Birmingham - travel/tickets/pubs etc.

[lightweight]

BIRMINGHAM CITY v PALACE (Saturday 14th October KO 3pm)

St.Andrew's
St.Andrew's Street
Birmingham B9 4NH
(0121 772 0101)

Away supporters are housed to one side, in the lower tier of the Railway End, where the facilities are good. If you are feeling brave you can even try the infamous 'Balti Pie'!


Palace Box Office news :

Box Office Hot-Line : Tel No : 020 8771 8841


Tickets : 16.00 for adults and 8.00 for concessions

Palace coaches :

Depart Holmesdale Road at 9.30am and the fare is 10.00 or 15.00 for an inclusive packed lunch!

Train : departs Euston at 9.55am arriving Birmingham at 11.50am
Return departs Birmingham at 6.45pm arriving Euston at 8.45pm (although there are earlier trains at 5.45pm and 6.15pm - we only hav reserved seats on the 6.45pm)

Prices are £15.00 please call Gildo or Chris - you will need to phone in advance and send payment.

Directions & Car Parking
Be warned. The city centre is under major rebuilding so there are diversions everywhere. All major routes via the city centre have heavier traffic and there are roadworks on the A45.
If you are driving, it is a good bet to park at the NEC and catch a local train to Adderly Park, it's on the same line.


Leave the M6 at Junction 6 and take the A38(M) (known locally as the Aston Expressway) for Birmingham City Centre. Continue past the first turn off (Aston, Waterlinks) and then take the next turn off, for the Inner Ring Road.
Turn left at the island at the top of the slip road and take the Ring Road East, sign posted Coventry/Stratford. (For the Faculty & Firkin Pub turn right at the first traffic lights and the pub is over the bridge on your left and The Sacks Of Potatoes further up on the right.). Continue along the ring road for two miles, crossing straight across three islands. At the fourth island (the Watering Hole pub is on the far left hand corner) turn left towards Small Heath. Birmingham City's ground is about a 1/4 of a mile up this road on your left. The ground is well sign posted on the Inner Ring Road.

An alternative route is to exit the M1 at Junction 17, and follow
the M45 and A45 to Birmingham. This is a longer route, but takes you
past some good pubs and eateries (see later). Keep following
signs for Birmingham City Centre (A45), over various roundabouts and
under two railway bridges until you come to the large Bordesley
Circus roundabout, (very close to ground, signposted A450 Watery
Lane). Then start looking for parking...

From the North-East - exit M1 at junction 23A (s/p A42/M42) onto the M42. Exit M42 after nearly 30 miles at junction 8 onto M6 northbound. Exit M6 after 5 miles at junction 6 onto A38.. (then as above)

From South-East - Exit M40 at junction 3A (s/p The North, M1) onto M42 Northbound. Exit M42 at junction 4 after 2.6 miles and at roundabout turn left onto A34. Continue for nearly 8 miles, over 4 roundabouts through Sparkbrook (road becomes A41) to the Camp Hill Circus roundabout. Take 3rd exit onton A4540 Sandy Lane. After 0.3 miles go straight on to ground.

There is a small visitors car park at the ground (3.00) or there is plenty of street parking off the left hand side of the ring road. the Century car park off Garrison Lane also charges 3.00. Either around the small park at the third island you cross or along the road next to and behind the BP garage before the fourth island. Bear in mind that if you arrive after 2pm these areas may already be full.

St Andrews does have reasonable away fans parking at the ground. Beware of parking near the ground, as there is some car crime so keep valuables out of sight.

By RAIL :

Nearest stations are Birmingham New Street or Birmingham Moor Street
(20 mins walk).

Bordesley is about a 10 minute walk from the ground and is served by trains from New Street.

If you're going by train, go to New street then get a local train to Adderly Park, not Small Heath otherwise it's a long walk. From Adderly park turn left out of the station, then right at the lights. takes 10 minutes.

