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