Birmingham Hippodrome Square gets rainbow-inspired new design for Commonwealth Games

Virgin Radio

27 Jul 2022, 12:03

Covid-19 put a stop to Birmingham Hippodrome Square getting a fancy £9.5 million rebuild and new public square in time for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, but now it's showing off a temporary bold, bright and beautiful rainbow-inspired look.

Southside BID manager Julia Robinson said: "We think it looks awesome and would love to see more rainbows all over the city. Southside leads the way and the rest of Birmingham can follow!

"The square is on a designated walking route for the Commonwealth Games, so bring your shades when its sunny because it's bright. We've got a lot to offer visitors here including a fantastic theatre (Hippodrome) and an amazing cinema (The Electric on Station Street is the UK's oldest working picture house)."

Julia added: "That was so welcomed by the community... it's made everyone a lot happier. So we wanted to go bigger. Before that a closed road for ten years. We've really had the pain here."

 "Our lovely granite (for the new square) is in storage, so come down here in a couple of years and it will be all changed again.

"We'll be able to have live stages for Chinese New Year and other festivals. We are already the cultural heart of Birmingham, now we'll be the festival heart. We thought we would go for the whole shebang.

"The Hippodrome is the heart of our area and it took all of the heart and feeling out of all of us when it was closed (because of Covid). All these businesses have really struggled and are only just getting back on their feet."

"We are the rainbow heart of the city, with freedom of expression. You can come here dressed as anybody and we will welcome you with open arms," she said.

"We really do believe that anyone can be who they want to be here. We want there to be a place in the city where there's true freedom, true diversity and where everyone can feel that they can be themselves."

On boosting Birmingham's economy, she promised: "We will continue with the bid to help developers so that they build properties that are fit for purpose and can live alongside our cultural venues.

"Southside has a 24-hour economy, at 3am here (at the point where Ladywell Walk meets Hurst Street) you cannot move.

"We bring in millions of pounds every weekend, VAT, taxes, wages, we employ thousands of people.

"It's very important those businesses are vibrant and making money because then everyone is safe - our kids, nieces and nephews.

"Please come out and support the independent businesses in Southside. We really need your support."

Loud, proud and one to visit pronto.