Nightlife in Birmingham

18 clubs, live music venues and late-night spots in Birmingham.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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Alexander Stadium
Alexander Stadium, situated in Perry Barr, is Birmingham's only large athletics stadium and plays host to international meets and trials to decide the English/British teams for major events as well as being the base for the Birchfield Harriers athletics club. The stadium's various sporting facilities are also open to public use. £1-2, capacity 18,000.
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Edgbaston Cricket Ground
County Ground
Stadium of 25,000 capacity, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, one of the 18 "First Class Counties" comprising the first tier of English cricket. These county matches last 3-4 days, day tickets £6-£15, and you'll find few others there for a mid-week county match. Edgbaston frequently also hosts international (or "Test") matches, lasting up to 5 days, day tickets £20-£70. Also playing here are Birmingham Phoenix men's and women's teams in The Hundred short game. The stadium is a mile south of city centre, walk along Pershore Rd (A441), or take bus 45 or 47.
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Edgbaston Priory
Edgbaston Priory is the main tennis club in Birmingham, with 29 tennis courts, 10 squash courts, 2 swimming pools and a gym available to the public. Every June the club also hosts the DFS Classic, a woman's tennis tournament that acts as a warm-up for Wimbledon. DFS Classic tickets £8-20.
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Methodist Central Hall
The hall was built in 1904 in a similar red-brick-and-terracota style to the Victoria Law Courts it faces. It is distinguished by its tall tower. It also retail premises at street level, some with original shop fronts. The building ceased to perform its original function and has been used as a very large night club. It is Grade II listed, and on "at risk" registers.
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O2 Academy Birmingham
Relocated from its previous Dale End location, O2 Academy is a large music venue hosting many gigs from local and touring artists. The Venue has 3 separate arenas, O2 Academy, Academy 2 and Academy 3 and each venue may be open consecutively with up to 3 different gigs on some nights. The venue mainly focuses on alternative rock and indie. Weekend gig tickets usually allow entry to the club night going on afterwards.
£6-25 (price varies with band fame)
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O2 Institute
Digbeth Institute
O2 Institute (formerly The Institute, HMV Institute, etc) is a new name. Focusing on alternative, pop and urban music, the venue has 3 stages, hosting gigs from local and touring bands. Also hosts regular club nights.
Tickets £6-25 (price varies with band fame)
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Sobar
Supposedly a noodle bar, as evidence by a small noodle based menu. Really this is just a pretty decent bar/nightclub. It stocks the standard beers and drinks as well as a number of rarer Asian beers. Has a number of extremely comfortable sofas.
Fri 8PM–3:30AM, Sat 8PM–4AM
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The Belfry
The Belfry Golf Club runs three courses just to the north east of Birmingham, including the world famous Brabazon course which has been used for the Ryder Cup and continues to play host to tournaments on the PGA European Tour. Green fees £25-140, tournament spectator tickets £7.50-20.
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The Custard Factory
Self-styled "Birmingham's Creative Quarter" this eclectic venue plays host to various events, as well as club nights on weekends and some weekdays in what was an actual custard factory in its former life. On bigger nights the large pool at the centre of the venue is drained and turned into a dancefloor with a heated marquee over it.
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Bull's Head
A live music venue located in the Moseley district, the upstairs transforms into an intimate club environment open til 2AM on Fridays & Saturdays.
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Hare & Hounds
A live music venue located in the Kings Heath district, which has earned its reputation hosting nightly events including artists and DJs across almost all musical genres.
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Nightingales
Birmingham's most famous gay club. Often has guest performers
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PST
Located in Digbeth, PST is a private members club offering underground reggae nights. Check for events.
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Rainbow Warehouse
A warehouse club next to the Rainbow pub in Digbeth which hosts a variety of underground events playing Dubstep, Drum & Bass, Breakbeat, and Techno. Check for events.
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The Works
Big 3 room club, with a variety of music. Great for kids. Over 23's will feel ancient in here.
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Vertu Bar
Regularly showcases live music on a Thursday evening and showcases various nights including ‘Rizen’ on a Friday where the house DJ plays funky and electro house.
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The Jam House
Varied menu and live music most nights.
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Gatecrasher
Now the biggest club in Birmingham.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Birmingham (CC BY-SA 4.0).