r/brum

What is the deal with the big groups of like 10 guys riding the loudest quad bikes all over cannon hill park? Is there anything that can be done to stop crap like this?

Why are people just allowed to drive in the most obnoxiously noisy way possibly with no repercussions?

Has there ever been an example of a city managing to crack down on this kind of main character behaviour?

Hi all. I'm in Birmingham for a night tonight and as I'm in a big city, I thought I'd like to experience a big public viewing of the world cup, like you see on the TV. Some people will scoff but as I have this opportunity, I think I'd like to take part in this part of British culture. Does anybody know of a public space where I can watch the game? Thanks for the help :-)

hello. i’m feeling a bit awkward writing this but it has to be done.

this is harder than i expected ERM i’ve decided that i’m bored of being a hopeless romantic and i’d like to actually talk to boys. the issue is, i don’t like dating culture whereby the process is something like first encounter > pre-established romantic date > consideration of suitability. i feel like that’s very robotic and places pressure on people to tick boxes and be demanding. i’d like to believe friendship is the basis of all human connection and romance can build from there if it wishes to

which brings me to my point. i’ve led myself to believe that the sort of person i’d love to have the privilege of having as a boyfriend is rare to come across in brum, but i think i’m just not thinking of the right places. it’s hard, because i say i want to make friends, but if i’m also considering romance then i have to ensure the people i’m befriending are also not in relationships

anyway i believe that i relate most to people who are emotionally articulate, enjoy poetry and orchestra, perhaps write and read too. it comes across as quite a “performative” archetype but it’s quite a good description of my own personality, and i know i’m not the only one

ah and i’m twenty-one, and i plan to go off to cambridge next september. but i don’t want to hold myself to that alone. what i’m asking is, does anybody know any places where i may find my crowd?

I’m a distance learner in my 40s, I’m in Birmingham tomorrow to defend my PhD, for difference reasons I’m there alone, which is fine (as an introvert I’m more than ok with that) but I’d like to celebrate somehow, but I don’t really know Brum, outside of the uni. I don’t travel home until Tuesday morning. Just drinking isn’t my thing, Im looking for something nice to do alone on a Monday afternoon 😁 anyone got any suggestions?

Guys! Thank you! These are actually some great suggestions! I’m leaning towards, a walk in the gardens with an ice cream (to bask in the glory/stress being over) first. if I have time either the art museum or cadburys world (if either are open) and to finish off an Indian meal!

hello!! I'm a trans male minor (soon legal adult) in need of places to learn how to skateboard ,im unsure if there are many skateparkz around Birmingham, im also quite new to skateboarding so I wouldn't want to make a fool of myself. I normally go out w friends and family to Birmingham however will be going alone to practice and due to my horrible paranoia,,,I'd like the areas suggested to be trustworthy. Any help and support would be great ,cheers and much love all!! Enjoy your lifez and continue to rock xD

(to mods , feel free to delete this if you do not believe it abide with the rules and let me know you've done so ,thanks!!)

- Bing

So the AC in my car is blowing warm air and I'd like to get it regassed. Does anyone have recommendations for garages that do aircon regas at a good price?

Ngl might be a lay in bed one😂

I was playing Skate 3 recently and I realised it was giving me major pangs of nostalgia. It confused me because the game came out shortly before my 12th birthday and I didn't really play it until I was 16 or 17.

The more I played, the more I realised that the map of the game is a kind of love letter to mid-2000s urbanism, where the civic value of public spaces was given absolute priority and cities were full of publicly-owned municipal facilities, operated at cost for the benefit of all.

Growing up in Pype Hayes, I was right on the edge of the Sutton / Erdington border. When I look back to my childhood, certain things stand out - Saturday swimming lessons at Wyndley Leisure Centre, Sunday walks around Sutton Park with my grandparents, afternoons in the Sutton Library after school. Weekend trips into the City Centre on the train to go to Nostalgia & Comics with my mom, birthday parties in community halls and in soft play areas.

I know now, as an adult, that the 2000s were an era of government where councils had the money to say "we're going to build this thing, maintain it and clean it, and it's yours to use". Public spaces and facilities were built for no other reason than to improve the quality of life of the community. There was a basic understanding that people needed places to read, keep fit and enjoy nature, regardless of their class or station in life.

It's an era which firmly came to an end at the dawn of the 2010s with the age of austerity. Local government funding was absolutely gutted, and when councils are faced with a choice between the social care budget and keeping the paths clear in the local park, the park loses out every single time. 

These facilities were left to fall apart, and people justifiably stopped using them. When they stopped using them, they were quickly sold off into unsubsidised private ownership or bulldozed for redevelopment into commercial spaces.

Some of these spaces have survived, but Birmingham is far from the civic utopia that it used to be. People commonly complain nowadays that there's nothing to do - and they're right, there isn't, but it wasn't always the case. These are things which have been taken away from us.

