I Choose Birmingham

The multi award-winning, award-retired digital town crier. A free weekly e-mail read by 20,000 Brummies. Subscribe immediately ⬇

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

Hi there. How you doing? Last 2 years have been shit, right? Yes. This year I've had the most new subscribers (and it's only August), since my first year in business, in 2013 when I had 4000. If this Twitter account is mildly good, please subscribe. RT? https://t.co/wfKSc3avFB

[Andy Street @andy4wm]

More capacity at Snow Hill, improvements at Kings Norton, & then the chords into Moor Street.

A £1.75bn investment in better rail, stronger links, & the growth & jobs that come with it.

Something I fought hard for during my Mayoralty. Good to see Midlands Rail Hub starting.

[Joanne Roney CBE @joanneroney]

I do like a model… good to see Smithfield development launch to market as we push ahead with delivery of this important regeneration scheme for our City

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

@trevorbmbagency @RAeSTimR Herbert!!!

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

The @BirminghamRep has extended the run of its hotly anticipated new production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, giving audiences an extra week to experience Stephen Sondheim’s gloriously dark musical masterpiece.

The production will now run at The Rep from July 4 to August 15, following strong demand ahead of opening night.

The new staging is directed by Birmingham Rep Artistic Director Joe Murphy, and features an impressive cast led by Karimloo, best known for roles in The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables, alongside award-winning singing sensation Meow Meow and Olivier Award-winning performer David Bedella.

Tickets: https://t.co/DuIr2cWq66

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

BOOK NOW: Lily Allen is bringing the biggest headline tour of her career to Birmingham, with a huge date at @bppulseLIVE on June 26.

Lily will take over the NEC venue as part of her newly announced UK and Ireland arena tour, following overwhelming demand for her theatre shows earlier this year, which sold out almost instantly.

The tour centres around West End Girl, Allen’s latest album, which has become a major global success. The record has racked up more than 150 million streams, secured a third consecutive Top 5 position on the UK Albums Chart, and marked a remarkable new chapter in the singer’s career.

For the arena tour, Lily Allen Performs West End Girl will see her perform the album in full, in the exact order the songs appear on the record. Fans can expect a rare opportunity to experience the entire album live, as intended.

https://t.co/k0nSuOYZmQ

[Alfie @alfie_t8]

No amount of propaganda could ever make me hate this city

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

@SapreenaKumari That’s quite a good score by all accounts

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

@GoogleWorkspace Hello. I can't get past the 'review and check out' page. Can you assist?

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

SUMMER SALE! 20% OFF CHOOSE BRUM TEE

Celebrate summer in all its sun-dappled optimism and honey-soaked beauty with a discounted ICB tee: the gloriously retro CHOOSE BRUM.

The design is a lovingly cheeky riff on one of pop culture’s most iconic shirts: George Michael’s CHOOSE LIFE number from Wham’s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go video. Except this time, the message is proudly, unapologetically local.

Printed on a soft cream tee — never white, because we’re respecting the source material here — it’s a slice of earth-shaking ‘80s energy fused with modern Brummie swagger. The sort of shirt that says “I know my roots and my roots involve at least one emotional rant about the A38.”

It’s breezy. It’s oversized. It's 20% off! So instead of £20 plus postage it's £16 plus postage. It will never be cheaper.

A big thank you to civic treasure, Mr Bite Your Brum, the Moose himself, Ian '@mozi78' McEwan for modelling.
https://t.co/j1VSLJcAFm

[Reiss 🦩 @ReissOmari]

The refurbishment of Victoria Square stairs have now been completed and reopened. A well overdue makeover meaning there are no more loose paving stones or broken paving stones.

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

@ReissOmari Oh thank god you’re back

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

@SapreenaKumari Bloody hell, SK ❤️

[Reiss 🦩 @ReissOmari]

They’ve got a great spot, imagine sitting out here in the Summer, gonna be mint.

