LGBTQ+ EVENTS IN BIRMINGHAM (how to make queer friends away from the pub)
- Proud Geek
- Mar 8
- 8 min read
Everyone loves a night out, but sometimes it’s nice to hang out with friends without the club scene. Birmingham boasts some fantastic queer clubs and bars, but there’s so much more to explore beyond the nightlife! Whether you’re new to the city or just looking for weekend activities that don’t involve downing pints and flashing lights, I’ve got you covered. Here’s my list of queer events, clubs, and socials happening in Birmingham right now!
Discovering Birmingham's Queer Scene
Birmingham is a vibrant city filled with opportunities for queer individuals to connect, create, and celebrate. From arts and creativity to sports and social gatherings, there’s something for everyone. Let’s dive into the exciting events and spaces that make Birmingham a welcoming hub for the LGBTQ+ community!
QUEER ARTS & CREATIVITY
QUEER AS JOKE (18+)
QUEER COMEDY CLUB
Birmingham's only LGBTQIA+ Stand Up Comedy night showcases queer comedy from across the UK. Each month, join hosts Cycki Brokat, Ellen Degenerate, and Gareth Williams for a night filled with laughter and joy! Tickets are £10 at the door, and the line-up changes monthly.
SHOUT
QUEER ARTS & CULTURE
After nearly 15 years as an annual festival, SHOUT has transitioned to a year-round programme supporting queer art and culture in Birmingham. They run various projects celebrating LGBTQ+ artists and communities across the Midlands. Expect parties, gallery exhibitions, historical archives, and queer performances throughout the year. They also offer artist development support through Work In Progress sharing, commissioning, and providing spaces for connection. Find out more about upcoming events at shoutfestival.co.uk.
BIRMINGHAM GAYMERS
QUEER BOARD GAME CLUB
Birmingham Gaymers is a safe space for LGBTQ+ folks and allies to meet, eat, drink, and play board games! The meet-up is informal; just turn up from 1 PM. Organisers will help you find a game or suggest one to play. If you have a game you want to bring, feel free! Entry is £4 per person to cover table hire.
JOURNEY FILM CLUB
QUEER FILM CLUB
Journey Film Club is a non-profit queer film club that prides itself on delivering the best in queer cinema. They meet monthly at Birmingham's LGBT Centre, showcasing a variety of films to suit all tastes. Tickets are just £1 and include refreshments!
HOUSE OF ALLURE (18+)
BURLESQUE AND CABARET GROUP
House of Allure is Birmingham's newest empowerment presence! They promote sex appeal, confidence, and fitness through burlesque-based classes and performances. Follow them on Instagram for updates about upcoming shows!
V.ENUS EVENTS (18+)
OPEN MIC NIGHT
V.enus Events regularly hosts open mic nights at The Nightingale, although they’re currently searching for a new venue. Expect a variety of performers, from drag to stand-up, burlesque, music, and poetry. They often collaborate with @thegaybourhoodevents to shift into a club night once the open mic is over. Tickets usually start at £7.
BARDS & BOOK (over 50s)
QUEER BOOK CLUB
Bards & Books is a super-friendly LGBT book club run by volunteers in Birmingham. Each month, members vote on the book to read, and meetings are held on the first Monday from 11 AM to 1 PM, allowing time to socialise too. Membership is available for those over 25, with most members over 50. The group also has an ongoing podcasting project!
QUEER ART CLUB BRUM
QUEER ART CLUB
Held at Sons of Rest Building in Handsworth Park, Queer Art Club Brum invites you to bring your art projects, make some art, and meet new people. It’s a community-based event, and donations of new materials are always welcome. Coffee, tea, and biscuits are provided!
LIMELIGHT
OPEN MIC NIGHT
Limelight Open Mic is a four-hour queer-friendly open mic night held once a month by @FruitPunchBrum at Cherry Red's Cafe Bar. Showcase your skills or simply enjoy a night filled with creativity, laughter, and joy while supporting Birmingham's local artists! The event runs from 6 PM to 10 PM, and tickets are £5 at the door.
ACTING OUT BRUM (18+)
QUEER THEATRE GROUP
Acting Out is a Birmingham-based acting group for the LGBTQ+ community that meets every Thursday at The Old Rep Theatre from 7 PM to 9 PM. Whether you’re a complete newbie or a seasoned pro, they welcome all interested in production and performance. The team produces and performs at least one play a year and performs monthly at Up to Scratch at The Old Rep.
