50 different craft beers and regional cuisines. After eating and enjoying a drink, you can head to the Institute (if you like bass) or the Custard Factory, which is a great place to socialise and is the former Bird’s Custard HQ, hence the name!
6. Be At One
Finally, if you’re specifically looking for the best cocktail bar, Be At One has the best reviews. It is open between 4:30 PM and 12 AM and offers great service, a fantastic party atmosphere and most of all, excellent cocktails.
Birmingham is the Place To Be for UK Nightlife!
If you’ve never considered Birmingham for a trip away or a night out, we hope we’ve managed to convince you to give it a whirl! There are so many things to try and we’re sure you’ll want to come back again and again! Whether it’s a family evening of 10-pin bowling or crazy golf, a meal and cocktails, or dancing until dawn, Birmingham has you covered.
