Dear readers — Halloween is behind us, a nation slings its Traitor’s cloaks into the back of its closets, and now Birmingham is moving with haste to ready the city centre for the official launch of the Christmas markets on Thursday. As part of a packed week coming up on The Dispatch (we’ll be sending five editions to assuage the crushing blow of the weekend’s missing piece) we want your opinions on the markets. Do you love them? Do you wish they were a fixture of the city centre even earlier in the year? Or do you intend to spend the next two months bunkered down in the suburbs waiting for it all to pass? Two Dispatch writers will be locking horns over this one come Thursday, but first, let’s have your take.
On Wednesday, we fanned the flames of a war started with a marketing executive and a dream. The answer to naming our great region surely lies in the past – a millennia past. Mercia’s acting witan was praised by readers for being both “ludicrous” and possessing a “quaint form of anarchism”. Join the argument – or the insurgents – here.
Then in time for Halloween, Jess took to the woods of Cannock in search of the world-famous Pig Man. Porky tales ensue, and readers are duty-bound to report all swine sightings directly to us.
This week we’ve got four editions. Four! If anything that’s too many, so in case you need to plan your schedule ahead accordingly, here’s a very quick overview:
- Tuesday: Jon Neale’s got his hands on a copy of William Haywood’s 1918 The Development of Birmingham, a fascinating document laying out the architect’s plans for the city’s future, including a ‘safari park at Edgbaston Reservoir’.
- Wednesday: Are we really living in the UK’s ‘capital of decline’? That’s what everyone seems to be saying. We spent two days walking around the entirety of Birmingham to interrogate the theory — and find out if the city agrees.
- Thursday: The immemorial Christmas markets debate. Using bratwursts as épées, two writers fight it out over Birmingham’s festive soul. Please do vote above!
- Saturday: The deepest deep-dive into Birmingham's new-look council here — or indeed anywhere — since May’s shake-up (are you a councillor in possession of high-grade gossip that might be to our interest? Email Kate).
From now until the 9th November, we’re lifting the paywall so that everything on The Dispatch is entirely free. We’re doing this in preparation for our campaign to try and gain 1000 members, to showcase to all of you on the free list what you’re missing out on.
In the meantime, it would be amazing if you could send this edition on to a person, even a group chat, who you think would enjoy the journalism we produce. It takes less than a minute but the benefit to us is enormous — word of mouth and the kind appraisals of our readers are still the best tools we have to keep this thing going…
Brum in Brief
Motion commotion
The pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel has written to senior councillors and officers at Birmingham City Council requesting that they withdraw a motion for debate at tomorrow’s full council meeting. The motion, tabled by two members of the Better Birmingham group, who are part of the ruling coalition, calls on the council and the West Midlands Pension Fund to review its spending and investments with the aim of making more ethical financial decisions. The motion opens by noting that, last month, the UK officially acknowledged Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories as unlawful. In their letter, UK Lawyers for Israel argue that the motion should be withdrawn until members can receive the necessary legal advice. They also claim that the motion risks “stigmatising Jewish or Israeli residents”. The Dispatch has reached out to the council for comment.
Small Heath stabbing
Forty-six-year-old Saeed Ismail has been charged with the fatal stabbing of a man in Small Heath last Wednesday afternoon. Abdillahi Farid Ali, 43, died on the corner of Whitmore Road and Coventry Road in Small Heath shortly after 1.45pm. Paramedics attended the scene but could not save him. West Midlands Police has asked witnesses to get in touch by calling 101 and quoting the reference number 2482 of 28 October.
Students censored?
University of Birmingham’s primary student publication, Redbrick, claims it is being increasingly censored by the university. A membership survey by the Student Publications Association found that student media at large faces “significant challenges to its editorial independence”, as often they rely on funding from the institutions they’re trying to scrutinise. While Redbrick is theoretically editorially independent from the university, Tamara Greatrix, the editor-in-chief of the paper, says they often get pushback from the Guild on articles concerning the university. In 2024, a group of student reporters launched a fundraising campaign to secure the future of the paper – due to a lack of regular funding from the Guild. The paper even wrote an investigation into its own decline just this March.
