Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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United Kingdom : Birmingham - June 2008

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Come summer, Birmingham explodes into life. Packed with open-air bars and waterside restaurants, there’s more than a touch of continental café culture to life in the city during the warmer months. Locals flock to the city centre in search of sun, fun, good food and music. Michael Scott heads outside

Getting around

Birmingham International

Bus: Buses from the airport to the city centre leave every 30 minutes and a single fare costs €1,95/£1.50.
Train: Trains run from Birmingham International to New Street Station; the journey will take around 10-20 minutes and a return ticket will cost €7/£5.30 before 9.30am and €4,50/£3.40 after 9.30am.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport into the city centre will cost around €22/£17 and take about 40 minutes.
Tourist information: The main tourist office is at The Rotunda, 150 New Street (tel. , beinbirmingham. com).

CITY CENTRE

Drop your bags at the hotel and head straight into town. The Mailbox, Brindleyplace and The Arcadian Centre are the best venues for al-fresco drinking and dining.

Sleep soundly – The 39-storey Radisson SAS (from €171/£135) dominates the Birmingham skyline. Meanwhile, the City Inn (1 Brunswick Square, tel. , cityinn. com, from €81/£64) is less striking, but every bit as comfortable.

Culture vultures – Catch Queen of Soul Mary J Blige at the NIA on 6 June or Goldfrapp at the adjacent Symphony Hall (Broad Street) on 22 June.

Must eat – Bag an outside table at Ha Ha Bar and Grill on the top level of The Mailbox. Bank (4 Brindleyplace, tel. ) does modern European, like roasted halibut with crab and herb crumb.

Must drink – Bar Room Bar is bright and airy but fills up quickly on a sunny day. There are a clutch of bars in the Arcadian Centre – Poppy Red (The Arcadian, Hurst Street) is probably the pick of the bunch.

Shop til you drop – Make a beeline for the Bullring Centre. Or for something a little more upmarket, try The Mailbox, home to big names like Emporio Armani (2-4 Wharfside Street) and Hugo Boss (52-56 Upper Wharfside Street).

EDGBASTON

This tree-lined district is a great place to spend a leisurely summer’s day.

Culture vultures – While away an afternoon at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, home to the Warwickshire Bears. There’s international action on 18 June when England take on New Zealand. Across the road you’ll find Cannon Hill Park (Edgbaston Road). It’s a fine sight in full bloom, as are the Botanical Gardens (Westbourne Road).

Must eat – Michelin-starred Simpson’s does an excellent pan-fried sea bream with seared scallop and aubergine caviar.

MOSELEY

Quirky but charming, Moseley still retains its village feel.

Must eat – The tasty tapas dishes served up at La Plancha are a real treat. Alternatively, check out Sabai Sabai (25 Woodbridge Road, tel. ) for full-flavoured Thai food. Both venues are quite cosy, so you’ll need to ring ahead.

Must drink – Drop in for a drink at The Fighting Cocks. The beer garden is fantastic during the summer months.

Shop til you drop – St Mary’s Row hosts a Farmers’ Market on the fourth Saturday of every month. You can pick up ostrich burgers, speciality Scotch eggs and home-made chocolate here.

DIGBETH

You’ll find a number of upfront clubs in Birmingham’s Irish quarter. It’s time to dust off your dancing shoes and hit the floor!

Culture vultures – During the day, The Custard Factory is home to several artists and musicians. There’s also a gallery, theatre space and bustling café.

Must drink – Head to Rooty Fruity, across the road from the Custard Factory, for pre-club drinks.

Dance the night away – The Rainbow is countervailing proof that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. It might look like your average pub from the front, but there’s bouncing reggae and hiphop in the yard to the rear. The Factory Club (Custard Factory, Gibb Street) is another favourite. Chill out by the pool if you need a break from the main room. Nearby Air (Heath Mill Lane) hosts legendary trance party Godskitchen, as well as a number of guest nights.

Compiled by Michael Scott