Things To Do in Digbeth, Birmingham

There are lots of things to do in Digbeth, Birmingham, especially if you enjoy pubs, bars or street art. Most roads in Digbeth have more colour than the regular street. Street art is especially concentrated around the legendary Custard Factory.

The area primarily comprises old repurposed industrial buildings. Many of these are used for the creative or entertainment sectors. The railway viaduct runs through Digbeth too. They constructed it with blue brick, and it is photogenic and a canvas for street art.

Digbeth is a thriving area with evening entertainment options, including many bars. My favourite is to enjoy a walk, see the street art, and visit a few bars.

Funfair

Digbeth hosts the Birmingham Beach Funfair during the summer, with rides for children and adults. Attractions have included a Ferris wheel, thrill rides and games. Check the latest dates before visiting, as the funfair is seasonal.

See the Street Art

The area is a great place to walk around, with top-quality street art and graffiti on display. Most roads lead to the legendary Custard Factory. It is also known as the Creative Quarter for good reason.

Many local companies have graffiti-style murals. This includes pubs and entertainment venues.

Nortons is an Irish bar with a distinctive garden.

A suggested circular walk in the Digbeth neighbourhood of Birmingham, taking in some of the more prominent street art areas. Note: where this joins the canal, there are views of the city skyline.

Big Birmingham Bake

The Big Birmingham Bake is a fun night out where teams compete in a baking competition. They supply all the equipment, ingredients and instructions. This is a splendid night out with a difference. They also have a bar serving a selection of drinks.

The concept is simple: pairs compete to cook the tastiest and most aesthetic versions of the day’s cakes. The climax came at the end, when they announced the winner. We spent the night making doughnuts and discovered we could create endless flavours and designs. It delighted me to win.

The venue has many cooking workstations for each team. Each has a hob, a cooker, a mixer, and ingredients already weighed out, ready to compete. Emma, the host, and her helpers introduced the concept.

Explore The Digbeth Branch of the Birmingham Canal

A nice activity is to walk along the Digbeth Branch Canal and see what’s about. The canal towpath is also a hotbed of graffiti and tagging. This runs from Bordesley Junction to the Warwick Bar stop lock and Banana Warehouse.

The Birmingham canals don’t stop here, but the graffiti art does. Walking onwards in either direction is enjoyable.

Beer Central Festival

Beer Central was a new and enjoyable beer festival, set in an old warehouse. The annual festival features loads of beer and other drink producers. This includes some local breweries.

On my last visit, there were well over 100 drinks to try at the beer festival. Upon entry, you receive a complimentary tasting glass to sample the drinks. To find out when the next beer festival is, see their website.

Golf Fang

Golf Fang is an indoor 18-hole crazy golf course. The venue has amazing decor throughout and is rather colourful with lots of bright lights. Golf Fang also has a bar serving drinks while you play. You can purchase various packages on their website.

Roxy BallRoom

The colourful Roxy Ballroom is a venue for “social gaming”. There are game options at Roxy Ballroom, including beer pong, curling, pool, shuffleboard, and karaoke.

Pubs, Bars & Restaurants in Digbeth, Birmingham

Renowned for its pubs, bars and restaurants, including some that are pet-friendly. These tend to be sociable and make for a great night out.

The Old Crown, the oldest pub in Birmingham

In the heart of the arty area is The Old Crown, a community pub. The Old Crown is the city’s oldest non-religious building. The building dates back to 1368. Despite its age, the pub is all very stylish inside.

To top that, they have an enormous beer garden to accommodate visitors, with some covered seating. They have draught beers, including Heineken, some German options and Camden Hells. I also stayed the night here; the rooms were comfy and the staff friendly.

The Anchor

The Anchor is a free house pub and a good place to visit with a dog. They are renowned for beer, including many real ale options. They have a comfortable venue with indoor and outdoor seating. In my experience, they are very dog-friendly. The clientele seemed rather friendly on my visit, as were the staff. The Anchor beer menu is pretty comprehensive, from refreshing lagers like Estrella Damm to some interesting craft beer options.

Rico Libre a Tapas Restaurant

On Gibb Street near the Greenhouse is Rico Libre, a Spanish-style tapas restaurant. They offer both Spanish wines and beers, including Estrella Galicia.

For food, you can choose a variety of tapas options to share. They serve these in batches to enhance the dining experience. They also have specials, where I found some delicious pig’s cheeks, the chef’s speciality.

Nortons, an Irish Pub

Nortons is an Irish bar with a big selection of beers, including Guinness, Kirin and Camden Hells. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Nortons often has Irish music playing. They also serve food, including pizza.

Digbeth & Street Art in Birmingham Photos

Some photos of the Digbeth area of Birmingham, including examples of the area’s street art.

The iconic greenhouse building in the Custard Factory on Gibb Street.

The Digbeth Branch of the Birmingham canal network is a lovely walk and offers splendid views of the city’s skyline.

Some unique decorative features of the area: some are arty, while others get very political.

The Courtyard of the Custard Factory on Gibb Street, home to a few entertainment venues and the lovely Stag bar. The water feature on Gibb Street is a fantastic place to sit out and admire the street art nearby. A few