Birmingham City Council has confirmed that The Garrison, the historic pub that inspired the fictional watering hole in BBC's Peaky Blinders, could reopen as a pub in the future. The council's draft Local Plan, published earlier this month, outlines that the site on Garrison Lane may be “brought back into use” as a public house, and any proposals that “harm its potential to be brought back into use will not be supported.”
Historic pub closed for a decade
The Garrison, which reportedly was a haunt of the real-life gangsters who inspired the hit television series, closed its doors in 2014 and has remained shut for ten years. It recently reopened as a kitchen and bedroom shop, but the council now signals that a return to its original function is possible. The venue is considered a “cultural landmark” that attracts tourism and is “well-placed” to serve a redeveloped Garrison Lane, especially on matchdays when fans head to the nearby Sports Quarter.
Part of the Peaky Loop heritage route
According to the draft Local Plan, The Garrison is part of a 'Peaky Loop' heritage route that is envisaged to run along the SkyPark—a proposed greenway on a disused section of the Duddeston Viaduct—via the River Rea and onward to Garrison Lane Park. The council states: “There is opportunity here to make more of Digbeth’s industrial heritage by capitalising on this asset and bring back into use a public house well sited to serve passing matchday custom.”
Digbeth's transformation into a creative hub
The draft Local Plan, a comprehensive document that will guide the city's development over the next 20 years, highlights Digbeth's evolution into a cultural and creative hub. It notes that the area will benefit from the BBC’s new broadcast centre at the Tea Factory and Digbeth Loc film studios, established by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. “Digbeth Loc has been instrumental in dramatising Digbeth and Birmingham’s working-class industrial heritage through their internationally acclaimed production The Peaky Blinders,” the plan states.
Vision for Digbeth Growth Zone
For the Digbeth Growth Zone over the next two decades, the council envisions a thriving area with a mix of housing, employment, and creative spaces, supported by safe streets and green areas. New homes will be complemented by appropriate facilities, and the night-time economy will benefit from diverse creative, cultural, and community uses. The River Rea and canals will be improved, and heritage assets will be protected and enhanced. Walking, cycling, and public transport connections will be strengthened, capitalising on the proximity to HS2.
The draft Local Plan adds: “Through the regeneration of cleared and under-utilised sites, developments will be of mixed use with potential for major investment opportunities for film and TV studios and production space, and other creative industries, alongside a range of new homes and complementary workspaces.”
The council’s vision is set to be discussed by cabinet members on July 28.
