The opening of the new Snobs nightclub on Broad Street was covered live by BBC Midlands Today, thanks to the hard work of Westside BID.
Steve Dyson, the BID’s media consultant at Dyson Media, had already co-ordinated detailed press coverage of the venue’s initial plans to move to Westside during recent months.
As a result, when the BBC got in touch to ask if they could cover the opening live last Wednesday, Dyson Media was quickly able to arrange the exclusive facility with Snobs’ management team.
You can watch our video of the opening night here:
During the BBC’s coverage, presenter Amy Cole in the Mailbox studio explained to viewers how Snobs was “founded more than 50 years ago” and was “one of Birmingham’s most well known nightclubs throwing open its doors after relocating last year.”
She added that it would have “three rooms with neon messages detailing its history,” before handing over to reporter Lindsay Doyle on the dance floor amid a swirl of colourful lights.
Lindsay told viewers: “Flickering lights and crazy nights, Snobs is back. It’s been part of the fabric of the city for more than 50 years and famous for the longest-running student night in the city, Big Wednesday. So Snobs is certainly the place to be.”
Owner Wayne Tracey told Lindsay: “It’s been a long refurb, five months, but we made it. Everything is a new venue and it has evolved into what it is, but it will keep to its grassroots with student nights and indie music on the ground floor it will all stay the same.”
Already featured in Westside World, graffiti artist Daniel Russell-Ahern told the BBC how he started working for Snobs thanks to his partner Lucy, who had worked there herself and introduced him to Wayne on a night out.
The new club has been designed by Jewellery Quarter architects Tibbatts Abel, led by Adam Tibbatts. Adam had already followed his father Neil’s original work at Snobs on Paradise Street by reinventing the second version of the club at its address from 2014 onward on Smallbrook Queensway. The full story of Adam’s work at Snobs was covered by Westside World here.
Meanwhile, Dyson Media’s careful liaison with the press also ensured other journalists were able to take a look around the new Snobs. BirminghamLive reported how social media ‘influencers’ and reporters had been invited for a first-look inside the venue.
With full building work not set to be fully completed for about three weeks, BirminghamLive reporter Kirsty Bosley said: ‘There’s a grit about it all, quite literally, but Snobs were determined to throw a party no matter what.”
In another media interview, Mr Tracey told Birmingham World: “What we try to do is to deliver a good, safe night and that’s all we can try to do to guarantee that people come in. If we carry on doing what Snobs is, hopefully people will enjoy it.
“As well as our regular customers, I would also like to think the passing trade will come to see us.”
Snobs is on the stretch of Broad Street between Granville Street / Sheepcote Street junction and Bishopsgate Street (Cineworld).
Coming soon …
Thursday 28 March: The 1975 Easter Room Takeover
Friday 29 March: Rehab – Indie vs Punk Rock
Saturday 30 March: Loaded Saturday
Sunday 31 March: a special additional event called Snobs Fluorescent Adolescence – Mega UV Giveaways.
Pictures and video by Graham Young and also BBC Midlands Today
