Le Mod   1
Replying to Charcy   14:35, Tue 13 Jan
Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield

All cities off the top of my head where the local populous really promote and big up their own city to outsiders, they're almost over the top with it.

We're the opposite generally.

I also think were not helped by Birmingham based Villa fans, who often seem to want to detach themselves from the cities brand, and treat Birmingham as a dirty word.
Charcy   1
Replying to Le Mod   15:18, Tue 13 Jan
I also think were not helped by Birmingham based Villa fans,

Could have left it there.
Replying to Le Mod   15:28, Tue 13 Jan
Le Mod
Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield

All cities off the top of my head where the local populous really promote and big up their own city to outsiders, they're almost over the top with it.

We're the opposite generally.

I also think were not helped by Birmingham based Villa fans, who often seem to want to detach themselves from the cities brand, and treat Birmingham as a dirty word.

They see Aston as the brand. Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer as Aston Icons. Vi*la and Aston together as one. Birmingham is a hell hole to them. Grim, ELO and UB40 and Peaky Blinders. They hate that.
Replying to Le Mod   19:17, Tue 13 Jan
Le Mod
Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield

All cities off the top of my head where the local populous really promote and big up their own city to outsiders, they're almost over the top with it.

We're the opposite generally.

I also think were not helped by Birmingham based Villa fans, who often seem to want to detach themselves from the cities brand, and treat Birmingham as a dirty word.

You get it on here too. "Birmingham is a shit hole" type stuff. Yes parts are, but parts are far from it. Depends if you are a glass half full or half empty kinda person.
Replying to Haircut1000   19:52, Tue 13 Jan
I've never understood the Brummies talking down Brum attitude. I've dragged people to Brum from all over the place, both UK and foreign, and they tend to really like it.

Whether or not people particularly like Joe Lycett or Steven Knight and how hard to avoid their stuff can be, at least they're out there promoting their home city.
Beaubrumm   0
Replying to Le Mod   11:54, Wed 14 Jan
Le Mod
They've had great PR too, 'Mannie' is cool, people want to move and work there, we're not helped by so many of our own constantly talking our city down, sitting outside a pub in Benidorm telling everyone what a shithole Birmingham is.
Which is a bit rich, sitting in BeniDoom.
Brum has been messing itself up for decades and things like the Bin Strike does nothing to help.
WelshBlue   0
Replying to Beaubrumm   16:44, Wed 14 Jan
My lad lives in Manchester. It's cool and the squares add something Brum lacks. Not being bombed to F in WW2 means it's got some decent brick buildings left.

Ps, if you want to p a Villa fan off, tell their team comes from Staffordshire. There only one team that originates in Birmingham.
Replying to WelshBlue   17:04, Wed 14 Jan
WelshBlue
My lad lives in Manchester. It's cool and the squares add something Brum lacks. Not being bombed to F in WW2 means it's got some decent brick buildings left.

Ps, if you want to p a Villa fan off, tell their team comes from Staffordshire. There only one team that originates in Birmingham.

Victoria Square
Chamberlain Square
Centenary Square
St Paul's Square

We have plenty of brick buildings...Margaret St School of Art, Courts, Methodist Central Hall, the whole of the Jewellery Quarter etc.
Charcy   0
Replying to WelshBlue   18:42, Wed 14 Jan
WelshBlue
My lad lives in Manchester. It's cool and the squares add something Brum lacks. Not being bombed to F in WW2 means it's got some decent brick buildings left.

Ps, if you want to p a Villa fan off, tell their team comes from Staffordshire. There only one team that originates in Birmingham.

Wasn't Aston in Warwickshire? They probably think you are quite thick.

(If I am wrong on that, then I accept that I am quite thick)
Felix   0
Replying to Rasputin   19:31, Wed 14 Jan
Rasputin
I would expect that to be a resurrection of HS2 phase 2.

Good news if so.

I think this is terrible news for us. From the BBC article about the decision:

The timing is crucial. Manchester's council leader has warned the government the cancellation of HS2 was starting to see long-term investment in office space and regeneration shifted to Birmingham instead.

Buildings that take a decade to open need at least the outline of a plan for connectivity, even if passengers won't see trains for a decade and a half.

HS2's entire premise was "for the north", but its budget was blown on overspecified beautified lines in the south, so much so that it will never actually reach the north. It is effectively an extension of the London Tube to Birmingham.


With HS2 stopping with us, our city would have seen much more investment - the kind of investment that was previously directed to the 'Northern Power House'. This rail link (even being in planning) will ensure that public funded investment outside of London will be in Manchester more often.
Tandy   1
Replying to Felix   20:12, Wed 14 Jan
It’s not, and should not be, a competition between cities.

The UK needs nationwide high speed rail and has done for 40 years.
Replying to Felix   20:53, Wed 14 Jan
The Birmingham to Manchester line would most likely go via the HS2 section currently being built to terminate at Lichfield, and then on through land already procured for the now cancelled HS2 northern section. It won't be high speed, and thus It would still take a minimum of 2 hours for Londoners to get to Manchester.

Also, they're talking about building it AFTER the northern powerhouse lines are complete I.e. in about 10 to 20 years time (if at all). In the meantime, Birmingham will have a massive sports quarter built and attracting millions of visitors, AND a functioning HS2 line linking the city to London in under an hour.

There's certainly no need to worry about Manchester getting more investment than Birmingham because of this announcement!
Replying to Buddy Mercer   21:34, Wed 14 Jan
Buddy Mercer
The Birmingham to Manchester line would most likely go via the HS2 section currently being built to terminate at Lichfield, and then on through land already procured for the now cancelled HS2 northern section. It won't be high speed, and thus It would still take a minimum of 2 hours for Londoners to get to Manchester.

Also, they're talking about building it AFTER the northern powerhouse lines are complete I.e. in about 10 to 20 years time (if at all). In the meantime, Birmingham will have a massive sports quarter built and attracting millions of visitors, AND a functioning HS2 line linking the city to London in under an hour.

There's certainly no need to worry about Manchester getting more investment than Birmingham because of this announcement!

Yes this is spot on. We have a massive head start with HS2. Already shit holes like Martineau Galleries and Priory Square are being primed for redevelopment. The BBC is moving into Digbeth amd of course we have the Sporrs Quarter.