City guide · England
First date ideas in Birmingham: where to meet and how to get home
By The Fling Compass editorial team · Last checked
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Birmingham's centre is bigger than people expect, and it doesn't all join up nicely on foot after dark. For a first date, stay in the core around New Street, Colmore Row and Broad Street, where there's always a crowd and getting a cab is straightforward.
The business district around Colmore Row is good for a calmer weeknight drink. John Bright Street, right behind New Street station, has a run of independent bars. Broad Street is louder, but that's where the council runs a marshalled taxi rank at weekends.
Plan the end of the night before the start of it. If you know where your rank or tram stop is, you leave when you want to, not when someone else does.
Where to go in Birmingham
Colmore Business District
Grand old bank buildings turned into pubs and bars, near Snow Hill station and the cathedral. Quieter in the evening, especially early in the week.
John Bright Street
A short street of independent bars just behind New Street station. Handy if either of you is getting the train.
Broad Street and the Mailbox
The main night-out strip. Lively and well lit, with a marshalled taxi rank at weekends.
Places for a first drink
Busy enough to feel relaxed, quiet enough to talk, and easy to leave. Check opening times on their own sites before you go.
- 01
The Old Joint Stock
pub · Colmore Business District
A Fuller's pub in a grand former bank opposite the cathedral, with a studio theatre upstairs. High ceilings and plenty of room, so it rarely feels cramped.
- 02
The Wellington
real ale pub · Bennetts Hill
A specialist real ale pub with an ever-changing beer board. Unpretentious and central, which takes the pressure off a first meeting.
- 03
Purecraft Bar & Kitchen
bar and kitchen · Colmore Business District
Open since 2014 and run with Purity Brewing, serving good beer and proper food. A comfortable, grown-up place for a weeknight drink.
- 04
Cherry Reds
independent bar · John Bright Street
A relaxed independent bar a stone's throw from New Street station. Good for a first drink that could easily become two.
- 05
The Victoria
pub · John Bright Street
A pub on John Bright Street with a soul food kitchen and a weekly quiz. Easy to find and only a few minutes from the station.
- 06
Gas Street Social
bar and restaurant · The Mailbox
At the Mailbox, looking out over the canal. Smarter than a pub and good for cocktails, and it's close to Broad Street if you want the taxi rank afterwards.
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Getting home
West Midlands Metro trams run between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, every 8 to 10 minutes according to Transport for West Midlands. Late-evening times vary by stop, so check the tram timetable or journey planner for yours before you go out.
Trains leave from New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill. Look up your last one on National Rail at the start of the evening.
National Express West Midlands runs many of the city's bus routes. If anything on a bus worries you, the Safer Travel Partnership takes text reports on 81018: start the message with SeeSay, then give the time, date, location and bus number.
Birmingham City Council's taxi advice is short and sensible. Never get into a private hire car you haven't booked through an operator, because the driver won't be insured to carry you. At weekends, use the marshalled ranks on Broad Street and at the Arcadian Centre, which are in busy, well-lit areas.
Staying safe in Birmingham
- When your booked car arrives, ask the driver what name is on the booking instead of telling them yours. It's the council's own tip, and it stops you getting into someone else's cab.
- Don't wander into back streets looking for a taxi. The council warns that quieter streets attract unlicensed, uninsured cars.
- Note the plate or registration number before you get in and send it to a friend.
- Keep the first meeting to one venue near the station. Bar-hopping across a big city centre with someone you've just met adds walking, dark streets and decisions you don't need.
The full list is in our first-date safety checklist.
Get the UK first-date safety checklist
A one-page checklist for the night before, sent to your inbox. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
First dates in Birmingham: questions
Where are the safest taxi ranks in Birmingham at night?
At weekends the council recommends the marshalled ranks on Broad Street and at the Arcadian Centre, both in busy, well-lit areas.
Do trams run late in Birmingham?
The Metro runs between Birmingham and Wolverhampton into the evening, but the last tram depends on your stop. Check the Transport for West Midlands timetable before you rely on it.
Is John Bright Street a good place to meet?
It's very handy: a short street of independent bars right behind New Street station, so whoever's catching a train has the shortest walk.