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RichN · 01-25-2005, 07:39 AM

Don't know much about London, Birmingham's my local city.

For hotels, there are plenty of decent but cheap(ish) hotels, you can probably find them on www.yell.com. Travel Inn, Premier Lodge, Holiday Inn Express etc. are all reasonable. The one on Broad Street (or is it Bridge Street?) is ideal, but book early.

As for music, there's Symphony Hall and the associated venues, details on www.necgroup.co.uk. One of my favourites however is The Jamhouse, which is a relatively small venue that revolves around food and music. It's part owned by Jools Holland, and usually has good old-style Rythm & Blues, Jazz, Blues etc. Pick the night carefully though to make sure the band is one you'll enjoy. If you're really lucky, you'll be here when Jools Holland is playing there himself. It's an amazing experience seeing him with his 'Rythm & Blues Orchestra' playing in a really intimate venue with less than 1000 people (so intimate in fact that the players have to walk through the crowd to get to the 'solo spot' on the stage). The last time I saw them there Sam Brown was singing with them. They don't seem to advertise these gigs, you have to call and ask! www.thejamhouse.com.

Plenty of restaurants too. I particularly like La Toque D'or, which is near the Jamhouse. Very French, very good. Also, the Ikon Gallery (Brindley Place) has a cafe that does good Spanish lunches. Living Room has good food and usually blues piano on weekend nights. You also have to have curry whilst you're here. Quality can be a bit pot luck, but always an experience, especially in the Stoney Lane area. Royal Al Faisal's does a good curry buffet, bring your own cheap lager etc...

Last thing, whilst you're in London, I've heard very good things about The Producers at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Lead trumpet, I believe, is Noel Langley (TM ID Lonelyangel). I'm hoping to go and see it later on in the year.

Hope this is enough to be getting on with!

Rich.

Oh, one last thing, if you drive from London to Birmingham useing the M1 and M6 motorways, you actually pass within a couple of miles of the Eclipse workshop....

01-25-2005, 07:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
RichN Pianissimo User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK (Mids) Posts: 97	Don't know much about London, Birmingham's my local city. For hotels, there are plenty of decent but cheap(ish) hotels, you can probably find them on www.yell.com. Travel Inn, Premier Lodge, Holiday Inn Express etc. are all reasonable. The one on Broad Street (or is it Bridge Street?) is ideal, but book early. As for music, there's Symphony Hall and the associated venues, details on www.necgroup.co.uk. One of my favourites however is The Jamhouse, which is a relatively small venue that revolves around food and music. It's part owned by Jools Holland, and usually has good old-style Rythm & Blues, Jazz, Blues etc. Pick the night carefully though to make sure the band is one you'll enjoy. If you're really lucky, you'll be here when Jools Holland is playing there himself. It's an amazing experience seeing him with his 'Rythm & Blues Orchestra' playing in a really intimate venue with less than 1000 people (so intimate in fact that the players have to walk through the crowd to get to the 'solo spot' on the stage). The last time I saw them there Sam Brown was singing with them. They don't seem to advertise these gigs, you have to call and ask! www.thejamhouse.com. Plenty of restaurants too. I particularly like La Toque D'or, which is near the Jamhouse. Very French, very good. Also, the Ikon Gallery (Brindley Place) has a cafe that does good Spanish lunches. Living Room has good food and usually blues piano on weekend nights. You also have to have curry whilst you're here. Quality can be a bit pot luck, but always an experience, especially in the Stoney Lane area. Royal Al Faisal's does a good curry buffet, bring your own cheap lager etc... Last thing, whilst you're in London, I've heard very good things about The Producers at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Lead trumpet, I believe, is Noel Langley (TM ID Lonelyangel). I'm hoping to go and see it later on in the year. Hope this is enough to be getting on with! Rich. Oh, one last thing, if you drive from London to Birmingham useing the M1 and M6 motorways, you actually pass within a couple of miles of the Eclipse workshop....