Depends on how long you want to do but I like the walk down the canal up the the upper bittell reservoir and round the country lanes start and finish the crown pub by alcechurch station about 1-2 hours depending on the route. So a short but pleasant walk.

An Irish hospitality tycoon promised to transform one of Birmingham’s most important buildings — three years later, and it’s falling apart The clock is ticking on the Methodist Central Hall

Fantastic reporting from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social as always, bringing some light to the frustrating saga that is the Methodist Central Hall. The city council must get a grip on this and other heritage risks before they crumble into dust and cause injury.

open.substack.com/pub/birmingh...

Never noticed this lovely detail on New Oxford House on Waterloo Street before. *chefs kiss*

It’s seems more and more Birmingham needs someone like the Landmark Trust who do some fantastic work to take on the Methodist Central Hall. Would be a huge project - but bet they would create something fantastic.

@stationstreet.bsky.social

We need someone with the vision to remove the A38 Queensway. Genuinely think it will provide significant health and economic benefits to the city. If it can’t be a park - at least a tram route would so impactful.

Such a shame so much of Pigeon Park is now just mud.

Now that Yorks is open, is this now the front runner for places we don’t think will open in Brum centre

‘I never thought I’d miss a hand so much’.
#arresteddevelopment

I forgot to mention the RBSA is of course open - and always fantastic.

Galleries closed from 27 January 2025 - The Barber Institute of Fine Arts Barber galleries to close from 26 January for Phase 2 of £10 million building improvement scheme funded by the University of Birmingham.

Does the temporary closure of The Barber now mean that only the Ikon remains openly displaying art collections in Brum? (Until Bmag fully reopens, whenever that will be). We’re starved for art at the moment. Any alternative recommendations?

barber.org.uk/galleries-cl...

£14 for a pot of French mustard in the bakery opposite too! 🤣

A tower block fire exposes Birmingham’s council housing problem ‘You just think of Grenfell. The first thing you think is you’re not going to get out of here alive’

@birminghamdispatch.bsky.social doing excellent work recently. Really worrying and terrifying that we’re teetering towards calamity in the city.

open.substack.com/pub/birmingh...

Good to see @richardparkerwm.bsky.social and @mayorwestmids.bsky.social on here! Hope to see some good engagement with your constituents on here!

Why would Herefordshire and Worcestershire be dropped from central? Both are in West Midlands, it make sense to include them (following EAs central region) or to drop split central to east and west - as they’re quite different (or are midlands an afterthought?)

Another day on Birmingham streets. Another nextbase report l. @for-birmingham.bsky.social @wmactivetravel.bsky.social

Voice note evening editions. I think that’s a winner. Like an evening edition podcast

@birminghamdispatch.bsky.social lunchtime read on the Highbury Inititive, restructuring Birmingham. Another storming article by Jon Neale. Makes me a little hopeful that we could do it again, perhaps with renewed devolution, people, space and place could be considered once again.

Is it just me, or does anyone else have a need for a utilitarian group of restaurants in Brum? Like a simple bistro, a burger place that just does cheeseburgers and plain burgers, a fried breakfast place that just does bacon baps/ full English, a pub that only does cobs. Or is it just me?

I didn’t realise Yorks on Stephenson street had gone! I thought the line was that it was just closed for maintenance. And that the landlord was the former MP Zahawi

Would be good to see Richard Parker, WMCA and BCC on this platform soon. I know their comms are like a desert of information on the other place, but I would hope they put out an olive branch to the midlanders over here.

Logged into the other place to check on some local issues. The comment sections are just a proper cess pit. Makes me way too stressed

But Solihull centre has been so neglected for so long this is welcome. Really need better routing from the station to the centre, there was talk in the master plan about 6 years ago moving the station to Homer Road, no idea how on earth that would work 😅

Yeah, definitely, though I think it’s such a cut through road with access to a lot of frontage I think it would be hard (agree should aim high) there’s little going on in the other side of the road, bar the significant school traffic. I don’t think the bypass could manage with the additional traffic

Had the pleasure of accidentally running into the Solihull Mell Square master plan in person consultation today. I have to say it looked really good. A huge upgrade for the area, it’s just what the town needs. Looking forward to seeing it progress www.mellsquaresolihull.co.uk

I hope with the development of the tram through Dale End to Curzon st we start to make up for the sins of our fathers. Dale end could be pretty or at least useful again if we get rid of the unnecessary car park.

Historic England Reveals its Heritage at Risk Register 2024 | Historic England Historic England has today revealed its Heritage at Risk Register 2024. This is a snapshot of the health of England’s historic buildings and places.

Sad to see St Nicholas and the Old Grammar school so high up the risk register. My dad worked on them as part of the Restoration programme on ‘04, sad to see their disrepair over 20 years. Fingers cross the funding will get resolved soon!

historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/ne...

All working fine now ☺️

I think my Bluesky crashed after going hard on the follows today!

You’re right, when in doubt turn it off and on again 🤣