A long-neglected section of Birmingham’s busiest street is on the verge of a remarkable transformation. The Grade II-listed building at 92-93 New Street, located opposite the lively ‘Chicken Quarter’ renowned for its array of burger and wing eateries, has stood largely dormant for years.
On the ground floor, former tenants Eat4Less and Fat Burgers now display bailiff notices, while only a few businesses like La Galleria Italian restaurant and the independent fashion boutique Autograph continue to operate on the adjacent Ethel Street side. To passersby, this stretch has appeared all but lifeless – a true ‘Zombie Quarter’ in the heart of the city.
Yet beneath this seemingly forgotten row lies a fascinating piece of Birmingham’s heritage. The building once served as a 19th-century Masonic Hall before becoming one of Birmingham’s earliest cinemas, known variously as the Theatre De Luxe, The Regent, The Forum, and ABC New Street. Much of the original cinema space remains intact in the unused upper floors, preserving a hidden time capsule from the city’s cultural past.
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In November 2024, Birmingham City Council approved plans to redevelop the site into modern retail outlets and office spaces. The proposal, submitted by Staffordshire County Council on behalf of the Staffordshire Pension Fund, includes adding two new storeys clad in slate with dormer windows, removing the 1920s roof extension, and restoring missing sections of the historic masonic hall façade. This redevelopment will expand the internal floor area from 3,458 sqm to 5,131 sqm, though it will reduce the number of existing ground-floor retail units to accommodate a new entrance to the offices above.
The council has imposed several conditions on the project, including a completion deadline of November 2029, noise restrictions during construction, and environmental measures such as bird and bat boxes. Staffordshire County Council has clarified that it is not directly managing the redevelopment, as the pension fund property managers will oversee the project.
Meanwhile, New Street itself is undergoing extensive upgrades to improve the overall streetscape. Nearby, another historic building—King Edward House—recently completed its own transformation into offices with a new retail unit expected to house a Japanese restaurant.
With less than four years remaining before the redevelopment permission expires, the future of this ‘Zombie Quarter’ hinges on securing funding, tenants, and overcoming construction challenges. If all goes well, the once-forgotten building located at a prime artery of Birmingham could soon come back to vibrant life, blending heritage with modern vitality.
What would you like to see done with this historic site? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’re eager to hear your vision for Birmingham’s rising ‘Zombie Quarter’.