Response to The Birmingham Dispatch – “Has Moseley lost its edge?”
Recently, The Birmingham Dispatch published this article questioning whether Moseley has lost its edge. We’d like to offer our perspective.
The piece suggests Moseley lacks accessible music events, harking back to the pub-gig culture of the 1970s with acts like Jimmy Brown. But live music is still very much alive here. Moseley Hive hosts a monthly pay-as-you-feel night, Live at The Hive, where you’re encouraged to bring your own food and drink. The Dark Horse, The Prince of Wales and The Cuban Embassy all offer weekly live music. Who knows? Our modern-day Jimmy Brown might just be waiting to be discovered.
Moseley’s nightlife is compared to King’s Heath, which has boosted its scene by pedestrianising York Road. But why compare? King’s Heath is just a short stroll away — and many residents happily enjoy both.
The article also hints at an increase in chain businesses here. We’re not convinced. In fact, where Pizza Express once stood is now Moseley Hive — a not-for-profit community space dedicated to local people. Moreover, this summer, Moseley welcomed three new independent businesses: The Double Six board game café, Thali @Moseley Indian restaurant, and Greek Aura restaurant. Beyond that, some chain businesses also make a real effort to support the local community — for example, Sorrento Lounge donates soup every week to the Community Soup Club at Moseley Hive.
And then there’s the so-called “harbinger of doom” — the dessert shop boom. Far from a bad thing, these are independent, thriving businesses, many serving Birmingham’s Asian and Muslim communities who are less likely to frequent pubs and bars. As for nightlife? These dessert spots are part of it. On weekends, Heavenly Desserts, Dessert Lab and Halawaat all close at midnight, and Cafephilia stays open until 10pm — and they’re busy. It’s simply a different kind of night out.
While we can’t name every fantastic business in Moseley, we’re thrilled to see our high street buzzing with activity creating a vibrant community rather than a row of empty premises.
Finally, we were disappointed by how our own work was represented. The article says:
“The MCDT encompasses a community co-working space and a new community building, Moseley Hive.”
In reality, alongside Moseley Exchange and Moseley Hive, we also run the Moseley Outreach, which offers meaningful support to people sleeping rough, and Moseley for Ukraine, a community initiated project providing aid and resettlement support for Ukrainians in Birmingham. And that’s just an overview!
It’s always tempting to reminisce about the “good old days” — but the truth is, the good days are still here. You just have to know where to look, and better yet, get involved.
You can find more information about Moseley Community Development Trust and what we do here.
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