QUEER SPORTS CLUBS
GAY CITY BOWLERS (18+)
QUEER BOWLING CLUB
Gay City Bowlers is an LGBTQ+ inclusive ten-pin bowling group hosting monthly events in various cities, including Birmingham. Tickets are £18 and cover two games.
BIRMINGHAM SWIFTS (18+)
QUEER RUNNING CLUB
Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ inclusive running club hosts a main social run on Thursdays and joins a local park run on Saturdays. They offer group coaching sessions, 121 coaching, and wellbeing events throughout the year. The club is free to join, with an optional supporter membership of £13.
BIRMINGHAM UNICORNS (18+)
QUEER CRICKET CLUB
Birmingham Unicorns are an LGBTQ+ inclusive cricket club based in south Birmingham, playing friendly fixtures. New players are always welcome, and full equipment is available to borrow. Full membership is £35, with concessions at £10.
BIRMINGHAM BULLS (18+)
QUEER RUGBY CLUB
The Birmingham Bulls are an LGBTQ+ inclusive rugby team that encourages new members to join, regardless of ability. Training is held on Wednesday evenings at Yardley & District Rugby Club. The club is free to join for the first month!
DEPOT CLIMBING LGBTQ+ NIGHT (18+)
QUEER BOULDERING CLUB
The Depot Climbing Centre in Birmingham is an indoor bouldering centre with over 1000 square metres of climbing surfaces graded from V0 to V10. Their LGBTQ+ night is held on Fridays from 7 PM to 9 PM. Member entry is £10, and non-member entry is £11.
BIRMINGHAM BLAZE (18+)
QUEER FOOTBALL CLUB
Birmingham Blaze FC is an LGBTQ+ team competing in local leagues and national tournaments. They train on Wednesday evenings and play 11-a-side matches on Sunday mornings in the Festival League.
BICYCLE ADVENTURE CLUB
QUEER CYCLING CLUB
The Bicycle Adventure Club organises non-competitive group rides across Birmingham and the West Midlands. Explore, learn, camp, drink tea, eat cake, and have a good time! Check out their upcoming rides on their website: Ride With Us.
MOSELEY SHOALS
QUEER SWIMMING & WATER POLO CLUB
Moseley Shoals hosts weekly LGBTQ+ inclusive swimming sessions throughout the year. They also run water polo sessions every fortnight during their Wednesday swim, suitable for both experienced players and newcomers. Your first session is free!
QUEER SOCIALS & MEETUPS
Connecting with the Community
FRUIT PUNCH
QUEER BLACK & POC SOCIAL
Fruit Punch is a Black & POC queer-led collective hosting several events across Birmingham monthly. Their queer black & POC social runs every first Wednesday of the month from 6 PM. Join them at The Anchor in Digbeth for a night of fun and games in a welcoming space!
BIRMINGHAM BUTCH BAR
BUTCH SOCIAL
Birmingham Butch Bar is a monthly event celebrating butch, dyke, transmasc, and gender non-conforming people in Birmingham. They create fun and welcoming spaces for connection and friendship through both sober and non-sober events. They also have a WhatsApp group!
MIDSBEARS
GBTQ+ BEAR SOCIAL
MidsBears is a social and networking group providing members of the Bear Community with a variety of social activities. They host several events throughout the year across the Midlands, including monthly meetups in Birmingham and an annual Bear Weekend usually held in October.
THE TRANS TEAROOM
TRANS & GENDER DIVERSE SOCIAL
The Trans Tearoom is a trans-led community space for gender diverse, non-binary, and trans people in the West Midlands. Enjoy coffee, cake, and community during their weekly drop-in sessions every Wednesday from 1 PM to 4 PM at Carrs Lane Church, near Birmingham Moore Street Station.
SCSSR (18+)
LESBIAN-FOCUSED FLINTA EVENTS & SOCIALS
SCSSR is a social community for LGBTQ+ women, trans, and non-binary people that organises regular group meet-ups, including hikes, meals, sports events, and nightlife. Socials are held across the West Midlands, focusing on Birmingham and Coventry. Join their WhatsApp community here: WhatsApp Group.
GOLDEN BABS
LGBTQ+ 50s+ SOCIAL
Golden Babs is a vibrant LGBT+ community initiative held at Birmingham LGBT Centre every Tuesday for those aged 50 and over. Gather, connect, and celebrate through enriching activities like coffee mornings, arts and crafts, movies, dance, poetry, and music. Pop in from 10:30 AM to 1 PM for a weekly dose of joy and shared experiences!
