This category contains 15 posts

Birmingham Leisure

As the industrial hub of the nation, Brummies have historically toiled in frequently adverse conditions in traditional heavy industry and leisue time has always been at a premium. From public parks and swimming baths to nioght clubs and cinemas, Birmingham has enjoyed a full spectrum of leisure activities and in this section we recall some of the Birmingham places where Brummies enjoyed their leisure time.

49’ers – Smallbrook Queensway

Over the years I have begun to think that 49’ers was a figment of my imagination as I’ve found virtually no reference to it anywhere so I’m hoping that some people who read this will chip-in with their memories – or at least attest to its existence, and thus my sanity! The bar stood roughly […]


The Costermonger – Dalton Way

I do have to confess to not being in possession of an abundance of information on the Costermonger in Birmingham City Centre – partly, as there is scant info around and also as during my time frequenting the establishment I took full advantage of the hospitality and so memories are a little vague at best! […]


The Barrel Organ – Digbeth

The Barrel Organ and was a flourishing indie/alternative gig venue and drinking hole during the 1980s and early 1990s located in Digbeth.


The Institute Night Club – Digbeth

The Institute night club in Digbeth opened in the summer of 1990 with big ideas of revolutionising Birmingham club life and majorly failed to live-up to expectations falling into administration within a mere 12 months of opening.


The Old Railway – Curzon Street

The Old Railway pub in Curzon Street played host to a vast number of gigs during its two periods in operation and was a mainstay of the Birmingham music scene over several decades.


Edward Fewtrell – Nightclub Pioneer

Opinions about Birmingham nightclub impressario Edward ‘Eddie’ Fewtrell are rarely non-committal or ‘on the fence’. What is incrontrovertible is that Eddie Fewtrell did more to nurture and develop Birmingham’s nightlife culture over three decades than anyone else in the City’s history.


The Futurist Cinema – John Bright Street

Work began in 1914 on the then to be named Majestic Theatre which opened some two years later in 1916 only to change its name to The Futurist Theatre some three years later in 1919. Always trying to be at the forefront of the cinematic medium, the Futurist was the first cinema in Birmingham to have curtains […]


The Grapes – Hill Street/Lower Severn Street

A pub with a fairly inauspicious history was to be found on the corner of Hill Street and Lower Severn Street – a stones throw from the once nightclub Mecca of John Bright Street. Whilst now a Select & Save store as seen above – this pub, built in 1966, provided my first taste of a […]


Abigail’s Dining & Cabaret Nightclub – Hill Street / John Bright Street

On the back of the runaway successes of the Bermuda Club, Cedar Club, Barbarella’s and Rebecca’s – Birmingham nightclub pioneer Edward Fewtrell identified a niche in the market for an upmarket dining and cabaret club in the City catering for the more affluent residents of and visitors to Birmingham.  He identified the run-down Savoy Hotel […]


Rebecca’s Nightclub / Boogies Nightclub – John Bright Street

Opened by Edward Fewtrell in 1966 as Rebecca’s – named after his eldest daughter – the premises operated along similar lines to later opened Edward’s Number 7 and Edward’s Number 8 bar and nightclub which were housed in an adjacent building in opening in 1979.  On the ground floor accessed from John Bright Street was Rebecca’s […]