Birmingham’s nightlife landscape is facing another massive blow, with several core Digbeth venues staring down the barrel of demolition.
Under newly announced proposals from the Midlands Rail Hub Alliance, major upgrades to Birmingham Moor Street and the widening of the Bordesley viaduct are set to wipe out a crucial strip of Lower Trinity Street. If the plans go ahead as proposed when construction begins in 2030, heavyweights like Club Colette, Mama Roux’s, The Night Owl, XOYO, and Luna Springs will all be leveled to make way for new track infrastructure.
The news landed yesterday on the 4th of August as the project entered its public consultation phase, triggering an immediate backlash from the local creative community. In a joint statement launched today on Instagram, Club Colette and Mama Roux’s rallied the city to object to the proposals, driving home a message that resonates far beyond a few closing dates: “We can’t let infrastructure wipe out our culture. This is bigger than just us. Let’s make some noise.”
It’s the classic, frustrating tension between urban development and cultural preservation, sacrificing the very venues that give Digbeth its soul for the sake of rail capacity. The consultation is open now, concerned Brummies and even visitors to the city have a chance to use their voice.
Photo by Sarah Doffman