To roll back the clock on this sort of managed decline is a difficult thing. With local authorities starved for money, direct investment rarely happens, if ever. Public Sector organisations turn to the Private Sector to fund their civic offerings - 'Social Value' is more or less a given requirement of public sector tenders, but as with any plea for corporate charity, it's often the first part of any given project to be cut, done away with or simply lied about to begin with.

What our city requires - and what all cities require - is investment in public spaces and services which go beyond "well we'll make sure that the Metro stops have benches" or "we've just sold 200 acres for a new state of the art privately owned leisure centre".

I'm not sure what made me decide to write this - nostalgia, perhaps. I'd be interested in the thoughts of this community as to the things we miss the most about the 'old Birmingham' and what we think is needed to recapture that golden age of civic spaces.

I'm trying to find an answer to this question. The BBC walked out of Birmingham in the early 2000s and was only making Doctors here in a car park set until 2024. Now all that is made here are regional programmes. There is a new building being constructed in Birmingham but the investment here remains very low. This has had an impact on public perception of the BBC for a generation as everyone knows someone who was affected. My auntie lost her job as a housekeeper. My friends school lost access to an internship for radio 4. People switched off and found alternatives. Cancelled licence fees when they realised where the money was being redistributed to. I even remember children's shows being made here, and the excitement that created when you saw your road or someone's friend had a drama school audition. My dad says there was a lunchtime show like the One Show but it was before my time.

There is very little excitement or warmth for the new building or the BBC amongst Brummies. The real unanswered question is why, and I wondered if anyone here had any insight? Manchester I understand as a northern base, but moving jobs to Bristol needlessly was unbelievably cruel. The rent in Pebble Mill was free, and the building could be redeveloped

Most people don't know that Peaky Blinders couldn't actually be filmed in Birmingham because there was no studio, equipment, camera crew etc. It was mainly filmed in Yorkshire, with a Manchester crew travelling down to film exterior shots. There is no television media in Birmingham.

Does anyone know why the BBC became so anti Birmingham? Did we piss them off? Was it prejudice? Did the Director General have a Brummie ex who spited him? Were there bribes involved for Manchester and Bristol? I don't know and I can't find an answer as to why. Especially as the rent was free. The building needed renovation and Media City was much more expensive than refurbishment of Pebble Mill. So it can't be a cost saving measure

Edited to add

Rent on Pebble mill was free

Media City was much more expensive than refurbishment of Pebble Mill

The answer isn't ££££

Does anyone know?

I can see some down votes and honestly don't mind as long as you don't delete my post. This is the perception of the BBC for a 5 million people. Your perception may not be mine, that's fine too. Some of the remarks are condescending and insult the intelligence of Brummies and the apathy towards the BBC here.

Hello, I’ve just been offered a job in London with initial 2-3 days in the office then possibly 2 or 1. The company seems quite flexible and some of the managers and partners live in Bristol and Manchester. The job is in data and ai as a senior consultant. I’m not sure what I should I do I live in north Birmingham and I’m 29 with no dependents. For context the new role is 60k with 6k bonus.

I just saw a viral video about an incident in Birmingham where a boy was attacked by other boys before being seized and verbally abused by police.

I'd avoided the video because originally the thumbnail made me think it was the usual yobbery that taints our city's image and didn't realise it concerned abuse of power.

I'm shocked that WMP has doubled down and said that after reviewing footage they believe the conduct was justified. How does one express their concern given this ridiculously poor judgement being displayed should concern us all?

Will share link to the video in the comments rather than in the post itself as I'm suspicious as to why there isn't a thread on this already given the video it's gone viral.

Edit: not sure why anyone feels the need to downvote discussion on policing in the city following a viral incident rather than engage in the discussion.

Edit2: Links:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaS3nhxoSMR/
https://youtu.be/9t8qVtCm3Js?is=t13zmxOWTkzyS-jG (Timestamp ~5.20 for this fight.)

currently being kept up by both a house party and what i'm assuming to be constant nightly roadworks. it never used to be this bad surely...m

Looking for something different?

If you're a bloke aged 18+, why not come and give us a try?

We're just a bunch of ordinary guys who get together early in the morning for a FREE outdoor workout. No gym memberships, no pressure, no egos—just a great way to start the day.

The funny thing is, none of us knew each other beforehand. We all turned up as strangers, and along the way we've built some genuine friendships, had plenty of laughs, and always look out for one another.

All fitness levels are welcome. Whether you're super fit, getting back into exercise, or haven't worked out in years, you'll fit right in. Every workout can be adapted to suit you, and you'll never be left behind.

It's not about being the fastest or the strongest

it's about showing up, encouraging each other, and leaving in a better place than when you arrived.

And to all the ladies... if there's a husband, partner, brother, son, dad, or mate in your life who you think would benefit from getting out, meeting some good men, and moving a little more, please give them a gentle nudge and encourage them to come along.

The hardest part is turning up that first morning.

After that, you're among friends.

Come as you are. We'd love to meet you.

Message me directly

or comment on the post and I'll message you