Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[eamonn]

Ten years ago you'd have been laughed at for suggesting Birmingham as a tourist destination. Now we have queues to get into bars on Saturday afternoon and try getting a weekend restaurant table.

What's changed?

[Nev]

Ten years ago you'd have been laughed at for suggesting Birmingham as a tourist destination. Now we have queues to get into bars on Saturday afternoon and try getting a weekend restaurant table.

What's changed?

There's shopping at the Bullring but the rest of Town is predominantly hospitality now, some brilliant pubs (and The Square Peg) and top notch restaurants.

I'm always amazed at how busy it is when I'm in on a Saturday pre-match and you can quadruple that during Nov/Dec. It's fantastic, vibrant and colourful. It gets a bit more "Wild West" after 8 o'clock but so does every City Centre. Prior to the Brighton match at the end of last season the place was bathed in sunshine on a BH weekend, there were people smiling and enjoying themselves everywhere, it was awash with Claret and Blue and it struck me what a great place it had become.

[tomd2103]

Ten years ago you'd have been laughed at for suggesting Birmingham as a tourist destination. Now we have queues to get into bars on Saturday afternoon and try getting a weekend restaurant table.

What's changed?

Probably more at home in the Birmingham News thread, but this gives a bit of an insight:

https://www.propertyinvestortoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2022/1/birmingham--why-the-youngest-city-in-europe-has-become-a-thriving-hub-for-students-graduates-and-young-urban-professionals

[Risso]

I was out in Brum for my birthday just before Christmas with a few friends (all non Brum-residents) and everybody was amazed at what a brilliant, vibrant place it was. OK it was December, but everywhere was absolutely rammed to the rafters, and there are lots of really good bars and restaurants.

[LeeB]

My mate who knows the guy that owns the Hare and Hounds and various other luminaries was lamenting Brum the other week as a busted flush, and his Mrs's band won't bother coming here as the tickets don't sell and they're not alone.

We had a heated discussion on the subject be he was pretty adamant that compared to *spits* Manchester in terms of nightlife we're miles behind. He's always been a bit of that mind so I take it with a pinch of salt but he spends half his time up that way (where his Mrs is from) and half down here so he's probably better to judge.

[Risso]

My mate who knows the guy that owns the Hare and Hounds and various other luminaries was lamenting Brum the other week as a busted flush, and his Mrs's band won't bother coming here as the tickets don't sell and they're not alone.

We had a heated discussion on the subject be he was pretty adamant that compared to *spits* Manchester in terms of nightlife we're miles behind. He's always been a bit of that mind so I take it with a pinch of salt but he spends half his time up that way (where his Mrs is from) and half down here so he's probably better to judge.

I still go up there 2 or 3 times a year, and I don't think there's that much difference. Obviously Manchester is a smaller city, so it's punching above its weight compared to Brum, but in terms of offerings I think they're fairly similar. Of course Birmingham has got more in the end of very high end restaurants. As a city centre for going out, Leeds is (miles) better than both of them, mind.

[pauliewalnuts]

Also, shout out for Newcastle as a great city for going out.

Absolutely the most underrated city we have.

[Risso]

Also, shout out for Newcastle as a great city for going out.

Absolutely the most underrated city we have.

Oh indeed. It's mental. When I went to last season's away game up there, the train up from London that we get on at Peterborough was rammed with stag and hen parties going up there for a night out. And it's like that on every single train, and there are about four trains an hour. It's a brilliant city, and I love the architecture and how easy it is to get around on foot.

[tomd2103]

The more I think about it, the more I believe that our Chris has properly shit the bed with this North Stand farce. I hope that in the fullness of time we’ll see that he was right, but I’m not so sure.

Yeah, whilst it is fun to play fantasy football grounds, I guess we're better off just concentrating on what's happening on the pitch for the time being and see what unfolds.

I guess there will be some kind of timeframe involved though given that we were one of the grounds that were part of the Euro 2028 bid.  Were we included in that on the proviso that the North Stand redevelopment was going ahead and the capacity would be over 50,000?

[Risso]

The more I think about it, the more I believe that our Chris has properly shit the bed with this North Stand farce. I hope that in the fullness of time we’ll see that he was right, but I’m not so sure.

Yeah, whilst it is fun to play fantasy football grounds, I guess we're better off just concentrating on what's happening on the pitch for the time being and see what unfolds.

I guess there will be some kind of timeframe involved though given that we were one of the grounds that were part of the Euro 2028 bid.  Were we included in that on the proviso that the North Stand redevelopment was going ahead and the capacity would be over £50k?

Apparently not, no. The club have said the Euro situation is unchanged.

[PeterWithe]

If tourists are coming into Brum for a game (if they had tickets) surely that Aston is a £5 cab ride away is neither here nor there?

[AV82EC]

If tourists are coming into Brum for a game (if they had tickets) surely that Aston is a £5 cab ride away is neither here nor there?

£5!! What is it a horse and cart?

[Sexual Ealing]

Also, shout out for Newcastle as a great city for going out.

Absolutely the most underrated city we have.

Oh indeed. It's mental. When I went to last season's away game up there, the train up from London that we get on at Peterborough was rammed with stag and hen parties going up there for a night out. And it's like that on every single train, and there are about four trains an hour. It's a brilliant city, and I love the architecture and how easy it is to get around on foot.

I've hated it every time I've been out in Newcastle. Wankers everywhere (including, but not exclusively stags & hens). It's like somebody went to Broad Street and said, 'let's make everywhere like this hellscape, but colder".

[PeterWithe]

If tourists are coming into Brum for a game (if they had tickets) surely that Aston is a £5 cab ride away is neither here nor there?

£5!! What is it a horse and cart?

Its about that, town to Aston. Its only 2 miles

[LeeB]

Also, shout out for Newcastle as a great city for going out.

Absolutely the most underrated city we have.

Oh indeed. It's mental. When I went to last season's away game up there, the train up from London that we get on at Peterborough was rammed with stag and hen parties going up there for a night out. And it's like that on every single train, and there are about four trains an hour. It's a brilliant city, and I love the architecture and how easy it is to get around on foot.

I've hated it every time I've been out in Newcastle. Wankers everywhere (including, but not exclusively stags & hens). It's like somebody went to Broad Street and said, 'let's make everywhere like this hellscape, but colder".

You see that's a fine example of someone who writes for a living showing what they can do without even trying, I can easily picture the worst night out ever from the words used.