How to plan a concert trip in Birmingham

08 January 2025

When you become a pub landlord, no one tells you that you also have to become an unofficial tour guide. But with great pubs comes great responsibility, one of which is knowing the most effortless way to plan seeing concerts in Birmingham.

From buying the tickets and planning travel to choosing accommodation and knowing where to eat and drink, we have it down to a fine art. Like a lovingly pulled pint or a perfectly roasted potato. Before we drool all over your cheat sheet, let’s get to it. Here’s how to plan a concert trip in Birmingham.

Four tips for planning a concert trip in Birmingham

From the very biggest names touring at the big venues to up-and-coming artists honing their craft at awesome little independent venues, gigs in Birmingham have some seriously good live music on offer. So get your tickets booked and follow these four tips for planning your trip. See you down front (or behind the obstructed view if the tickets are expensive).

Exterior of venue showing Utilita Facade

#1 Buy your tickets

And the award for most obvious advice goes to us. But before you hand us the trophy, just hear us out. While you may be tempted to buy the first pair of tickets you see, don’t. Sites that slap on massive additional fees always rank higher in search engine results than official or cheaper options, so it’s worth shopping around to make sure you’re not paying an arm and a leg.

It’s also worth researching the venue before you buy tickets, to make sure you’re not going to be blocked (or hit) by an arm and a leg. Birmingham has several great spots like the O2 Academy and the Utilita Arena, or smaller places like the Sunflower Lounge and the Castle & Falcon. Each venue has a different atmosphere, size, and layout, which may influence the seat you decide to go for.

Similarly, they may have ticket restrictions or rules that could affect your decision. It’s just worth doing the extra research.

#2 Plan your travel in advance

One last thing before you buy your tickets – make sure you can get to the gig.

If you plan on taking public transport, check the timetables on that day to make sure they’re running as normal. If so, go ahead and book (and now we’ll take the trophy).

As for booking travel tickets, we always recommend you book in advance, plan for delays or cancellations, and think bigger – which means, don’t think about how you feel right now. Think about how you’ll feel on the day and whether future you would wish they booked a later return.

And if you’re driving, check if the venue has parking or if there are nearby car parks or street parking. If not, plan your parking situation in advance as well. Most of the venues are a short walk from the city centre or public transport links, so if you need to park a little further out, it shouldn’t be a problem.

#3 Sort out your accommodation

When it comes to booking your accommodation for gigs in Birmingham, we have three non-negotiable steps.

1. Read reviews

No one catfishes like a hotel, so it’s important to do your research and read reviews. Scan through TripAdvisor, see what’s cracking on Google, and stalk on Instagram.

2. Stay nearby
The closer you stay to the venue, the less you have to worry about getting there, getting back, and trying to beat the rush for taxis and public transport.

3. Think about travel
If your budget means you can’t stay near the venue, make sure you check public transport to and from it, especially if a concert finishes late. You don’t want to be left stranded.
And our fourth bonus tip: try to find somewhere near one of our pubs in Birmingham.

Interior seating area in a pub restaurant

#4 Plan your food

And now, for the most important part of any trip; where are we eating?

Naturally, we have to recommend the Malt House, which is right next to the Utilita Arena and also conveniently located near most of the big venues in the city centre. But the key is to book your table far in advance and to make sure that wherever you choose is near the venue.

The city is full of incredible restaurants, from Japanese to Moroccan, Turkish to Greek, or Chinese to a traditional British slap-up meal, and if you leave it until the last minute, you’ll risk missing out on some of the culinary masterpieces it has to offer.

If you fancy something more traditional, our pubs in Birmingham are some of the best in the country; offering delicious food and incredible drink selections, while also often having some kind of deal on, so the trip doesn’t have to cost you too much.

Upcoming concerts in Birmingham 2025

We wouldn’t be proper (unofficial) tour guides without giving you a list of the best upcoming gigs in Birmingham, now would weThe Guest List: Sunflower Lounge, 6 March

The Guest List: Sunflower Lounge, 6 March
Mike & The Mechanics: Symphony Hall, 4 April
Scissor Sisters: Utilita Arena, 25 May
The Lumineers: Utilita Arena, 28 May
Kylie Minogue: BP Pulse Live, 5 June
Lionel Richie: Utilita Arena, 8 June
Iron Maiden: Utilita Arena, 21 June
Jenny Colquitt: Castle & Falcon, 21 June
OneRepublic: Utilita Arena, 20 September
The Amy Winehouse Experience: O2 Academy, 3 October
Katy Perry: Utilita Arena, 11 October
Peter Kay Live: Utilita Arena, 24 January, 6/7 June, 5/6 December
Jamiroquai: Utilita Arena, 12 December

Here at Greene King, we’re always happy to host you before or after a gig in Birmingham – if we’re still open, that is. And we like to think we have everything you could need for an ideal pre or post-show meal. Hearty pub classics. Refreshing pints. Great deals. And a warm welcome from our friendly team.

Whenever you’re looking for Birmingham pubs, it couldn’t be quicker or easier with us. Find a pub near you and book your table today.