Al-Faisals in Sparkbrook, home to Birmingham's Balti Triangle, specialises in Kashmiri cuisine and Lahore-inspired special Tak Tak Tawa dishes. The menu includes seafood balti dishes and vegetarian favourites like paneer tikka. Seating 600 diners over two floors, its contemporary interior features an open kitchen and light wood floors. It's unlicensed so bring wine and beer.
Available :
Daily
In regenerated Digbeth, find vintage fashion, vinyl and organic food at The Custard Factory Flea Market, where artists and entertainers create a unique market atmosphere. The Custard Factory complex houses shops, galleries and the 40-foot Green Man sculpture.
Available :
Weekends only
The SuperSonic Festival at Birmingham's Custard Factory is run by Capsule, the driving force behind some of the UK's best music events. Expect live music ranging from prog to grimecore as well as art installations, a film programme and karaoke.
Available :
Oct 2013 (annual)
Improve your culinary skills, watch experts in action and educate your palate with a range of tasting sessions at Taste of Birmingham in Edgbaston's Cannon Hill Park. Celebrated guest chefs show off their skills at cooking demos.
Available :
Jul 2013 (annual)
The County Club Cricket Ground (Edgbaston) in Birmingham hosts Finals Day, the climax of English cricket's Friends Life T20 competition. With two semi-finals and the final itself played over 12 hours, spectators certainly won't have time to get bored...
Available :
Aug 2013 (annual)
The Friends Life T20 begins with a group format in June, before quarter finals in July and Finals Day at Southampton's Rose Bowl in August. Warwickshire Royals play their home games at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Available :
Jun - Aug 2013 (annual)
Birmingham's long-established Nightingale Club is one of the UK's biggest and best gay venues. The 2000-capacity superclub at the heart of the city's Gay Village around Hurst Street has adapted over the years to remain an essential nightlife experience.
Available :
Daily
Gay awareness is given an extra boost this May Bank Holiday with colourful events in Birmingham's Gay Village. The festival kicks off with Saturday's parade which makes its way from Victoria Square to the party in the Gay Village.
Available :
Jun 2013 (annual)
A lively style bar in Birmingham's Chinatown district, Sobar is the place to see live percussionists and top DJs playing relaxed beats and funk and soul. Enjoy late-night cocktails and reasonably priced drinks. During summer, terrace seating overlooks the square outside.
Available :
Daily
The lively city-centre Bullring Markets sell everything from latest fashions to fresh fruit. The Rag Market is renowned for its gorgeous fabrics. For clothes, lingerie and accessories, head to the Open Market's covered walkways or the adjacent Indoor Market.
Available :
Daily; not Sun
Back to Backs, Birmingham's last remaining city-centre National Trust-restored back-to-back housing, reflects four periods from 1840 to 1977. Experience the lives of its residents and stock up at the 1930s sweetshop for nostalgia's sake. Visiting is by guided tour only and advance booking is essential.
Available :
Feb - Dec 2013 (annual)
The city centre's glass-covered Bullring houses 26 football pitches-worth of retail heaven. More than 160 shops and 25 restaurants on three levels reside under the curved aluminium disk-covered exterior. They include Selfridges, Debenhams, French Connection, Apple Store and Mango.
Available :
Daily
Ten inspirational galleries explore science, history and the world in Thinktank at Millennium Point. They include Power Up's incredible steam engines, and City Stories exploring Birmingham past and future. Enjoy the state-of-the-art Planetarium and surround-sound Giant Screen cinema.
Available :
Daily
A favourite with the local Chinese community, Chung Ying Garden in Chinatown offers over 400 traditional Cantonese dishes including sizzling scallops, braised duck and vegetarian dumplings and fresh seafood. The contemporary interior features high ceilings, replica Terracotta soldiers and ancient Chinese princess paintings. Enjoy a traditional Yum Cha lunch with over 100 Dim Sum varieties.
Available :
Daily
Plots and convoluted intrigue typify Welsh National Opera's two spring productions at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Comedy first, in John Copley's new production of Johann Strauss' effervescent Die Fledermaus, while darker forces are at work in Verdi's Il Trovatore.
Available :
Mar 2013 (annual)
Opened in 1909, the city-centre's Electric Cinema is the UK's oldest working cinema and Birmingham's only independent picture house. There's an Art Deco bar, delicious menu and Parisian absinthe from a fountain. Upgrade to sofa seating with waiter text service.
Available :
Daily
Birmingham's Academy hosts a stomping indie and funky Friday, featuring DJ/promoters Steve Gerrard & Carlton.
Available :
Fri only
Saturday nights at the Birmingham Academy see two rooms devoted to rock and indie. Resident DJs play metal, rock, punk, goth, industrial, ska, hip-hop, nu-metal, grunge and alternative indie tunes.
Available :
Sat only
Set in a former city-centre Post Office building, The Mailbox houses Birmingham's most glamorous shops including Emporio Armani and Bang & Olufsen plus independent labels. Enjoy stunning city views from Harvey Nichols' connecting glass bridge. Top restaurants and spa complete the experience.
Available :
Daily
The Mailbox mall's Shogun Teppan-yaki is a conveyor-style sushi and noodle bar with teppan-yaki 'cooking on a hot plate' tables. Here, chefs prepare fresh dishes in front of diners and there is an excellent value all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. The chic interior complements the stylish surroundings of the Mailbox.
Available :
Daily
Stocking original designerwear, Disorder Boutique produces independent, handcrafted and limited items, designed and manufactured in Birmingham using mainly British fabrics. The city-centre store also sells innovative designs from LA, New York and Europe, in keeping with its ethical, anti-brand policy.
