Southside in Birmingham (including Chinese Quarter and Gay Village)

Southside is a district of Birmingham hosting The Chinese Quarter and GayVillage. As well as a thriving business area, it is a hub for much of Birmingham's hospitality and nightlife.


Introducing Southside

Southside is a thriving and busy part of the City and proud to reflect the amazing diversity of Birmingham. It is vibrant and embraces Chinatown (Chinese Quarter), The Gay Village. 

It is also home to the Hippodrome, the busiest single theatre in the United Kingdom, and the busiest venue for dance outside of London. 

The massive in-development site at Smithfield will add hugely to the Southside appeal for residents, business and visitors to the city.

Artists impression of Smithfield. Credit: Lendlease.

This feature, full of links, articles and photography, provides a great introduction to the amazing Southside. 

 

Southside BID Team

Overseeing the development of the district and supporting business in the area is Southside BID (Business Improvement District).

The Southside BID team describes Southside as the Cultural "heart of the City".

Current Chair of the Southside BID is Lawrence Barton, who is a key figure in Southside and highly respected across the community.

For more on Southside BID, connect HERE.

 

Cultural events at Southside

World renowned cultural events are held in Southside and two with particular global appeal are Birmingham Pride and the annual Chinese New Year Celebrations

 

Diversity at Southside 

It is the ability of Southside to bring diverse groups together that stands out about this particular district of Birmingham, engaging and representing a community though the power of creative expression.

Rainbow Crossing in Southside. Courtesy Rewired PR.

Pride Festival. Photography by Barry Whitehead.

Pride Festival. Photography by Fay Loewy.

Floral canopy in Southside. Photography by Elliott Brown.

 

For more on Southside

Southside Bid Team 

0121 643 3720

 

Project dates

14 Oct 2019 - On-going

Passions

Art; Culture & creativity, Food & drink, Business & enterprise
People & community, Squares and public spaces

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com

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17 Mar 2024 - Elliott Brown
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Funder City at Moat Lane from Danter Attractions

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Digbeth Fun Fair is back for the fourth year. Second time at the Smithfield Festival Site, but near Moat Lane (unlike the Beach @ Smithfield in Summer 2023 near Pershore Street). Started 14th March and runs to the 7th April 2024. In time for the up and coming Easter holidays.

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Funder City at Moat Lane from Danter Attractions





Digbeth Fun Fair is back for the fourth year. Second time at the Smithfield Festival Site, but near Moat Lane (unlike the Beach @ Smithfield in Summer 2023 near Pershore Street). Started 14th March and runs to the 7th April 2024. In time for the up and coming Easter holidays.


FUNDER CITY THE DIGBETH FUN FAIR.

Danter Attractions is holding their fourth fun fair in Digbeth / Southside in four years, but the second year at Smithfield. It opened on the 14th March and is open daily until the 7th April 2024, during the Easter holidays period.

The same rides as before, some of which were last used at Ice Skate Birmingham. Others return from the last Digbeth Fun Fair, called at the time Beach @ Smithfield (July to August 2023).

 

The view from Digbeth near Enterprise Rent a Car, and the Eastside Metro extension (just before Alcester Street on the Digbeth High Street).

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

From Mill Lane near Birmingham Coach Station, towards Bradford Street. Buildings on right were demolished recently, Bullring Autocentre (Strictly MOT before that) and Sutton Florists (previously the Leather Company, and Fonz Leathers before that).

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A carousel ride seen near Bradford Street.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Fun House

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham Big Wheel returns again.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Funder City from 14th March to 7th April 2024 open day, Moat Lane City Centre, B5 5BD. Best to get the bus here (or train), don't go in your car!

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Onto Moat Lane. The fun fair is where the concrete Moat Lane Car Park was until it was demolished a few years ago.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Welcome entrance, it's been used at many fun fairs in Birmingham over the years, even one that was at the Curzon Street HS2 site back in 2010!

