Spotlight
BIRMINGHAM PRIDE
Birmingham’s most vibrant and diverse district: embracing Hurst Street, The Arcadian, Chinatown and the Gay Village
SUMMER IN SOUTHSIDE
Over 75,000 spectators turned out to support the parade through the city centre and tens of thousands of party revellers enjoyed the festival in Southside throughout the two days.
Pride festival that followed.
The event this year featured its biggest ever line-up, including headliners Erasure’s Andy Bell, Lisa Stansfield, Katy B, Lawson, Fleur East, DJ Fresh and MNEK, together with over 100 performers and DJs. Lawrence Barton, Birmingham Pride Festival Director, commented: “This year’s festival has been undoubtedly our most successful in its 20-year history. We were amazed by the tens of thousands of spectators who turned out to support our ‘Generation of Pride’ themed parade, in addition to all the visitors to the two-day
“We are indebted to Southside BID, West Midlands Police and the security teams deployed, who collectively ensured it was such a safe and happy Pride for everyone to enjoy. “Everyone who got involved worked tirelessly to ensure that this year’s festival went without a hitch. We’re all immensely proud of everyone who took part.”
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“Our aim was to ensure a peaceful, enjoyable event for everyone at the festival and we believe that this was achieved.
West Midlands Police have confirmed that, despite large crowds partying into the early hours on both nights, there were only a handful of drug and alcohol related incidents. West Midlands Police Inspector Gareth Morris, from Birmingham city centre, commented: “It’s fantastic to have
Birmingham Pride next year is being held on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May 2017.
Comedy Carousel is a fast paced and spontaneous topical weekly Follow us on twitter @EnjoySouthside
been able to police and take part in an event that is so positive for the LGBT community and for the city of Birmingham.
“With the volume of people attending over the weekend with tens of thousands of people watching the parade this was a very successful, trouble free event with a relatively low level of arrests; which were led by our proactive plain clothed officers.”
Comedy Carousel is a unique concept created by comedian, Andy Robinson, for The Glee. The concept won a Chortle Award in 2015 for Best Comedy Show. It features at The Glee every Thursday and tickets start from just £11 with a food inclusive option for only £19.50.
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Live, Work and Enjoy the Southside Spirit
On July 3rd, the Arcadian was swinging to the sound of Salsa beats as the ever popular Latin American Festival returned to Southside to host a free Latin party in the sunshine. Hundreds of people joined professional salsa dancers for masterclasses and marvelled in the music from Mexican Marachis to bands from all over the Latin American continent.
show featuring top stand up comedians, our take on the week’s news, and a big screen to bring you the best bits from the weird world of the web. It is perfect for groups to come on a summer work social. There is a new outside area and refurbished bar at The Glee for you to enjoy a couple of drinks before show.
Southside’s annual FREE summer festival is back – and this year get ready for Southside to meet Seaside! Over the weekend (Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th July – 12 noon 5 pm each day), experience a vibrant carnival atmosphere where Hurst Street will be transformed with seaside sights, sounds and smells. Be swept away by nautical encounters from a cod choir, deep-sea divers and even some pirates!
There is something for everyone – play on wooden street games, dive into the mouth of an enormous whale, enjoy street acrobatics, a marching band with a difference and much, much more.
Lina Higuita, Centre Manager for Arcadian said “It was a great family day and everyone who came had fun, the bars in the centre did great business and the sun shone throughout, we can’t wait for Annie and the ABSLatin team to return next year!”
The Hippodrome Theatre’s back dock will be transformed into a beach with beautiful sculptures – so make Southside your destination of choice this year and enjoy a little bit of seaside familiarity and hilarity right in the heart of the city. For more information please visit: http://www.birminghamhippodrome. com/calendar/summer-in-southside
CONTACT
BID Manager. Julia Chance | bidmanager@southsidebid.co.uk Chair. Paul Garry | paul@gallangroup.com
Live, Work and Enjoy the Southside Spirit
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For more information, visit
www.southsidebid.co.uk or www.enjoysouthside.co.uk
For more information, visit
www.southsidebid.co.uk or www.enjoysouthside.co.uk
SOUTHSIDE SOCIAL BUSINESS
Mixer on Tues 14 June at Quarterhorse Coffee on Bristol St. Over 15 businesses attended to learn all about coffee and how to brew the perfect cup, whilst enjoying drinks, nibbles and networking. All part of Southside’s programme of 12 business events per year, 6 Southside Showcase lunchtime events and 6 Southside Social evening events. Interested in meeting local businesses, networking and winning new business? Or would you like to host an event at your venue? Contact us now for more information!
