13 Best Nightlife Experiences in Birmingham

The Mailbox – the old central post office – features high-end restaurants, bars, fashion boutiques, and the BBC television studios. There’s also a row of around 20 venues serving fancy drinks and dishes from across the globe.

Popular bars at Mailbox include Bar Epernay and Aluna, both of which enjoy open views over the canal. Look out for Zizzi, a highly rated Italian restaurant, and Indico Street Kitchen, a restaurant that pays tribute to India's street food vendors and the glamour of Indian cinema. Head to Indico between noon and 5 pm from Monday to Friday to grab your choice of curry with naan or plain rice for under a tenner.

Arcadian is a trendy courtyard packed with pubs, cocktail bars, restaurants and the Glee Club – Birmingham’s legendary comedy venue. It attracts a cool crowd of young professionals who like to go bar hopping. It’s especially fun on summer evenings when people spill out of the bars and into the courtyard to mix and mingle.  

The most enduring and popular bars in Arcadian Birmingham include Sobar and Levana Bar. Just across the road from the Arcadian, you will find Bambu – one of the city’s finest dance clubs for funky and vocal house music.

Broad Street is a long thoroughfare in the city centre that’s lined with bars and clubs. Long known as nightlife centre of Birmingham, it attracts a young crowd who are looking to party into the night at places like Pitcher & Piano, O’Neill’s Irish Bar, and Revolution Birmingham.

You’ll also find plenty of places to eat along Broad Street, with several highly rated Indian restaurants serving Birmingham’s famed dish, the Balti curry. Check out Pushkar for great food and imaginative cocktails, and Varanasi for modern takes on Indian cuisine.

Star City is a huge leisure complex around 5 miles from Birmingham city centre that’s home to the best cinema in the city – 25 screens including VIP theatres. You can find plenty of family-friendly restaurants here, serving a range of regional cuisines, before enjoying a movie, a game of 10-pin bowling or even mini golf at Adventure Island.

Other family-friendly activities include laser tag and an escape room. There’s also a dedicated family fun zone – a soft play area for toddlers with viewing areas for parents and grandparents.

Birmingham’s creative types can be found in Digbeth. Just a short walk from the Bullring, this post-industrial neighbourhood really comes alive in the evenings. You can expect pop-up street food markets, urban art, and some of the city’s best nightlife, held in renovated warehouses. Adding to the eclectic vibe, old boozers and humble cafes offer a glimpse into the past. 

From Thursday to Saturday evenings, Digbeth Dining Club is a fun street food event that brings together up to 50 stalls selling regional cuisines and craft beers. If you’re up for some late-night clubbing, head to the Custard Factory for socialising or the Institute for pumping bass.

Everyman Theatre was first opened in 1891 and features a lavish auditorium decorated with frescoes of cherubs and gold curlicues. A refurbishment in 2011 restored many original features, including the theatre's beautiful Scagliola marble. The venue hosts operas and plays, along with dance performances, comedy nights and the ever-popular annual pantomime.

Recent hits have included a production of Dial M for Murder, a musical version of Sleepy Hollow, and the exuberant children's show Giraffes Can't Dance. The Circle Bar on the first floor has a fine menu of wines and whiskeys, while bright and airy Matcham's Restaurant on the 2nd floor serves 2-course meals before evening performances.

Brindley Place is the best place to see the waterways around Birmingham. The whole area is alive with trendy bars, restaurants, and attractions.

Simply stroll along and stop when a bar or restaurant takes your fancy, be it a German beer hall or demure cocktail lounge. Just next to Brindley Place you’ll also find Ikon Gallery, the National Sea Life aquarium, and the Arena Birmingham concert hall – many prominent rock and pop acts perform here when they tour the UK.

The O2 Institute in Birmingham is considered one of the UK’s top live music venues. Originally opened in 1908, the complex consists of 3 main rooms, with the largest auditorium featuring a stellar 1,500 capacity and 2 seated balcony levels. Alongside 2 smaller stages, the venue often packs out whenever a must-see act is in town.

The O2 Institute has hosted deafening gigs for the last 30 years. Some of the biggest names in the business that have graced the stage include Pink Floyd, The Cure, and the Arctic Monkeys. There’s a good chance a headline performer is lighting up the O2 Institute when you’re in town.

Birmingham’s self-titled Gay Village is made up of bars and clubs, shops and restaurants, all celebrating the cosmopolitan and free-thinking nature of the city. To find it, simply follow the rainbow flag flying along Hurst Street, past landmarks like the Hippodrome and Arcadian. It’s easy to walk from New Street station.

Notable venues include the longtime favourite, Nightingale Club, along with newer places like Cloud and Genepool. Head to The Village Inn to see an excellent drag and cabaret show in Birmingham.

The Hippodrome is a live theatre that stages a diverse range of live performances, many of which are suitable for families. There are regular matinee performances on weekends. Popular shows on at Birmingham Hippodrome have included Matilda The Musical and Kinky Boots.

Around the festive period, the Hippodrome hosts many Christmas pantomimes, which are great fun for kids of all ages. Located on Hurst Street, it’s walking distance from New Street station and close to the Arcadian, a collection of fancy bars and restaurants.

Arena Birmingham is a huge event space that hosts world-class rock and pop artists, along with sporting events. Musicians to have played here include Rod Stewart, Backstreet Boys, and Cher, among many others. Keep an eye on the upcoming concerts at Arena Birmingham as shows often sell out ahead of time.

You can find Arena Birmingham close to Brindley Place, about a 10-minute walk from the New Street railway station. It's also surrounded by restaurants, bars and other attractions, including the National Sea Life aquarium.

Birmingham Symphony Hall hosts a range of cultural events most evenings, including classical music, children’s theatre, and visiting performances by such varied artists as Bollywood singers and African vocal choirs. The interior of the Symphony Hall is decked out in pale wood and the acoustics are incredible.

You can find Birmingham Symphony Hall at the top of Broad Street, the closest end to the city centre. It’s next door to Birmingham Library and The International Convention Centre. Keep an eye on future events as most events sell out ahead of time.