Directions to ground from Birmingham New Street (20 mins walk):

follow any signs to Digbeth coach station. Look for Bradford
Street behind the coach station, and follow this street right until
it joins the main road (Camp Hill), about a ten minute walk. Go left
for a short distance and then take the first main road on the right
(Coventry Road). Go straight on at the roundabout, and St.Andrews
will soon appear on the left.

Taxi from the station to the ground is about 4.00

By foot - bear left out of station, past taxi ranks, steps down to Bull Ring underpass. Head through subway - carry straight on to Bell Street Subway - at end of passage turn left, in front of bull Ring shopping Centre Entrance - head straight toward market, back into underpass. Turn right at cross-roads, bear right out of underpass towards NCP car park into Digbeth - after 0.7 miles where road divides bear left under railway bridge to Bordesley Circus roundabout - ground is visible from here.

By BUS :

Service 97 from centre, Services 98 and 99 from Digbeth.

Bus numbers 15, 15a and 17 go past the ground.

Buses leave from Carrs Lane (by M&S) which is reached via the escalators immediately in front of the exit gates - turn left and walk through the covered shopping centre down the ramp at the end and turn left.

DISABLED FANS :

Wheelchair spaces: 6 for away supporters in Paddock 'F'

Disabled toilet: Paddock 'F' Admission: 7.00 for disabled
person, and 5.00 for helper

Booking: Essential. Phone 0121 772 0101
(ext. 247), and ask for Mrs A.Holt

Parking: Only if pre-booked

Blind facilities: Headphones available, please book

Drinking

One local tip is to avoid the area around the ground, Blues fans not
being a particularly friendly bunch (many pubs won't admit away
supporters). Best to drink in the city centre and get a cab to the ground.

Try the hogshead,moseley (south from Digbeth and the area of
the ground, on the A435). Apparently this is a nicer place, and a
safer option.

The Slurping Toad - Hurst Street is a good bet and does good food- it’s not far from New Street Station


There are also some decent pubs in the Broad Street
area, including a 'Firkin'. The following pubs are in Bradford Street
(behind the coach station), and are both listed in CAMRA's 'Good Beer
Guide':

'The White Swan', 276 Bradford Street. (12-3pm and 7-10.30pm)
Two roomed, tiled, Tetley and Ansells Mild

'The Anchor', 308 Bradford Street. (12-10.30pm)
Victorian corner pub, friendly atmosphere, range of guest beers

After the game, the following all day pub is recommended:

'The Flapper and Firkin', Kingston Row / Cambrian Wharf (off Cambridge
St.) Canalside pub in the City Centre with upstairs and downstairs
bars, Firkin decor, behind the National Indoor Arena.


Or if you are coming by car you can stop on the way at the Faculty & Firkin or The Sacks Of Potatoes at Aston University. These pubs are about a ten minute drive from the ground on matchdays. Otherwise alcohol is served within the ground.

Alcohol is served inside the ground.

Food

one possible idea is to travel into Birmingham by the M45/A45. This route goes past several pubs and eateries, including a McDonalds, Harry Ramsden's, and a Beefeater.

For those arriving by rail, there is a Burger King at New St. Station,
and the City Centre is only a short walk (come out of the station and
bear left). As you walk through Digbeth to the ground, there are
several chippies... although very little around the ground.

Inside the ground, the steak & kidney pies , and burgers are supposed to be good!


Finally, it should be re-iterated that this isn't one of the safest
away grounds Palace will visit this season - and they certainly don’t seem to like any London teams!

Other Places Of Interest
Birmingham has like the ground undergone a lot of re-building. The nightlife is reported to be superb. Parts of the city centre are now quite pleasant. Especially around the Broad St area where there are a number of pubs and restaurants situated around the canals. On a Friday and Saturday night it’s buzzing. The dress code in most places is strict (no jeans, t-shirts or trainers). Some pubs are open till 1am. There is a travelodge on broadstreet which is right in the middle of the action. The rooms are not cheap at 49.95 per night but you can cram as many people as you want into one. For reservations call 0800 850 950. Plus if you like a curry you really should try a Balti before or after the game.


Programme: £2

[Teaser]

Thanks Lightweight - maybe see you on Saturday