Birmingham may surprise you if you are searching for a modern and vibrant LGBT-friendly community. Centred along the traditional Hurst Street, the Birmingham Gay Village is a thriving force of businesses, entertainment, and culture all at once. Why does it have thousands of visitors every week? Let's take a closer look and find out!

Hurst Street: A fit location hosts a fit celebration

Situated in Central Birmingham and next to the Chinese Quarter, Birmingham's Gay Village parades in the hottest spot: Hurst Street. You can find some of Birminghams best restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels there. However, long before the main street hosted the annual celebration of Birmingham Pride, it was first nurtured by history, architecture, and automobile design. Here’s a fun fact not every tourist knows about! Hurst Street was home to the Fisher & Ludlow factory from the 1930s, a well-known British automobile manufacturer.

A bit of history for a bit of fun

The Birmingham Gay Village, as we know it, was first popular back in the 1990s. But it had to come a long way before becoming the renowned district it is today! Before karaoke bars and drag queen shows, the entire area was a small warehouse district with a few businesses in the 1950s. However, it wasn’t until the arrival of the revolutionary 1980s that everything started to find its unique place and purpose. And Hurst Street was at the heart of it all. Along with gay rights and liberation movements came freedom and lots of celebration. Thus, the Gay Village was born for all the world to enjoy.

Always Pride, never prejudice

Not many neighbourhoods, or ‘gaybourhoods’, can say they are the top choice to host a gay pride festival. There’s far too much to be proud of in the Birmingham Gay Village! Birmingham Pride is the UK’s largest two-day gay pride festival in the world. This annual festival offers a weekend filled with celebration, expression, and acceptance. The mood is set with plenty of music, dance and street performances that captivate everyone and everything. It’s estimated that this major event will bring roughly £15 million to the city's economy. Not too shabby for an economic boost of confidence!

Are you up for it?

Due to its popularity and charm amongst the growing LGBT community, friends, and supporters, the Birmingham Gay Village is up for major improvements to enhance outdoor and indoor entertainment. You can find everything for a fun and enticing night or day, from historically acclaimed bars such as The Nightingale (A.k.a. The Gale, for over 50 years) to the biggest Pride parties in the world. It’s a scene you definitely do not want to miss!

Far from being just a fun place to be around, the Gay Village has proven that cultural values and initiatives are always celebrated. There are lots of things to do and experience! Some of the surrounding attractions are the Bull Ring shopping centre, the Birmingham Hippodrome (a theatre in the Chinese Quarter and the home stage of the Birmingham Royal Ballet), and of course, the Chinese Quarter itself. Tourists love taking pictures at The Pagoda in Holloway Circus, a traditional landmark. You can visit it on your way to your favourite pub!

And let’s not forget about the Balls!

Sure, the Gay Village offers coffee shops, late-night pubs, ace drag shows, and cabarets. But it hosts two other major Pride events! The Gay and Lesbian Pride Ball has taken place every spring since 1998. It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and love whilst raising awareness and funds for AIDS and HIV charities. It’s important to remind ourselves of these valuable causes and carry on with these social initiatives.

Now, if you are all about Christmas, you cannot miss the Christmas Ball! This ball represents another exciting event to support gay rights and fundraising activities, all in good fun and with a Christmasy spirit.

Where to Meet & Cheers

Whether you fancy an easy night at a pub or an exuberant dance at a nightclub, the Gay Village has plenty of options to choose from. Let’s have a quick look at some of most famous venues to visit when Going Out in Birmingham!

The Nightingale:

As previously mentioned, ‘The Gale’ has lots of history within its walls. As the oldest gay nightclub in Birmingham, some consider it to be a sort of right of passage. It’s a must! Impressive music shows, disco-themed bingo nights, and an ambience ready to enjoy a drink on the terrace. Not to mention its unique artwork created by local queer artists, which gives it an extra allure.

The Missing Bar:

For a top-of-the-notch night, you simply must get to the Missing! An intimate yet full of personality small venue that hosts DJ nights and major drag shows. Its Victorian design brings us back to the 1800s and makes it a proper party bar to join in and celebrate life. If you love mojitos and daiquiris, you can create your own right there!

Equator Bar:

If partying is not your cup of tea, but you still wish to have fun, this lounge bar is for you. A welcoming and relaxed atmosphere surrounds every person that visits the Equator. It’s truly where comfort and style meet at their best! Perfect for meeting people, friends, and home to the trans community.

Sidewalk:

As one of the first openly gay bars, the Sidewalk building had had many names since its creation in the 1930s, when it used to be a car showroom. Now it offers diversity in and out! As a restaurant and bar, it’s also the proper place for conferences and fundraising events. Certainly the best of both worlds!

