Mama Roux’s, a beloved 800-capacity club, live music venue, and party bar located in Digbeth, has expressed deep concerns regarding plans to demolish properties on Lower Trinity Street that house several local businesses. These plans form part of a proposal to renovate Moor Street Station and extend the rail line towards Bordesley.
The Midlands Rail Hub Alliance (MRHA) has initiated the Bordesley Chords consultation, under which venues including Mama Roux’s, The Warehouse, Original Patty Men, and several small independent companies face the risk of demolition. The potential impact extends beyond individual businesses to the cultural fabric of Digbeth, an area renowned for its vibrant nightlife and independent spirit.
Benjy Hill, Operations Manager at Mama Roux’s, told BirminghamLive:
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“It’s a cultural wipe out of all the nightlife and independent culture and music. I don’t think people have really grasped the sheer scale of it, going up from our bit of Digbeth, which is the main strip, all the way down to Moor Street.
It would completely paralyse Digbeth. The BBC and new apartments are coming in because of all the cool stuff here. While infrastructure upgrades are needed for the city, it feels like it’s wiping out everything that makes Digbeth special. You’d be left with a culture-washed space filled with high-rise apartments.”
Hill emphasised the importance of community input, urging supporters to visit the venues and share their experiences with the MRHA. He stated, “Any support would be appreciated-just by coming to the venue and telling the Midlands Rail Hub what the area means to you. It’s not just about Mama Roux’s or Club Colette. Anyone who has danced at these venues or attended gigs, sharing the cultural importance would be really helpful. The more submissions we receive, the more likely the plans could be reconsidered or adapted.”
Mama Roux’s has also reached out on Instagram, alerting followers to the threat posed by “massive railway stilts planned over our historic Victorian arches”. The post highlighted the street’s role as a launchpad for UK culture, having hosted artists like Jorja Smith, Little Simz, Pawsa, and Overpass, as well as supporting grassroots talent weekly through Club Colette.
The venue concluded their message with a call to action:
“We can’t let infrastructure wipe out our culture. Please tell the MRHA what these spaces mean to you. This isn’t just about our patch-it stretches all the way to Snow Hill station. This is bigger than just us. Let’s make some noise.”
Local responses have been overwhelmingly supportive, with community members emphasising Digbeth as a vital cultural home and expressing confidence that collective engagement can influence outcomes.
A spokesperson for the Midlands Rail Hub Alliance commented:
“Midlands Rail Hub is a major investment that will unlock opportunities, create jobs, boost economic growth, and enable new housing developments for local communities. We understand concerns about construction impacts and are committed to working with affected landowners, businesses, and tenants as proposals develop.
This is the first round of consultation ahead of our Transport and Works Act Order application. We encourage everyone to provide feedback via our consultation website. Further consultations on refined proposals are planned for 2027.”