Hints and Tips for Birmingham Students: Eating and Shopping

Where to Eat?

One absolutely great thing about Birmingham is the number of fantastic places that there are to go and eat. If you are wondering how costly going out to eat will be in Brum, you may be pleased to learn that there are several inexpensive restaurant options scattered around this expansive city. To get a real taste of Birmingham without splashing out too much, you should, for example, get yourself to one of Birmingham's many balti houses. There's plenty of balti houses to choose from, and for a combination of value for money and a deeply satisfying taste experience, it's hard to beat.

Buffets

To really indulge yourself with a proper belly-full, there is no denying the appeal of a buffet. And in Birmingham City Centre, there are some good ones to be found. For example, the Ming Moon Restaurant on Hurst Street serves up a mouth-watering line-up of Pan Asian-Chinese cuisine. While the cost of eating there in the evening ranges from £16.99- £17.99, getting yourself a table in the afternoon for lunch will only cost £9.99 (12pm-5pm Mon-Fri') or £11.99 (Sat', Sun', Bank Holiday 12pm- 5pm).

Maybe have a look into Jimi Spices as well. It's a buffet restaurant that gathers together a collection of meals from around the world, and features live stations too, where chefs will cook you fresh steak, pizza, stir-fry and other foods exactly how you want right in front of you.

Damascena

Or, for a complete change of scenery, there's Damascena. Damascena is a delightfully decorated coffee house/delicatessen/bakery that specialises in Middle Eastern-themed food and drink, and it's definitely worth a visit. The quality of the food is simply superb. It's an exotic and relaxing place to spend some time also, and the prices are most certainly within the reach of the average student budget.

Digbeth Dining Club

Another one for the curious stomach is Digbeth Dining Club. Taking place every Thursday and Friday between 4-11pm and Saturday from 1pm- 11pm on Lower Trinity Street in Digbeth, which is only a short distance from New Street train station in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, Digbeth Dining club is an all-round experience, too. While it is primarily a taste-bud tempting gathering of street-food stalls, it also includes music and entertainment. Hosting a multitude of diverse traders, you and your mates are sure to discover something awesome to sink your teeth into here.

Who's For Brunch?

To break up the routine a little by going for a meal earlier in the day- and to save money- you could try making your way for a brunch. A couple of key examples of places that offer fine brunches are The Kitchen Garden Cafe in Kings Heath, and - for a little more cash- The Plough in Harborne. Whether you choose from pancakes or waffles with bacon or the more traditional full English, this could be a great start to your day. Served in nice and relaxed settings, brunches are also a brilliant opportunity to meet up for a chat, and with another coffee in hand, you could quite easily find yourself spending a few happy hours there.

Where to Buy Stuff?

Of course, when it comes to choice, convenience and tempting choices of things to buy, the Birmingham Bullring is an obvious destination for spending money and filling up shopping bags with the things you need as well as some things you simply just want. It is perhaps also obvious that visiting the extensive collection of stores in the Bullring can put a sizeable dent in your bank balance.

The Indoor Market

It's a good idea to look around in Birmingham City Centre at the places where you can pocket a nice, healthy saving. The Indoor Market, for example, is worth bearing in mind. Not only can you find some very good deals there, but it is located just beside the Bullring, so it's really accessible, too. The range of items to be found there is diverse as well. Everything from the practical and essential to the not-so-practical or essential can be picked-up here, making it worth a visit.

The Oasis

Another name to jot down is The Oasis. A thriving home for the alternative and the quirky/geeky, the Oasis Centre is well-known in Brum for catering towards those in search of fashion and accessories that suit an unconventional style and/or a metal or gothic-inspired look. The variety of what is on offer here doesn't end there though; film/sci-fi memorabilia, vinyl and even a pro-wrestling store are all housed here. A unique place, and one that is generally well-suited to the average student budget.

….And if you are still struggling with ways to save money on various items, check out some of the charity shops dotted around Birmingham and other stores such as C-EX and Cash Generator.

Unihousing Student Accommodation in Birmingham

If you have begun another year of study at your university and are not happy with where you are currently renting, or you are in need of student accommodation, then the Birmingham student homes provided through Unihousing may be the right fit for you.

Based in the busy and bustling Selly Oak, Unihousing is a lettings agent who specialises in student studios and houses that combine everyday comfort and convenience with all-around high living standards.

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