Village Inn

If you’re looking for somewhere to come and let your hair down to some shameless music, watch some cabaret with an eclectic bunch of people and a variety of drag queens, then this is the venue for you. Fridays have long been the best night here, with different cabaret acts performing, but be warned, if you are easily offended I’d suggest you stay home and crochet!
I’ve also found that Saturday nights here are also worth a visit. Especially if you have not yet had your fill of frivolity and debauchery, the Village Underground is open until 8am on Sunday morning. One of my favourite gay bars because it attracts a weird bunch of people, there is no attitude but there’s always a party! I think everybody could benefit from a bit more of that in life!

Awful place. Staff are rude and pretentious serving first who they see fit not who they see waiting longest. Of course this kind of thing happens everywhere but no where have I been told I’m rude because I said I was waiting before the guy next to me who had just arrived at the bar. This was handled disgustingly poorly and such a contempt for custom. They lost my custom that night along with my friends. Walked out never to return to that shit hole.

Always great to find, somewhere that’s free entry every night of the week and a consistently good night out. Although this place can be a little quieter in the week it’s always friendly and welcoming.
The drinks are reasonably priced and the drag is fierce, if that isn’t the recipe for a great night out I don’t know what is… Fans of all things pop and chart stick to the upstairs, if you are more into dance/​bass music the basement is the place for you. Wherever you are dancing make sure you are upstairs for the cabaret, some of Birmingham’s best drag acts grace the stage every Friday and Saturday night. Not to be missed.

Friday night favourite of mine. Drag acts from midnight. Open until 6 on a Saturday morning and 8 on a Sunday morning.
Nice staff, great mix of music upstairs and more urban music downstairs.
Big mix of straight and gay people. Never any hassle.
Drinks are reasonably priced.
Tacky Tuesday on a Tuesday obviously is good. Thursday night is also a good night. Weekends its buzzing!
Happy hour til 10pm £2.80 a pint of carling!

The Village is the place to go on a Friday night in Birmingham’s gay village. I’ve wiled away many evenings in the Village, dancing and watching the drag queens that perform regularly.
The Village attracts a nice mixed crowd and the drinks are reasonably priced. There’s a small ‘garden’ outdoor area and some seating at the back.
If you want to power through to breakfast, there’s a downstairs bar which opens up around 5/​6am for you to carry on the party. The only slightly annoying thing here is that you have to leave the Village and then queue up again outside to wait for the downstairs area to open.
All in all, a fun night!

Just camp ‘n’ fabulous!

This place has an eclectic mix of people from all walks of life, which makes the atmosphere non pretentious and care free.
The drinks are reasonable and there is a stage and dance floor area to shake your thang on.
There is a large room out the back along with an outside area.
This place provides you with a different night out — add it to your list!

A really fun and friendly bar.
No matter what time of the night you get in, there’s someone on the dance floor having a boogie. Everyone seems to be having a great time in this un-​precious place of fun.
The staff are fun and friendly (maybe a little too friendly to the Mrs — back off girl: P) and the bar is nice and long before you hit the dance floor.
There’s not much seating out the front, but a little bit more at the back past the tube sign.
This place would be 4*, but I’m still horrified that there was only Carling and Stella on tap. I’m not a snob, but … just no.

Camp as can be!
I’ve had some good enjoyable nights in here with friends, and found the place was just packed out last weekend at Pride, and I thought they did Birmingham proud.
The Village is good for the dance and pop music and gets very busy on Thursday and Saturday nights. The crowd is mixed, staff are very friendly and most people I know have been here on several occasions, whether they are gay or straight, it doesn’t matter.
They have a well known list of entertainers and drag queens who perform week in and week out, so don’t stand too close to the stage when they’re performing, otherwise you will have the piss ripped out of you!
The downstairs Underground bar has more house, dance and RnB theme music, but it does get very hot downstairs. It’s perfect that they have an outside smoking area where you can cool down if you’ve been sprinting like mad on the stage.
It’s free to get in, a great place to meet new people and overall a good fun experience.

Every time me and my friends go drinking and clubbing down Hurst Street we stop off for a drink or two here. I have never seen the place packed (although I’m sure it must get busy at times) so the dance floor isn’t very inviting. The drinks aren’t too expensive and I love the outside area, especially when you’ve decided to brave the cold without tights but you’ve not had enough to drink yet… those outdoor heaters come in very handy! I’m not a fan of the mission up the stairs to the ladies toilet, especially in heels but overall I really like the atmosphere of this bar. The friendliness of the door men is always a nice first impression and after a couple of drinks the music and lights inside keep you entertained. Perfect pre-​drinking spot if you’re heading to the Gale.

Hello high camp! If you like your disco balls extra glittery and your drag queens like Carrie Bradshaw gone ‘Carry On’, then the Village is for you.
One of the quarter’s longest established homo haunts, the Village Inn is good for a laugh and draws a friendly, upbeat crowd looking for a good time. If you’re looking for a slicker, cooler, more contemporary take on gay bar-​hopping though, then you’d best be advised to stick to the Loft Lounge because the Village offers perhaps a more stereotypical experience.
There’s definitely room for it upon Hurst Street though, delivering scuzzy ‘how very dare he/​she’ laughs along with late night music that throws up everything from old-​skool R’n’B, Kate Bush and the inevitable 90s cheese-​pop.
If you’re not prepared to place tongue firmly in cheek and giggle upon your cocktail straw at glam ‘laydeez’ in high heels, then you probably won’t enjoy the Village — and they won’t want you anyway.

A stalwart of the gay village this place has been going for years! Currently owned by the same owner as Loft, the Village inn has just undergone another refurb. The layout hasn’t changed much but the décor has been given a stylish update. As you enter you will see the bar area with a wide range of drinks, be warned this is a doubles bar so all spirits are a double as standard! Opposite the entrance there is a small walkway which takes you out into the garden/​smoking area. This is equipped with outdoor heaters, a canopy and large flat screen TV’s Back inside there are large flatscreens throughout. there is a mix of high saloon style tables and stools, low comfy sofa’s and the usual tables and chairs. Theres also a few stools around the bar. Toilets are on the other side of the club and are very clean. There is live entertainment every week which is well advertised throughout. The entertainment is lively and fun. Often with big names in the dragqueen world! Some of the old names of the once great (but sadly gone) Glamorous show bar also feature here. I remember when this place was pretty much just a gay pub, but in recent years it has established itself firmly as great night out. It’s open from lunch time every day, although not very busy in the day, you’ll receive a friendly welcome and be able to enjoy a drink in a relaxing environment. Great venue either as a starting location for a night out or for making a night of it there!