How bad is Birmingham at the moment?

[skyebear]

Possibly need to go to Birmingham (New Street station area) for a few days next week. How bad are things with the bin strike in the city and is it affecting businesses, restaurants etc being able to stay open?

Are people fending off giant rats as they clamber over skip loads of detritus in the streets?

Or just hysteria from the media and gratituous photos of rubbish piles in a few areas?

Thanks.

[Quattr04.]

Councils don’t collect commercial waste so it’s a non issue

It’s the least of Birminghams problems, what a hole

[skyebear]

Quattr04. said:

Councils don’t collect commercial waste so it’s a non issue

It’s the least of Birminghams problems, what a hole

Can't say I thought much of it when I was last in the city in 2008 but trying to keep an open mind. I did fly out of the airport in 2018 and it was a terrible experience.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Why would you spend three days in Birmingham city centre?

Can you stay 10 miles out and commute in?

[skyebear]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Why would you spend three days in Birmingham city centre?

Can you stay 10 miles out and commute in?

My wife's company are meeting the council and Network Rail at New Street station. Easter holidays so thought we'd take kiddo, get meetings done then fly from down south to somewhere for a holiday. She won't want to commute so city centre it is.

[paulguitar]

skyebear said:

I did fly out of the airport in 2018 and it was a terrible experience.

At least you were leaving.

[skyebear]

paulguitar said:

skyebear said:

I did fly out of the airport in 2018 and it was a terrible experience.

At least you were leaving.

I once paid out of my own pocket to get an earlier flight out of Nottingham when there with work.

[Fast and Spurious]

What's wrong with it?

[Cudd Wudd]

My office is close to Victoria Sq/Centenary Sq, about 5 mins walk from New St. I've been in twice this week and again later today.

All good, went for lunch yesterday near the cathedral and it was perfectly pleasant. The area heading over towards and within Brindley Place and the canals is nice, at least during my working hours and when I've visited at weekends. I actually quite like this part of the city, but I may well be feral scum

[Vasco]

Been there a couple of times recently. No obvious issues - the bin problems are mainly in the older/terrace suburban housing areas.

[soad]

Went to the O2 Academy last month, no issues. Apart from the homeless sleeping in a car park’s lift.
And bar prices being insane. Good staff though.

[Alex Z]

Vasco said:

Been there a couple of times recently. No obvious issues - the bin problems are mainly in the older/terrace suburban housing areas.

Yep, this. There’s no impact on the city centre.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

soad said:

Went to the O2 Academy last month, no issues. Apart from the homeless sleeping in a car park’s lift.
And bar prices being insane. Good staff though.

Whys it so expensive?!

The only good place is Cherry Reds.

[skyebear]

Thank you, that's good to know city centre is doing ok.

[eth2190]

Be sure to try out some of the amazing food on offer around the Chinese Quarter. Lots of authentic stuff you'll never see on the average takeaway menu. I keep going back there as there's so much to discover.

[skyebear]

eth2190 said:

Be sure to try out some of the amazing food on offer around the Chinese Quarter. Lots of authentic stuff you'll never see on the average takeaway menu. I keep going back there as there's so much to discover.

My wife is originally from China so we'll be sure to do that, thanks. She's from the north-east where the food is strongly influenced by Korea so we'll see if there's some BBQ places to try.

[vikingaero]

Brum is OK. Not sure that you will need that many days. There's the Think Tank for kids, Museum, Sea Life and Cadburys World. Bullring and New Street are a few hours at most. The best shopping place is Red Brick Market in Digbeth - a 10-15 stroll from the centre.

I find Solihull much better than central Brum and is quite a well to do area.

[Pit Pony]

vikingaero said:

Brum is OK. Not sure that you will need that many days. There's the Think Tank for kids, Museum, Sea Life and Cadburys World. Bullring and New Street are a few hours at most. The best shopping place is Red Brick Market in Digbeth - a 10-15 stroll from the centre.

I find Solihull much better than central Brum and is quite a well to do area.

And the custard factory. If you like graffiti art.

Bus to the Lickey Hills.

Day ticket on the Severn Valley Railway.

Avoncroft museum of buildings.

The national trusts back to backs (prebookong essential)

Walking on the canal under spaghetti junction. And around Aston Reservoir and then walk up to Aston Hall

[soad]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Whys it so expensive?!

The only good place is Cherry Reds.

Probably because once you enter the venue, security will not allow to re-enter? Hence a monopoly. Once the doors are open, there’s an hour’s window before the warm up act starts. Not much to do but drink.