I really like The Rainbow — a pub always slightly further up Digbeth High Street than you think it is. I like it when there are bands I like on, I also like it when it’s quiet. It’s quiet in the day a lot, which musn’t make much dosh and it really makes all its money from being w...

I hear that Birmingham City Council is now blocking  “social networking sensation” Twitter (as it is classified as a “social networking site”). Following hard on the heals of the shock horror stories of Facebook usage (stupid story as not only are the methodologies used for ...

You can now be consulted about the ‘Big City Plan‘. Just to be cynical for a moment, it’s hard to see what we’re being consulted on when so much is already decided: Eastside Locks, Westside, white elephant shaped Olympic Swimming Pools, not having a Creative Director… but I...

Over on Created in Birmingham there’s a healthy discussion around the Creative City Awards, and it’s indicative of a growing disquiet that can be heard particularly in the ‘creative’ sector. But I don’t just think it’s “arty types not understanding the real ...

Last year’s Birmingham Post Power Fifty caused a lot of fun in offices around the city. I remember Chas Watkin (Editor of Midlands Today) being referred to as “number 48″ by his newsroom staff for a few days, which is alright unless you’re the second “most powerful̶...

The open early pub known variously as The Merecat, ‘Moonsoon Nights’ and ‘Jesus that looks rough’ looks set to be shut when the council sell the land and move the “largest integrated market in europe” — the wholesale markets — out of the city centre. Reports t...

I was surprised, and a little bit flattered I’ll admit, to be asked to be on the panel for Birmingham Future’s (Big Brand) debate “Is Birmingham A Second City?”, along with Ian Taylor, commercial director of Marketing Birmingham and David Clarke. Exalted company, but both ver...

It’s a sign of selfishness, a sign of desperation when you’re waiting for the bus and crossing your legs dying for a wee – but pubs and cafes are entitled not to have their facilities er facilitated by passers-by. The Council are considering a scheme whereby they encourage shops to ope...