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Upper Dean Street view, some demolition rubble.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

And to the Bullring, up to the balcony near St Martin in the Bullring for one last view before going into the West Mall.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Digbeth%2015032024%20(10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A few days later, and it was St Patrick's Day. View from the Bullring on the balcony behind Browns Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Smithfield%2017032024%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A view from Moor Street Car Park level 8 through the safety barrier fence.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Smithfield%2017032024%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Funder City in full swing from Moat Lane, as I walked to check out the St Patrick's Day Parade on Bradford Street.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Smithfield%2017032024%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

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90 passion points
Travel & tourism
19 Jul 2023 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Beach at Smithfield Birmingham from Danter Attractions

Post image

For the third summer in a row, Danter Attractions (the family group behind Ice Skate Birmingham and Digbeth Fun Fair) is opening a fun fair in Birmingham. This time at the Smithfield Festival Site. The entrance will be from Pershore Street in Southside. It runs from 14th July until 28th August 2023. Mostly the same rides as in previous years, Wild Mouse, Star Flyer, Air, Dodgems and so on.

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Beach at Smithfield Birmingham from Danter Attractions





For the third summer in a row, Danter Attractions (the family group behind Ice Skate Birmingham and Digbeth Fun Fair) is opening a fun fair in Birmingham. This time at the Smithfield Festival Site. The entrance will be from Pershore Street in Southside. It runs from 14th July until 28th August 2023. Mostly the same rides as in previous years, Wild Mouse, Star Flyer, Air, Dodgems and so on.


Beach @ Smithfield Birmingham. AKA Digbeth Fun Fair and Birmingham Beach, is once again being run by the family team at Danter Attractions (who annually hold Ice Skate Birmingham in Centenary Square).

Entrance: Pershore Street, Birmingham, B5 4RW

 

Dates: 14th July to 28th August 2023.

Postponed to 16th July due to the rain forecast. Or to a later date depending on the weather.

 

 

In 2021, Digbeth Fun Fair was located at Charles Henry Street (Warner Fields), while in 2022 it moved to land at High Street Bordesley (Lunar Rise). For 2023 it is at the corner of Smithfield near Pershore Street and Barford Street (Smithfield Birmingham). While these brownfield sites are not being used, Danter have been putting fun fairs on them each summer.

Smithfield was previously used in summer 2022 for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (Beach Volleyball and 3x3 Basketball).

 

Gallery of 25 photos below taken by Elliott Brown

 

Initial views taken from the no 6 bus on Moat Lane.

Air and Wild Mouse

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Got off the bus at the Bullring (Park Street), and next walked to the Upper Dean Street view.

Runaway Train

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

General view of the fun fair from Upper Dean Street towards the new developments in Southside.

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Dodgem and Wild Mouse

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

From Dean Street.

Air and Star Flyer

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Onto Pershore Street near the entrance to Beach @ Smithfield Birmingham.

WELCOME TO THE BEACH

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Giant Circus Slides

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Top Spin

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Selfridges and Wild Mouse

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(14).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(15).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Onto the Pershore Street corner with Barford Street near Sherlock Street.

Air, Wild Spin and Star Flyer

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(16).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(17).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(18).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Wild Mouse

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(19).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The views from Moat Lane through the fence.

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(20).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Wild Mouse and Snow Storm

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(21).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Dodgems

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(22).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

General view from Moor Street Car Park, level 8 (over from the Parametric Bridge connected to Selfridges).

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(23).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

View from the no 35 bus on Pershore Street

Wild Mouse

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(24).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Before getting off the no 35 bus in Kings Heath on Vicarage Road, spotted this banner for Beach @ Smithfield Birmingham on the High Street near Institute Road.

dndimg alt="Beach at Smithfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beach%20Smithfield%2013072023%20(25).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Go to their Facebook page Birmingham Beach (Digbeth Fun Fair). For more close up photos of the beach and rides, than we have been able to get from walking around Upper Dean Street, Pershore Street, Barford Street and Moat Lane.

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