I’ve been to most big cities in England. They’re all pretty much the same. Brum is a weird place, nothing particularly not to like but equally nothing to shout about either. Though pretty much felt the same about most big cities. Barring Bristol. I really like Bristol. Though is smaller than places like Manchester and Liverpool. Only big city I’ve not been to is Newcastle.
Bristol is another one. suppossed to be a massive city, i have been briefly, in and out for a few gigs. thats about it
I'm a Londoner. Grew up in Lewisham which was always considered to be a dodgy manor. Big riots in the late 70's with the National Front marching down there. Running battles in the streets. There was always crime there when I was growing up. Stabbings, shootings and armed robberies. I didn't really know any different at the time so that was normal. I never really considered the place to be unsafe and I never felt threatened living there. I had a few scraps and got involved in a few situations that in hindsight I'd not do again, but that's the misadventure of youth. What has changed there now is the amount of gang related violence. There used to be a great little community festival called Lewisham people's day, at Mountford Park in Catford. It was always a chilled day out, loads of Reggae, Caribbean cooking, kids face painting etc. The last time I went in 2010, there was a heavy police presence and airport style metal detectors at the gates, because the year before there was a running battle between a load of yoot from Peckham who came up to have a rumble with the Lewisham gangs. Stabbings and shootings, these are ****ing 16 year old lads ffs. That side of London (and most major cities) is really ****ed up.
Last few years brum has really improved. Loads of good bars and restaurants now. Some really quite cool places. But if you go there without someone who know their way round you’d just end up in the commercial places with chain pubs and restaurants.
Bristol is a top place, compact and vibrant. Loads going on. I say it's compact but isn't it England's fourth biggest? Could be wrong.
Brum is a ****hole. I went to university there. The only decent thing about the place was a club called the Q-club. That and lots of decent curry houses.
Think Bristol is a sprawl. The centre certainly doesn’t feel particularly big. Manchester and Birmingham city centre feel big. Went to Liverpool a few years back and walked pretty much the whole city centre in an hour or so. Couldn’t do that in brum. Bristol to me feels like a part of London now. Full of hipsters. Nothing not to like about Bristol.
Yeah brum in the 90’s was a ****hole. Been pretty much completely redeveloped as have Manchester and Liverpool. I was pleasantly surprised by Liverpool when visited. I like Manchester too had some good times there. Difference for me is I grew up through the race and house scene in brum and it was banging during the 90’s. But wasn’t easy on the eye to look at.
I was there from 93-97 and the House and Techno scene was banging. Do you remember the House of God nights at the Q-Club ?
Yep. They used to do a rave night there. Went there once. Used to do the institute more than the others. Money penny’s, bakers, the steering wheel, wobble.
Anybody remember a club called Megatripolis at Shoreditch town hall ? Let's see if there's any space cadets out there
