| With the exception of two of the city's theatres, | | | | to experience Indian cuisine" if you visit it you'll |
| most of the night-life in Birmingham is centred on | | | | probably end up agreeing with them. This is no |
| the Broad Street area, which includes the | | | | ordinary Indian restaurant to go for a cheap |
| International Convention Centre, the National | | | | curry, main course prices rise from 15 GBP to 45 |
| Indoor Arena, the Symphony Hall, the Repertory | | | | GBP a head. The Mailbox has several stylish bars |
| Theatre and the re-furbished Town Hall, not to | | | | and restaurants, such as Zizzi which serves mainly |
| mention numerous bars and clubs. Not that | | | | Italian food. Prices are very reasonable at around |
| Birmingham is a 'one street city' when it comes to | | | | 20 GBP a head for a three course meal, Zizzi also |
| having a night out. The area between Sparkhill, | | | | has a good selection of reasonably priced wines. |
| Moseley and Balsall Heath has a national reputation | | | | Near the Arcadian Centre in the Chinese Quarter |
| for a particular style of cuisine along with notable | | | | is the Chung Yin on Wrottesley Street. This is the |
| Irish and Chinese quarters too. | | | | best Chinese restaurant in the city. It specialises in |
| Bars and Pubs: | | | | Cantonese cuisine and produces 70 different |
| In the city centre if you want an evening out in | | | | varieties of dim sum. Chung Yin is popular and |
| one of the so called 'drinking palaces', then head | | | | always busy, a main course is priced around the |
| for Broad Street, where as well as the national | | | | 10 GBP mark. Whilst the above restaurants |
| chains of such pubs and bars you'll find places like | | | | reflect how multi-cultural Birmingham is there are |
| Stoodi Baker's, which has several rooms ranging | | | | plenty of restaurants offering British and French |
| from a small and trendy bar to more cavernous | | | | cuisine. In the city centre two of the places to go |
| rooms complete with dance-floor and professional | | | | are the Berlioz Restaurant in Burlington Arcade |
| Go-Go dancers. However, if you step off Broad | | | | and Apres on Summer Row. Brindley Place, behind |
| Street into Brindley Place you enter an area | | | | the ICC and NIA, is very popular with diners going |
| where the pubs and bars have a quieter and | | | | to places such as; Cafe Rouge, Le Petit Blanc, |
| more relaxed ambience. | | | | Bank and The Locks. If you're near the Art |
| Between Colmore Row and New Street several | | | | Gallery, on Chamberlain Square, during the day |
| old banks and commercial premises have been | | | | time a visit to its Edwardian Tea Room is highly |
| tastefully converted into bars. For example the | | | | recommended. A large and fancily decorated |
| Old Joint Stock on Temple Row; with balustrades, | | | | room with cast iron pillars sets the scene for |
| balconies, chandeliers and the most fantastic front | | | | morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea in the city. |
| door in the city, gives you the feeling of entering | | | | Entertainment: |
| a country club rather than a city bar. Bennetts, on | | | | Birmingham has three major theatres. The |
| nearby Bennetts Hill, is another former bank | | | | Hippodrome is home to the Royal Ballet and hosts |
| turned into a bar. Its plush Regency finish could | | | | touring drama, musical, ballet and opera |
| fool you into thinking you've entered a library | | | | productions. Almost half a million people a year |
| instead. Both of these bars serve a good selection | | | | visit the Hippodrome making it one of the most |
| of beers, lagers and wine as well as some | | | | popular theatres in the country. The Hippodrome |
| excellent food. With a history dating back to 1821, | | | | is in the Chinese quarter of the city on Hurst |
| the Tap and Spile on Gas Street is an old and | | | | Street. The Alexandra is another theatre that |
| original pub by the side of the canal. It's a Free | | | | hosts touring productions in Birmingham. On |
| House and serves a good selection of nationally | | | | Station Street, just up from New Street, it is |
| renowned beers and international lagers. | | | | smaller than the Hippodrome but still manages to |
| Restaurants: | | | | attract the 'big name' productions. The theatre is |
| The so called 'Balti triangle' between Sparkhill, | | | | also used by 'one night stand' touring music and |
| Moseley and Balsall Heath is where you'll find the | | | | comedy acts. Originally founded in 1913 the |
| best of Birmingham' famed Balti restaurants. The | | | | Birmingham Repertory Theatre is one of the best |
| award winning Al Frash, on Ladypool Road in | | | | in the country. Right by the Symphony Hall in |
| Sparkbrook, is probably the best known of the | | | | Centenary Square, it has its own company of |
| Balti Houses. Located on Broad street is | | | | players as well as having being used for touring |
| Birmingham's favourite Indian restaurant, Shimla | | | | drama productions. |
| Pinks. It claims to be "...the UKs most stylish place | | | | |