Brummies share their favourite independent businesses in the city

Like most city centres across the UK, Birmingham is awash with big brands and chain stores. The generic city is a sign of the times but everywhere has places that make them unique - so I thought I’d ask Brummies to give a shout out to their favourite independent businesses.

Jack says: “For an Independent business there is… there is a burger shop around that way [Corporation Street]. They do a very good meal. And not too expensive, a large burger - £6 in there. I can’t remember their name [Fat Burger]. It’s also this place called Yakinori, they seem like they do really good food.”

Micheal says: “That’s a tricky one. We’ve got another recommendation for the Tap and Spile, down by Broad Street. And the karaoke nights, you get a magic atmosphere in there, I’d recommend to anybody. It’s just electric and we’ve got some great talents in there, and everybody joins in for singalong. So, yeah, big up to them.”

Tariq says: “I think my favourite one is probably Black Pounds Project. It’s a small business that’s set up recently. And they kind of bring different businesses that are owned by black people from black backgrounds, bringing them into one space so that people know about them.

“It’s a sense of community, it’s a sense of other black people understanding what’s in their community, what’s in their culture, and what sort of products they can access that are from people who have from their culture as well. So it’s a nice idea that’s been set up to bring those communities together in one place.”

Bigger stores can be more convenient and offer better value than independent businesses but often lack that personable or those unique artisanal touches in their appeal to reach a broader market. In tough economic times, how can small businesses compete?

Raymond says: “I volunteer for a group called Slow Food - Birmingham Slow Food. They’re all about sustainable agriculture, sustainable food policies. So you can order food from them, they will be delivered to 1000 Trades in the Jewellery Quarter.

“They come from small farms within a 40 mile radius of Birmingham. So that’s the way I support local business. And I think everybody else should be doing that. Because if we don’t support smaller businesses, then the larger companies will take over the market and they’ll put products in front of us that we don’t really want - like standardised chicken, standardised potatoes, rubbish bread.

“People complain about how much bread’s gone up from £1.10 to £1.50. I wouldn’t even buy a loaf of bread if it didn’t cost £3 because I know that it’s rubbish. But that’s the way I support local businesses - by supporting the local farmers in the area.”