Introduction
For foodies, the Grand Western Arcade offers some idiosyncratic eateries, plus places to quench your thirst.
For dining, Bistro 1847 is a vegetarian restaurant that aims to push the envelope of the usual range of vegetarian offerings. Meanwhile Sushi Passion serves up a range of dishes of the Japanese speciality.
For wine connoisseurs, wine merchant Loki offers 40 wines in its basic sampling range, plus a range of over 600 wines to sample in the lounge or take away. The shop also plays host to popular wine and gin courses and tastings.
If you’re in the spirit for whisky then The Whisky Shop is the only such one in Birmingham that stock a range of single malts, plus rare bottlings, special releases and miniatures.
For luxury food items, Bread Collection stocks a range of pastries as well as speciality and authentic French breads. The more traditional delicatessen Anderson and Hill stocks artisan food and produce, and has over 40 types of cheese at any one time. A chocolatier, Chouchoute, also provides the opportunity to select from luxury French chocolates.
New additions to the centre include The Charter Rooms, a period Victorian-themed gin bar that will specialise in spirits, wines and cocktails. Meanwhile, Miss Macaroon is a social enterprise that will deliver a prosecco bar and ‘Macaroons That Make A Difference’, since they promote getting disadvantaged people into work.
Visitors a week : 4.3M
Shopping Venue
When late shopping is available.
Food Choices
For foodies, the Grand Western Arcade offers some idiosyncratic eateries, plus places to quench your thirst.
For dining, Bistro 1847 is a vegetarian restaurant that aims to push the envelope of the usual range of vegetarian offerings. Meanwhile Sushi Passion serves up a range of dishes of the Japanese speciality.
For wine connoisseurs, wine merchant Loki offers 40 wines in its basic sampling range, plus a range of over 600 wines to sample in the lounge or take away. The shop also plays host to popular wine and gin courses and tastings.
If you’re in the spirit for whisky then The Whisky Shop is the only such one in Birmingham that stock a range of single malts, plus rare bottlings, special releases and miniatures.
For luxury food items, Bread Collection stocks a range of pastries as well as speciality and authentic French breads. The more traditional delicatessen Anderson and Hill stocks artisan food and produce, and has over 40 types of cheese at any one time. A chocolatier, Chouchoute, also provides the opportunity to select from luxury French chocolates.
New additions to the centre include The Charter Rooms, a period Victorian-themed gin bar that will specialise in spirits, wines and cocktails. Meanwhile, Miss Macaroon is a social enterprise that will deliver a prosecco bar and ‘Macaroons That Make A Difference’, since they promote getting disadvantaged people into work.
Food choices available in the shopping centre.
Entertainment
The arcade has played hostess to Birmingham’s annual cocktail weekend, screened a classic silent film as part of the Flatpack Festival and even held a summer garden party. However, these are one-off, special events rather than a calendar jam-packed with them.
Shops
The retailers within the arcade are an eclectic mix of mainly independent and local/regional brands housed in charming, turquoise-coloured boutiques.
At a glance, the retailers include fashion for men, women and children, a shoe shop, gift shops for bespoke products and even a spa. The arcade also experiments with pop-up shops the likes of Projekt21, Dark Circle Clothing and Bolongaro Trevor.
For fashionistas, the internationally known Jaeger Outlet delivers a range of classic British style pieces, while the Liquor Store prides itself on selling handpicked denim, footwear and accessories.
To add something extra to an outfit, the retailer Peter Forson stocks quality hats, headpieces, scarves and other accessories. Here you can pick up one of the characteristic flat caps made famous by the BBC TV series ‘Peaky Blinders’ set in Birmingham.
Sims Footwear serves up fashionable footwear, stocking top brands such as Dr Martens, Hush Puppies, Rocket Dog, Red or Dead and Irregular Choice.
The arcade also hosts a number of gift shops. The Pen Shop will enthral those that love the (now old-fashioned) art of writing with a range of premium pen brands, leather accessories and other gifts. At number 39, Bentleys offers ‘a gift for every occasion’ for men, women and children, many of which are designed with the aesthetic of the car maker in mind.
The arcade is also home to One Day Spa, offering beauty and relaxation treatments in rooms at the mezzanine level of the building.
Shopping Experience
This centre is largely for shoppers with expensive tastes because of the range of bespoke products, food, drink and fashion that the centre specialises in, from wine and whiskey to high-end fashion. However, the delicatessens and coffee shop can also offer a taste of luxury at a mid-range price, and it’s always possible to grab a quick bite from Greggs.
The Grand Western Arcade can easily be visited any time of day, although the lunchtime foot traffic is best avoided. It is more atmospheric at the busier times of day (late morning and afternoon), although it’s also a joy to take a quiet evening wander through the passageway just to admire the architecture.
The arcade itself is open Monday to Saturday, 6.30am to 10pm, and Sunday, 10.30am to 5.30pm. However, many of the retailers will open later and close earlier than the arcade building itself, so check with the individual shops.
The general prices of goods in the shopping centre.
Services
There are no public conveniences located in the centre other than in the individual restaurants. Given the nature of the building and the shops, there is also no play facility for children.
Services
Parking
The closest place to park is at Snow Hill multi-storey car park, B3 2BJ, which costs £2.70 for up to two hours. However, there are plenty of other places to park in and around the city if you are happy to walk for a short period to get there.
Parking
Location
The Great Western Arcade is located centrally but towards the Colmore business district of the city. This makes it easily accessible via foot, bus, car, tram or train. This makes it the perfect shopping passageway, an ideal place for afternoon tea or just somewhere to indulge in a spot of whimsical window shopping.
Shopping Location
The City
This shopping centre stands uniquely apart from amongst all the much bigger and modern shopping complexes in Birmingham city centre, such as the Bullring and Grand Central, because of its architecture and niche offerings. - At a time when Birmingham is undergoing a full facelift to turn it into a first-class, contemporary shopping destination, the Great Western Arcade shows how it’s possible to still breathe new life into a bygone age.
Tips
Enter by the Temple Row entrance, and don’t forget to admire your grand Victorian surroundings whilst shopping!
Finding It
Address
- Great Western Arcade Colmore Row
- Birmingham
- B2 5HU
Opening Hours
Monday : 06:30 - 22:00
Tuesdays : 06:30 - 22:00
Wednesday : 06:30 - 22:00
Thursday : 06:30 - 22:00
Friday : 06:30 - 22:00
Saturday : 06:30 - 22:00
Sunday : 10:30 - 17:30
