Danny Smith was writing lots of guides to Brum for the Itchy guide, last year. It never happened, so we present his guide to the past in a number of parts (see all the parts):
Subside
Fletchers Walk,
Paradise Place,
Birmingham,
B3 3HJ.
Tel: 0121 212 0211
The alternative “alternative” bar to Costers with a generally younger crowd, good if you like your music loud and shouty or want to take your parents for a drink in place they are guaranteed to feel uncomfortable. Decorated like a cheap gentleman’s rub club because it actually was a cheap gentleman’s rub club. The fairly cheap drinks, super late closing times, large number of event nights and convenient location make this a handy boozer to know.
Sun – Tues and Thurs; 5pm – Midnight, Weds Fri and Sat; 5pm – 6am
Maison Mayci
Poplar road
Kings heath
Tel
(That sound is me writing this while straining to avoid the easy French stereotype gags) French owned and themed café right in the heart of Kings Heath, purveyors of good coffee, semi-decent tea and tiny cakes that are so cute they’re guaranteed to make a woman’s voice raise several octaves to a pitch that makes them audible only to dogs and bats. Exactly like going to a French café except for the annoying exchange rate maths, feeling like an idiot while you stumble and butcher their language, and the arrogance. (Dammit!)
Cappuccino – £1.60 Pain au choculat – £1.20
Open; Mon – Sat, 8.30am – 5.30; Sun, Non.
Laundrette
52 Poplar rd
Kings Heath
Unremarkable but very handy little place staffed by a woman that looks like a candle of Buddha dressed in charity shop clothes that had been left by a radiator for an hour or two, and a friendly but bossy Orc. Can get a little busy on Sundays.
Open; Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat, 10am – 6pm; Tues, 10am – 2pm; Thurs, closed.
