|
With a city as densely populated as Birmingham you can expect a few poofs about the place.
If you tap into the one-in-ten claptrap, Birmingham has a gay population of over 100,000.
Birmingham has always been a hotbed of trade. The city was once home to every kind of manufacturing industry you could think of. The pioneers of the Industrial Revolution formed the Lunar Society here - a scientific forum that spawned the world's first ever purpose built factory, the invention of gas lighting and the mass production of the steam engine. The rest, as they say, is history - so go look it up in a book. Today the city is going through something of a 'This Morning' make over. Not an easy job. Think of Anne Widdecombe being made over to look like Anne Heche and you'll have an idea of what the city planners are up against. The aim is to reassert Birmingham's status as the UK's second city. The banks of Birmingham's neglected canals are being regenerated to house sea-view apartments, there's a brand new spanking concert hall for a billet of the Royal Ballet, and The Bull Ring is being ripped out and replaced by the biggest shopping mall in Europe - the Mailbox. Along with other commercial sectors of the city, Birmingham's gay scene has grown substantially over recent years. So much so there aren't enough queers to go around. Those that are tend to be found at Missing in Hurst Street. One of the most popular gay venues in Birmingham, Missing gets packed practically nightly. Musically, expect Steps and S Club 7. Elsewhere in Hurst Street you'll find The Green Room. Opposite the building site that will eventually be the new Hippodrome, The Green Room is an informal and friendly café bar where you can eat heartily for under £10. Attracts gay friendly grazers. Not far away is Angels (127 Hurst Street). Popular with the youngsters, Angels acts as a pre-club bar. Open seven days a week. Nearby is Partner's. One of the city's oldest gay venues, Partner's can be fun if you hit it on a good night. Grim if you don't. Expect an earthy crowd behaving badly. Route 2 (139 Hurst Street) is the most popular bar in Brum. Holds regular theme nights and drink promotions. Worth going just to sneak a peek at the strippers in the showers. Miss Billie plays host to such star turns as Bucks Fizz and the Nolans. Open until 2am Mon-Sat. Nightingale's (Kent Street) use to be the oldest gay members club in the country. However, since revising its door policy non-members are now welcome. As are the gay curious. The Jester (Horsefair) is Birmingham's oldest gay pub. It's where you'll find all those people you thought were dead. Attracts a loyal crowd that like nothing better than to have a good gossip across the circular bar. Expect cabaret and a traditional vibe. Finally, Boots Bar (77 Wrentham Street) isn't so much upfront as down below. That's where it all goes on. The deeper you go, the darker it becomes. You'll be forced to feel your way around. Popular with the leather set. Upstairs has a bar, disco and the filthiest porn you could imagine. ends |