Available :
Daily
An opulent city-centre hideaway, Red Bar & Lounge is renowned for its bespoke cocktails, laid-back lounging, top DJs and late-night dancing. A tempting menu includes gourmet canapes and bar tapas. Check the website for after party nights and special events.
Available :
Daily
The Grade I-listed Town Hall, a restored neo-classical music venue which re-opened in 2007 following a £35m renovation, dominates Victoria Square, Birmingham's main piazza. Stop to admire the quirky Floozie in the Jacuzzi sculpture and Iron: Man by Antony Gormley.
Available :
Daily
Birmingham now hosts its own impressive version of the traditional Hindu Rath Yatra Festival. Chariots devoted to Lord Krishna's most merciful incarnation make their way to Victoria Square for a huge vegetarian feast and entertainment.
Available :
Aug 2013 (annual)
Birmingham's festive Frankfurt Christmas Market returns to Victoria Square and the upper part of New Street. Around 200 stalls sell jewellery, handmade toys, ceramics, candles, glasswork and traditional Christmas decorations, to help you find the best Christmas presents.
Available :
Nov - Dec 2013 (annual)
Handmade French chocolates and fine dessert wines selected by owner Pierre Soualah fill the charming Chouchoute Chocolaterie in an atmospheric city-centre Victorian arcade. Chocolate lovers can choose from pralines, truffles and liqueur chocolates and create gorgeous gift boxes.
Available :
Daily; not Sun
Birmingham's National Sea Life Centre brings a taste of the ocean to a land-locked city. The four-storey aquarium boasts a tank that holds one million litres and a large glass tube-tunnel, allowing visitors to feel entirely submerged within the watery scene.
Available :
Daily
Creative mixologists blend cocktails at Bar du Malmaison in Birmingham's upscale Mailbox mall. Leather sofas and contemporary lighting create a slick, elegant look and feel. An extensive wine cellar offers bottles for all palates. Stay up for late-night dancing.
Available :
Daily
Simple French fare from coq au vin to moules marinières is served with gusto in this city-centre restaurant, where long bench tables and balcony areas offer group and romantic dining. Chez Jules' two-course lunch and dinner menus offer particularly good value. Ensure there's space for homemade desserts like crème brulee and mousse au chocolat.
Available :
Daily; not Sun
Once the Birmingham Joint Stock Bank, the Old Joint Stock pub is opposite the cathedral in central Birmingham. A Victorian-era glass-domed ceiling rises over an island bar serving local guest ales and their renowned pies. Head upstairs for pub theatre.
Available :
Daily
Overlooking Birmingham's city canals from its long ground-floor glass frontage, Kinnaree serves up over 100 authentic Thai dishes from chicken satay to Thai favourite Tom Yum Gai soup and sweet corn cakes. Named after a beautiful half-woman, half-swan mythological Thai character, Kinnaree's peaceful and beautifully decorated dining space has an elegant longboat as its centrepiece.
Available :
Daily
Owned by Indian actress Asha Bhosle, the city-centre Asha's Restaurant, her first Indian culinary venture in the UK, serves contemporary Indian cuisine and signature cocktails in a modern, lavish environment. Try the ginger-garlic prawns, delicious kebabs and spicy roasted aubergine or relax to chilled lounge music in the bar.
Available :
Daily
Playing host to everything from the Rolling Stones to Mendelssohn's Elijah are Birmingham's city-centre iconic buildings. The 1,100-capacity Town Hall, with its original 6,000-pipe organ, is fully restored and the 2262-seater Symphony Hall is home to the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Available :
Daily
Middle Eastern treasures and one of the world's largest pre-Raphaelite collections are among highlights of the centrally located Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The Waterhall Gallery of Modern Art, 19th-century Round Room and impressive Edwardian Tea Room are worth a visit.
Available :
Daily
Occuping a city-centre redbrick-terracotta Victorian building by St Philip's Cathedral, Purnell's was set up by local Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell in 2007. Order Gressingham duck or naturally-smoked haddock in the bright dining room, featuring contemporary Birmingham works by local photographer Laurence Roper. Early diners can enjoy a pre-dinner aperitif in the bar and lounge area.
Available :
Daily; not Sun
At the elegant city-centre Opus Restaurant, the menu changes twice daily to reflect the freshest ingredients, free-range meat and freshly-caught wild fish and crustaceans. Try Cornish lamb and Lyme Bay scallops or take home their homemade breads, pastries and desserts. The Opus Dinner Series allows diners to meet the farmers and fishermen behind the menu.
Available :
Daily; not Sun
In a listed city-centre building is laid-back Chi Bar, a four-level parlour with lounge, Manhattan loft-style cocktail bar and private room with a 60-person bed and jacuzzi. Music ranges from funky house to R&B, hip hop and jazz funk.
Available :
Daily
With reportedly more canals than Venice, Birmingham Canal Navigations offer alternative city views from 15 miles of towpath. Start at Brindleyplace's canalside bars, shops and galleries and walk towards Gas Street basin lined with narrow boats. Dinner cruises are popular.
Available :
Daily
Birmingham Comedy Festival promises one of the biggest and best line-ups yet, with familiar faces and emerging talent performing throughout the city. Going from strength to strength each year, this year's festival promises even more entertainment.
Available :
Oct 2013 (annual)
A celebration of Black music and art, the British Arts and Street Sounds festival takes place at venues across Birmingham. Events range from UK hip-hop dancing and sound system nights to critical debates on race and cultural identity.
Available :
Jul 2013 (annual)
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