The Dispatch
@birminghamdispatch.bsky.social
Birmingham's new quality newspaper: sending local stories to your inbox. Always looking for new writers & new stories.
What to catch up on:
🗳️Monday's briefing for everything from the photo of the week, to quick hits about Birmingham
🎨Today’s read about tagger ‘Nek’
🚨Brum in Brief, which includes Reform’s rally at the NEC and an extended bin strike
Read more at:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
🗳️Monday's briefing for everything from the photo of the week, to quick hits about Birmingham
🎨Today’s read about tagger ‘Nek’
🚨Brum in Brief, which includes Reform’s rally at the NEC and an extended bin strike
Read more at:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
The Dispatch
Birmingham’s new quality newspaper, delivered straight to your email inbox
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 5:08 PM
What to catch up on:
🗳️Monday's briefing for everything from the photo of the week, to quick hits about Birmingham
🎨Today’s read about tagger ‘Nek’
🚨Brum in Brief, which includes Reform’s rally at the NEC and an extended bin strike
Read more at:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
🗳️Monday's briefing for everything from the photo of the week, to quick hits about Birmingham
🎨Today’s read about tagger ‘Nek’
🚨Brum in Brief, which includes Reform’s rally at the NEC and an extended bin strike
Read more at:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
🧵Also: your Brum in Brief
➡️ Reform returned to Birmingham, holding a rally at the NEC with Nigel Farage and Richard Tice setting their sights on the May elections
🗑️ Unite-affiliated binworkers in the West Midlands have voted to extend their strike into September 2026
➡️ Reform returned to Birmingham, holding a rally at the NEC with Nigel Farage and Richard Tice setting their sights on the May elections
🗑️ Unite-affiliated binworkers in the West Midlands have voted to extend their strike into September 2026
February 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM
🧵Also: your Brum in Brief
➡️ Reform returned to Birmingham, holding a rally at the NEC with Nigel Farage and Richard Tice setting their sights on the May elections
🗑️ Unite-affiliated binworkers in the West Midlands have voted to extend their strike into September 2026
➡️ Reform returned to Birmingham, holding a rally at the NEC with Nigel Farage and Richard Tice setting their sights on the May elections
🗑️ Unite-affiliated binworkers in the West Midlands have voted to extend their strike into September 2026
Ever seen ‘Nek’ scrawled across buildings all over the city? Ever wondered who it is?
Once you learn about Nek, you'll notice the tag all over Birmingham
But, who's doing it?
Once you learn about Nek, you'll notice the tag all over Birmingham
But, who's doing it?
February 11, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Ever seen ‘Nek’ scrawled across buildings all over the city? Ever wondered who it is?
Once you learn about Nek, you'll notice the tag all over Birmingham
But, who's doing it?
Once you learn about Nek, you'll notice the tag all over Birmingham
But, who's doing it?
Home time is the perfect time to get stuck into The Dispatch. In case you’ve missed it, we’ve recently had:
🖋️A great piece on the decline of Sutton Coldfield
❤️Yesterday’s briefing covering topics from Concrete Mag offering blind dates, to our suggestions on how to spend your week in Birmingham
🖋️A great piece on the decline of Sutton Coldfield
❤️Yesterday’s briefing covering topics from Concrete Mag offering blind dates, to our suggestions on how to spend your week in Birmingham
February 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Home time is the perfect time to get stuck into The Dispatch. In case you’ve missed it, we’ve recently had:
🖋️A great piece on the decline of Sutton Coldfield
❤️Yesterday’s briefing covering topics from Concrete Mag offering blind dates, to our suggestions on how to spend your week in Birmingham
🖋️A great piece on the decline of Sutton Coldfield
❤️Yesterday’s briefing covering topics from Concrete Mag offering blind dates, to our suggestions on how to spend your week in Birmingham
Need something to read over lunch?
If you haven't already, sink your teeth into our weekend article on Sutton Coldfield at the link below:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-decline-...
If you haven't already, sink your teeth into our weekend article on Sutton Coldfield at the link below:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-decline-...
The decline of a royal town
Amazon warehouses, managed decline, and flags. What’s happened to Sutton Coldfield?
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Need something to read over lunch?