RAINBOW CONNECTIONS
QUEER COFFEE AND CAKE SOCIAL
Rainbow Connections runs a monthly meetup for coffee and cake on the first Saturday of every month at Boston Tea Party on Corporation Street in Birmingham. Join them from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM for a catch-up in a friendly environment. It’s free to attend and open to everyone!
BIRMINGHAM NONBINARY GROUP
NON-BINARY SOCIAL
The Birmingham Nonbinary Group is a monthly sober social for anyone who falls outside the gender binary. It’s a three-hour hangout held one Saturday a month at Moseley Hive on Moseley High Street. The venue is fully accessible and has gender-neutral toilets.
YARANA
SOUTH ASIAN & MIDDLE EASTERN SOCIAL
Yarana is a face-to-face support group created to bring South Asian & Middle Eastern LGBTQI+ people together. Events are held every three weeks at the Birmingham LGBT Centre on Saturdays from 4 PM to 6 PM.
Q HIVE
SOBER QUEER SOCIAL
Q Hive is a queer-led sober event at The Moseley Hive in Moseley. It’s a fully accessible space hosting a range of events from queer film nights to coffee mornings, as well as board game and craft events. Events usually take place on Sunday mornings once a month between 10AM and 12PM.
TRANSMASCULINE BIRMINGHAM (18+)
TRANS-MASC SOCIAL
Trans Masculine Birmingham (TMB) is a support group for adults 18+ who identify as trans male, transmasculine, non-binary, and/or gender questioning. Meetings include social events, activities, discussions, and workshops on various topics like healthcare and relationship health.
LGBT NATURE CONNECT
QUEER NATURE SOCIAL
LGBT+ Nature Connect helps you reconnect with nature through LGBTQ+ friendly guided walks and lessons about nature. Enjoy fun social activities in various pubs and cafes near the Lickey Hills and Waseley Hills area. Everyone is welcome, even if you’re not part of the LGBTQ+ community; all you need is an open mind and a love for nature!
LBTQ+ WOMEN’S SOCIAL
LBTQ+ WOMEN'S SOCIAL
The LBTQ+ Women's Social is a group for all LBTQ+ women held monthly at the Birmingham LGBT Centre at 4 PM. Pop in for refreshments and a chat in a safe and friendly space!
HANGOUT NAKED MIDLANDS (18+)
QUEER MEN'S NUDIST SOCIAL
Hang Out Naked Midlands is a new social event for GBTQ+ men, where they connect socially while naked. They’re a supportive group made up of all body types, holding regular hangouts once a month in a warm, friendly venue in the Gay Village. Entry is £7 at the door. Please note: HONM is a completely non-sexual environment at all times.
KINK SOCIALS & EVENTS
CLUB SCRITCHES (18+)
PET PLAY SOCIAL
Club Scritches is a friendly and inclusive social pet play event held every fourth Saturday of the month at the Eden in Birmingham. The event runs from 1 PM to 6 PM and features games, a raffle, and a soft play area with a ball pit. It’s a safe and non-judgmental event for pet players of all gender expressions. Entry is free!
BIRMINGHAM FETISH MEN (18+)
GBTQ+ LEATHER & FETISH SOCIAL
Birmingham Fetish Men is an inclusive quarterly fetish night for men, those who identify as men, transmasculine, and non-binary people in the West Midlands. They hold social events featuring cabaret and comedy, as well as wine tastings and dinners during their Birmingham Fetishmen Weekend in November. Entry for the regular event is £10 in advance or £15 at the door. Please note that this event has a strict dress code, which you can find on their website: Dress Code.
BIRMINGHAM BIZARRE BAZAAR (18+)
FETISH SOCIAL & MARKET
The Birmingham Bizarre Bazaar is a queer-inclusive monthly alternative market held every third Sunday at The Village Inn and Nightingale Club. Attendees are encouraged to express themselves, especially through their clothing. It’s a great place to socialise or shop in the market area. Entry is £7 at the door.
TEMPORARY CRUISING ZONE (18+)
ALL-GENDER SEX PARTY
Temporary Cruising Zone is a members-only, trans-run, all-gender queer sex party in Birmingham. It provides a space for queer people to express themselves and meet new friends and lovers. The party runs from 2 PM to 8 PM (last entry 3:30 PM), and the entry fee operates on a sliding scale. Pay on arrival: £10-£20 (plus £20 lifetime venue membership on your first visit).
Want to add your event to our list? Ping us a message over on Instagram @ProudGeekBookshop or email us at contact@proud-geek.co.uk ✌
Comments