You know who looks all lovely dressed up in Christmas? Birmingham, don't be so modest, you ruddy do! You're set to look so festively fabulous this Christmas and we want to share you with one and all! Compiling a list of great places to check our some smashing festivities this season in Brum, we've banded together some of the best ways to discover our fair city this Christmas, have a look why don't you.....
Frankfurt Market
14th November - 22nd December: Free entry
Get ready to glug some Gluhwein this Christmas in Birmingham as the infamous Frankfurt Market returns for another bout of festive frivolities and traditional hand-made wares. Not only one of the biggest German Christmas Markets outside of Germany itself, the Frankfurt Market is your best bet for some good ol' fashioned Christmas spirit in the city; timber clad grotto's, twinkling fairy lights, authentic European traders and bratwurst by the bucket load make an evening at the Frankfurt Market a rather good looking, tasty affair.
Bratwurst, fairground rides, grotto's and a vat of mulled wine, Birmingham's Frankfurt market has it all. (Photo credit: Edward Moss Photography)
Cosy Birmingham Pubs
Free entry, of course!
They're going to serve mulled wine, they're going to be down right cosy and you're going to love them. Birmingham has an amazing selection of pubs to choose from, be you a craft beer connoisseur supping down at The Victoria or chowing down into some Deep South delicacies at dreamy Church Inn, we're a rather pretty city with plenty of these heralded boozers to choose from. So what three pubs do we recommend shimmying on down to this festive season in the city?
- The Rose Villa Tavern: A chipper spot for scrumptious hot dogs, vintage regalia and cocktails.
- The Fighting Cocks: Cosy made cool, this hipster hot spot boasts one of the best roast dinners in the city.
- The Victoria: Craft beer, Southern American chow and artistic interiors chow are their forte.
The Rose Villa Tavern makes for one cushty retreat from the bitter chill thanks to its hearty menu and cracking cocktail collection.
Ice Skating at Centenary Square
16th November - 5th January: TBC
Whether you swan around the slab like Bambi on ice or could put Torvill and Dean to skate shame, Winter Skate at Centenary Square is fun filled place to lift your festive spirits this Christmas in Birmingham. Thanks to its iconic location, doused in trickling fairy lights to its Christmas charm, you could be pottering around the rink, happy as these two little Larry's below. Just remember to keep your fingers in and your footwork fancy!
From novices to lean mean ice skating machines, Centenary Square turns into a Torvill and Dean extravaganza this Christmas as Winter Skate comes to town. (Photo credit: Winter Skate)
Dirty Old Folkers: Annual Christmas Panto
21st & 23rd December: £10 advance
Skeleton dance-offs? Lord of the Rings battles? You can bet your bottom festive dollar that this is no ordinary Christmas panto in the city. Ditch your foam fingers and try something different this December in Birmingham as the Dirty Old Folkers present a night of inappropriate folk, Christmas sing-a-longs, lording about on stage and crude Christmas corkers. Described as 'leaking laughing gas into a room', this is sure to be one feisty festive event to remember.
They may call themselves 'inappropriate folk', but we think these Dirty Old Folkers are really rather funny and a must see for some festive kicks this season.
Carols by Candlelight at the THSH
Sunday 16th December: £12.50-£36
You know what's a dying art? Carol singers! Since when were they shunned from out doorsteps, leaving us to listen only to the sound of a sozzled Uncle Barry's rendition of 'Last Christmas'?! No more we say! Thanks to the Birmingham Symphony Hall, Christmas Carols are still a beautifully heralded event where 'Carols by Candlelight' boasts the Mozart Festival Orchestra not only singing seasonal classics, but donning full 18th Century regalia in the name of song.
If you're a classic Crimbo patron at heart and looking for some seasonal song this Christmas, head down to the Birmingham Symphony Hall for 'Carols by Candlelight'.
A Dickensian Christmas at The Jekyll and Hyde
26th November - 23rd December: £25 per person
Take a right at normal and a left at tasty, and where do you arrive this Christmas? The Jekyll and Hyde of course! Boasting a festive meal like no other, out of the box foodie's will relish in a truly dated dinner as The Jekyll takes to a Dickensian theme for this year's grub. From a chestnut and apricot stuffed guinea fowl supreme to home made damson gin Christmas pudding, The Jekyll promise no less than the unique for this year's festive feast at just £25 per person for three courses, savouring all that's cool and quirky about Brum.
Take a trip through time this Christmas in Birmingham as you dine like a dapper Dickensian chap at The Jekyll and Hyde.