If you haven't already, sink your teeth into our weekend article on Sutton Coldfield at the link below:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-decline-...
If you haven't already, sink your teeth into our weekend article on Sutton Coldfield at the link below:
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-decline-...
Don't forget to check out our Monday briefing for some to do list inspiration! There's plenty going on in Birmingham this week.
Such as:
🌙St Paul's square light installation
📚 Author Jess Shannon at The Heath Bookshop
🛍️Herbert's Yard's monthly artisan market
Click the link below for more:
Such as:
🌙St Paul's square light installation
📚 Author Jess Shannon at The Heath Bookshop
🛍️Herbert's Yard's monthly artisan market
Click the link below for more:
February 10, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Don't forget to check out our Monday briefing for some to do list inspiration! There's plenty going on in Birmingham this week.
Such as:
🌙St Paul's square light installation
📚 Author Jess Shannon at The Heath Bookshop
🛍️Herbert's Yard's monthly artisan market
Click the link below for more:
Such as:
🌙St Paul's square light installation
📚 Author Jess Shannon at The Heath Bookshop
🛍️Herbert's Yard's monthly artisan market
Click the link below for more:
Tomorrow, Birmingham City Council’s cabinet will sign off on a budget that balances the books for the first time since the city effectively went bankrupt in 2023.
February 9, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Tomorrow, Birmingham City Council’s cabinet will sign off on a budget that balances the books for the first time since the city effectively went bankrupt in 2023.
🚨Your Monday briefing is here🚨
Here are today's top picks:
🏴Moseley residents removed flags put up by Raise the Colours over the weekend
💰 Birmingham city council’s cabinet meet tomorrow to discuss 2026-2027's proposed budget
Here are today's top picks:
🏴Moseley residents removed flags put up by Raise the Colours over the weekend
💰 Birmingham city council’s cabinet meet tomorrow to discuss 2026-2027's proposed budget
February 9, 2026 at 1:45 PM
🚨Your Monday briefing is here🚨
Here are today's top picks:
🏴Moseley residents removed flags put up by Raise the Colours over the weekend
💰 Birmingham city council’s cabinet meet tomorrow to discuss 2026-2027's proposed budget
Here are today's top picks:
🏴Moseley residents removed flags put up by Raise the Colours over the weekend
💰 Birmingham city council’s cabinet meet tomorrow to discuss 2026-2027's proposed budget
🏢Have you read the weekend's piece on Sutton Coldfield yet? If not, click below to check it out:
🔗 www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-decline-...
🔗 www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-decline-...
The decline of a royal town
Amazon warehouses, managed decline, and flags. What’s happened to Sutton Coldfield?
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 9:39 AM
🏢Have you read the weekend's piece on Sutton Coldfield yet? If not, click below to check it out:
🔗 www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-decline-...
🔗 www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-decline-...
“It’s a strange feeling, knowing you’ll never afford to live in your hometown.”
An Amazon warehouse taking over the countryside, an abandoned M&S, and a closed library. Sutton Coldfield’s town centre is in visible decline.
An Amazon warehouse taking over the countryside, an abandoned M&S, and a closed library. Sutton Coldfield’s town centre is in visible decline.
February 7, 2026 at 9:09 AM
“It’s a strange feeling, knowing you’ll never afford to live in your hometown.”
An Amazon warehouse taking over the countryside, an abandoned M&S, and a closed library. Sutton Coldfield’s town centre is in visible decline.
An Amazon warehouse taking over the countryside, an abandoned M&S, and a closed library. Sutton Coldfield’s town centre is in visible decline.
As the week draws to a close, take a look back at our Monday Briefing to refresh yourself with Birmingham’s news⬇️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/your-commute...
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/your-commute...
Your commute has been nationalised: the region’s railways are now in public hands
Will it make a difference?
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 5:03 PM
As the week draws to a close, take a look back at our Monday Briefing to refresh yourself with Birmingham’s news⬇️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/your-commute...
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/your-commute...
