There’s real concern right now that Digbeth’s incredible nightlife scene could be destroyed. A proposed widening of the Bordesley Viaduct could mean many independent venues in the area—including The Night Owl, XOYO, Mama Roux’s, and Luna Springs, to name a few—face demolition or displacement.
Save Our Scene UK is calling on the Midlands Rail Hub Alliance and Network Rail to rethink its plans. Still in its early consultation stages, nothing is concrete yet, which means there’s still time to look at alternative design options and offer support to every venue facing displacement or demolition.
Why is this happening?
The Midlands Rail Hub Alliance wants to transform Birmingham Moor Street by increasing the number of trains that use the station. Sections of the existing Bordesley viaduct, which runs through Digbeth, would be widened, while two new platforms would be built and the existing platform 5 would be brought back into use.
These proposals would allow for three additional trains per hour to the South West of Birmingham, two additional Cross City line trains per hour, and four additional trains per hour towards the East Midlands, one of which will also serve the North East. But they’d also disrupt, displace or even demolish many existing local businesses.
What can I do to help?
The public consultation closed on Friday, August 28, 2026, and the next one isn’t until summer 2027, but you can still write to your local MP to raise your concerns. You can use this ready-made template, thanks to Save Our Scene, for Shabana Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Ladywood, to make things easier.
Meanwhile, The Night Owl is raising awareness of proposals on Sunday, October 4, with Save Our Scene Live. From 2pm until late, the event will bring together Jeepster, Diddy Sweg, The Friendly Fire Band and GANS, alongside The Night Owl’s resident DJs, for a celebration of the grassroots music, artists and communities.
Then, on Sunday, October 11, SOS, KISS, Club Colette, Mama Roux’s and XOYO are teaming up for a huge Save Digbeth Block Party on Lower Trinity Street (B9 4AG), from 2pm to 9pm. So get down and make some noise—because without Digbeth, Birmingham just wouldn’t be the same.