The Loft:

If you have ever wondered where to enjoy an open-all-year garden, the answer is right here. Located on Bromsgrove Street, this venue is perfect to start your day with a delicious cocktail and homemade nibbles. The Loft offers an award-winning and weatherproof garden! You might even try their ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ cocktail, featuring whisky, amaretto, and cherry brandy. What a delight!

Good change is always fit.

As most of its buildings and venues have shown over the decades, the Birmingham Gay Village is living proof that good change is always positive and inviting. No matter the name or the origin, a building can be leveraged by willing people trying to express themselves and help others do the same. This is the case of the Gay Village, right in the centre of Birmingham. Next time you’re in the second-largest city in the UK, make sure to stop by. There are plenty of options for every quid and taste. And it's certainly a pleasure to experience it amongst friends and loved ones!

If you are a beer devotee, the London Craft Beer Festival is the place to be this summer. Make the most out of your summer with a taste of the 100s of different craft beers, wines, gins, and variety of Alcohols available at the London Craft Beer Festival.

When are where is it?

The London Craft Beer Festival 2021 is taking place in August from the 13th, 14th, and 15th of August. There are different sessions that you can take part in or visit that take place at various times across the 3 days, these include a range of things to do. The London Craft beer Festival takes place on the Tobacco Dock in Tobacco Quay, Wapping Ln, London.

What does the London Craft Beer Festival offer?

The London Craft Beer Festival 2021 is the ideal place to be if you want to get a taste of the 100s of diverse craft beers out there, and simply enjoy the world of brewing. There are a couple of different sessions for one to attended, which depends on the type of ticket you purchase. Each tick differs, however the main benefits every individual will receive are a festival glass, access to various pop-up kitchens, wine, ciders, gins, non-alcoholic bars, and a variety of amazing music acts to view.

Not only do you get to taste some of the finest craft beers, with your ticket you will be able to receive a free festival glass to use to test a range of craft beers throughout the festival, nothing like a great keepsake!

As mentioned, above amazing beer always goes well with some entertainment and food and that is why the London Craft Beer Festival presents its visitors with some exciting music acts. Previous acts have been performed by Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) and Olugbenga (Metronomy), so you know there is a terrific act to look forward to at the London Craft Beer Festival.

You can’t go wrong with a craft beer and some fantastic food to go with it. With the open kitchens available, you’re definitely going to have to get a taste of the assortment of dishes available for one to munch on at the London Craft Beer festival. Some of best Restaurants in London are going to bringing their first-class menus for you to get a taste of some of their delectable dishes.

Don’t regret it, visit the London Craft Beer festival this summer 2021 and get the chance to meet the brewers of your most favourite beers. You can ask them anything or even tell them what they could make better about it, ha-ha! An experience of a lifetime discuss craft beers and drink craft beers the whole day if you will when visiting the London Craft Beer Festival 2021.

What Breweries can you expect to see at the London Craft Beer Festival 2021?

• Glasshouse Beer Co.
• Hackney Church Brew Co.
• Lost & Grounded
• Double-Barrelled
• Brixton Brewery
• Brouwerij Kees
• Mondo Brewing Co.
• Orbit Beers
• Pomono Island Brew Co.
• Signature Brew
• Salt Beer Factory

Other than these there are 100s and many more breweries and brew companies that will be part of the London Craft Beer Festival, so if any of these are your favourite, be sure to visit this summer.

Now known as the UK’s biggest food and musical festival tour, Pub in the Park is back to bring you the best food and music this 2021! In 2019, around 12,000 people joined the pub in all eight locations to celebrate life and have fun with everyone in the crowd. This year, Pub in the Park is super thrilled to once again let people taste the award-winning food and drinks made by amazing chefs and the best music of all time while bonding with the best people in their lives.

The festival is most famous for the cheap but amazing food people can buy from the parks in different locations. All kinds of drinks are offered as well, and people can buy as many beverages as they can! Chefs are also invited annually to cook in front of a live audience, and kids are also given a space where they can do crafts and other engaging activities. Of course, last but not the least, the main stage is where people will hear all the amazing and incredible bands the park has invited to entertain the crowd.

The ticket prices vary, including additional transaction and booking fees. Everyone needs to have their own ticket, including children six years old and above. There are also two kinds of tickets, each for the afternoon and evening sessions, so make sure you decide when you’d like to attend the festival. If you want to enjoy both sessions, you, then, need to purchase two tickets. The good news is that there is a weekend ticket available, which you can obviously use across the weekend to enjoy all the sessions during this time. The tickets are on sale for a limited period this year, so grab you tickets as soon as you can say “pub”!