🚨📚Following on from the comments on last week’s bookshop story, we want to hear from YOU! Who are some Birmingham authors that should be on our radar?🚨📚
Read last week’s piece below, by the way⬇️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
Read last week’s piece below, by the way⬇️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
February 6, 2026 at 12:08 PM
🚨📚Following on from the comments on last week’s bookshop story, we want to hear from YOU! Who are some Birmingham authors that should be on our radar?🚨📚
Read last week’s piece below, by the way⬇️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
Read last week’s piece below, by the way⬇️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
Ahead of the weekend, make sure you check out Sam's indie bookshop read from last Saturday! Link below🔗
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
The stubborn booksellers keeping Brum's indie scene alive
'I am not interested in running a branch of WH Smith'
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Ahead of the weekend, make sure you check out Sam's indie bookshop read from last Saturday! Link below🔗
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
A jam-packed Brum in Brief, an avian welfare scandal, and a businessman who denies any wrongdoing.
Click below for yesterday’s reads 🦜💰🔗🗞️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/a-horror-sto...
Click below for yesterday’s reads 🦜💰🔗🗞️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/a-horror-sto...
‘A horror story’: the pet shop in Aston ruffling feathers
Birds4U sells exotic birds at an inner-city retail park. Customers claim it’s an animal welfare scandal
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 4:30 PM
A jam-packed Brum in Brief, an avian welfare scandal, and a businessman who denies any wrongdoing.
Click below for yesterday’s reads 🦜💰🔗🗞️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/a-horror-sto...
Click below for yesterday’s reads 🦜💰🔗🗞️
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/a-horror-sto...
Reposted by The Dispatch
Meet the stubborn booksellers keeping Birmingham's indie scene alive
'I am not interested in running a branch of WH Smith'
As ever, tremendous work from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
'I am not interested in running a branch of WH Smith'
As ever, tremendous work from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
The stubborn booksellers keeping Brum's indie scene alive
'I am not interested in running a branch of WH Smith'
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Meet the stubborn booksellers keeping Birmingham's indie scene alive
'I am not interested in running a branch of WH Smith'
As ever, tremendous work from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
'I am not interested in running a branch of WH Smith'
As ever, tremendous work from @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/what-happene...
“We had got to the point where we assumed Bryan had been butchered so badly that she’d never be able to fly.”
When Lee Tuckett* got his son a tame lovebird for his 13th birthday, he had no idea he was purchasing a bird that was terrified of humans, and had in fact likely never been handled.
When Lee Tuckett* got his son a tame lovebird for his 13th birthday, he had no idea he was purchasing a bird that was terrified of humans, and had in fact likely never been handled.
February 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
“We had got to the point where we assumed Bryan had been butchered so badly that she’d never be able to fly.”
When Lee Tuckett* got his son a tame lovebird for his 13th birthday, he had no idea he was purchasing a bird that was terrified of humans, and had in fact likely never been handled.
When Lee Tuckett* got his son a tame lovebird for his 13th birthday, he had no idea he was purchasing a bird that was terrified of humans, and had in fact likely never been handled.
Read about:
💰The end of bankrupt Birmingham
🚧Kings Heathens fighting for the area’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN).
💼 Business leaders in Birmingham agreeing to work together to improve the city centre.
And more in yesterday’s Brum in Brief. Click the link below for more🔗
💰The end of bankrupt Birmingham
🚧Kings Heathens fighting for the area’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN).
💼 Business leaders in Birmingham agreeing to work together to improve the city centre.
And more in yesterday’s Brum in Brief. Click the link below for more🔗
February 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Read about:
💰The end of bankrupt Birmingham
🚧Kings Heathens fighting for the area’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN).
💼 Business leaders in Birmingham agreeing to work together to improve the city centre.
And more in yesterday’s Brum in Brief. Click the link below for more🔗
💰The end of bankrupt Birmingham
🚧Kings Heathens fighting for the area’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN).
💼 Business leaders in Birmingham agreeing to work together to improve the city centre.
And more in yesterday’s Brum in Brief. Click the link below for more🔗
Reposted by The Dispatch
Readers World...much missed, aspecially as it was a minute's walk away....thank you @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social for a great write up on independent bookshops...
February 4, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Readers World...much missed, aspecially as it was a minute's walk away....thank you @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social for a great write up on independent bookshops...