Vincent Garrington, Sam Dyus, Gemma Evans (Holiday Inn)
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BLOOM With only one month before entries close, why not nominate read more... your or a neighbour’s business for our annual Southside in Bloom competition which rewards our businesses for the best outdoor planted display? Previous winners Eden have received their third annual nomination, as have Loft Lounge, but new nominees include The Fox on Essex St whose beer garden, festooned with roses, is very popular with locals. Nominate a business now by emailing information@southsidebid.co.uk (nominations close on 14 Aug, the finalists are judged by a panel of experts and the winner is announced at the Chinese Autumn Festival in September with a £200 Prize and Framed Certificate from Birmingham’s Lord Mayor.
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Live, Work and Enjoy the Southside Spirit
Business in the
Spotlight Hannah Harris Sales Manager James Wong (Chung Ying), Angela Qi Huang (Hello UK)
Nathan Retzer and Alex Scott (Quarter Horse Coffee)
SHOCK
& GORE July is upon us, which means it’s time to dust off the Ouija board and commune with Birmingham’s annual Shock & Gore horror and fantasy film festival. Launching with a very special festival preview night at Birmingham’s historic Highbury Hall on Saturday July 9th, the festival runs from Friday July 15th to Thursday July 21st at The Electric Cinema in Southside and features the usual mix of the weird, the wonderful and the just plain wrong. Events include a 90s horror party featuring screenings of Scream and The Crow, a Birmingham ghost tour, a taste along screening of the morbidly romantic Harold & Maude, exclusive previews and another raucous Trash Film Night. Head to www.shockandgore.co.uk for all the details and to book tickets.
Tell us about your business? PREMIER SUITES Birmingham are serviced apartments offering a wonderful alternative to traditional hotel accommodation. Guests can maintain the independence they enjoy at home in their spacious surroundings of their own living quarters. Guests have a choice of 1 or 2 suites which come with fully fitted kitchen, living room, bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. Our accommodation is perfectly suited to corporate guests who maybe relocating for a medium to long term business contract. We are also an ideal choice for families and leisure guests looking to avail of the facilities they would usually have in their own home while on holiday. Our mission is to provide the ultimate in comfort and relaxation – bringing home a little closer. How did it all start? Established in 1996, PREM Group’s accommodation portfolio spans Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and the UK, with more than 3,500 guest rooms and 1,500 employees. It owns, manages, or leases 43 hotels & serviced apartments including city centre budget hotels, 4 star business hotels, and resort properties. The highly diversified company also includes Trinity Hospitality Services, a provider of bespoke centralised purchasing, sales, marketing, IT Services to over 500 hotel clients across Europe. Rebranding has recently taken place to unite and strengthen the PREMIER SUITES brand by rebranding all of our existing ‘Premier Apartments’ properties in the UK to ‘PREMIER SUITES’. Bringing our total number of suites in the PREMIER SUITES brand to 600 across 13 locations in Continental Europe, Ireland & the UK giving our guests more flexibility. PREM Group are aiming to expand to other locations in major cities across Europe including Belgium & the Netherlands. What is your background? Originally from Northamptonshire having not always lived in a City, I first discovered independence in vibrant and busy Birmingham. My hospitality career started in an 800 bedroom hotel, and gaining experience in various other roles in branded hotels over the last 9 years. Serviced apartments are becoming a more competitive and attractive offer within the industry.
How has your business contributed to the area? We have built relationships with some local businesses within Southside and encourage working together, we assist with accommodation needs making things really easy so no more hotel headaches that others often experience. In return we have a leaflet stand in which we can help advertise events running in Southside, venues and restaurants who wish to work promote their businesses with us. What do you think of the continuing efforts to regenerate Southside? I believe all efforts are very positive. The location of Southside is really popular as it is with popular attractions on our doorstep such as Birmingham Hippodrome, The Glee Club, The Old Rep Theatre, and BOM. However more and more visitors will hear about improvement plans and new events which we are sure will prove demand, and to become an even better place to stay or even relocate to. What is the best thing about Southside? The location of Southside and the large selection of restaurants and entertainment venues definitely help put Southside on the map! The support teams of Southside really play a big part in helping businesses to work together, promoting events to outsiders helping bring in visitors, and not forgetting the friendly street wardens who are always helpful and genuinely interested in the area and its businesses. What advice would you give someone wishing to start a business in the area? Southside is a popular and vibrant area to be, with lots of reasons for visitors. With the regeneration plans ongoing, this can only be more positive to any business looking to locate to this area. How do you spend your spare time? Socialising meeting up with friends and family. I enjoy nights at the cinema, or out for dinner in Southside especially with the great choice of many restaurants to choose from! Also, I like to arrange weekend trips away on occasion.
Live, Work and Enjoy the Southside Spirit
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