Once Birmingham’s industrial quarter, the factory buildings of Digbeth have been transformed in recent years. Today, the area is a hub of culture and creative enterprise with galleries, nightclubs, pubs and restaurants waiting to be discovered. No trip to Birmingham would be complete without exploring Digbeth.
Digbeth is evolving from its industrial roots, from the heart of Birmingham’s industrial revolution to a modern thriving creative community.
Oval Real Estate, the owners of the Custard Factory and other buildings in Digbeth, have been developing long term plans for the estate.
We shared our draft plans in November 2019 and we are very grateful to those of you who took the time to speak with us and provide us with feedback as part of the public consultation. Since then we have been working closely with our architects and technical teams to further develop our plans, taking consultation responses into account.
A planning application has been submitted to Birmingham City Council which would allow Oval to invest in the area over the next 10 – 15 years.
Some of the many things to do in Digbeth:
Digbeth Dining Club
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.
The Custard Factory
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.
The Bond Company
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 Night Owl
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.
Cow Vintage/The Digbeth
The Digbeth is known around the city as a hotspot for vintage stores, along with Cow Vintage (found on Digbeth Highstreet) there are many others such as Dark Bull and The Vintage Kilo Sale. You’ll find many rare pieces in here and is a refreshing change from your usual high street brands.