For this year, there are still eight locations for the festival. On June 18-20, they will be at Bath. Next stop will be Dulwich on June 26-27. The following week, the festival will be visiting Warwick before heading to Tunbridge Wells on July 9-11. After that, the festival will be at Chichester on July 24-25 and on Chiswick for September 3-5. The second to the last location would be St. Albans on September 10-12 before going to Marlow for September 16-19. Look into the eight locations for more details:

Pub in the Park Batch (Royal Victoria Park)

For the first stop, the amazing chefs who will be joining the festival include Atul Kochhar, Rob Howell, Chris Cleghorn, Josh Eggleton, and Stephen Terry. This event is hosted by Tom Kerridge and James Martin, by the way.

The pubs in Dulwich Park will be Atul Kochhar’s Restaurants, The Hand & Flowers, The Hardwick, The Pony & Trap, and the new ones for 2021 like Root and The Mariners Public House by Paul Ainsworth.

When it comes to music, the first location’s lineup includes Tom Walker, Jade Bird, and The James Martin Band for the Friday evening session. For the next day’s afternoon session, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Noasis will set the mood for the night before having Rudimental DJ and The Cuban Brothers for the evening session. For the last day, in the afternoon, Beverley Knight, The Kingdom Choir, and The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club will offer the people an amazing performance to close the festival for its first location.

Boasting its wide and green parkland, the 57-acres park was officially opened by Princess Victoria. Some famous tourist attractions nearby include Royal Crescent and Burdall’s Yard, and some famous restaurants you can check out are Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House & Museum and The Scallop Shell.

Pub in the Park Dulwich (Dulwich Park)

After a lively and ecstatic festival at the first location, the second location will show the mastery of Monica Galetti, Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar known for his Indian cuisine, and Matt Tebbutt. Matt can be seen in Saturday Kitchen and BBC 1’s Best Bites and Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped.

The pubs to be featured in Dulwich are Atul Kochhar’s Restaurants, The Begging Bowl, which is new for 2021, and The Hand & Flowers.

For the music, complete your Saturday with Roland Gift and Toploader for the afternoon session, and for the evening session, expect Basement Jaxx (DJ set) and Gabrielle. For the next day, Beverley Knight will once again light the stage together with Brand New Heavies and Soul II Soul Soundsystem.

Occupying 29 hectares of land and containing historic structures and amazing facilities, the Dulwich Park is a famous picnic spot in the UK. Queen Mary even visited the park regularly to view the American Garden. Some other tourist spots in the area include Dulwich Picture Gallery, Buckingham Palace, and Tower of London, among others.

Pub in the Park Warwick (St. Nicholas Park)

The third location will not leave the people hungry for there are award-winning chefs who will be joining the celebration in St. Nicholas Park. These remarkable chefs include Tom Kerridge, Atul Kochhar, Adam Bennett, Rob Kirby, Paul Ainsworth, and Nick Deverell-Smith.

The pubs, meanwhile, will feature, again, Atul Kochhar’s restaurants, The Mariners Public House by Paul Ainsworth, The Hand & Flowers, and The Churchill Arms.

Of course, your tummies will not be the only ones which will be full as you visit the festival as your ears will also be filled with melody when you hear the music lineup for this specific location: Basement Jaxx (DJ set) and Gabrielle (Friday evening); Roland Gift and Noasis (Saturday afternoon); All Saints, Brand New Heavies, and The Cuban Brothers (Saturday evening); and Beverley Knight, Dodgy, and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel (Sunday afternoon).

Perfect for garden wandering, this 40-acre green space is where most families spend time with each other. There are a lot of picnic spots in the area, and guests can also enjoy the leisure center of the town where there is an indoor swimming pool. Other tourist attractions in the area are Warwick Castle, Old Town, and Lord Leycester Hospital.

Pub in the Park Tunbridge Wells (Dunorlan Park)

For the fourth location, some chefs still remain to show their talent in cooking, and some chefs you can expect here are Gavin Roy, James Martin, Atul Kochhar, Rob Kirby, Will Devlin, and the Tanner Brothers.

The Tunbridge Wells Pubs and Restaurants to be featured on this fourth location are The Half Moon Kirdford, The Kentish Hare, The Small Holding, and, still, Atul Kochhar’s Restaurants, and the Hand & Flowers.

For the music, expect performances from James Blunt, The Kingdom Choir, and The James Martin Band for the Friday evening session, and for the Saturday evening session, Lightning Seeds, Nerina Pallot, Craig David Presents TS5, and Judge Jules will captivate the hearts and ears of all the people in Dunorlan Park. For the last session, on Sunday afternoon, Beverley Knight, Toploader, and The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club will give your spirits some energy as you enjoy the last part of the festival in Dunorlan Park.

