To dislike Birmingham?

[redeoof]

I’ve worked in the city maybe 4 years now .. there really isn’t much appealing about it. I once overheard a woman on the train say she does guided tours for Manc, London and Birmingham - and Bham is a hard sell.

I’ve been coming into New Street station for years and there’s always been construction and it’s never seemed to progressed to anything.

I walk down New Street and actually feel unsafe. It’s depressing and dreary .. and it should be so much more

London can also be considered a dump and I understand it. There's a lot of crime and people don't feel safe. I hate the phone snatchers and the stabbings. But at least London offers so many things to do especially in the sun. There's so many museums and art galleries. So many delicious restaurants with a multitude of cuisines. Top class unis, public lectures and events. Have a walk in Hyde park in the summer and it's so nice.

Oh really, why exactly is that then?

I’ve never been. I’ve heard of Dudley and that accent is even worse than ‘diabolical’. Abominable perhaps.

It doesn't make me feel morally superior. It's just what I think!

You don't know? Well you do. Do you just want the opportunity to call me a racist? The most overused word during the last 5 years isn't going to make it true because of how many times you say or infer it. I am perfectly entitled to make observations about a city in comparison to others.

At least you can tell the difference then.

I haven’t called you anything.

But you said it’s a shithole, I actually live there and I don’t find it a shithole, there are deprived areas but there are deprived areas in most towns and cities.

You specifically said that you have to be reminded that you’re in England, I wonder why exactly you said that.

I was born there but I wouldn't go back. Having lived where I do for 10 years I realise how my birth city has changed. The hostility around the match at Villa Park: the intolerance, bullying and threatening behaviour was an insight into anyone thinking of living in Birmingham.

I think lots of places are a bit shit at the moment. Yes New street is grim but Colmore Row and Paradise that you mention - much nicer than most cities! I think Bham gets a hard time because it’s easy to as it’s just historic rhetoric. In reality there’s a lot shittier places around.

Places that are more grim than Bham right now;

Piccadilly area of Manchester
Broadmarsh area of Nottingham
Most of East London including the newly redeveloped Stratford - absolutely filthy and embarrassing tbh
Bristol down by the river aside from the really new bits - absolute grot

but you don’t hear about those as much as Bham do you?

Have a look at Edgbaston Park conference centre. I think the conferences get priority but if they don’t have one in I think they may sell on open market and it’s v near.

For goodness sake, Birmingham is okay, It has plenty going on. I live in a small market town and often go to Birmingham on the train to see shows and see the panto there every year. There are also some good shops and restaurants in Birmingham. It's certainly no worse than a lot of big UK cities. I'm glad it's there. A day or evening out in Birmingham makes a change.

Well exactly. I have no issue with London at all - or Birmingham, and am happy to visit them both. But to suggest that Birmingham is worse for crime (especially knife crime) is delusional. London's a fabulous city that had so much to offer and so much going for it, but it is not without quite a lot of crime.

Exactly! It's a great city! Not without its flaws and issues, like most other cities, but on the whole, it's fine!

Yeah, because Birmingham is 100% concrete, clay, and brick, and doesn't have any parks. 🙄

I have a suspicion that you have never set foot in Birmingham in your life. I'm right aren't I?

So Lenny Henry has a diabolical accent?

Okaaay …