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

Coventry City Council 🤝 Birmingham City Council

[C20 Society @C20Society]

NEWS: The Grade II listed Coventry Central Baths (1962-66), once described as ‘one of the finest swimming pools in the world’, is to be demolished by Coventry City Council after Steve Reed MP - Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government - formally approved the bulldozing of the building.

The Olympic-sized pool and adjoining leisure centre on Fairfax Street has sat empty since it was shut in February 2020 to save money. In his letter to the Council, dated 21 May, Reed explained Listed Building Consent has been granted, subject to work being carried out within three years, and archaeological investigations.

C20 Society and the Coventry Society strongly objected to the Council’s plans, arguing that there was insufficient justification for total demolition, that proposals to adaptively reuse the building had not been meaningfully explored, and the lack of any viable use - civic or otherwise - assigned to the site following demolition. The Society had requested application be referred to the Secretary of State for determination, as per section 5(b) of the Arrangements for Handling Heritage Applications. Historic England did not object to the proposals.

The Coventry Baths site had been marketed by the Council since February 2021 via agents Avison Young, on a leasehold basis and for the buildings in part or whole. Documents reveal the site was viewed by seven interested parties during that period, with two formal bids received - one for an artisanal food hall and conferencing space, and one for padel tennis.

The Council classified both bids as ‘unviable’ after ‘more detailed due diligence on refurbishment costs by the prospective purchaser/tenant’, however there was no indication of what the Council was willing to invest to help reactivate the publicly owned buildings. Given the the quoted annual costs of £400,000 for holding, security, and maintenance of the vacant buildings, tax-payers may well ask if demolition to create ‘an area of hard standing’ represents the best possible outcome.

Designed in 1956 by Coventry City Architect's Department, Coventry Baths is in a highly sensitive city centre location; adjacent the Grade I listed Cathedral of St Michael (1956-62), and within the Hill Top and Cathedral Conservation Area. The adjoining dry-sports Elephant building (1977) is to be retained and detached from the Baths; both were highlighted on C20’s Risk List in 2017.

Given the undoubted challenges presented by the current condition of the Baths and there being no prospect of aquatic activities returning, The Society would have welcomed a pragmatic approach to retain the radical W-shaped roof structure - described at its opening as “like a great garden-pavilion roof afloat above glass walls” - while creating a space for bold new uses beneath. What an opportunity missed to showcase a radical yet respectful reinvention of the city’s post-war heritage. Now, nothing but the later Elephant will survive.

➡️https://t.co/eWZdGkmUmP

[The Balti Bowl Company @BaltiBowl]

Fantastic in depth piece in today’s @guardian about the UNESCO living heritage bid for Birmingham Balti. https://t.co/zSUZ1JGzBa

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

BREAKING: Birmingham’s restaurant scene is about to get a little more Copenhagen this autumn, as Danish-Japanese favourite Sticks’n’Sushi opens its first Midlands site at Three Chamberlain Square. That's the red new-build in Paradise.

Set inside a huge ground-floor space complete with terrace, private dining and a sizeable bar area, the new restaurant will have room for up to 250 diners.

The cult restaurant group has built a loyal following for its combination of sushi, flame-grilled sticks and interiors so stylish you suddenly sit up straighter. Signature dishes include Beef Tataki with truffle ponzu, DIY lobster and wagyu temaki rolls, miso-glazed black cod and Iberian pork.

There’ll also be cocktails, sake, Japanese teas and a Japanese Rice Lager brewed with Danish beer giants Mikkeller.

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

A boutique music festival in Cannon Hill Park where you can watch genuine indie royalty while still being home at a sensible hour? Civilisation may yet survive. Ryland Caravan at @mac_birmingham

https://t.co/QvE2gDdC9h

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

Buy it here. Improve summer immeasurably.

https://t.co/0Hn5x1D71u

[Ian McEwan @mozi78]

Boarding into town dothed in @ichoosemag #choosebrum #chooselife

[I Choose Birmingham @ichoosemag]

Back for its eighth beautifully overthought edition, @designfestbrum returns June 10 to 12

https://t.co/skKngOh3Nj