'It's Like a Warzone': Birmingham Restaurant Owner Speaks Out on City's Forgotten Quarter Monday, April 6, 2026 birmingham restaurant lagalleria citycentre decline italiancuisine smallbusiness newstreet vacancy urbandecay Erminio Shahmani, owner of the Italian restaurant La Galleria, has been steadfastly running his business in Birmingham’s city centre for nearly a decade. Yet, he describes the area around New Street Station and Ethel … Read More
Last Man Standing in Birmingham's 'Zombie Quarter' Raises Questions About Its Future Sunday, March 29, 2026 birmingham lagalleria masonichall zombiequarter independentbusiness newstreet restaurant urbandecay planningpermission citycentre Tucked away on the corner of New Street and Ethel Street in Birmingham’s city centre stands the grand, yet largely empty, old Masonic Hall. Its once bustling shops like Eat4Less and Fat Burgers now bear bailiff notices, their … Read More