The Best Things to See and Do in Digbeth, Birmingham

Proud pioneers of Birmingham’s rejuvenated street food trade, Digbeth Dining Club should be right at the top of your list when visiting the city. Held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Spotlight and Mama Roux’s, DDC brings together only the best local street food traders, all with influences spanning across the globe.

Often referred to as the creative hub of the city, The Custard Factory is home to some of the city’s best independent businesses and some of the country’s most creative companies. While Codemasters, Channel 5’s The Gadget Show and BBC’s digital innovation unit occupy office space upstairs, downstairs you’ll find a host of indies to explore including Kanteen, Clink Beer and Ghetto Golf.

One of the more unique places to go in Digbeth, The Bond Company is a complex of modern spaces and historic Victorian buildings which houses a canalside café, office spaces and also regularly hosts events. Whether you’re looking to attend a hip food festival, host an event yourself or simply pass some time at their café, The Bond is the place to go.

The Mockingbird is the city’s newest indie cinema and regularly hosts themed events, quiz nights and rare screenings from across the world of cinema. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to catch movie marathons.

Looking for the best burgers in Birmingham? We’ve got you. Self-proclaimed ‘purveyors of filth’, Original Patty Men serve up some of the sloppiest, messiest, dirtiest burgers in Brum, and we absolutely love it. Even Drake loves OPM – the last time the US superstar played in the city, he ordered enough burgers for him and his crew that they sold out of meat.

Centrala is an art gallery and events space operated by the Polish Expats Association. Showcasing art from Central Eastern Europe and the UK, Centrala also hosts regular exhibitions from local artists as well as the occasional gig.

With creativity in full flow, it’s no surprise that the area is home to a wonderful array of street art. A walk down any of Digbeth’s side streets and abandoned car parks will show you more street art than you’ve had hot dinners.

The Night Owl is the Midlands’ finest soul and retro venue. Whether you’re looking to shake a tail feather and get down to some Northern Soul, attend a gig with some of the region’s most talented musicians or simply dance the night away courtesy of the best soul DJs in the city, this unique Digbeth venue offers everything.

Inspired by the industrial heritage of Digbeth and the ruin bars of Budapest, this quirky, rustic pub is perfect for a spot of relaxation after a day’s exploration. The Ruin’s menu, suitably Eastern European, offers hearty goulashes and tempting koftas while their coffee is locally sourced and their selection of alcoholic drinks are handpicked to perfectly compliment the atmosphere.