🦜As well as our story about alleged wrongdoings at a pet shop in Aston, you can also catch up with today's Brum in Brief by clicking the link below⬇️
February 4, 2026 at 5:10 PM
🦜As well as our story about alleged wrongdoings at a pet shop in Aston, you can also catch up with today's Brum in Brief by clicking the link below⬇️
A couple of corrections to this morning's Brum in Brief about 2 city centre business improvement districts:
➡️Southside District
covers Chinatown, theatres, & the gay quarter (but not Digbeth)
➡️ Their new partnership with Birmingham Colmore
is based on similar in Liverpool (not Manc!)
➡️Southside District
covers Chinatown, theatres, & the gay quarter (but not Digbeth)
➡️ Their new partnership with Birmingham Colmore
is based on similar in Liverpool (not Manc!)
February 4, 2026 at 10:51 AM
A couple of corrections to this morning's Brum in Brief about 2 city centre business improvement districts:
➡️Southside District
covers Chinatown, theatres, & the gay quarter (but not Digbeth)
➡️ Their new partnership with Birmingham Colmore
is based on similar in Liverpool (not Manc!)
➡️Southside District
covers Chinatown, theatres, & the gay quarter (but not Digbeth)
➡️ Their new partnership with Birmingham Colmore
is based on similar in Liverpool (not Manc!)
Online, 400 members of a private Facebook group are claiming that they have been scammed by a small pet shop in Aston.
There are allegations of lying about a bird’s age, accusations of advertising birds that are terrified of humans as hand-reared, and even claims of disease in the shop.
There are allegations of lying about a bird’s age, accusations of advertising birds that are terrified of humans as hand-reared, and even claims of disease in the shop.
February 4, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Online, 400 members of a private Facebook group are claiming that they have been scammed by a small pet shop in Aston.
There are allegations of lying about a bird’s age, accusations of advertising birds that are terrified of humans as hand-reared, and even claims of disease in the shop.
There are allegations of lying about a bird’s age, accusations of advertising birds that are terrified of humans as hand-reared, and even claims of disease in the shop.
Are you caught up, or did you miss our Monday briefing?
Read about the nationalisation of West Midlands Railway, tributes for Waseem Zaffar, and the end of Bethel church by clicking the link below:
Read about the nationalisation of West Midlands Railway, tributes for Waseem Zaffar, and the end of Bethel church by clicking the link below:
February 3, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Are you caught up, or did you miss our Monday briefing?
Read about the nationalisation of West Midlands Railway, tributes for Waseem Zaffar, and the end of Bethel church by clicking the link below:
Read about the nationalisation of West Midlands Railway, tributes for Waseem Zaffar, and the end of Bethel church by clicking the link below:
Have you read Saturday's piece on Brum's indie bookshop scene?
If not, click below and get reading! ⬇️
If not, click below and get reading! ⬇️
February 2, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Have you read Saturday's piece on Brum's indie bookshop scene?
If not, click below and get reading! ⬇️
If not, click below and get reading! ⬇️
Your Monday briefing is here, and here are today's stories:
🚝West Midlands Railway is now under public ownership.
🗳️Tributes have poured in following the death of Lozells councillor Waseem Zaffar.
⛪️The Dispatch said a fond goodbye to Bethel Presbyterian Church following its final service yesterday.
🚝West Midlands Railway is now under public ownership.
🗳️Tributes have poured in following the death of Lozells councillor Waseem Zaffar.
⛪️The Dispatch said a fond goodbye to Bethel Presbyterian Church following its final service yesterday.
February 2, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Your Monday briefing is here, and here are today's stories:
🚝West Midlands Railway is now under public ownership.
🗳️Tributes have poured in following the death of Lozells councillor Waseem Zaffar.
⛪️The Dispatch said a fond goodbye to Bethel Presbyterian Church following its final service yesterday.
🚝West Midlands Railway is now under public ownership.
🗳️Tributes have poured in following the death of Lozells councillor Waseem Zaffar.
⛪️The Dispatch said a fond goodbye to Bethel Presbyterian Church following its final service yesterday.
📚For a few brief decades, Birmingham had a bookshop scene that reflected the city back to itself: diverse, political, practical, trade unionist, academic and scientifically forward looking.
January 31, 2026 at 8:48 AM
📚For a few brief decades, Birmingham had a bookshop scene that reflected the city back to itself: diverse, political, practical, trade unionist, academic and scientifically forward looking.