Digbeth Rising
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Christened as the ‘Coolest Neighbourhood in Britain’ by The Sunday Times, Digbeth is steadily building a reputation as an area to build not only a thriving business, but also a buzzing social life.
A stone’s throw away from Birmingham City Centre, the area is fast becoming a cultural synthesis of business and pleasure with the Digbeth Estate home to nearly 400 businesses, ranging from scrap yards to international designers, and offering a vast number of independent restaurants, coffee shops and even a cinema.
Digbeth’s rise has been underpinned by the efforts of its new owners, Oval Real Estate. Since purchasing the 17-acre site, which takes in The Custard Factory, Fazeley Studios, The Bond and numerous warehouses, yards, wharfs, viaducts and mills, Oval has nurtured the idea of blending heritage with leisure to deliver new purpose to the neighbourhood.
Fazeley Studios and the Custard Factory, a site originally set up by Alfie Bird in 1902 to make his celebrated custard powder, have benefitted from significant revamps, taking in the reconfiguration of a new 10,000sq ft event space, refurbished reception areas, the addition of conferencing facilities, workspaces and a 15,000sq ft space designed to cater for independent food, beverage and retail brands.
Oval Real Estate’s vision is to revitalise the post-industrial neighbourhood of Digbeth, creating an independent, individual and industrious community for Birmingham.
“Digbeth is a gritty place to be cherished – one of the best bits of modern Birmingham,” James Craig, Oval Real Estate’s co-founder, adds: “The beating heart of the area is its eclectic neighbourhood. We’re proud to be home to a diverse, creative, enterprising community of freelancers, makers, agencies, start-ups and cultural venues.”
Affordable workspaces are central to this ethos, with rents ranging from £2 to £20 per square foot depending on the space. Workspaces of all scales are available and flexible short-format leases are offered. The opportunity for businesses to grow in converted warehouses, or ‘plug in’ office space are all options, and all within minutes of the city centre.
As Jo Salmon, Head of Asset Management at Digbeth Estate, points out: “Digbeth is a 9-minute walk from New Street Station and a 7-minute walk from Moor Street and the Bullring. In just a few years’ time we will be cushioned between the Metro and HS2. We see Digbeth as the ‘antidote to the City centre’ and a viable alternative as a business location as buildings and transport improve in the area.”
Digbeth is a characterful, playful and accommodating place for all, linking the exceptional public realm, arts and cultural spaces across the estate with nearby infrastructure and connectivity to the City Centre. Add the fact that Birmingham City Council has recently pledged to contribute £60 million to the district’s regrowth, and Digbeth’s future is beyond bright.
Bloc Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
The BLOC philosophy is new to the UK. The concept is called pared-down chic and is based on ideas we’ve adapted from the best designers around the world. By injecting a little British creativity, we have been pushing the boundaries of hotel design. From the build right down to the finishes in each room, we work with cutting-edge materials and innovative thinkers whose mantra really is, small is beautiful.
The idea is to build very cleverly using the very best materials whilst still making it as cost-effective as possible. And that means we can offer our guests really chic rooms in prime city centre locations at very, very good prices.
Looking for some staycation inspiration? Check out Things to do in Birmingham and start planning your next adventure with BLOC.
Bloc Magazine
Welcome to the 20th issue of Bloc magazine, with a host of intriguing features to get you through the dark winter months.
We are really excited to have acquired another new site, in the heart of Glasgow. We look forward to delivering Bloc to this extremely vibrant part of the city, directly opposite the recently redeveloped Queen Street Station.
The winter issue of our magazine visits Cape Town - dubbed The Mother City, or the Mother of South Africa. It has incredible food and wine offerings as well as mountains and beaches all within easy reach.
We also explore a destination much further afield, with the Von Braun space station and hotel moving closer to reality.
There are the usual features; Meeting the Bloc team, our favourite shows to stream and the pick of Bloc's social media.
Don't forget to sign up to Bloc's VIP Guest List, which makes you eligible for free room upgrades, free coffee and be the first to hear about our blockbuster VIP competitions.
We hope that this magazine provides you with some insight and entertainment on your journey.