1Birmingham Language Exchange
Language exchange (weekly)·City Centre·£·All ages
A Thursday evening exchange where you can drop in any time between 7pm and 9pm, usually upstairs at The Good Intent. People practise many languages at every level, and a small card-only fee covers the hosts. Check the organisers' Instagram or WhatsApp group in case the location changes.
The Good Intent, 32-33 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham B2 5HU · Walk-in
2Albert's Schloss Birmingham
Beer hall and bar·Paradise·££·20s
An Alpine-style beer hall and bar with communal tables, live music and cabaret, a seven-minute walk from New Street station. Loud, cheerful and packed at weekends, which makes it easy to fall into conversation with the next table.
Paradise, One Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3AX · Takes bookings
3Flight Club Birmingham
Social darts bar·City Centre·££·20s
A social darts venue with semi-private oches, cocktails and food, open until 12:30am from Thursday to Saturday. Automatic scoring keeps things easy, and after-work groups mix at the bar between games.
13 Temple Street, Birmingham B2 5BN · Takes bookings
4Chance & Counters Birmingham
Board game café and bar·Digbeth·£·20s
A board game café and bar in the Custard Factory with a library of hundreds of games, open daily from noon. A small hourly fee gets you the whole library, and staff will help you pick a game, which makes it an easy first meet-up.
Courtyard Studio 8, Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AA · Takes bookings
5NQ64 Birmingham
Retro arcade bar·Digbeth·££·20s
A neon-lit bar full of classic arcade machines and retro consoles, with game-themed cocktails, in the creative Custard Factory quarter. Asking for a rematch is about the easiest opener there is.
The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4BG · Takes bookings
6Lane7 Birmingham The Cube
Bowling and games bar·Westside·££·20s
A bowling and games bar high up in The Cube, with lanes, pool, ping pong and more, plus cocktails and food. A game against the next lane is a natural way to start talking. There is a second Lane7 at the Bullring.
Level 6, The Cube, Wharfside Street, Birmingham B1 1RN · Takes bookings
7Herberts Yard
Street food market·Longbridge·£·All ages
Digbeth Dining Club's big street food venue, with up to eight rotating traders each weekend, two bars and a large beer garden, open Thursday to Sunday. Shared tables and a festival feel make it easy to mix.
59 Austin Way, Rednal, Birmingham B31 2TW · Walk-in
8Cannon Hill parkrun
Run club (free weekly 5k)·Cannon Hill Park·£·All ages
A free, timed 5k every Saturday morning in Cannon Hill Park, open to runners, joggers and walkers. Many people go for coffee together afterwards, and volunteering is an easy way to get to know the regulars. Register online before your first run.
Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 · Walk-in
9Edgbaston Reservoir parkrun
Run club (free weekly 5k)·Edgbaston·£·All ages
A free, timed 5k every Saturday morning around Edgbaston Reservoir, close to the city centre, with water views all the way. A friendly crowd of all ages, and the reservoir is a nice place for a walk afterwards.
Edgbaston Reservoir, Birmingham B16 · Walk-in
10Ceroc Birmingham
Dance class and social·Longbridge·£·40+
Wednesday night modern jive from 7:45pm with a beginners' class, an intermediate class and freestyle dancing until 10:45pm. No partner and no booking needed, and a team helps newcomers settle in. The crowd spans many ages, including plenty of people in their 40s and 50s.
Austin Social Club, 30 Tessell Lane, Longbridge, Birmingham B31 2SF · Walk-in