Is Sutton Coldfield ‘culturally dead’?
The decline of Sutton Coldfield is back on the agenda, as Rightmove’s ‘Happy Home Index’ ranked the town at 184 on its list of resident satisfaction, out of 220 locations. Sutton native Shaun Patrick Hand took a look at the town’s identity crisis for The Dispatch back in February this year, writing this: “Since I moved away, it has lost its retail clout, main library, much of its night-time economy, two newspapers, law courts and a fair bit of surrounding countryside — most notably to an enormous Amazon warehouse.” The study found that residents of Tamworth are happier than those in Sutton, and Stoke-on-Trent – one of the ‘saddest’ places in the UK – outranks them by no less than 31 spots. While the area remains leafy, suburban and highly priced, its centre has been called “culturally dead.” At the Dispatch, we’ve been informed of continual pushback to more affordable housing in the area – if you have something to say about this, do get in touch.
The Duke pub and the Parade, in Sutton Coldfield, Photos: Irina Mackie.
Goodbye, Poundland
West Midlands giant Poundland is in its final hour, as administration looms. In an ironic twist of fate, last year the Walsall-based behemoth sold for just £1. The Guardian has documented the decline in detail, with a cheerful and uplifting breakdown of the factors that drove the business to the brink. Current “low-profile” owners, the Gordon Brothers, have faced questions from the prime minister about their intention to protect jobs within the company. A collapse could see over 30,000 roles lost. It appears owners are favouring a “break-up” after struggling to find better avenues to profitability.
Quick Hits
🐒 Eastern Jam, in the Jewellery Quarter, stands accused of monkey business, after a promotional video was posted to their social media involving a young and very cute looking marmoset called Pablo. After a backlash, where several charities expressed concern for the animal’s welfare, the restaurant initially claimed the video was made with AI. They have since retracted this, then claiming the video had been made by an external social media company. All a bit dubious. They now say they “do not condone animal cruelty”. (BBC)
🎇 Social media is awash with amateur documentarians showcasing Halloween chaos in the city centre. Despite enhanced police powers in force all weekend, seven were arrested following mass firework detonation on New Street.
🚩 As the flag injunction court battle goes on, a freedom of information request has put current legal costs to the council at more than £20,000. Birmingham City Council have been pursuing the case to stop Ryan Bridge and his team, of Raise The Colours, from covering the city in Union and St George;s flags without permission since August. The bill is only rising. (Birmingham Mail)
🏡 Berrow Court, once home to Joseph Chamberlain, may risk losing its premises license following a string of noise and disorder complaints. The wedding venue has faced troubles with unpaid council fees before, and a licensing review application is now in public consultation.
Photo of the week
If you’re missing the ability to walk around Centenary Square freely, cast your minds back a little further to the days of libraries past. Photograph taken by Richard Davis.
Our to do list
📽️ Birmingham Film Festival begins this week, with over 200 films screened across five locations. From horror, to animation, to first time director debuts, the ten days of screenings are free to attend – as long as you’ve reserved a spot. We’re quite looking forward to Big Egg, the tale of a burdensome man born of yolky origins.
🐈 The Jellicle Ball descends on the hippodrome this Tuesday, with anthropomorphic felines on the bill for a week of all-singing, all-yowling fun. Catch Cats the Musical until Saturday.
🎇 Fans of toffee apples and tinnitus rejoice, you’re spoiled for choice this Bonfire night. Solihull Scout Group are promising grounds “covered in BBQ food”, so do get there early if you want to secure a spot not yet occupied by chicken thighs.
🎷 If you’ve been as jazz deprived as we have, fear not – ‘The Jazz Loft’ is launching this Sunday at The Jeweller’s Arms. Expect emerging local talent and expressive melodies.
🎄 And love it or hate it, the Christmas markets are back on Thursday. Before you can say “gunpowder plot” you’ll have a stein thrust into your hand and tinsel whacked round your head. Let the festivities commence.
Share, share share! We want to grow The Dispatch. To show everyone who isn't a member what they're missing, we've lifted our paywall for a very short period of time. You can help by sharing this edition with as many people as possible so they learn about our journalism. Thank you!
Comments