Birmingham, a vibrant and culturally rich city, witnessed a series of important events in 2023 that affected residents and visitors alike.
From the council becoming effectively bankrupt to a host of new openings at the Bullring, the city witnessed worrying and optimistic times. As the beating heart of the West Midlands, Birmingham continues to evolve as a dynamic metropolis with so much more to come in 2024.
From new TV studios to major infrastructure developments in Birmingham city centre - there is much to look forward to, while we consider the events that have occurred over teh past 12 months. Here are 12 big things that happened in Birmingham in 2023:
5. Lane7 activity bar opened in Birmingham at Link Street
Lane7 activity bar opened at Link Street, which is its second bowling venue and a new flagship location in Birmingham. A space for offices and smaller retail units received a fun makeover as a 28,000sq ft unit on Link Street. It offers a wide range of games, late night trading and a rooftop terrace bar with incredible view of the city centre. | Birminghamworld
6. Commonwealth Games legacy lives on
Birmingham hosted one of the best ever Commonwealth Games - the biggest sports event in the UK in the last decade in 2022. The city welcomed top athletes from the 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth who competed in 286 sessions of sport across 19 different sports over 11 days of competition. The a Commonwealth Games Festival saw some jawdropping performances too, including the world premiere of the Peaky Blinders ballet, The Redemption of Thomas Shelby with Ramber Dance at Birmingham Hippodrome. And, the legacy lives on in the form of Birmingham Festival - which was a hit in 2023 summer. | Getty Images
7. Bruce Springsteen performed at Villa Park, Birmingham
Legendary musician Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band performed at Villa Park, Birmingham, on Friday, June 16, 2023. The ‘I’m on Fire’ singer, who is one of the world’s best-selling music artists, made his return to Villa Park for the first time in 35 years after he played at the venue in June 1988.(Photo by David Jackson.) Photo: David Jackson
8. Affordable fine dining at Six by Nico on Colmore Row
Six by Nico - which services six course tasting menus that change every six weeks launched in Birmingham with their sophisticated take on a chippy tea, which includes a Glasgow favourite - the deep fried mars bar. Birmingham guests are in for an extra treat as the new restaurant design sounds extra special; inspired by a dragonfly, which has - of course - six legs! The upmarket restaurant brand is renowned for its quality food with menus drawing inspiration from a theme, destination or concept - and it costs £39 for all six courses. | Fionnuala Bourke