Gay Birmingham
Birmingham prides itself on being a gay-friendly city and has a well-established and thriving gay community. The city boasts plenty of restaurants, clubs, hotels and pubs that are particularly welcoming to the gay community as well as more dedicated venues in The Gay Village, right in the heart of the city centre. This area sits in the Hurst Street region close to the Hippodrome. The Gay Village is home to Birmingham’s annual Gay Pride Festival – a two-day event that includes a colourful parade, music, dance, comedy and cabaret.
The Birmingham Gay and Lesbian Pride Ball is another annual event that celebrates the city’s gay community. This takes place at the International Convention Centre every spring.
One of the biggest and most established venues in Gay Village is the Nightingale Club. It has been running for over 40 years and has a dance floor, restaurant, beer garden and smoking area set over three floors.
Anyone wanting to enjoy all the fun of the gay cabaret scene is likely to catch some big names at the specialist Village Inn and Missing club venues. Bars in the Village area include lesbian bar The Fox and pubs that appeal to men such as Boltz and The Fountain Inn.
The introduction of Civil Partnerships for gay couples has led to a variety of venues in the city being registered for the ceremonies. Couples can now make this commitment in the Botanical Gardens, local Premier League football clubs, the Council House and the National Motorcycle Museum as well as many other venues that have been licensed by Birmingham Register Office.