Known to be a place of beauty and serenity, Dunorlan Park offers tourists a beautiful view of the Weald. Being one of the largest tourist destinations in the area, it has a water fountain, boating lakes, and café. While here, you can also visit the Grosvenor And Hilbert Park, Assembly Hall Theatre, and the Parish Church of King Charles the Martyr.

Pub in the Park Chichester (Chichester College)

Only Phil Carmichael as the new name you’ll hear for this location’s chefs, Gavin Roy, Atul Kochhar, Matt Tebbutt, and the Tanner Brothers will still accompany you to the fifth location of the festival.

Aside from Atul Kochhar’s Restaurants, The Hand & Flowers, and The Half Moon Kirdford which have all been present in the former locations, The Horse and Groom is a new pub for this year’s festival.

The chart-topping line-up of musicians will not fail to complete your day for you have Gabrielle and The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club for the Saturday afternoon session, Rudimental DJ and Soul II Soul Soundsystem for the Saturday evening session, Toploader and Dodgy for the Sunday afternoon session, and Jack Savoretti and The Christians for the Sunday evening session.

While you’re in Chichester, you may opt to visit some other places in the area like Fishbourne Roman Palace, Tinwood Estate Vineyard, West Dean Gardens, and Chichester Cathedral, among others.

Pub in the Park Chiswick (Chiswick House & Gardens)

New names will appear in the sixth location of the festival including Michel Roux Jr., Andrew Pern, Marcus Wareing, Claude Bosi, and Chantelle Nicholson. In addition, for six locations straight, Atul Kochhar will still be joining the festival.

There are new pubs and restaurants serving guests in the sixth location. Some new ones include Little Social, Kerridge’s Bar & Grill, and All’s Well. Do not miss the chance to taste the best work of these places as you also consume the food in Atul Kochhar’s restaurants and The Star Inn.

For the main stage singers and acts, Basement Jaxx, Brand New Heavies, and The Kingdom Choir will be sharing their angelic voices to the special crowd of Chiswick on Friday evening. On Saturday afternoon, however, expect an awesome number from The Feeling and Nerina Pallot before having Kaiser Chiefs and the Cuban Brothers in the evening. Next day, the Sunday afternoon session will feature Marc Almond, Reef, and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel.

In Chiswick, you can find famous and historic structures and houses which you can visit like Hogarth’s House, Chiswick House, and Fuller’s Brewery.

Pub in the Park St. Albans (Verulamium Park)

A lot of amazing chefs will be present in Verulamium Park to share the space with the crowd. Be prepared to see the finest chefs who will also be answering some of the crowd’s questions including Tom Kerridge, Candice Brown, Atul Kochhar, Dominic Robinson, Drew Knight, Phil Thompson, Stephen Terry, Andrew Pern, Phil Carmichael, and Nick Deverell-Smith.

Some of the best and greatest restaurants and pubs you will see on the park include Atul Kochhar’s Restaurants, The Green Man, The Hand & Flowers, The Hardwick, The Star Inn, and Thompson St. Albans.

The experience will not be complete without hearing the best singers and musicians in the industry including Basement Jaxx, Brand New Heavies, Judge Jules, Lightning Seeds, Dodgy, All Saints, Faithless (DJ set), Gabrielle, Reef, and the Kingdom Choir.

If you want to explore the place more, you can always go to the famous tourist destinations in the area including The Cathedral & Abbey Church of Saint Alban, Verulamium Museum, Willows Activity Farm, and The Clock Tower.

Pub in the Park Marlow (Higginson Park)

An amazing array of chefs will be joining the people for the last location of the festival. Aside from the host Tom Kerridge, famous chefs Chantelle Nicholson, Claude Bosi, Atul Kochhar, Dominic Chapman, Pete Gray, Rob Howell, Paul Ainsworth, Josh Eggleton, Stephen Terry, Andrew Pern, James Mackenzie, and Claire Clarke will also be present in Higginson Park to share their talent and work.

Aside from the amazing chefs, a great line-up of restaurants and pubs will also be featured in Higginson Park. These are some of the names you need to expect from the festival: Atul Kochhar’s Restaurants, All’s Well, Root, The Mariners Public House by Paul Ainsworth, The Hand & Flowers, The Coach, The Hardwick, The Pony & Trap, The Star Inn, and Pipe and Glass.

The music line-up will surely not let you go home without having the best day of your life. For the last location’s main stage performances, get ready for a jam-packed schedule that feature artists such as Ronan Keating, Parfitt Junior, Bjorn Again, Basement Jaxx, Benerley Knight, Marc Almond, Lightning Seeds,The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club, Heather Small, Interkoola, and Craig David.

Although the 2020 Pub in the Park did not happen, the 2021 festival will surely make you experience more than what you should have seen and tasted for the past year. So make sure you do get your tickets as soon as possible for they are limited, especially during this time!